And yes, the subtleness and the meaning of every gesture makes this a really interesting viewing experience.

Great point about extreme responses as the trope of many shows. I was thinking more of the emotional extremism of prime time soaps but yes, these literally extreme reactions are even more fitting.

I tried Terriers. I saw you tweeting and watched the pilot and it just didn’t work for me…it was smart and well done and I wish I’d have been more interested in the characters and the plot.

One thing I find interesting is your note about the lack of extremism in Alicia’s actions: she doesn’t get a divorce, she doesn’t make a substantial life change, etc. And yet if you look at similar series with female leads, thinking here of Weeds or The Big C, it’s all about extremism: in the wake of death or a cancer diagnosis, they start dealing drugs or letting their life fall out from under them.

I think some people problematize the series’ procedural structure, and the lack of “real” serialization, but I think the show would be far less interesting if you moved it to pay cable and Alicia became truly unhinged. Her level-headed approach to this situation offers a comfortably baseline still capable of drawing real drama, and those moments when the bubble bursts (see: aforementioned bathroom scene) are that much more powerful within this context.

It defines the character, and it defines the show, CBS’ reputation be damned.

Honest!

Especially considering that sexuality is at the center of the scandal, I’m enjoying her representation as neither the wife who doesn’t enjoy sex nor the wife who gets off on cheating but a real person confused by her desires and emotions and everything in between…