The Unicorn Scale: Starstruck

By Jennie Roberson

April 22, 2022

Share

Donate

Photo credit: Image/HBO

Hey howdy hey, readers! How’s everybody doing these sunshine-y days? Well, at least I hope it’s sunshine-y where you are. If not meteorologically, at least in your heart, of hearts I hope the skies are clear.

Confession: I am a total sucker for romantic comedies. I adore them. I love them so much I’m considering getting this Nora Ephron tattoo (or something very similar to it) in a few years time. (Don’t worry, Mom, I’m not doing anything now.) And as much as I cherish a good rom-com, I’m also driven mad by some idiotic tropes that happen in many of them — so often so that they’re practically a given whenever I sit down to watch one. But if there’s enough charm to wash over them, I usually give the flick the benefit of the doubt if it leaves me with enough feel-good chemicals.

Why am I waxing poetically about the genre and its foibles? Because comedic writer-creator Rose Matafeo seems to hold the exact same position. And from that mindset, she created Starstruck, the subject of today’s review.

Now, before I dive too deep into dissecting this HBO Max series, I should go over a few important disclaimers. First and foremost, there will be SPOILERS ahead up through the second season (which dropped on March 24th, 2022). Second — well, this is normally where I’d put any kind of content warnings, but even in my go-to website to warn you of those notes, there isn’t too much to be worried about. I’d say just be careful if you get vexed by poor communication skills. Finally, if this is your first time around these parts, I highly recommend heading over to our metric, so you know what the devil I’m talking about as far as accurately measuring the bi representation within.

Starstruck is a romantic comedy series that started in 2020 that follows the life of Jessie (Matafeo), a twenty-something New Zealander living and trying to get by in modern Hackney, London. What she doesn’t expect is that on New Year’s Eve, she ends up unknowingly having a one-night stand with Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel), one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

Jessie talking to Tom at the new years eve bar. Both are smiling.
Image/HBO

What I Liked:

There is so much to love about Starstruck. I loved how ballsy it was taking on something as supposedly “taboo”, like period sex as early as the pilot. (That’s originally what got my attention — a clip of that on TikTok — yes, I pretty much live on that app now.) I loved how, for all the foibles of the premise, the show not only works to establish important relationships, Bechdel-busting friendships, and the struggle of what it’s like to try to financially get by in a city like London; but it also gives some knowing insight on what it’s like for people to date celebrities. (I’ve lived in L.A. for over 15 years, and there’s definitely enough inside baseball talk in here to show the writers have done their research but still make the story accessible.)

But I think what l love more than anything is how casual the show was about both revealing and talking about Jessie’s bisexuality in the second season. It was more than blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, but more than anything, a part-of-her-identity-but-not-her-entire-identity in the character approach. At first, when Jessie mentioned girlfriends of the past, I wasn’t sure from context whether she meant lovers or buddies (especially since, in British slang, it can mean both). But that confusion was cleared away when in a subsequent episode, Jessie remarked with surprise that the old ladies at the library think she’s straight. Tom murmurs a response — this is clearly discussed and accepted history of Jessie’s perception, and despite the fact that she is dating Tom, men are not the only gender she has dated.

It’s subtle, it’s quick, but it makes its point in a beautiful way.

Jessie walking through an outdoor seating with arms stretched out walking confidently and smiling while others clap.
Image/HBO

What I Didn't Like:

I mean, what do I always not like?

I know we had a swift confirmation of Jessie’s queerness, but this is a modern love story in the 2020s. It would be nice and easy for someone to use the term “bi” in there. It could be easily done without taking away from the casualness of the reveal of her sexual orientation. I’m not asking for a big grand gesture speech whilst standing in the rain in the third act. I just want a tidbit. A tid-bi-t, if you will.

The Rating:

I’m all for a quick-and-dirty, it’s-there-but-don’t-make-it-a-big-deal take on having a main character be bi. I really am. But it’d be wonderful to see Jessie talk or explore her queerness more in a third season (which, as of writing this, is up in the air as far as renewal). There could be an interesting set-up since Tom is set to go shoot in Atlanta for nearly a year (presumably the next Marvel franchise) — the show already did a love triangle between him, Jessie, and Ben (Beeson Carroll) — maybe during the long-distance section Jessie gets tempted by some lovely London girl?

Jessie and Tom talking and smiling while they wash dishes together. Jessie has on a dress while tom a t shirt.
Image/HBO

At any rate, what Starstruck has on offer is a delightful, knowing screwball romantic-comedy that both cherishes and sends up the genre’s traditions of misunderstandings and missed connections. But one thing that is not misunderstood — we have a bi lead on a major hit series, and her partner is wholly accepting of her identity.

Nora Ephron (R.I.P.), eat your heart out.

3 unicorn emojis

Comments

Facebook Comments