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‘Mrs Fletcher’ Episode 5 sees Eve explore domination in Brooklyn adventure, Chloe schools Brendan about his privilege

After some hurried groping in the bathroom, Eve and a stranger at a Brooklyn party hotfoot it to the stranger's apartment. But as Eve tries to control the sexual scenario, the man tells her what to tell him. He exclaims he finds it hot when Eve commands him but makes sure the commands are really his
PUBLISHED NOV 25, 2019

Since 'Mrs. Fletcher' is a weekly offering, there is that pause that doesn't help the show. If we were bingeing 'Mrs. Fletcher', Eve's (Kathryn Hahn) episodic trysts with different facets of her sexuality would blend together in one cohesive tale. 

But given its episodic nature, by episode 5, the show has become like the weekly town crier of "Hear ye Hear ye, The porny thing Eve Fletcher did today". Instead of coming across as revelatory, her experimentation has become a gimmick. One funny set piece per episode of Kathryn Hahn attempting to do something sexual.

This episode, after she calls in sick, too embarrassed to face her colleague Amanda (Katie Kershaw), she explores spanking in her kitchen. The kitchen seems to have become Eve's de facto fantasy space now. 

This must have some psychological ramifications -- (is Eve looking for the porn-equivalent of comfort food or exotic experimental dishes?). But on the face of it, it is just convenient -- the kitchen counter is where she watches something on her laptop before she slides to the handy living room couch right next to it to try it out.

This week, that something happens to be BDSM. It is strange that the show didn't call out to the cultural phenomenon that mainstreamed BDSM (albeit misrepresented) -- the book '50 Shades of Grey' and its popularity among moms.

Instead, we have Eve watching a video of a woman spanking another woman. It eggs her on to see if slapping herself hard on her bum is a turn on for her. And yes, you do giggle when you hear Kathryn switching between submissive and dominating -- "I really don't like it!!" in a high-pitched voice before growling in a deeper grunt, "Well, you're going to love it!!" 

But in between the giggles, you also wonder if creator Tom Perrotta is playing it safe. By not showing the gender-role based violence that is inherent in porn designed for male fantasies or why softcore BDSM appeal to women in the aforementioned demographic, Perrotta sidesteps the chance to introspect.

Instead, he gives Eve an out. She wants to be the dominant one rather than a submissive. When Margo Fairchild (Jen Richards) tells her about the hip Brooklyn party she is going to (sans Curtis), Eve invites herself, craving a change of pace.

But when Curtis (Ifádansi Rashad) shows up at the party and Margo clarifies that he is not having a "crisis of masculinity" because she is trans, the two move off together. It leaves Eve on her own and open to adventure. So when a man flirts with her, she decides to call the shots. 

After some hurried groping in the bathroom, Eve and the stranger hotfoot it to the stranger's apartment. But as Eve tries to control the sexual scenario, the man tells her what to tell him. He exclaims that he finds it hot when Eve commands him but makes sure the commands are really his.

It is the strangest inversion of the dominant-submissive trope we have seen on-screen. The scene subtly signals the underlying power dynamics of gender roles, no matter who is nominally in charge. 

In the meantime, in the life and times of Brendan Fletcher (Jackson White), there is some gains vis a vis Chloe, the only girl on campus who finds him attractive. He invites himself to a "body positivity" party she is going to and suddenly finds himself at home thanks to some real chemistry with Chloe and the bacchanalian party with half-naked teens.

But all of the fun comes screeching to a halt when Brendan spies Zach (Cameron Boyce), his roommate, kissing another boy, who happens to be Chloe's bestie. When they hang out together, Zach is distinctly uncomfortable while Brendan looks smug.

He is still following the high school code where gay boys were automatically ranked lower than him, the straight jock. He spreads out, he has a cocky smirk and he makes it a point to follow Zach into the men's' room to do his "I'm cool with you being gay" routine.

Zach ignores him and walks out. Later, Brendan wonders to Chloe why Zach didn't just tell him and Chloe says not all "straight, white cis men" are ok with that information. Brendan, who has been casually racist and sexist since he met Zach, doesn't get why Zach might think he is homophobic too.

He tells Chloe, he is a "nice guy" who everybody loved in high school and now everyone automatically hates. It is up to Chloe to tell him some people feel that way all the time because they don't tick the right boxes as he does.

It is a learning moment for Brendan and, hopefully, his entry into understanding his privilege. He couldn't ask for a sweeter and more understanding teacher than Chloe, who kisses him goodbye. 

Eve Fletcher, after getting home, in an amused daze after her experiences, crashes on her bed. She doesn't see the texts coming in from Julian (Owen Teague). The short of it? He isn't giving up and "can't stop thinking" about Eve. It is a cliffhanger of sorts since Julian is exactly the sort of submissive lover Eve wants in her life.

'Mrs. Fletcher' airs every Sunday at 10:30 pm on HBO.

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