Quibi's 'Dummy': Anna Kendrick's Cody confronts her insecurities after meeting her boyfriend's sex doll
Spoilers for Quibi's 'Dummy'
Cody (Anna Kendrick) is in a happy, seemingly secure relationship with her boyfriend Dan (Donal Logue). She is confident that their relationship is fulfilling. However, minutes into the pilot episode of Quibi's 'Dummy' show, she discovers that her boyfriend has a sex doll called Barbara (played by Meredith Hagner).
She expresses interest in wanting to see the doll, but Dan cites personal space and privacy to get out of the situation and the subject is closed for any further discussion. After all, the main foundation of their relationship is trust and privacy.
When she is overcome by intrigue, Cody goes to check out the doll — only to discover that Barbara, the feminist sex doll, can talk to her!
At first, she just knows it that Barbara is in her head — a product of some expired tablets and smoking lots of weed. But Barbara insists that she is not a figment of Cody's imagination — that she has her own individual identity which is not a product of someone else's fancy.
There is immediate friction between the two as Cody is constantly wondering who Barbara is and why is it that she can hear her.
At the same time, her insecurities are on display throughout the first three episodes. In one instance, at a recording for Dan's project, Cody is anxious about a co-worker of Dan's. After her meeting with Barbara, who is obviously a very attractive, hot sex doll, she seeks answers for her own bodily insecurities.
Created by Cody Heller and directed by Tricia Brock, 'Dummy' explores the relationship Kendrick's Cody unconsciously develops with Barbara. They have discussions about feminism and the nature of Cody and Dan's rape foreplay as well as Cody's possible daddy issues — in all likelihood, arguments that Cody is having with herself via Barbara.
The first three episodes are barely 10 minutes long — fitting Quibi's 'quick bites' features that are aimed for mobile viewing — delve into Cody getting to know Barbara.
When she damages Barbara's hand and takes her to get repaired, the man behind the counter proposes completely changing her body parts humiliating Barbara for being too old, too dilapidated.
It is more than evident here that Cody sees herself in Barbara and is worried that Dan is beginning to see her — old, used, dilapidated — in the same way that the repairman sees Barbara.
Kendrick's Cody still doesn't know who or where Barbara has come from. They have chemistry, just as girlfriends do, but whether this is to evolve into a friendship is yet to be seen.
'Dummy' is, three episodes in, a watchable series. With its episodes barely reaching the 10-minute mark, you won't even feel like you have wasted your time. The question is if it tickles your fancy.
The first three episodes of 'Dummy' are currently streaming on Quibi's app. New episodes drop every weekday.