Jolene
- Episode aired Nov 22, 2019
- 1h 7m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
590
YOUR RATING
Televised adaptation of Dolly Parton's song, "Jolene", about a jealous woman.Televised adaptation of Dolly Parton's song, "Jolene", about a jealous woman.Televised adaptation of Dolly Parton's song, "Jolene", about a jealous woman.
Vernika Rowe
- Aynsley
- (as Vernika Eshay Rowe)
Austin Blackburn
- Concert Attendee
- (uncredited)
Jennifer Cudnik
- Jennifer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)
- SoundtracksJolene
Written and Performed by Dolly Parton
Featured review
Wholesome lessons, three-dimensional characters, saccharine explication
Structurally the characters and plot are satisfying. Every character has more than superficial motivation for who they are and what they do. The episode takes time to show that everyone has understandable reasons for the things they do, even if the things they do hurt others. No one is made out to be a complete villain and neither is anyone a blameless saint. ..Except for budda-like wisdom-dropping Dolly, but that is to be expected. There is enough character development and small turns to the plot to keep interest for an hour.
Unfortunately, the delivery of this otherwise structurally sound story is so saccharine and obvious, that it felt painful to watch at times. There are obvious moral lessons throughout the story, and characters make it even more obvious through ABC Afterschool Special-level moralizing.
In many ways this whole endeavor was a relief from standard rom-com plot stupidity, where absurd and terrible things happen to buttress a plot which wouldn't otherwise unfold if characters would communicate with one another in a semi-realistic way. "Jolene" in some ways addresses this, either implicitly by showing people's motivations for what they do, and explicitly and heavy-handedly explaining how they could do it better.
Finally, the story has an overarching theme of personal agency and responsibility. Every character at some point in the story is forced to look inward when considering their particular predicament. The characters themselves had a depth that is absent from many overall better TV dramas or movies.
Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Can't fault the apparent motivations, and Dolly is a gem.
Unfortunately, the delivery of this otherwise structurally sound story is so saccharine and obvious, that it felt painful to watch at times. There are obvious moral lessons throughout the story, and characters make it even more obvious through ABC Afterschool Special-level moralizing.
In many ways this whole endeavor was a relief from standard rom-com plot stupidity, where absurd and terrible things happen to buttress a plot which wouldn't otherwise unfold if characters would communicate with one another in a semi-realistic way. "Jolene" in some ways addresses this, either implicitly by showing people's motivations for what they do, and explicitly and heavy-handedly explaining how they could do it better.
Finally, the story has an overarching theme of personal agency and responsibility. Every character at some point in the story is forced to look inward when considering their particular predicament. The characters themselves had a depth that is absent from many overall better TV dramas or movies.
Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Can't fault the apparent motivations, and Dolly is a gem.
helpful•41
- david-2011
- Nov 25, 2019
Details
- Runtime1 hour 7 minutes
- Color
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