Hung (TV Series) Just the Tip (2010) User Reviews

Inspiring story, super cockroach Ray, crazy Tanya, touching Jessica but superficial nudity, not so funny and short format of the drunken pouët

[igoatabase · 8/10 · 29 June 2010]

Of the iceberg ? When it comes to Hung you should know what to expect ! The second season premiere didn't disappoint but it wasn't perfect. First it felt great to have Ray and his gang back for a new ride. Thomas Jane was in good shape and his natural acting made his character grow on us even more. From his coach issues to the whole pimp odyssey his story can only inspire. The motivational speech he gave to his baseball team was convincing and even reminded me of "The Pickle Jar".

Of course Jane Adams was back as Tanya and at times I think the writers have decided to exchange her role with Jessica, his ex-wife. I mean if I didn't care so much about her fate I would probably send her in an asylum. She can be so silly that I worry about her mental health ! I mean what she did in this episode was just crazy. So it seems Lenore has found the proper nickname for her because it seems her neurons are disjointed or something. Seriously I'm not sure what will happen to her next but I really hope she'll find a way to give some sense to her life because pimping is wrong.

Anyway beside Ray the most interesting character was probably Jessica. After what happened in the finale I was really wondering what would be their next move and I found their arc both joyful and sad. What her children told her was just painful to hear and I think Anne Heche perfectly portrayed her character. It's interesting to see how much she has involved since the wacky cartoons of the first episodes. But her quest is far from over so watching Hung has never been so exciting !

Last but not least I question the superficial use of nudity in some scenes. I mean Alanna Ubach is a libido magnet as Yael Koontz, his neighbor, but I think her talent is wasted. Moreover where's her husband ? I miss the hilarious and awkward moments he shared with Ray. So it seems time will always be an issue on the show as some relationships can't be covered properly. But nothing to worry about as I can't see how a demanding viewer wouldn't be pleased by this premiere. Go Ray ! Unleash the Cyrano within !

The tip of the iceberg

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 12 July 2010]

The second season of this brilliant comedy for adults, begins with a pensive Ray Drecker musing about his future as a sports coach of the high school where he teaches. He promises himself to get the team to have its best season against the background of gloom because of the budget cuts in the system.

His encounter with Claire, the pregnant woman who hires Ray for a tryst, does not go according to her idea of having fun in bed. To add injury to the disastrous encounter, Ray has not performed as usual because he felt he could only do so much without injuring the baby, something that Tanya discounts as a non issue. Ray cannot help thinking about Jessica at the time she was pregnant with the twins, a time that he will never forget.

Lenore and Tanya are bickering about the percentages from their procuring they are entitled to receive. Ray ends up giving Tanya money out of his own share. What started as a 60/20/20 ratio being divided, is not almost a 60/40 share because Lenore feels she is entitled to more on account of her wealthy contacts.

Jessica tries to bond with her children, but they live in a world of their own. Ray, who tries to have a meaningful conversation with his former wife, cannot get her to agree to a date in which to discuss their situation. Finally, Jessica goes to the bowling alley she had not wanted to go for the reunion with Ray. It turns out to be a fun time for both of them. Ray cannot help thinking his ex is having problems in the sack with Ronnie.

Tanya is intrigued about some aspects of her newly found profession and decides to go to a hangout where prostitutes assemble looking for prospects. The black pimp that appears on the scene wants her to leave him and the women alone. Later, Tanya goes back to the diner where she gets some valuable points with her male counterpart.

If we thought the new season would suffer in comparison to the old one, we were sadly mistaken. Creators Colette Burson and Dmitry Lipkin have such a knack for touching on the subject without being obvious, or tacky in the way the episodes are written. They are helped by Daniel Attias direction. This is a show for adults and whoever tunes in, has better be prepared about the sexual content on the show. That said, what comes out is not done in bad taste, or is meant to shock, or offend anyone.

As usual, Thomas Jane and Jane Adams return to play Ray and Tanya. They show great affinity to the material and their on camera chemistry is one of the best thing in sitcoms. Anne Heche playing the former wife makes a valuable contribution, as does Rebecca Creskoff, who is seen as the ambitious Lenore. Kathryn Hahn has some good moments as Claire, the pregnant woman who does not want to give up sex in spite of her condition.