Review Billy & Billie Episode 1

Billy & Billie: Episode #1 Review

“Come As You Are”

“Who’s gonna tell Mom?”

If I hadn’t read the synopsis or seen the trailer for Billy & Billie, I might have been genuinely shocked by the closing words of the show’s pilot episode.

b1

Don’t let the cutesy title fool you, Billy & Billie isn’t a safe, sugary sweet rom-com like recently ill-fated network comedies like A to Z or Us & Them, instead it’s a sharp dramedy that embraces one of society’s few remaining taboo relationships.

Billy (Adam Brody) and Billie (Lisa Joyce) have known one another for a long time, since their parents were married in fact. That’s right, their step-brother and sister, something that is only alluded to in the first episode outside of the final scene.

We meet Billy and Billie the morning after – a scene that has been well established in any pretty much any rom-com ever. What makes this version work is that these two people already feel lived in, and Brody and Joyce immediately convey a long sense of history and sibling antagonism between their characters. Their rapid-fire banter is as classic as the banter between actors in that “black and white shit” (aka His Girl Friday) that Billy finds so romantic, only with a modern helping of crassness.

Creator, writer and director Neil Labute has done a great job of recreating real speak. Though I was initially surprised by how many times Billie casually threw the word “fuck” around, I realised that is exactly what I must sound like to the people who have b2the misfortune of being seated near me in a restaurant.

It’s unfortunate that the supporting characters leave a lot to be desired. Billie’s best friend Drew (Gia Crovatin) is a snarky, stereotypically shallow actress, while Billy’s two co-workers Tom (Phil Burke) and Keith (Jake Lacy) are two ‘dude-bros’ who right now exist merely as a dichotomy to his more sensitive character.

The pilot only scratches at Billy & Billie’s potential and barely leans on the pseudo-incestuous nature of the titular characters, but Brody and Joyce’s charm was enough to get me to binge-watch all ten episodes of the first season during a particularly seedy Sunday.

Line of the episode: “We’re not gonna go dutch on this, I let you fuck me from behind.” – Billie.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for reviews of all ten episodes.

 

Criterion 1
Users (0 votes) 0
What people say... Leave your rating
Sort by:

Be the first to leave a review.

User Avatar
Verified
{{{ review.rating_title }}}
{{{review.rating_comment | nl2br}}}

Show more
{{ pageNumber+1 }}
Leave your rating

Your browser does not support images upload. Please choose a modern one

Related articles

How Freddie Poole became Sylvester Stallone’s Stunt Double

https://youtu.be/M6eezUPuCwU Emmy-nominated Stunt Coordinator Freddie Poole has been in the business...

The Accountant 2 Review

The Accountant 2 brings back Ben Affleck's savant in...

Hands on with Onimusha 2 – Remaster

Onimusha 2’s remaster revitalizes the classic game, enhancing graphics and mechanics while preserving its engaging story and nostalgic charm. Players follow protagonist Jubai's revenge against Nobunaga in a blend of action and Japanese folklore. The game introduces diverse weapons and strategic combat, promising an exciting experience for both returning fans and newcomers.

The Fantastic 4 : First Steps Trailer

The Fantastic Four : First Steps is the latest...

Sinners Review

Ryan Coogler’s film "Sinners" reinvents the vampire narrative, using these creatures to symbolize assimilation. Set in the American South, it follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack as they aim to establish a juke joint. Interwoven with Delta Blues music, the film explores deep themes of cultural heritage, oppression, and exploitation, culminating in a visually stunning climax.