Soap operas have entertained people for many years now, and addicted many with their cliffhanging hooks and quirky, attractive and likable characters. But even those hooked to soap operas have to realize how silly and ridiculous these shows get from time to time, and this show points out the ridiculousness in soap operas by being an exaggeratedly stupid soap opera parody. Everything about this show is spot on, and just like the soap operas it so lovingly pokes fun at, it's also quite addictive to watch.
The entire series, which to date is only season 1, takes place on one night during Carter (Mather Zickel) and Margaret's (Kristen Schaal) engagement party. Things start off bad as Carter murders his best friend Michael's (Show creator, writer, director and actor AD Miles) fiancée, but only get worse for the characters from there as many die and unveil horrible truths during this party. Carter's mother, Meredith (Joy Franz) wants her hands on Margaret's money, but she didn't think about her disowned son Billy (Joe Lo Truglio) showing up to the event and blackmailing her. Several other character's have story arcs and subplots also as the plots unfurl and come into play as different characters are introduced.
The casting on this was perfect! Every actor is just spectacular at giving soap opera readings, and in addition to that hilarious performances. Everyone here has down the overly dramatic facial expressions, and everyone does them perfectly without being anymore ridiculously over the top than the typical soap opera. Everyone gives a stellar performance, but some real standouts include Joe Lo Truglia, who is just hilarious with everything he says, Joy Franz, who seems to be channeling Jessica Walter on Arrested Development, and Edmund Genest as Rex, Margaret's clueless dad who is fascinated by juggling. These three actors were especially exceptional, not to say that everyone else wasn't, as they were.
The writing and direction is so perfect. The writing is somewhat more ridiculous than soap operas, but everything is said so seriously and with such passion, you believe the realism despite how goofy the situations, and oftentimes dialogue is. The story arcs all play out nicely also, and all have a point by the end for the characters. The direction is also great, as is the staging. This thing looks and feels like a soap opera! Also to thank is the main piano theme which sounds like the theme to a bad cooking show, but works excellent here.
Overall, this is one of the best web series ever! I've watched it several times straight through, and still haven't grown tired of it, and certain lines just get funnier and funnier each time I hear them! Hopefully the long awaited season 2 will come out and be just as great as the first season!
My rating: **** out of ****. 6 to 8 mins. per episode. TV18LV
