I may have to check this one episode out. I had pretty much given up on the show for the same reasons as everyone else: it's stupefyingly dull. And annoying. The sort of main character with the fittingly bland name Patrick Murray, I mean, holy shit. How are we to buy that this crazy-bland white frat boy who is sans any decipherable personality at all is somehow friends with artists and more interesting folks like "Dom" (can they be more obvious with the name?) and somehow attracts Richie the hot Spanish speaking barber to the point where Richie sort of wants to get serious with him despite his extraordinary suburban white dullness and cluelessness, both in and out of bed?

The thing is just poorly written. And to boot, barely any sex.

For example when the pretty blonde twink responds to Dom's ad (I think it was an ad) and it turns out he lives in the same building ... do they maybe consider that this kid should be a continuing love/fuck interest for Dom? Which would at least be hot if not a bit awkward for Dom? Nope. Never see him again. Stupid. Lame. Whole show. Just ugh.

Only redeeming quality is the San Fran scenery which made me pine for the place all over again.

Lauren Weedman is a goddmaned national treasure, and I'll fight any sonofabitch who says otherwise.

She single handedly made the whole season tolerable. The other characters are either going nowhere or becoming insufferable.

Weedman is definitely the best example of this, but aside from Tovey, every supporting character on Looking is ridiculously more interesting than anyone in the central cast. Who knows, maybe that's an intentional artistic choice? Or, the limited screen time means that we just haven't had time to get bored with them.

Right on, David.

Wheedman has never been able to find the right home for her talents.

But that episode - THAT was it. Every line was a gut punch.

Everything about that episode rang so true. I was choking on the memories of the terrible calla lilies at my father-in-laws funeral ten years ago. Watching Weedman struggle I relived the hilarious shame of erupting in gallows giggles when we accidentally played Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer at the wake.

The show was real, cathartic and beautiful. She deserves a god damned Emmy.

oops - Weedman not Wheedman. Sorry, Lauren.

Looking may be dull, and Jonathan Groff's smirk is horrible, but it will never match the travesty that was The L Word.

This show is still on? I watched about four episodes and thought to myself "I wanted the next QAF and this is duller than Golden Girls or Matlock"

Wow. I had such a different reaction to this episode. As someone who has recently experienced the loss of a parent, I found her reaction so strange and unfathomable. The episode, and her performance in particular, off-putting. She wants to have a pool party? She's ok with her friend bringing his nitwit buddy? Everyone reacts to death differently, but still....

Maybe it's my own baggage. Since my mom's death, I get angry at the typical Hollywood depictions of people reacting to death (i.e., normalcy returns in a matter of days, if not hours). I thought Looking fit right into the mix. It's hard to know what death of a parent is like if you haven't experienced it, and I didn't feel that much personal experience was evident in the performance or the writing.

This article is from eleven days ago - why is it appearing again

@13 - Because that's what weekend Slog is about these days. Reruns...

(personally, I'm surprised that David's review had not one word about Mary Kay Place being cast as Doris' aunt)

Anyone who tuned in for S02 knows that Looking is excellent. I love Sunday @10pm now. It completely defied my expectations from S01.

Incredible dark comedy that has become unexpectedly relatable. If Weedman (who I absolutely adore as Doris) is the only reason you tune into Looking, then you are failing miserably. I agree that Patrick is flat gay character, compared to the multifaceted minor characters on the show. But isnt that what makes Groff's character so necessary. These characters are unapologetically themselves, and every person gay or straight can relate to this.

If anything, HBO needs to renew Looking for another season. Everyone associated with the show worked very hard to make this season special. Not only are they informing the world, gays and straights alike, on the immense changes within the LGBTQ community but they are also creating incredible stories with characters you cannot help but fall in love with.

Looking is necessary in the world that we live in. How many channels features stories centered around LGBTQ anthropology. Be fair HBO, Looking is great and should be here to stay for at least 2 more seasons.

@15, thank you the marketing department of Looking....

So does one need to watch the rest of the show to understand this episode? Or can one enjoy it as a one-off?