Blunt Talk: Season 1/ Episode 1 “I Seem to Be Running Out of Dreams for Myself” [Series Premiere] – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

Blunt Talk is pure madness. From being caught with a trans sex worker to interviewing himself, Walter Blunt is the type of figure which will either make you laugh your butt off or question, “What in the hell is Patrick Stewart doing with his life?”

Characters & Story

Walter Blunt (Patrick Stewart) is a 4x divorcee, is currently in a custody battle, and has a news program which is slowly but surely descending in the ratings. Due to this, his drinking has increased as well as his erratic behavior. Though what doesn’t really help things is the fact he is surrounded by people as crazy, if not crazier, than him, and they all are enablers. His former military subordinate Harry (Adrian Scarborough) seems to enjoy partaking in whatever Walter is getting into; one of his producers, Jim (Timm Sharp), has no problem handing him narcotics; a slew of his other producers seem to just be worried about making him happy; and then Rosalie (Jacki Weaver), someone who seems to be like the women he never married, who I believe is his executive producer, coddles him rather than tries to force him to get himself together.

Praise

What makes this show so interesting and appealing is the idea of seeing Patrick Stewart who often is the ground force in his films, acting like a complete and utter jackass. Not a callous one mind you, but like a kind, idiot frat boy. One which doesn’t judge a trans sex worker, for he just wants to kiss her breast; a man whose best friend since the military he loves for he’ll do lines of coke with him; and all the while he acknowledges he is a mess, and hopes you’ll stay with him as he tries to deal with the consequences for his actions.

Criticism

Though Seth MacFarlane is but an executive producer and doesn’t have a hand in writing this, I do feel like if you took the madness of his shows, and tried to make it live action, and with less physical comedy, this is perhaps what you would get. And while I loved A Million Ways to Die in the West, I can’t imagine watching such over the top nonsense week in and week out. For, don’t get me wrong, Stewart is funny, but the question becomes: how long can the downfall of a man nearing the end of his career be funny? Especially since his self-destructive nature is about his desperate need to feel wanted and needed? Much less, when you can see that many of those around him may not necessarily have his best interest. If anything, they either want to just keep their jobs, watch the train wreck, or very likely both.

Overall: Stick Around

For me, Stewart’s embodiment of such a self-destructive character is what got me through this premiere episode. If only because everything else just didn’t appeal to my sense of humor. However, even with that said, I think this is definitely worth checking out for it seems Stewart maybe game for anything and just seeing what scenarios they put him through maybe reason enough to watch. As for me though, maybe when the season is over I might marathon through it, but I’m not looking for episode 2 no time soon.

 

Collected Quote(s)

“I just need to adjust my mask, it keeps on slipping.”

—           “I Seem to Be Running Out of Dreams for Myself.” Blunt Talk