Looking, Season 1, Episode 4: “Looking for $220/Hour”
Directed by Ryan Fleck
Written by Allan Heinberg
Airs Sundays at 10:30 PM on HBO
“Looking for $220/Hour”, the fourth in Looking’s eight episode run, takes place during the Folsom Street Fair, an annual San Francisco BDSM and leather party. Patrick, Agustín, and Dom aren’t really part of that scene, but like much of the city, they use the fair as an excuse for some good old-fashioned Sunday day drinking. Aside from a few skimpy leather outfits, Looking doesn’t show much of the debaucherous celebration. Instead, the episode is structured around a trio of dates, even though the characters would never classify them as such.
Patrick and Kevin hole up at the office, purportedly to prepare for a Monday morning presentation, but talk turns to the difficulties of Kevin’s long distance relationship. Dom invites Lynn, Scott Bakula’s silver fox florist, to lunch – supposedly just to ask his advice about opening a restaurant. Agustín meets up with CJ, the sex worker from the coffee shop, and decides to hire him as the subject of a video he wants to shoot.
Explicitly, these encounters are all business. But, as is the case for most any pair of gay men getting to know one another, sex is never completely off the table. Looking’s exploration of this detail of gay life, the fact that new friendships are fraught with the possibility of sex (whether wanted or not), feels specific and true and not often depicted on TV. Unfortunately, this show keeps introducing interesting themes only to leave them unexplored due to the flatness of its characters.
Halfway through its season Looking is plodding along, neither deepening its characters or raising the stakes for them. The writers seem to be afraid of both conflict and consequences. For instance, last week Agustín lost his job. This week that fact is barely mentioned, but apparently he has enough disposable income to hire a $220/hour escort for an art project. Maybe Agustin is a trust fund baby. Maybe Agustin is $30,000 in debt. Maybe Agustín’s boyfriend pays for everything. Who knows, because after four episodes we still know next to nothing about him.
Just a little bit of back-story would go a long way in fleshing out these characters. Dom says repeatedly that he wants to be doing something more with his life as he turns 40. He talks about opening a Portuguese chicken restaurant, first with the chef at Zuni, and then with Lynn. Is there something specific about his current job that he hates? What about turning 40 scares him? What does being a business owner represent? Why does he just now want to follow in his father’s footsteps? We can’t sympathize or root for Dom if we don’t know what peri peri means for him.
Looking’s most needed context is on Patrick and Agustín’s friendship. Again, Patrick completely changes his behavior towards a man because of a talk with his former roommate. After Agustín accuses Patrick of engaging in a fantasy relationship with his unavailable boss, Patrick stops flirting with Kevin and bolts from the office. Is this because Patrick is actually feeling a crush coming on, or does he just think Agustín is abundantly wise in all manner of romantic advice? Since the creators have put little emphasis on the dynamics of Patrick and Agustín’s relationship, there’s no way to know.
Richie the doorman also returns in this episode. When Patrick sees him at The Stud, it seems like their encounter might go one of a few ways. Richie could totally blow him off and never be heard from again. Patrick could put his foot in his mouth even more, compounding his humiliation. Or he could be articulate and apologetic, and Richie might give him another chance. But none of these conversations take place. Instead, Patrick gives a wimpy “that wasn’t me the other night” apology and two seconds later he and Richie are grinding on the dance floor. There is no conflict, and thus no consequences for Patrick’s previous actions.
At this point Looking seems to be stuck in neutral. The creators are content to simply glance at their characters, not doing much to propel them forward or give them obstacles to work against. If they ever hope to gain a wider audience, or garner some passion with the small one they already have, they need to find another gear.
Other thoughts:
Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race will appreciate the cameo by Honey Mahogany.
Would one bite of bratwurst really wreak all that havoc?
Also, who stands outside a bathroom stall to have a serious conversation while his friend has explosive diarrhea?
“I don’t think I’ve even ever heard that word said before much less eat it”
“Oh don’t tell me you’re a forty year old career bartender who’s also into video games. My God Hugo, how are you still single?”
“I should douse you in gasoline.”
“Burn me!”