Caution! Spoilers for Younger (season 5, episodes 1 and 2) ahead!
The most recent season of Younger totally delivered in terms of fashion. And we’re only two episodes in. Not only are the leading ladies KILLING IT, as usual – I mean, come on, we’ve already had fur coats, all kinds of bold colors, hats galore, and one VERY substantial and amazing bangle… But the men are also giving us their best in terms of suiting as well. I suppose it’s a given that a Darren Star-helmed show would make such audacious sartorial statements.
However, fashion isn’t the only statement being made by the show.
Right out of the gate, Younger tackled the #metoo movement. They confronted the sexual harassment doled out by super-profitable author Edward L.L. Moore and endured by Liza. (And numerous other “Princess Pam-Pams”.) Initially, Liza seems willing to endure fur bikinis and creepy come-ons in order to keep the money rolling into Empirical. This struggle probably sounds familiar to the many women who have faced the choice of outing an abuser or keeping her job.
But, once Liza sees that she is not the only victim, she and Charles do the right thing and announce that they are ending their relationship with Moore. Of course, that presents new and interesting problems when Moore spills Liza’s secret to Charles. But, it demonstrates how the power of a group (or a movement like #metoo) can empower individuals to find their voices.
As much as I absolutely ADORE Diana Trout…
I’m not sure she is completely in sync with this changing dynamic. In addition to subtly undercutting Liza’s potential abuse by throwing out an “it could ruin the company” along with her statement of support, she describes the harassment she faced while she was working her way up the publishing food chain as “business as usual.”
Even the suggestion that such behavior is just part of the gig rings hollow, not only to Liza but (I imagine) to many of the women on the other side of the TV screen. Diana’s laugh lines in this episode, even if well-meaning, serve to highlight that when it comes to truly changing attitudes about sexual harassment, it’s not just men who have work to do.
Probably the most disturbing – and REAL – comparison to #metoo comes at the end of the first episode:
Moore meets Charles in his office with a stack of dossiers on all of his accusers. Among other things, Moore claims that Liza’s accusations have no merit because she – a 41-year-old pretending to be a 27-year-old – has no credibility.
How many times have we heard a woman’s suffering be somehow mitigated or belittled because of a choice she made, whether related or not? Certainly, Liza’s lie shows some questionable judgment on her part. And I’m sure we’ll get further into that as we go through the season. But, does it mean that she is de facto untrustworthy and deserving of mistreatment? This type of whataboutism is a huge barrier to truly open, substantive conversations that can have the impact needed to change behavior.
Episode 2 doesn’t hit the nail SO squarely on the head.
But the repercussions of #LizaToo still linger, particularly for Charles. But, again, I’m not sure he’s fully appreciating the complexity of the situation. While he focuses on all of the signs he missed that point to Liza’s more advanced age, he SHOULD ponder the lines he crossed by getting physical with his then-ostensibly-26-year-old employee. AND why it’s any different now that he knows that the person with whom he crossed those lines is actually 41.
I’m interested to see how Season 5 continues to deal with these issues. Even though Younger is a fictional creation, the themes the show tackles are as real as can be. And they definitely deserve thoughtful treatment.
How do you think the show has done in discussing the #metoo movement? Sound off in the comments!
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