Made for Love feat. Alison Herman

The Ringer staff writer joins us to talk about a TV series that hits all the sweet spots

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Apr 13, 2021

Hello!

On this week’s episode of Criticism Is Dead, we Made for Love, the new TV adaptation of Alissa Nutting's novel, about the wife of a tech billionaire who tries to escape their toxic 10-year marriage, only to find that he's everywhere she is.

We're joined by a special guest: the very smart and funny Alison Herman, who writes mostly about TV for the Ringer.

Click here to listen to the full episode on the web

Or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts, or other podcast apps.

05:32 Made for Love, streaming on HBO Max, is dark, cynical, and dystopic — but also zany, absurd, and wry. Truly a work for the end of the world AKA our bleak future!!!!

(Just a note: we’re discussing only in the context of the first six episodes, since the final two come out later this week!)

While critical reception seems to be a bit mixed, we’re finding the show to be a pretty fun ride so far. There’s the sci-fi/tech dystopia aspect, which feels fresh and more sardonically fatalist compared to the Black Mirror-esque vibes that have perhaps grown a bit stale. There’s the relationship aspect, which illustrates what abuse and violations of consent can look like, satirizing the idea of “relationship goals.” There’s Ray Romano and a sex doll wife. This show has it all!

Cristin Milioti and Billy Magnussen are pretty great in this, too. For Milioti, it is interestingly another role where her character is fighting against forces larger than her (hi, Palm Springs!). For Magnussen, it’s another comically malevolent dude, but he plays it with just enough pathos for you to sometimes forget he’s an abusive Silicon Valley freak.

Looking forward to the finale!!!