Channel Surfing: The Girlfriend Experience - "Entry"

Riley Keough

Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.

In the modern era, it almost seems predictable to turn a successful movie into a TV show. Last year saw series based around 12 Monkeys and Minority Report, and this year promises Rush Hour, Uncle Buck, and Training Day adaptations as well. Of course, it isn't such a terrible idea most times out. There's something valuable in expanding the presence of a character to a serialized structure. However, there's no denying that among the more peculiar film-to-TV adaptations of the first half of 2016 is Starz's The Girlfriend Experience, which is based on the Steven Soderbergh film of the same name and follows a law student (Mad Max: Fury Road's Riley Keough) as she navigates the world of prostitution in her down time. It's a series that has gotten acclaim for basically showing the loneliness in such an intimate and taboo industry.

To say the least, Starz has yet to find a single series that has the weight of anything that HBO, Showtime, or even Soderbergh's other show on Cinemax called The Knick. Between over-the-top horror-comedies like Ash vs. Evil Dead and nuanced and gritty dramas like Flesh and Bone, the network has found a niche in picking difficult stories to digest, for better or worse. In fact, The Girlfriend Experience in some ways feels tonally similar to the difficult Flesh and Bone. Both share a slow pacing and a core meant to exploit the misery of its subject. The downfall of the ballet series is possibly that it lacked much of a personality, which The Girlfriend Experience at least has in some facets. The first episode alone feels like a compelling introduction to this world thanks to small character moments that reflect Keough's dual lifestyle and the frustration with trying to have a legitimate career in one that's fine with cutting corners.
Despite only being a producer, the show definitely has the familiar Soderbergh vibe to it. With ominous music and long and reflective shots, the series looks attractive; choosing never to exploit sexuality like the premium cable counterparts. It all builds to something bigger in the physical side of the actors' performances. There's a tenderness and openness when the characters talk about the silly, trivial things that involve pleasing others sexually. Most of all, these characters generally have personalities that offset the dour tone and give the series something far more engaging to work with. 
The first episode, which is relatively short compared to the rest of the season, perfectly sets up the universe with a playful exchange that has been seen in various ads for months now. Keough and her friend, in bathrobes, order expensive drinks that go close to $1.5 thousand dollars. It's a luxury, and one that doesn't make sense in context of the otherwise simple lifestyle that Keough lives. However, it opens the juxtaposition as to why being part of "The Girlfriend Experience" is so appetizing. You can get away with luxuries that an office job cannot afford. It looks glamorous, despite being a shallow facade for the clients.
While the absence of Soderbergh as more than producer may seem problematic, it does raise an interesting question as to where things will go. Unlike the other series, this feels like it has a deeper text to work with and will hopefully come away serving as a unique and engaging take on sex workers. If nothing else, Keough is already proving to be a compelling presence, and one that makes for a worthwhile watch. The only hope is that the world around her is allowed to be as dynamic and exciting as she is. So far, the half hour first episode has a lot of weight. The only hope is that the longer episodes don't lose the magic of what the series is offering.