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January 14, 2018

The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine

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2 • January 14 - 20, 2018 • Brainerd Dispatch By Kat Mulligan TV Media A s you select the perfect invita- tions and the song for your first dance, or slice into that beautifully overpriced wedding cake, you're like- ly not pondering the "D" word. Sur- rounded by love and happiness, the wedding day goes by so quickly that it can be a challenge to remember how you got there in the first place. As the years pass, it can be harder still to remember why you've stayed. No one likes to talk about it, but marriages do end, and seldom do things go smoothly. Perhaps this is why "Divorce," with season 2 pre- miering Sunday, Jan. 14, on HBO, res- onates deeply with so many of its viewers. The series first aired on Oct. 9, 2016, and its pilot episode quickly jumped into the often hush-hush topic of divorce with a generous touch of dry humor. Frances Du- fresne (Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City") and her husband, Robert (Thomas Haden Church, "Sideways," 2004), have spent sev- eral years together, but Frances has grown to realize that their marriage isn't working and that she has fall- en out of love with him. She wants a divorce. What follows, after the initial shock (and vomiting), is all too relat- able for those who have experienced this life-altering event. Accusations fly, discussions of affairs, both emo- tional and physical, abound, property is destroyed or discarded, and their children are caught somewhere in between. When mediation isn't enough, Frances and Robert both ac- quire their own lawyers to ease the process, though it seems that they, along with well-meaning family and friends, further expand the divide be- tween husband and wife, creating reluctant enemies out of once friends. A unique trait of the series is the willingness to put divorce front and center — to have a subject often confined to whispered conversations and out of the public sphere thrust out into the open. For Parker, this was the series' great appeal. While dis- cussing "Divorce" during AOL's Build Series, Parker reflected that while "there [are] lots of television shows about families and marriages" that are "very buoyant" and often "really cozy," there was a lack of shows will- ing to tackle divorce. Parker was in- terested in portraying this other, less joyous but equally familiar aspect of modern life, as "all of us know some- body who has contemplated divorce, been divorced, survived divorce ... di- vorce was their undoing." The need to have a show that would explore this, both dramatical- ly and with a dash of necessary wit, was key for Parker, and why she had long championed the series, work- ing toward seeing it realized for nearly four years prior to the start of its production. The season 1 finale of "Divorce" exemplified the pettiness that the process brings out in both parties. A decision by Frances and her lawyer, Elaine (J. Smith-Cameron, "Marga- ret," 2011), to freeze Robert's access to funds halts his ability to move for- ward with his own business pursuits, all while Frances celebrates the opening of her own dream: the Hud- son River Contemporary Gallery. Robert makes it up to her, however, by initially agreeing to let Frances take their children — Tom (Charlie Kilgore, "Moonrise Kingdom," 2012) and Lila (Sterling Jerins, "World War Z," 2013) — skiing during his week- end with them, only to call the police on her, ending the potential bliss of a getaway. It's no surprise then that season 2 establishes that the divorce has been made legal right from the start. The trailers emphasize the possibilities that lie ahead once the legal process has been finalized. Discussions of freedom and being able to pursue new relationships and experiences abound, but it isn't surprising for ei- ther Frances or Robert to realize that life isn't any less complicated. Trying to juggle being good parents while navigating the world of dating and learning to accept the changes in their own ways of relating with each other will provide much depth, in- sight and even hilarity as the season progresses. It's a poignant moment in the lives of the now divorced Dufresnes, a moment dreamed of in season 1 but now being actualized in season 2. Parker also discussed this during her AOL Build talk, noting the pivotal words spoken by Frances in the se- ries' pilot episode that are essentially a "fulcrum for the show." When speaking with Robert, Frances says: "I want to save my life while I still care about it" — a sentiment that Parker believes speaks to all of us, as "we can all understand what it means to see a future and not know if you're going to be able to capture any of it." Season 2 of "Divorce" is all about Frances and Robert getting a chance to realize their possible futures in the most individual of senses. Their lives and the potential to realize dreams they may have suppressed or com- promised on for the sake of their marriage now have a chance to be- come reality. A separation is never easy, and a divorce is perhaps the most socially awkward kind of separation. It's of- ten mourned but seldom celebrated. The end of a marriage is often treat- ed like a death, but that is only be- cause we fail to see the possibilities that come with the rebirth of these individuals who have now regained their autonomy. Open your mind up to what could be and what comes af- ter, when season 2 of "Divorce" pre- mieres Sunday, Jan. 14, on HBO. Alone together: Life after marriage starts with season 2 of 'Divorce' Cover Story this week Thomas Haden Church stars in "Divorce" Conan The White House ethics lawyer resigned earlier today. Well, technically, he didn't resign — he was hospitalized for exhaustion. Today, two different people showed up at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, each claiming to be in charge. And TONIGHT — they settle it in the Octagon! The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Prince Harry is engaged to Meghan Markle, and it was announced that they'll marry at Windsor Castle this May. Right now, every bride is asking: "Wow — how'd they get a venue so quick?!" Prince Harry said that he and Meghan got to know each other by having a lot of cozy nights in, instead of going out to dinner. Or as guys everywhere put it: "See?? I DO treat you like a princess!" The Late Show With Stephen Colbert We should have seen that Lauer had a strange obsession with women. I mean, just look at any of his actual Halloween costumes. Dolly Parton, "Baywatch" babe, Paris Hilton, and Lucy from Peanuts. Good grief. After looking at those photos, I think he could have been fired for sexually harassing himself. Donald Trump weighed in on the Lauer story tweeting, "Wow." Wait a minute. Wow? I'm still not used to a president typing the word "Wow." That's like if the first draft of the Gettysburg address was "Holy guacamole, this war sucks. Wow." The Late Show With James Corden The co-author of Donald Trump's book, "The Art of the Deal," says that, according to two secret sources, White House staffers are starting to express concern over the president's mental health. Wow, that's some great investigative journalism right there. Or he could have just checked Twitter! Late Night With Seth Meyers According to Vanity Fair, during their visit to the Vatican in May, Pope Francis was very warm and kind to first lady Melania Trump, but not to others in the family. Though, as a rule, the Pope is always kind to people who swing open the cathedral door and yell, "Sanctuary!" According to recent analysis, the FCC received more than a million fake comments in favor of repealing net neutrality. It's the most fake comments ever found outside a high school reunion. "Oh my god, you look greaaaaaat!" Late Laughs 501 W Washington St., Brainerd, MN | 218-828-1823 | www.heartlandtireservice.com COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR ALL MAKES, ALL MODELS REGULAR PRICE Gasoline Direct Injection Service Valid through 1/31/18 Does your car hesitate on acceleration? Fuel economy poor? Many of todays foreign and domestic vehicles have GDI systems that experience carbon deposit build up. Removing the deposits restores performance to near new condition. SAVE $ 25 Off 001660066r1

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