REVIEW: The Girls On The Bus Is Filled With Hits & Misses
MAX drops its new series, The Girls On The Bus, today, March 14. This new series, based on the novel, Chasing Hilary by Amy Chozick, focuses on four journalists as they cover the Democratic Party’s Presidential campaign trail, and all the trials and tribulations that come with it.
I had the opportunity to watch the entire season, and mostly enjoyed it. The main arc of the series is engaging and showcases the ups and downs journalists face as they travel the campaign trail and uncover the vast underbelly of the political world. Creators of the series, Chozick and The Vampire Diaries’ Julie Plec, have created a fictional campaign that is less stressful than what many real life journalists are most likely facing as we come closer to our own Presidential election. And, because of they were able to create that stress free feeling, it made for pretty easy viewing. However, the political world is not the sole focus of this show. The focus is really on how four very different journalists can not only forge a friendship, but break a story wide open when they work together.
With that being said, where the story looses me is in the personal lives of our four journalists. Each journalist is complex and has a different view on how the world should work, which could have made for a great dynamic and story building for these characters. But as the series progresses, it is almost as though the creators had an asinine list of dramatic scenarios that got more outlandish as the season went on, that they just had to cram into a ten episode season. So much so, that these scenarios were more of a hinderance than a help when it came to growing the characters. The creators don’t take time to flesh out these moments in their lives to truly point out there importance. These moments are quickly passed over within an episode or two, and then the next over the top scenario comes swooping in surpassing the last. It’s exhausting, unrealistic, and a determinate to these characters.
Melissa Benoist plays the role of Sadie McCarthy, and does a good job of playing the go-getter, lover of old school journalism, but willing to rip your throat out to get the truth told journalist. Carla Gugino is truly a standout in the series as the laser focused, scoop sweeping Grace Gordon Greene. Her performance, much like her character, takes no prisoners. Christina Elmore, who I believe was given the most interesting character, brings to life the moderate conservative journalist, Kimberlyn Kendrick. She manages to captivate the struggle Kendrick finds herself in as she begins to realize that her views might no longer align with company so well. It’s disappointing that that wasn’t what the creators decided to focus on for her character. Finally, Natasha Behnam plays the final journalist, more like influencer, Lola Rahaii. Behnam plays the character well, but her character felt the most stereotypical, and really leaves a bad taste in your mouth for Gen-Z influencers.
The Girls On The Bus isn’t going to win any awards, but it is an enjoyable ride that is headlined by four talented actresses. My only wish is that MAX dropped this season in full because this series is what binging is all about.