'Hollywood' Episode 5 Review: Will heartbreak and rejection cause Jack and Ellen to spiral down amidst success?
Saving the fifth episode of 'Hollywood' from becoming a preachy sermon on wokeness is its elements of solidarity and friendship. Avis Amberg takes a stand and offers a giant middle finger to racism by changing her decision and casting Camille Washington -- an African American actress -- as the lead role in their upcoming film 'Meg'. That's monumental and improbable for the 1940s, but still not the most surprising twist in the tale.
Throughout the episode, we see competitors turning into allies at the prospect of something so historic in the making, and there are heartbreaks and rejection that walk hand in hand. And we do know who goes through worse pain at the end of the hour-long episode: is it Jack Castello or Ellen Kincaid?
Right from the start, we have seen Jack's pursuit to be an acclaimed somebody in Hollywood be driven by his need to provide for his growing family. His wife Henrietta is pregnant with twins and that makes Jack decide to venture into moonlighting as a gigolo while working full time at a gas station.
He pays the rent and bills, and even puts his ego and personal preference aside to gather down payment for a better house - all for their growing family. When his clientele demands more frequent visits and Henrietta's doubts start causing trouble with the pregnancy, he decides to quit the moonlighting gig.
He even stands up to vulturous talent agent Henry Willson and refuses to cave into his demands of performing oral sex on Jack for moral reasons. Yet all of this crumbles when Henrietta finally musters up the courage to tell him that the twins are not his, and she is leaving with the babies' fathers - a former coworker of hers whom she became close to when Jack was too busy chasing his dream.
It is unfair that Henrietta should try to pin this on Jack, especially since he decided to stay with her, be clean of secrets and provide for their family even after realizing he doesn't really love her. Jack consistently put down Claire Woods' advances because he was trying to be a better man, and albeit he has cheated on Henrietta in the past and was sleeping with people for money behind her back, but for her to dump the blame on him is just not justified.
The same way that it's not justified after years of brilliant chemistry and work dynamics, Dick can't man up to put down Ellen's advances by telling her the truth.
It has been hinted by Avis that Ellen might be in love with their producer but in episode five, she decides to finally give it a shot. Listening to Avis' suggestions, Ellen invites Dick over for work-related dinner and propositions a relationship. She cites their incredible journey so far and how well the two work; maybe this -- having dinner at home every night -- wouldn't be entirely a bad idea, thinks Ellen.
Dick's hesitation to answer only confirms her worst fears, but Ellen doesn't shy away from promptly asking him if he is gay because she doesn't mind; all she wants is to come home to him every night. But Dick doesn't have the courage to admit that part of his reality to his own self, let alone Ellen. He simply tells her he can't be with anyone and assures her this move from her didn't ruin anything between them before leaving a heartbroken Ellen breaking down under the feeling of rejection.
It's sad as it is, with Taylor's seasoned skills making you want to hold Ellen as she sobs all that pain away. But it also raises concerns surrounding what might be her next move - will she avenge this pain and rejection and harm the production in some irreparable way? Or will Jack go rogue after learning of his wife's indiscretions while he did all he had to, to make sure they were okay?
No mention of this episode is however complete without a special nod to that table read scene where the cast of 'Meg' sits down for the first time ever - in all their diverse glory. And in the end, Jake Picking's Rock Hudson, happy as a child at the mere four lines of the film he's got, keeps repeating them with earnest passion, as if he's going up for his Oscar nominations screening. The fact that Jack notices that and walks up to him to congratulate him on such a minor attempt is also what makes his pain a little more unbearable to witness. Here's hoping he doesn't spiral at that terribly, should he even get close to doing so.
'Hollywood' dropped all seven episodes on May 1, only on Netflix.