If you think that any relationship is complicated, there is no more complicated relationship than with sisters. Sure, it’s a built in best friend and that’s an amazing thing. But it also takes awhile to get to that place.
Sisters are complicated. Especially when you and your sister are extremely different people. Pretty Smart is Netflix’s latest journey into the sitcom and it’s an ambitious one. It’s definitely better than Country Comfort, but after the first episode – we’re still not sold.
However, if you know how I hated Country Comfort, this isn’t that. This show is enjoyable. It’s funny. Just a lot of trying too hard jokes.
Claire is a carefree eccentric living in Los Angeles, in a house full of equally carefree friends. Her sister Chelsea is an uptight book snob, whose life centers on education and she looks down on people who aren’t on the same intellectual level than her.
Chelsea comes into town and is waiting for her boyfriend. She’s spent many years supporting him and is continuing to support him in at USC. Three days, that’s all that she supposed to be with her sister.
And who can’t survive three days with her sister and her roommates? Chelsea. That’s who.
Though I love Emily Osment, the character of Chelsea is one of the most stereotypical uptight snobs that I have ever seen. Right down to the blazer, she’s wound tighter than a top. She looks down on everyone and acts as if being kind to her sister or her roommates is dissolving her brain cells.
Granted they are a little too much for me, but only because they play into every stereotype, which I don’t think is necessary in order to be funny. There’s Jayden, the narcissist influencer that thinks that the world revolves around him; Solana, the lawyer turned healer and Grant, the physical trainer who is as dumb as dumb can be. But all of them are equal parts entertaining and eccentric.
But the way that they all are together that makes the show enjoyable. These roommates love each other and love being in each others company. And hey, that is rare. That is very rare. But not even going to lie, this episode felt a little rushed and all over the place, even with the cast.
Chelsea is annoyed by everyone and reacts to them in less than a positive way when her boyfriend dumps her to stay in Boston. She is rude, obnoxious, and talks down to people. Yes, I can understand being in pain. But I can also understand that doesn’t make rudeness or superiority complex an okay thing.
She hurts her sister, who is only doing everything she can to build a bond with her. Putting Claire down in order to make herself feel better is a low part of the show, but also a growing point for the two of them.
When Chelsea realizes that she needs her sister and that she’s been a less than kind human being, she takes the steps to make up with her sister. They are open with each other about why their relationship has gotten to the point that it has and how they need to be better for each other.
Each thinks that they are protecting each other, but what they have done has isolated each other. It’s heartbreaking to see, but also we all do stupid shit that isolates us from siblings. We think we are doing amazing things for them, but sometimes what we do is make them feel worse.
But Claire and Chelsea learning to bond through honesty was something that was needed. It makes them comfortable to go on the journey that they need to for Chelsea to stay. And hey, them finding a way to be close should be a journey. One that we’ll continue watching.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- The joke at the beginning when Chelsea tells Grant that he’s hard, meaning his body, and he thinks that it’s his dick… well, that was awkward.
- The puff paint shirts made me want to paint one
- Grant is a little much for me, but I get the eye candy and I am not objecting to it being too much.
- A lawyer switching professions… groundbreaking
- Chelsea’s secret love for Instagram… makes me laugh. But I get it, she’s gotta keep up appearances.
- Grant in love with Claire, saw that coming. I am hoping we don’t see a sister love triangle.
Pretty Smart is streaming now on Netflix.
