Us & Them : A Post-Mortem
RIP S&M
In 2013, 7 episodes of Us & Them – starring Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore) – were filmed before Fox put the show on eternal hiatus with insiders saying it would never be broadcast on Fox. The pilot and six episodes were limitedly aired on other networks in 2014 and for those who look hard enough, can now be ferretted out from the Internets.
The comedy series bounced between New York and Pennsylvania, revolving around the long-distance relationship between Alexis Bledel and Jason Ritter. Around the eye of their tornado swirled their comedy sidekicks and oddball families. Both charm and laughs came from the actors’ natural chemistry, the awkwardness of fledgling relationships and the resultant situational comedy.
This was the third time a US remake of the cult BBC show Gavin & Stacey had been attempted and the pilot episode displays the closest ties to its origins.
As a result, it is laced with wickedly coarse dialogue, understated comedic beats and a grown-up attitude that put it a bar above, say, Suburgatory or Community. Us & Them is informed by both shows, indeed some of the characters could have been lifted directly in terms of quirkiness and delivery.
Alexis underplays to great effect and is simultaneously grown-up, sweet and sexy. It’s a better, richer evolution than her casting in Post-Grad. Both she and Jason Ritter are nicely cast as the young lovers – once you put aside the image of him getting it on with Lauren Graham (Rory’s mom, Lorelai Gilmore) in Parenthood. Their best friends are similarly well cast albeit one-dimensional, with Dustin Ybarra in James Corden’s ‘Smithy’ role edged out by Ashlie Atkinson’s deliciously dirty Nessa.
Fox eventually pulled its initial order of 13 episodes citing unhappiness with the quality of scripts and ultimately the refreshing edginess of the pilot becomes watered down as the show progresses, hampered by mainstream writing.
The quirkiness is unnecessarily turned up a notch and the intelligent crassness is curbed. **It’s a damn shame because on the strength of the pilot, this could have been a gem. **
Alexis shines as the country girl, shy and unassuming but equally keen to jump in the sack or throw down to protect her own. I would strongly recommend this to Alexis’ fans.
And did anyone else fondly recall this related season 6 reference? (Put your hand down AmityL)
Bill from the Yale Daily newsroom Professor Wallace wants a correction to the interview we printed with him. He wants to clarify that he, in fact, referred to his department’s problems with the advisory board as an quote ‘us and them thing.’ End quote. Rory What did we print? Bill ‘S and M thing.’ Rory Heh that’s kinda funny.
Did you catch Us & Them?
Will you be hunting it out?
What did you think of Post-Grad and Alexis’ other post-Gilmore exploits?
Pic c/o Fox