Episode Commentary: “Do it, Monkey”

After two limp episodes to start its first season, “Hung” has quickly gotten itself in a position to grow as a series. The question remains however if that position will be the right one and create the type of satisfaction viewers are looking for.

The first few minutes are steamy ones and ones many thought the show would have from the beginning.

Nothing like a trashy sex scene to get a show going in the right direction.

Starting the series with nothing, Thomas Jane’s character, Ray Drecker, now has something to smile about. While his co-venture with Tanya is still struggling, he gets a second wind, thanks to an eccentric new customer who has plenty of money and time to burn. Nonetheless, the struggles he has trying to satisfy her emotionally before he can get physical with her [again] are different from anything on TV.

They are also the funniest moments of the series thus far.

The beginning of what seems to be a nice side plot, Drecker may have bitten off more than he can chew, but he’s got a roof to fix and children to win back.

Interesting plot premise to say the least.

However, the question remains if Ray is up to the challenge.

In other developments, Drecker’s ex-wife’s [Ann Heche] life is falling apart. If her shoddy marriage wasn’t enough, her relationship with her children is a disaster as well. Normally, seeing Heche complain when she has everything is a chore for the viewer, but seeing her miserable is a blast. Seeing her husband beg for sex and end up empty handed is even better.

Drecker’s children don’t seem too satisfied either, making the viewer wonder that they too may be ready to jump ship and go live with their father again. Will they? Can they solve their own problems as well?

Every great series has even greater side stories with convincing supporting characters. While “Hung” hasn’t lived up to expectations in this department yet, they’ve gotten a long way so far by faking their way through the first handful of episodes. For “Hung” to continue to garner ratings and viewers, the children of the show and Heche have to be given a bigger role and have dilemmas that matter in the world of the main character.

As of right now, they are just small pokes in his world, rather than a full-fledged kick to the groin.

Luckily, Tanya’s world is turned upside down when Floyd [Steve Hytner] makes up for his insecurities and lashes out at her. Not a good move for him, but it does serve a purpose, as Tanya is left feeling insecure herself. Who will she call for support? Will anyone answer her? Will she be OK? At the very least, while this scene isn’t as fleshed out as it needs to be, it provides the series with someone else to care about besides Ray and makes “Hung” the more intriguing.

Simply put, more moments like this, combined with Ray’s antics are needed before this show can consider itself a real hit.

With a plethora of questions remaining to be answered and Jane’s charisma and wit at an all-time high [for the show, anyway], “Hung” continues to gain respectability.

As of right now, the show has yet to induce a full-blown viewer orgasm, despite several close calls. Nevertheless, that moment appears to be rapidly approaching as the blood vessels of the show’s “marbles” continue to get larger every week.

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