Now Apocalypse - Downward Spiral

Ford is seriously working out at a gym, motivated by the thoughts of having passionate sex with Severine, raging somewhat by her news of fucking an ex. She later does relent to try and work on a monogamous relationship with Ford, after he attends a “Circle Jerk” therapy class for guys needing to “talk it out” in terms of sex and what is going wrong. Ulysses joins Ford, but clearly this is miserable for him personally because he doesn’t have any real issues with his current sex life, which has its share of surreal developments, such as a delivery guy (married with a preacher father) stopping off drop a package, ultimately joining him in some cheap fucking…Uly later tells Carly this guy unloaded multiple times, as if he’s just so repressed in his sexuality that when he gets to partake it explodes.

Carly continues to struggle as an actress. Because this jerk she reads with criticizes her so completely, no matter what characterization she tries, its clear the part is out of reach. It wasn’t for a lacking of trying as Carly humors him, going from subtle to extreme and everywhere in between with her character. Returning to her side business of cam performance for guys (such as one “customer” who requests to see her urinate in a tub, another just wanting her to lay perfectly still with her exposed breasts) and interviewing potential roomies (a myriad of LA millennials, leaving her to dwell on what to do about her rent situation, since they range from unemployed (with lots of Instagram followers) to politically active (the activity seems to define completely who they are, so whether or not they can pay when rent is due is up in the air, it would seem).

Uly mentions to Carly that he received a text message wanting to see him, but since returning an OK, he hasn’t noticed any other response. Later, while working as a security guard, he finds a disheveled homeless woman seemingly defecating, but the puddle looks “not of this world”.

Ford’s affection for Sev doesn’t seem to be reciprocated. Sev tolerates him because he’s attractive to her and she enjoys his dick, but his persistent, never-ending I Heart U’s are clearly taking their toll. She just can’t feel similarly. Sev can’t even get off on basic sex with Ford anymore, opting to lube masturbate him. Araki can’t help but shoot the scene where you see Ford just “relieved” with Sev concluding by offering him napkins to “clean up”.

If it isn’t obvious, Araki’s lone season continues to focus specifically on sex and LA’s unique personality. It is very much a millennial cult comedy, and subtlety isn’t something Araki concerns himself with. The styles of the cast are as colorful and sunny as those characters occupying the Hollywood fashions. Carly, in particular, is never one to shy away from bright colors. Ford is always in muscle shirts, of course. Something that always surprises me is that the guys in Araki’s cast are hairy. That just isn’t what you see in Hollywood-themed television. It is as if all the males in television and film laser off their hair. But always on topic is sex. Sex, sex, sex.

Severine's job, involving what appears to be alien investigation, seems to have produced mysterious figures following and spying on her. Ford, invited to Palm Springs, asks if Sev, Uly, and Carly want to come along. Considering Carly's response to Uly, it wasn't altogether certain she wanted to come along. Sev, despite clearly tiring of Ford, does appear to agree to come, however.  2.5/5