The Bingeworthy™ Breakdown is an occasional look at new TV shows. An estimated 500 scripted seasons of TV will air in 2017, and to help you sort the wheat from the chaff, we’re going to give you the lowdown to help you work out whether it’s worth tuning in every week for them or waiting to binge later. Today we look at the final season of Amazon’s “Red Oaks.”
You seem upset, buddy. What’s wrong?
You’re right. I am upset. It’s been a while since a series finale had me feeling this sad.
What series finale are we down about tonight?
“Red Oaks.”
“Red Oaks.” Hmm. Never heard of it.
Well, that just makes me feel worse.
Well go on, tell me about it! Let me discover it posthumously — it’s the least I can do in this, your time of need.
That’s true. It is the least you can do.
“Red Oaks” is an 80s nostalgia show on Amazon. It’s executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, and has an astonishing array of talent associated with it, both in front of and behind the camera. Its third — and last — season, comprised of six half-hour episodes, just dropped last week, with directing duties split between David Gordon Green, Amy Heckerling, and Hal Hartley.
That is impressive.
This season has David, played by Craig Roberts, working as a PA in New York City, biding his time until he becomes a “big-time movie director.” Meanwhile, Nash (played by the preternaturally charismatic Ennis Esmer in an awards-worthy performance that is sure to be discovered years after the fact) tries to prevent the Red Oaks Country Club board from selling the club to Japanese businessmen, with the help of the incarcerated former club president played by Paul Reiser.
Paul Reiser is in this show?
Sure is. He’s a regular. So is Richard Kind. And he does better work here than he’s ever done before.
Why so hot on this show?
Because it makes you feel good! It has loveable characters played by all-time great actors! It has an absolutely unrealistic view of the world — one where Wheeler (Oliver Cooper) actually ends up with Misty (Alexandra Turshen) and where David’s career and romantic ambitions chalk up to him being more assertive in general and where Sam (Richard Kind) and his maybe-lesbian ex (Jennifer Grey) can go into business together and where everything is good and nice — and that’s what we need sometimes in art, because real life is mostly terrible! It’s absolutely fucking delightful, and its creators know just how to hit your buttons and make you feel exactly what they want you to feel.
The show has always been better than any other on TV(/computer?) at creating distinct, stand-out characters through its writing, casting, and direction. Nash is the prime example, obviously, but you also have Skye, David’s ex-girlfriend, who is played so well by Alexandra Socha: Socha has such a distinct physicality; she’s right out of a John Hughes movie, which makes her perfect for “Red Oaks.” She’s not in this season very much, but makes a significant impact whenever she is on screen. Reiser is fantastic, too. His character is such a bad guy but that never stops us from liking him. Oliver Cooper’s Wheeler is the best nerdy-side-character-who-the-hot-girl-falls-in-love-with I’ve ever seen — even if there is one too many Misty breakup scares this season — and Turshen is spectacular as Misty, as she always has been.
Anything you didn’t like about the season?
Sure. The aforementioned Wheeler-Misty breakup scares all suck, because you just know they’re gonna end up together. They each have a secondary “love interest” — Misty has a handsome boss, and Wheeler’s professor wants his sperm because her husband is shooting blanks — it’s all very 80s summer camp movie, which is appropriate, but given how short this season was, those storylines really felt like a waste of precious screentime.
Does David have a love interest this season?
Yup. Annabelle. She’s a wardrobe PA, played by Allison Lanier. Lanier is kind of shaky in the season’s early going, but quickly catches on to the show’s rhythm. By the time the season is over you’re cheering for Annabelle and David to make out already.
And speaking of David, I should mention that Craig Roberts is a great lead here. He’s unassuming, and his character is less broad than, say, Nash or Wheeler, but his David is always someone you’re rooting for.
So you’ve sold me on the show; I’m going to check it out. But is there anything else you want to tell me about it while you have my attention?
It’s just great. It will make you happy. Is that not enough?
I wish we got more stuff like this, and that when we did get it — when a team of incredible filmmakers team up to give it to us — that we didn’t collectively ignore it until it gets canceled prematurely. This is a Soderbergh show for God’s sake.
You’re going to get riled up about “The Knick” now, aren’t you?
Urgh. I really should. But no, I’m going to keep talking about how friggin’ great “Red Oaks” is.
Seriously, go watch it from the beginning. And then watch it again (you’ll want to, I promise). It’s not life-changing, but it will cheer you up. And what else can you ask for, I ask you. What else can you ask for? Also, P.S.: Someone needs to give Ennis Esmer the lead role in a sitcom right the hell now. Get on it, Hollywood Executives. Get on it ASAP. [A-]