Erin Maxwell
There is nothing like a good laugh, but sometimes the best comedy comes from the darkest, most troubling parts of the psyche. These are cryptic and perhaps wicked moments that can lead to horror, but are instead met with laughter due to how the subject is handled. In this installment of UnBinged, a trio of seemingly dark shows use elements of comedy, parody and satire as a way of coming to grips with the more brutal moments of life … and death.
Laid (Peacock)
(NBCU)
Dating in the modern age can be a horror show, but introduce actual death into the equation and it becomes a literal horror show. In Peacock’s darkly entertaining Laid, finding love is not only frustrating, but a dangerous endeavor.
Thirtysomething Ruby (Stephanie Hsu) is a party planner looking for hot singles in her area, happy to settle for fleeting moments of adult fun until the right person comes along. But when her body count becomes an actual body count, Ruby realizes that she is a danger to all those around her.
After gassy college boyfriend Brandon perishes unexpectedly, former flame Jeffrey is hit by a car, and ex David dies of sepsis, Ruby and her best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet at her snarkiest) soon realize Ruby is the common factor. Unhappy with her role as a vaginal assassin, Ruby and AJ descend into a maelstrom of true crime madness, creating detailed evidence boards of Ruby’s former conquests, creating oral sex overlays in an effort to stop the onslaught of possible deaths before it’s too late. However, as Ruby goes on her hero’s journey to warn past partners, she discovers that she is actually the succubus of the saga, as her chaotic energy and constant negging of others wasn’t quite as cute as she recalls.
Laid is a twisted tale that blends Sex and the City with Tales from the Crypt, sans the morality tale. Watching Ruby and AJ apply their acidic wit and questionable investigative skills is highly amusing, but can get a little exhausting due to Ruby’s main character syndrome. But Hsu is as charismatic as Ruby, a derisive beauty with a caustic wit whose genitalia might be as lethal as her tongue. The anguish and turmoil caused during her journey into her sexual history triggers an emotional growth from self-centered singleton to develop beyond a caricature of a modern millennial. Paired with Mamet, the duo create a sharp comedy that is amusing to anyone who ever had to log on for love.
Laid is a brass, brash series that offers Hsu a platform for her comedic talent and an ideal partner in which to collaborate. And while the series might be less than perfect in its depiction of millennials looking for love in the modern age, both Hsu and Mamet share a chemistry that will keep viewers intrigued and entertained.
Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount+/Showtime)
(Paramount+ with Showtime)
Dexter Morgan first captured the hearts of audiences with his antisocial antics back in 2007 when he Saran wrapped his first evildoer on the small screen, feeding his blood lust while seeking justice for those who escaped the legal system. Since then, the serial killer’s outcome in the finale and his ultimate fate as laid out in the sequel series Dexter: New Blood had fans in a tizzy as many felt mixed emotions with how the show concluded. But now Showtime takes a stab at redemption with Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel that explores how young Dex allowed his “Dark Passenger” to take the wheel.
Narrated by Michael C. Hall, the series follows 20-year-old Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as a newly graduated, fresh-faced psychopath still under the tutelage of his adoptive father Harry (now played by Christian Slater). The show traces Dex’s first steps both as a serial killer and as an intern at the Miami Metro Police Department with CSI Chief Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar).
In the role as Dexter, Gibson nabs the essence of Hall’s portrayal of the cool, calculating butcher in his younger days, learning the whys and ways of “Harry’s Code” — the set of guidelines created to protect him — and exactly what happens when it is not followed to the letter. Watching Gibson claim the role beckons Dexter back to the fan-favorite early years of the series before the savage slayer lost his way.
Original Sin explores not just the early beginnings of TV’s more personable serial killer, but also the important people in his life. Familiar names with new faces are scattered throughout the series like a morbid Muppet Babies, including fledgling versions of Debra Morgan (Molly Brown), Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian), Angel Batista (James Martinez), and Vince Masuka (Alex Shimizu). And to their credit, the actors do a good job of capturing the spirit of the original cast, particularly Brown in all Deb’s foul-mouthed glory. Slater’s take on Harry is particularly fascinating as fans get a peek into Harry’s tragic past and his inner turmoil at turning his son into a predator.
For enthusiasts of the original show, Dexter: Original Sin attempts to rekindle the spark of the former series as it digs deep into Dexter’s backstory, but with an aggressive, nonstop ’90s soundtrack to constantly remind viewers of the era. Though mostly fueled by fan service, Dexter: Original Sin is appealing due to its ability to recapture the surreal, slightly absurdist tone of the original outing. The show’s trademark macabre humor mixed with extreme violence is mirrored in the prequel, along with Dex’s droll narration via inner monologue. It will probably hit home for longtime fans — and only longtime fans — looking for a return to form for their beloved antihero.
No Good Deed (Netflix)
(Netflix)
The real estate market is a cut throat business not for the weak of heart, especially in Los Angeles, where folks are willing to spill blood for original Spanish tile detail. In Netflix’s No Good Deed, the all-star comedy ensemble asks the question: What are people willing to do for a farmhouse sink? And what secrets are concealed behind that original woodwork trim?
Plagued by bad memories and a second mortgage, Lydia and Paul Morgan (Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano) reluctantly place their beautiful Spanish-style home on the market, creating a feeding frenzy among wannabe homeowners. As the sharks start to circle, three couples emerge as potential buyers, each hoping the villa will solve their problems.
Dennis (O-T Fagbenle) needs the house to help calm the choppy waters between his wife (Teyonah Parris) and mother (Anna Maria Horsford), while Leslie and Sarah (Abbi Jacobson and Poppy Liu) are hoping it will give them a fresh start after many IVF disappointments. Actor JD (Luke Wilson) is looking to downsize from his modern construction money pit, but his wife Margo (Linda Cardellini), well, she’s just a monster with a past.
A myriad of first-world problems meshed with mystery, murder, and tragedy, the cast of comedians is given a chance to flex their dramatic chops, but in material that skirts telenovela territory. Most of the players here lack authenticity, creating a lampoon of folks one might find in Erewhon fanfic, if such a thing exists. Nevertheless, despite a lack of realism in an effort to create satire, there are times when the stable of actors play well against each other, creating a few heartfelt moments. One such bright spot is Kudrow and Romano, as Lydia’s pain and Paul’s frustration at his wife’s inability to process the loss of her son is one of the few grounded storylines.
No Good Deed is an attempt at a modern gothic mystery lampooning the Los Angeles real estate scene featuring caricatures who are more unlikeable than relatable, but performances from Kudrow and Romano save the series from hyperbolic calamity with their turn as a grieving couple on the brink of destruction. As a result, the series transforms into entertaining light fare filled with interesting twists, turns and tragedy set in a turnkey dream house.