Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone get weird, mock HGTV in Showtime’s ‘The Curse
Showtime’s new satire “The Curse” is not an easy watch — and it might make you cringe.
But, for those who enjoy star/co-creator Nathan Fielder’s other idiosyncratic work (Comedy Central’s “Nathan For You,” HBO’s “The Rehearsal”) the series, premiering Nov. 12 at 10 p.m. is worth a watch. (It’s also streaming on Paramount+).
The story follows Whitney and Asher Siegel (Emma Stone, Fielder), a newlywed couple struggling to bring their vision for eco-friendly housing to the small community of Española, NM.
They’re also trying to make an HGTV-style reality show about their efforts called “Flipanthropy.”
Whitney tears down old houses and replaces them with her eco-friendly homes. (She quickly deletes Instagram comments saying that she ripped off another artist’s designs, and shuts down reporters questions about her parents being “slumlords.”) Asher, who is awkward on camera while trying to film their show, handles the buying and construction parts of the gig.
It’s not a direct satire of Chip and Joanna Gaines — since their personalities and goals are different — but, nonetheless, “The Curse” will be familiar for those who have tuned into any house-flipping show hosted by a couple.
Whitney and Asher tell themselves that they’re more virtuous than other reality shows; instead of ignoring local people who get displaced by house-flipping, they’re trying to help them.
Eccentric producer Dougie (series co-creator Benny Safdie), who is also Asher’s childhood friend, criticizes their planned TV show as “boring” and feeling like an “infomercial.” He thinks the show could be a hit — if only they spice it up.
Dougie keeps butting heads with Whitney, who disapproves of his methods. In one instance, while they’re filming a segment, Dougie pours water on a woman’s face after she learns that they gave her unemployed son a job, but the woman fails to react emotionally.
Whitney objects that giving her fake tears is “disgraceful” (“We don’t treat people that way!”) Dougie also tries turning the couple against each other — and they don’t make it difficult.
Oh, they’re also trying to have a child and, when Asher accidentally offends a local girl who tells him “I curse you,” it begins feeling like that might be more than just a kid’s whimsical utterance.
There are a lot of topics addressed in the show: gentrification, reality TV, house flipping, self-righteous wealthy people who tell themselves they’re “helping” those who are less fortunate, sex, religion.
At times, it feels like too much. But the show plows along with confidence and, for the most part, doesn’t feel like it’s randomly flailing around.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Whitney and Asher aren’t quite as virtuous as they want the world to think they are.
“The Curse” is fully scripted, unlike Fielder’s other series, and it’s not always readily apparent when a scene is being played straight or when it’s supposed to be funny.
Similar to his other work — and to Safdie’s work directing and co-writing movies like “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time” — the series seems to revel in purposefully making its audience uncomfortable.
Some viewers might lose patience with that type of story. It’s not a gentle sitcom that you can let wash over you.
But, to audiences who don’t mind comedy that’s abrasive and strange – as well as clever — there’s a lot to like.
