Last night, Looking continued its first season with a new installment, titled “Looking at your Browser History” , which was a change from the two last episodes. This episode was more centered on work and it raised the questions of what Patrick, Agustin and Dom really want to do with their lives, what their hopes, their dreams, really are and what difficulties they are facing to achieve those goals.
It was the most interesting episode so far for me. I liked the two first episodes, getting to know those characters, and specially through their love lives and their friendship but last night, it was more profound and it really made care for those characters. They are feeling even more real than before. Andrew Haigh and Michael Lannan have created such real and nice characters and made Looking a real great show.
So, let’s dig in the episode and review what happened to our beloved San Francisco gays !A lot happened for each of them, of course, we followed more Patrick than the others, but it's always nice to watch them interact together. I missed a scene with the three men.
Patrick’s job has already been presented. He is a level designer (whatever the hell that means) for a video game company and when the episode started, he was going along in the new game’s launch party. Patrick was cute being charmed by sailor serving drinks. Soon he was drunk, explaining he preferred playing female characters in video games, because as a gay, he can relate to the fact women are the outsiders in video games. That’s true, I’ve always picked the woman in video game, my favorite is Peach !
Patrick met up with a British guy, and after making fun of him, Patrick started getting attracted to him when he thought he was gay. After a stupid bet with his colleague, I can’t remember his name, he went for Kevin. The scene was very cute and funny. Patrick is so dumb, when he is charming a guy and drunk. Looking's writers did a fine job showing how awkward it can be when you're wondering if you're talking to a straight or a gay guy. It remind me of situations I've lived. Anyways, Patrick tried to ask if he were gay and the answer was yes. It was so cute but it wasn’t that cute when Kevin revealed he had a boyfriend and he would be his new boss. Poor Patrick…
Then, Patrick tried to clean the mess he made. I really enjoyed the dynamic between those two. Patrick was always awkward and not sure of himself and his new boss played with that. Kevin smiled at him and put him in even more uncomfortable situations. I loved that scene in the office, when Patrick’s internet activities are being discussed. OK Cupid and Manhunt during work hours, that’s not very professional Patrick.
This storyline showed Patrick under a different light and it was very appreciated. Patrick is very modern, I can totally identify myself when he stated he wants to have a life and work. Work is not everything for him, but it doesn’t mean he can’t focus on his work and produce a great work. And he proved that to his boss at the end when he presented his female character for the video game. Kevin revealed he had picked him since the beginning and he was just playing with him and showed him he had enough confidence inside of him. That was great. I could really feel a connection between them, and I hope we will see him more. Maybe a love triangle is gonna come for Patrick and Richie.
Richie was mentioned a bit and briefly seen last night. I missed him.
Agustin’s artist situation looked complicated since the pilot. Last week, he revealed he needed to get away from the city, get away from its distractions so he could focus on his work. I’m not sure it’s really accurate, San Francisco and its distractions can be a great source of inspirations for artist work.
Agustin is in a struggling phase, he hasn’t produced anything in a long time. During breakfast, Frank spoke about his friend, who has a gallery and would like to see Agustin’s work and Agustin’s humor changed radically. He was lovely and cute and then sudenly he was cold and distant.
Agustin’s work as an assistant came to an end. After expressing his point of view on the chair sculpture (I must say I like it though), how meaningless it felt for him, it was no surprise he got fired. And it was the right move for him. It’s really terrible to do something you don’t like, work for someone you don’t understand. Like I’ve said, work is an important part of your life, as you spend most of your time there, so it needs to be interesting or at least you have to find something in it to make you happy. Otherwise, you feel bad at work and it reflects on every part of your life. So, it's good for Agustin, he will move on and maybe start his art again...
And then came my favorite part of the episode : the meeting between Agustin and a sex worker. I’m always interesting how a TV show would develop a sex worker character. Usually, it’s very cliché. Maybe it’s because it’s seen through a male character, in a gay themed show, but I really enjoyed. He looked very self confident, and he had a nice talk with Agustin. I have no idea where this could lead, if Agustin will really try to be sex worker, or maybe use the sex work as a part of his art. Sure, it will be interesting because Looking has showed since three episodes, they have excellent writers.
The talk between Agustin and the sex worker and the one between Patrick and Agustin were great. Agustin explained why he doesn’t call himself an artist, because he doesn’t feel like one. You don’t actually call yourself an artist, you’re just are or aren’t.
What a change for Dom this week ! Goodbye grumpy Dom and welcome Perky Dom! Even Doris, his ex wife did not recognize him.
Last week discussion with Ethan helped him a lot. Dom figured out he needed to do something with his life, forget his past and that ex. Sometimes in life, we need to confront yourselves to someone, to realize you need something new, new challenges and to stop living in the past. And Dom has a big challenge coming up.
I absolutely loved their scene dancing zumba. They were excellent. Doris couldn’t follow up, but Dom has a great sense of rhythm. He moved his fit body very nicely. I enjoyed watching that scene. Dom revealed he truly wants to open up his own restaurant, for real. He has dreamt about it, now it's time to make it real. Doris was even more surprised, but she was happy and supporting of his decision. Of course, the challenge is hard and there will be obstacles. But I’m pretty sure Dom will realize his dream, and the restaurant would be the perfect place for the guys to meet and eat together.
Dom had the most surprising and cutest scene of the episode for me. I was really surprised to watch Scoot Bakula in that sauna ! The whole scene was well written. I didn’t expect anything of this, but the meeting of two older men in a sauna could have gone somewhere completely different. Looking’s writers decided to have them talk casually, presenting themselves, being both institutions in the gay community. They’re older, living in a brand new world for the gays. I could feel a nice connection between them, and I hope Dom will call him back, because this could be the start of something great for him. Things are evolving for him, I’m so glad… But we know good drama makes good television so I don’t expect him to stay happy and perky
Overall, “Looking at Your Browser History’ was a great installment for Looking. I really enjoyed every storylines. The differences between Patrick, 29, socially awkward and Dom, 10 years older, very sociable but emotionally immature were very interesting and that’s why this show is so great. It deals with everyone experiences, through different perspectives.
Patrick and Kevin’ scene felt very modern, I could relate to that, the questions about whether a guy is straight or gay, how you feel when you’re one of the only gay at work, how to manage bother personal and professional life.
Dom’ scene with Lynn showed us two forty gays, who are institutions on their community and they have seen their community changed and evolved and they try to find their place and to adapt.
Gay notes :
• Is this me or British accent is utterly sexy ? Jonathan Groff faking British accent was both funny and sexy.
• They can’t stop eating in this show right ? They’re always eating and talking with the mouths full. When Dom opens his restaurant, those guys are gonna get fat !
• Patrick always finished his drinks pretty quickly. What a drunk!
• How great is the soundtrack ! I love every songs
What did you think of “Looking at Your Browser History” ? Did you feel the change of tone ? Hit the comments !
