Funny Woman Season 1 Episode 3 Review
All things are looking up on Funny Woman Season 1 Episode 3. Despite her critics, Sophie and her new show’s cast and crew speed toward success—but that brings its own host of problems.
There are of course still bumps in the road. The sitcom is filmed in front of a live audience, and while Sophie manages to charm both viewers and critics, she does so while (and perhaps because of) missing cues and bumping into cameras.
She is understandably distracted, and rushes home as soon as the day wraps. Her father pulls through and is there to learn that the show has been picked up. The news is less welcome to her aunt, who thinks she should be a permanent caregiver.
Despite lingering self-doubt, Sophie jumps fully into her new world. That means late nights out on the town, interviews on major networks, and sleeping with her costar. The last admittedly only happens when she learns Dennis is married.
The hour solidifies Barbara Parker’s transition into Sophie Shaw even as her peers learn about her true name for the first time. Because the transition is so new, though, we’re not going to be taking Barbara out of Sophie anytime soon.
In her professional life, that’s already proving to be a big factor in her growing stardom. Audiences like that she’s unpolished and the hiccups she gets a laugh out of. The antics might still raise an eyebrow amongst the bigwigs, but they work.
Our troubles now arise elsewhere. I’m happy to see Barbara’s father recover and eagerly support his daughter, but between his sister’s resentment and his own newly forced retirement, there’s a lot left to weigh on our new star’s conscience.
There’s also the lingering backstory we’ve only briefly touched on. The matter of Barbara’s mother’s departure still stirs up a lot of emotions. I feel like we’re being foreshadowed something but am unsure what. Perhaps she’ll reappear someday?
If there are mixed feelings about these family matters, they become even more complicated regarding the backstage hookups that come in the later half of the episode, initially spurred by the jarring revelation that Dennis has a wife.
I’ve never liked love triangles, and with the clear chemistry between Sophie and Dennis that has been established in the first few episodes, it seems this is an inevitable path. Though it might be more of a “love square” once Sophie and Clive sleep together.
This is appropriately juicy and messy for this world, but it means that if we are ever going to see Sophie and Dennis together, there are at least two messy breakups on the horizon, if not infidelity that would skew the portrayal of otherwise very sweet characters.
Regardless, we’re already strapped into the roller coaster and will have to ride it through to the end. The media has already picked up on Sophie and Clive dating, and I can only guess that the rest of the season will grow increasingly tumultuous.
What did you think of this episode of Funny Woman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Funny Woman airs Sundays at 10/9c on PBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.