As a seasoned cineaste with a heart full of nostalgia for the golden days of female-led sitcoms, I find myself yearning for the camaraderie and wit that “The Sex and the City” or “Gilmore Girls” once provided us. Alas, the current crop of offerings leaves much to be desired, and unfortunately, “The Sex Lives of College Girls” falls short in delivering the charm and relatability that made those shows so endearing.

Now don’t get me wrong; I’ve been a fan of Mindy Kaling’s work since her days on “The Office,” and I am all too familiar with the trials and tribulations of being a young, ambitious woman in the world today. However, this show feels like it’s trying to cram too much into each episode, leaving little room for character development or meaningful story arcs.

I yearn for the days when Whitney wasn’t juggling a love triangle, #WomaninSTEM drama, and emotional manipulation by her coach all at once. I long for the moments when Kimberly had more to do than “ooh” and “aah” over architecture or when Bela was in a love story that made us root for her instead of cringe at her actions.

I find myself sighing as I watch Whitney’s misadventures, wishing that the writers would give her (and the other girls) a break and focus on one plotline instead of spreading themselves thin. I can only hope that they will heed my call for a single narrative thread to ground these characters in reality and connect them to each other.

And as for Vincint, well, I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for their cover of “Creep,” but Diddy? Let’s just say that the judges can take a hike, along with any unnecessary edits.

On a lighter note, if you ever find yourself wondering what Tig Notaro is snacking on during her courtyard lunches, let me save you the trouble: it’s definitely not an apple or a segmented orange. I’d put good money on her munching on something far more exotic – perhaps a kale chip or two, if she’s feeling indulgent.

Friends, let’s get together and prepare for a frank discussion, as this current season of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” isn’t quite hitting the spot for me! Despite not claiming it was groundbreaking in the Mindy Kaling Universe, I did appreciate the first two seasons. Shows like “Never Have I Ever”, “The Mindy Project”, and even “Velma” come to mind. I enjoyed watching this group of women bond and evolve together. However, Leighton’s absence might not be the only problem. It seems that these stories lack energy and connection, making it feel as if we’re assigning them random tasks until a significant event brings them all back together.

This week, Kimberly has a day off! That’s exciting! Perhaps she could spend time with her friends, but… instead, she chooses to explore the Essex campus? Is that intriguing? Does it reveal anything new about her character? Not particularly! Could this campus tour be a pretext for Kimberly to interact with Brian, one of Tig Notaro’s law classmates, whom she may develop feelings for? Absolutely! However, I can’t help but feel that there could have been a more organic way to bring these two characters together. They already share a class; why resort to the familiar trope of Kimberly being infatuated with Essex again? This doesn’t add anything new to her character, and it risks making her less likable due to the repetition of her actions.

This narrative trope is causing trouble for everyone, including Bela and Arvind who haven’t shared intimacy yet (which is causing her stress). Given their limited screen time together, it’s not surprising. Admittedly, I find myself questioning this relationship. It seems beneficial for Bela to encounter men outside of the comedy world who won’t mistreat her, but honestly, I feel that she would find Arvind dull. Their relationship feels awkward to me.

From a narrative standpoint, it’s understandable that Bela might want to explore new paths beyond comedy. However, a single line in the first episode of the season is all we get about her moving away from comedy, and that’s it. I wish there were more details about how this change affects her or if she finds fulfillment in her new activities, but unfortunately, the story doesn’t delve deeper. Watching their relationship isn’t enjoyable!

As a long-time fan of this sitcom, I must admit that the recent introduction of Kacey and Taylor has left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. You see, one of my favorite aspects of a good comedy is the way it introduces new characters to enrich the storyline and offer fresh perspectives on existing ones. However, it appears to me that these two characters were merely placed in the show to fill the void left by Leighton’s departure.

One might argue that Kacey, with her blonde hair and queer identity, and Taylor, who is preoccupied with her image, are unique additions to the cast. But they seem to me like an awkward attempt to split Leighton into two characters – a forced dichotomy that doesn’t resonate with me.

I find myself questioning what insights we are gaining from watching Whitney, Bela, and Kimberly interact with Kacey and Taylor. The writers keep teasing potential depths in these newcomers, but so far, I haven’t seen anything particularly enlightening, such as a deeper exploration of Taylor’s relationship with alcohol or her motivations for being mean to Bela and her circle. Instead, their storylines seem to follow a predictable pattern: Taylor is unkind, she eventually reveals the reason behind her actions, and then we move on until the next episode, where the cycle repeats itself.

Frankly, I’ve had Taylor on my radar since her debut, and I must confess that I’m not impressed. There may be more potential for Kacey, I suppose, as she has a greater role in the storyline, with her involvement in “BREAD! The Musical” and her obsession with image and appearance. Still, at this point, I find myself indifferent to her character, which makes me resent her for taking time away from the other girls’ stories.

In my opinion, these new characters could benefit from more development and a stronger connection to the existing cast if they want to captivate audiences like Leighton did. For now, I’ll patiently wait and hope that Kacey and Taylor grow on me in future episodes.

Inquiring about Whitney: What’s going on with her? She seems to have an abundance of storylines. Here they are: (1) A high-achieving woman in STEM dealing with anxiety, (2) a love triangle involving a wealthy suitor and her ex-boyfriend, (3) an emotional manipulation by her coach regarding a sports injury, and (4) previously being part of a sorority. Given these circumstances, she often finds herself estranged from the others, contributing to a confusing, disjointed atmosphere. However, it’s clear that something significant is brewing with Whitney – she appears to be on the verge of making a risky emotional decision!

She’s been dishonest about her injury with Willow, worried about losing funding for her fish lab, and upset with Isaiah for financing her research with his father’s money. Yet, her mother is a senator; it seems odd that she reacts as if she’s financially strapped or surprised by wealthy individuals’ influence. She confronts him about this, but his apology doesn’t satisfy her. Later, when she encounters Canaan, he offers similar sentiments regarding his scholarship experience, which Whitney supposedly understands – I find that hard to believe, given her mother’s political standing!

My original concern still holds: Ladies, could we spread the plotlines among the other characters as well?

As a longtime fan of this show, I can’t help but feel a little frustrated with the lack of depth and character development that has been present thus far. With my background in storytelling and creative writing, I find myself yearning for more substance from the narrative. It seems as though the writers are content to let Kimberly remain a passive character, constantly oohing and aahing over the architecture of her school, when there is so much untapped potential for growth and depth.

Bringing Bela into a love triangle would not only add excitement but also give her an opportunity to explore her emotions and motivations more fully. The idea of having her grapple with the consequences of her actions from last season would be intriguing, offering audiences a chance to see her grow as a character.

Incorporating references to characters like Leighton, or even sending a picture of something significant to her, would help to ground the show in reality and give us a sense of continuity. And above all, I believe that having a single narrative thread that ties the entire series together would greatly enhance the overall cohesion and impact of the story.

I implore the writers to consider these suggestions, as they have the power to elevate this show from merely entertaining to truly captivating. Let’s give these characters the chance to shine and make us laugh, cry, and root for them every week.

Office Hours

I was really excited to discover VINCINT on this platform! Their rendition of “Creep” is still my favorite cover, and surprisingly, I found it on The Four. I’ve listened to it way too many times. By the way, for those who enjoy editing YouTube performance videos: Could we possibly edit Diddy out of this video? Ideally, we should eliminate all the judges, but removing Diddy seems most urgent. Many thanks in advance!

While Tig Notaro is enjoying her meal in the courtyard, could you kindly observe the bottom right bench carefully and let me know if it’s an apple or a large bag of apples she’s eating, or perhaps a segmented orange? I’m curious to find out what she might be snacking on.

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2025-01-03 06:54