We’re back on our Joseph Purcell reviews, but only this time you won’t find his latest vertical on CandyJar. Nope, it’s on My Drama and we’re a little bit confused as to that too. But hey, we’re liking the branching out and the roles that he’s choosing. You can tell that Purcell is building the foundation of a long career across all sorts of outlets.
That is something that we can appreciate.
Before we even dive further into that we need to talk about his chemistry with his co-star Kirsten Kendall. We loved her in Secret Society opposite Noah Andre and we loved her in Club of Desire. She’s talented. Her characters are headstrong, fierce, and want to be better.
While most actors get overshadowed by Purcell and his dominance on the screen, Kendall holds her own. You can see yourself reflected in the roles that she takes on.
Club of Desire’s synopsis is, “Desperate for money, Claire takes a job at a secret elite club run by a cold, controlling owner. Their fiery clashes turn into dangerous attraction, but buried secrets and a ruthless ex turn desire into a high-stakes game.”
Purcell plays Levi – a club owner with a chip on his shoulder. He’s piercely protective of the life that he’s built, the people that he employs, and Claire (Kendall). He seems so guarded, but once you come to terms with the fact that he’s just disguising pain and has a morally grey code of conduct, you see who he is.
Kendall plays Claire. She’s lost everything that has meant something to her and it’s in loosing everything that she has become a person that fights for everything. She doesn’t back down from a fight, won’t let people walk all over her, and isn’t afraid to challenge Levi at every turn.
Levi has rules set up for his club for a reason. It’s what keeps the girls that work for him safe. He doesn’t think that Claire is necessarily going to work out, but he’s not going to try to push her to the brink. Trial by fire. Only it’s not only that – he’s attracted to her from the beginning.
The two have a relationship that others don’t. She’s jealous and so is he. She’s got a psycho ex that she’s trying to outrun and Levi knows that he’s gotta protect her from him. It’s instinct, but it’s also feelings that he can’t suppress.
One of the workers – Amanda – isn’t afraid to call out Levi for the chaos that has followed Claire to the club. Hunter – the ex – is manipulative and only thinks of himself. He wants to control Claire and Amanda doesn’t seem to get that. She doesn’t understand why it is that Levi feels the need to protect Claire.
We don’t know until later though that Hunter has been blackmailing her. He’s trying to take away her child if she doesn’t do something. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a person and there is nothing like a mothers love.
Levi has a history. So does Claire. They both judge each other and neither one wants to talk about the past. She doesn’t want to get Levi involved in anything,
I always have to laugh when Purcell makes out with anyone, because he’s so damn tall, all i can do is think back issues. His back has to hurt.
But that’s besides the point.
Hunters obsession with Claire is deadly. He kidnaps her, drugs her, and tries to pass it off as being “safe” even though he’s the one who puts her in danger. He doesn’t care about scaring her, uses the words “good girl” too much, and is downright scary. Hunter needs to be hospitalized.
But if you think that Levi isn’t going to save her, you’re missing something. Kendall performs in these scenes so well, that I was actually scared for her. But I am also screaming at the screen, trying to get her to see what she can’t. Danger on every corner. I wanted to make sure that she was saved.
What bothers me though is that he promises her that he’s not going to let anything happen to her, but it’s definitely not fair that he says it. It’s not a promise that he can keep. Especially when he doesn’t have control over everything in his life.
Amanda call in Levi’s ex, Jessica. This sends Claire into overdrive jealousy. She tries not to show it, but wears it all over her body language. He doesn’t want the discourse with her and he cares about her. He tries to show it but doesn’t know how to. She has to push him to the edge in order for him to snap and ask what she wants.
She wants him. But admitting that is terrifying.
I can understand Claire’s want to be grown, but I can tell anyone this – it doesn’t matter how grown you are, you’re never gonna be able to do everything on your own. You’ll always need people. It’s not fair to ones self to think that you aren’t deserving of having people around to love and protect you. To be there for you.
Hunter takes Claires sister captive. He’s straight up insane. Exes are insane. There is a reason why they are exes.
Claire finally lets Levi in – sharing where she is and he knows where to get her. He stabs Hunter and the strangest time to say I love you as he lays dying on the ground, but who am I to judge?
Though I am judging.
Club of Desire continues to further vertical fans fascination with Joseph Purcell and Kirsten Kendalls presence as a lead. Worth the watch. Worth the obsession.
