Summery: An adventure reporter must adapt when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine “The Great Outdoors,” he’s been working at for a long time (IMDB).
Jack Gordon:”Jack.. Jack.. Jack.. I’ll skip ahead then minutes. Jack.. Jack.. Jack..”
Rachel: “Yeah, I saved a man’s life today at work, but you were right to go first.”
Maggie Lawson has proven over and over again that she is an actress whose performances rise above mediocricy. Talent and natural charisma are only pocketchange though when one is up against chliche writing in a middle of the road tv show.
While I greatly admire Joel McHale and Stephen Fry, both men kings of intelligent comedy in respectively the US and the UK, they must have been misguided in their judgements somehow for agreeing to play leading parts in The Great Indoors – a show devoid of the brilliance these men are known for. Labelled as a comedy, the show has difficulty living up to the standard. Within the first minutes, it targets millenials and it never lays down. In fact, mocking millenials and their life-style seems to be the main source of entertainment provided to the tv audience. That, and a cute animal making its appearance in most every episode, which disturbs me because bears and otters are not supposed to be picked up and cuddled; they are wildlife and to be left alone to thrive in nature. The message the show seems to want to bring forward is that millenials are stupid and nature is to be used at our pleasure. There is a selfish and unconcerned theme applied (undoubtely another stereotypical hit at the said generation), which I do not condone.
It took twelve episodes to plough through before Maggie Lawson’s first appearance (13. “DTR”) and I must say, seeing her was a delight. A 140 second delight, because that’s all she got in her introductionary episode. To be fair though, by this time the show was able to produce more than a luke-warm smile with it’s comedy, but I can’t be sure whether this was genuine or if they simply beat me senseless with below-the-belt banter and inferior wit.
spoilers ahead
Maggie’s character in her four-episode arch is that of the charming Rachel, who is ready for commitment. She becomes Jack Gordon’s (McHale) girlfriend and the two really hit it off. Rachel and Jack share their sarcastic sense of humor and they seem to ‘get’ one another on all the important levels. The relationship between the two equals ends when Rachel gets a job offer she cannot refuse, moving her too far away from Jack to continue their affair. Since the two broke up amically over a move, I wouldn’t have bet against Maggie’s return to the show to continue where they left off, should The Great Indoors have been granted another season. On May 13th CBS officially cancelled the freshman show however, so that will never be.
end spoilers
If you are a fan of Joel McHale and Stephen Fry, do yourself a favor and steer away from The Great Indoors; even though Maggie played a lovely part, it will not be worth your anguish. If you do not care much for either of these actor’s wonderful body of work, or if you are in the mood for simple, uncomplicated entertainment, then you should give it a go. There are, after all, worse ways to die.
