scarletwriteer-blog

[scarletwriteer-blog]

Hi! I want to write short stories, poetry, and reviews on here. Due to that there will be a username change.

—SR

[scarletwriteer-blog]

[EP. 2] Fosse/Verdon Review

A not-so-mini, not to mention spoiler filled review in honor of the second episode releasing of the FX tv show Fosse/Verdon, starring Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams. The show takes it’s viewers through a historic trip through the lives, love, and hardships of choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon.

In this episode, released as of April 4th, 2019, it starts with the camera showing you Verdon on a beachside, looking sullen off towards the distance. I found this a start that set the mood for the episode, which was full of emotions for the characters. When the episode truly starts to take off, Verdon walks in to audition for her role in Damn, Yankees. Fosse, the newly hired choreographer, is the one to decide whether or not Verdon will receive the role. When Verdon asks if she’s earned the role, Fosse responds with, “You got the part before you walked in the door.” Fosse has a newfound admiration for Verdon you don’t find from the characters in their later marriage. Seeing Fosse and Verdon youthful and their love at its peak is refreshing. It gives the viewers the hope they need to believe there is love left between Verdon and Fosse.

Verdon and Joan’s awkward encounter in the dressing room reveals to Verdon the truth behind Fosse’s fascination with her. Fosse wants Verdon’s fame that he was never able to catch a hold of. “I guess he thought I could make him one. Well, maybe you will do better.” Joan had said to Verdon as she left the dressing room, talking about helping Fosse become a star. As a viewer, I couldn’t help but appreciate Joan, even if she was the wall between Fosse and Verdon. Joan left Verdon with a sudden realization. Joan had mentioned what Fosse wanted more than being a choreographer, he wanted to be a star. Earlier in the episode, Fosse offered to step in for another dancer, to which the directors denied. Fosse was asking and showed he was desperate to be a bigger part of the production. Later, Fosse and Verdon find each other behind a building at the party and share an intimate moment before Fosse asks Verdon to leave her boyfriend, to which Verdon replies, “I’ll leave him if you leave her.” Fosse was silent, causing Verdon to leave. Verdon has proved herself to be strong willed, and continually refuses to serve Fosse without him doing something for her in return. In other words, Verdon won’t let Fosse leech off of her. Once the future Verdon at the end of the episode notices the exact thing she was so stubbornly avoiding has occurred, she simply drops Fosse. Verdon realized she had become Joan, and the other woman before Joan. The episode ends magnificently, leaving me thrilled for the next episode.

The main question I possess after this episode is, if Fosse used his wives to climb further up the tower of fame, what is Fosse doing with the translator? Does Fosse actually love the translator compared to the fake love he showed his wives? I’m sure my questions will be answered in future episodes.

I think this episode has built up the story perfectly and has given viewers a glimpse at Fosse and Verdon before their troubled marriage. It gives us more of a look at Verdon’s views on Fosse cheating. Verdon has appeared to be the most powerful thus far in the show, which again has me exuberant. For now I am Team Verdon, since she worked toward her fame while Fosse has just been using successful women to gain stardom from. Of course, Fosse too has worked hard and is a gifted choreographer, but as Joan had previously said, Fosse lacks a quality that makes a star. I was entertained the entire episode. This episode is my favorite so far, I found it intriguing and the parallels between past-Verdon and Fosse and future-Verdon and Fosse were perfect to add. The first episode had me confused on the past-future switching but the second episode perfected those transitions. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. In fact, I loved this episode so much that I watched it again right after. For those who didn’t like the first episode and decided to never watch it again, give it another try. The second episode will have you hooked. I stay optimistic that Fosse/Verdon will further impress me. -S.R

[scarletwriteer-blog]

[EP. 1] Fosse/Verdon Review

Mini spoiler-free review in honor of the first episode releasing last week of the FX tv show Fosse/Verdon, starring Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams. The show takes it’s viewers on a historic trip through the lives, love, and hardships of the choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon. Fosse/Verdon isn’t just for Broadway lovers, its for the history majors and lovers of drama, not just in theater but in real events. Seeing the commercials for this show had me beyond excitement for the first episode. Just the sight of the cast list, including Lin Manuel Miranda as executive producer, left me convinced this would be the best show I’ve ever watched.

The show has a sexy start, with Fosse directing Verdon. It starts off somewhat slow, with Fosse and Verdon directing around dancers. Neither event holds any significance to the plot yet I found it enjoyable, as if I was apart of the show and getting some VIP experience from Verdon and Fosse. These starting moments give the viewers a look at Verdon and Fosse during their work, proving how perfect the duo seems. My favorite part of the episode was the ending, where Verdon showed up at Fosse’s hotel door with a surprise for him.The episode ended well and left me wanting the second. I felt somewhat let down by the stagnant sections in this episode. I hope the show goes up from here, since it has so much potential with the perfection of the costumes and the cast, besides Liza Minnelli not looking like Liza Minnelli, but it's near impossible to have an alike physical presence of Liza Minnelli, therefore it is excused. I seem to have mixed feelings throughout this episode, but I have to say it was mostly positive. I highly advertised the show to just about anyone who talked to me, because I felt they deserved to witness the hardwork and talent put into Fosse/Verdon. Truly, I look forward to even more extraordinary things from Fosse/Verdon and hope it will further live up to my expectations. -S.R.