Tonight’s episode of Looking is another step in the right direction for the series that seems to have overcome some of its early problems.
This week’s episode was focused solely on developing the relationship between Richie (Raul Castillo) and Patrick (Jonathan Groff). The episode opens with Patrick waking up and trying to subtly ease his way out of Richie’s bed. Given that last episode ended with them reconnecting, we automatically assumed that he was trying to sneak out, especially with the creaking floorboards. But it turns out they’ve spent several nights together and he was trying to not be late again. Of course, Richie has to ruin that by playing the guitar so amazingly and then blowing him into next week (our first major sex scene with the two).
From there they move on to one of those all day excursions couples can have. Richie and Patrick walk around the city talking about their first times with guys (Patrick: 15, on a bus with a classmate in Utah), getting married and other things. The best moment was when they stopped by a Planetarium and had a frank conversation about bottoming with Patrick saying he’s never done it and Richie making him seem like he had bottom shame. I cracked up throughout but it was a really interesting discussion on how people view sexuality. The ep ended with Patrick telling Richie that he’d like to bottom one day but “I think I’ve opened up enough for today.”
Overall Thoughts: I know the Looking folks don’t like to be compared to Girls, but this episode reminded me a lot of the episode last season where Hannah and a hunky guy shacked up for a weekend mixed with Andrew Haigh‘s Weekend. There were frank discussions about sex, love, each characters lives, set against some beautiful scenery and intimate spaces. I loved how frank everything was from the dialogue to the camera movement, which allowed us to really come into the relationship and feelings of the two characters. I really dug the performances tonight. Jonathan Groff found a new way to shade his sort of awkward/playful shtick and Raul Castillo continues to find new ways to show sensitive confidence. His voice is like a lustful beacon without trying to be but his aura is of one who is stealing himself, but open to trust. Really great work. It was also pretty awesome to see the Academy of Sciences and it’s planetarium used in the show 🙂
Best Line: “Did you have pineapple yesterday?” – Richie (Raul Castillo) in the restaurant immediately after swallowing Patrick’s load