'Work in Progress' Season 1 Episode 3 ticks many boxes for its wholesome and emphatic portrayal of body-image issues
Episode three of Showtime’s dramedy ‘Work in Progress’ sidesteps from Abby’s (Abby McEnany’s) suicidal thoughts to her anxieties about her body and sex.
The thing about ‘Work in Progress’ that makes it so likable is how effortlessly the show portrays these fears and despite taking a comedic angle to everything, the tone is never intended to be mean. It is always rooted in empathy.
The episode begins with a brunch with Chris’ (Theo Germaine’s) friends. The couple earlier decided that they would have sex that night -- a thought that caused Abby’s anxieties to flare up. At the party, in the company of many seemingly polyamorous trans men and women, Abby felt compelled to ask Chris if he wanted their relationship to be exclusive. Immediately after asking, however, Abby told him not to answer the question.
At her nephew’s birthday party afterward, Abby learned that her father was getting remarried -- another bit of information that caused Abby to spiral out for a bit. Once they left the house, Abby confessed to Chris about two huge anxieties: One, she had not had sex for a long time (seven years) and was afraid of being bad at it. And two, she had herpes, a sexually transmitted infection. Abby’s ex from back in 2007 had given her a hard time over it. Since then, Abby had developed a sort of panic when it came to physical intimacy.
The only bit of normalcy (at least as normal one could get) was the dinner at the home of Julia Sweeny (whose SNL character Pat had “ruined Abby’s childhood"). Julia, her husband ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, and their daughter shared a meal, discussed how armadillos spread leprosy and how both Julia and ‘Weird Al’ had made some pretty offensive art back in the day.
Finally at home, we saw Abby’s biggest anxiety flare-up: her body-image issues. She did not want any lights on during sex -- something that led to a lot of awkwardness and even an injury. But to Abby’s relief, she realized even Chris had certain body-image issues as well: Because he had not been able to afford a top surgery (to remove breasts), he did not want Abby to touch his chest.
The awkwardness during sex, true to the show’s writing, is both funny and relatable to many. Admittedly, the bit stretches a little too long (it’s pitch black so you can’t see anything; all you can hear is them talking). But it more than makes up for it when they face each other afterward. They seemed to have found some semblance of comfort, despite their differences in age, personality and lifestyle choices.
The only word that describes the show, as always, is “wholesome”.
‘Work In Progress’ Season 1 airs every Sunday, 11 pm, only on Showtime.
