Togetherness

If you recognize the quote in my title, then run don't walk to your nearest tv and watch this show (particularly episode 3 "Insanity" where the song is featured in the greatest air-drumming scene since Wayne's World). If you don't recognize the song, that's ok, check out the show anyway and become a fan of the greatest rock band in Canadian history and I'm NOT talking about Nickelback.

Where was I? Who cares, let's stay on the subject of music. Often overlooked in light of the show's dramatic and comedic charms is the incredibly awesome soundtrack to this series. It's not any 1 particular genre, and in fact it straddles the entire spectrum from 80s rock (Rush, Skid Row, Fleetwood Mac) to pop (The Cure, The Proclaimers "500 Miles") to classic country (LOVED the "Devil Went Down to Georgia" dueling dance in episode 4 "Houston We Have a Problem"!) to fresh new beats I didn't recognize, and a particularly memorable season closer that ended with the powerful song (which I had never heard before but emphatically recommend) "The Wilhelm Scream" by James Blake.

I'm dwelling on the awesome soundtrack because, in my thousands of reviews on imdb (yes, I'm that pathetic), I've noticed a direct correlation between the awesomeness of a film/show and its soundtrack. From Oscar-winning "Amadeus" to cult-cheese "Zardoz", a killer soundtrack is the mark of a great production, and "Togetherness" definitely fits the bill.

Now about the show itself. The other reviews covered that admirably, so I won't waste your time. I'll just say the 4 main characters are each very memorable, quirky, lovable and at times detestable. These 4 characters are "Alex" (Steve Zissis), a self-proclaimed chubby-balding-comical-sidekick who is a failed actor looking for serious roles even though he only gets cast as "hemorrhoid #2" in a Preparation-H commercial; his love-hate buddy "Tina" (Amanda Peet), a super hot, super cocky, grown up "mean girl" who is an utter failure in all her relationships; her sister "Michelle" (Melanie Lynskey) who is stuck in a lustless marriage and dreams of wild extramarital adventures even though the closest she gets is awkwardly flirting with adolescents outside the 7-Eleven; and finally her lustless husband "Brett" (writer/director Mark Duplass) as a really quirky, complex, vegan, borderline autistic character who is incapable of being anything other than himself which amounts to having the personality of a Roy Rogers wagon wheel coffee table.

Throw all 4 of these weirdos together in cramped quarters (temporarily living under the same roof due to various personal disasters) and you have a bona fide awesome comedy about the tragedy of real life.

I bought this blu-ray set on a whim (and because there's someone on ebay selling new sets for around $5 bucks, hurry while they last) even though I had no interest in the genre, but I was instantly hooked and ended up binge watching the entire 1st season in 1 night. Sadly, the show was cancelled after 2 seasons, and even sadlier, Season 2 will probably never be released on blu-ray. And SADLIEST OF ALL, we'll never get Season 3 with an air drumming scene of Rush "YYZ". Oh well, thank your lucky stars we got this.

As I was midway through the first season I was wondering why it didn't create more buzz when it came out, it's one the best shows that are never talked about. It starts out on a lighter note, people laughing and enjoying themselves but as the series progresses it becomes bit more downcast but the progression is natural. It's very real and doesn't feel like the show was written for anything but that, not aesthetics, not for laughs, etcetera; at no point does it feel like they changed the story or dialogue to make it more interesting, deep or funny because it's such a natural flow of events. It was just made to exhibit the struggles of long term relationships, not just romantic, but between best friends, work partners and family as well, when they've each hit lows.

Before I finished the show I already knew HBO called it quits after season 2 and was a little disappointed it'll come to an end but i think they ended it in a good place, a bit rubber stamp but in a good place. Not a happy, but more of a hopeful sign off. I think it'd run its course and a third season would've felt forced after a few episodes in terms of where they were gonna take the show.

The cast of "Togetherness" consists mainly of actors who are known from other comedies, playing secondary roles like Mark Duplass ("The Mindy Project"), Melanie Lynskey ("Two and a Half Men"'s Rose) and Amanda Peet who among other TV shows had a small breakthrough to the big screen with comedies such as "The Whole Nine Yards".

Nothing original about the premise of Togetherness. A married couple with kid(s), a loser (and stereotypically fat) best friend who sleeps on their couch, a sister who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life and her biological clock is ticking for a solid relationship...

So, how is this any different from the thousands other sitcoms of present, past and future? Well...it isn't...by much.

It tries to be more "sexual oriented". The problems of marital sex, secret desires, the need for ...self satisfaction etc.

You even get to see Amanda Peet's naked breasts for at least ...5 Mississippis, and Mark Duplass's ...(well the 3 last letters of his surname)!

Thankfully those nude/sex scenes aren't ridiculous. They didn't went for the laughs. The goal of the producers wasn't (obviously) to make it look "sensual" or "spicy" either. It seems to me like they are trying to bring up the loneliness everyone feels nowadays, even if he or she are surrounded by people. A symbolism of lost hopes too. I think that's why they preferred the title "Togetherness" instead of "Bret & Michelle" or something. Everyone needs someone to be close to.

Brett (Mark Duplass) and Michelle Pierson (Melanie Lynskey) are an LA couple with kids. Their marriage is a little tired. He takes in his bald chubby unemployed actor friend Alex Pappas (Steve Zissis). Her sister Tina Morris (Amanda Peet) has a troubled love life with rich producer Larry (Peter Gallagher).

This is a relationship sitcom from the Duplass brothers. It has their style and sensibilities. On the surface, Amanda Peet is way out of Steve Zissis' league. The show levels them up by making her a bigger mess and him more lovable than he deserves to be. It's endearing but it strikes me as another version of the slovenly sitcom husband with the inexplicable hot wife. They do drive the show more than the troubled married couple. It's hard to root for the couple that is always on the verge of breaking apart. The four leads are compelling enough to be interesting. The show works best when they are together. In that way, I want more Togetherness.

..this is a really good series. It's truly hoped that HBO will make the right decision and go for season three. The four leads are outstanding, but in fact the entire cast is incredible. The little girl is a real star.. and AP is just captivating. There are numerous scenes in just these first two seasons which show how truly great an actor this woman really is. Sure it winds up a bit too predictable at the end of season two. But they can change that around as easily as they choose in upcoming episodes. All facets of the production are top notch, these guys have the formula down. There's a very good Vanity Fair article about them. They're a real force, and if they don't burn out, we should be seeing much great stuff continue on from them.. so look forward to it.

... after 5 years went back and watched all episodes again... it weakens marginally in second season... yet still remains one of the best of the genre.. programming today must be centered around winning-awards & big-viewership... sadly.. great-little-series with limited-viewers will always get tossed after 1-2 seasons... and yes forties Amanda Peet is awesome .