Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce

Well, I really did not expect to like this series, judging by reviews and description. But oddly enough, I did. Now, don't expect realistic drama or characters with who you can really identify yourself. There are some though, I really like Barbara, she is badass and you can relate to her, if you are divorced over the 40 woman who works for living. Other women are far too privileged to relate but I have to say IMO they are fun to watch. I don't hate Abby, like most critics here stated. She really tries to be positive in any situation, I like that attitude. She smiles even if she is really down and she tries, God she tries to be fun and perky. You can't hate her for that. Delia is amazing, and even thou she seems perfect at first glance, you can see she makes some mistakes as everyone else. I even like Jo and Phoebe though they strike me like a bit of stereotypes. All in all, it's really fun to watch. I am hooked!

Finally a show which speaks to an older demographic. Similar in genre to "Sex in the City". The dialogue was fresh and funny.The show started well, full of humour, sex and a good story line. But it's as if someone changed writers half way through and the tone changed to confusion anger and a very depressing tone. Abby's character as wishy washy, as she changes her mind about what she wants every few seconds. Lyla was a much better character than the neurotic Jo. Even happy Phoebe's funny character changes drastically. I was hoping for a comedic relief to escape to, but got irritated and depressed instead.The show has potential but needs to lighten up.

I wondered why Bravo pushed this show so hard before it debuted. I have tried watching it since the first episode. It is difficult to stay interested for the long haul. First of all, I think the casting is weak, especially Lisa Edelstein's character, Abby. I don't think she was a good choice to play the main character. She can't carry the show, and from there it just gets worse. I don't like any of the characters. I don't love or hate any of them, and that's the problem. I'm indifferent. It's like watching paint dry. I'll blame it on the script and the writing. I've seen these actors in other things, and it's not their acting ability that is in question. All I can say is that it did not live up to all the big hoopla. I casually watch for now, but don't care if I see another episode. I don't look forward to it, and certainly won't be invested for a second season. Sorry, but it's boring and mediocre at best.

At first it wasn't so bad. As the seasons continue Abby's neurotic, self centered, center of attention persona really becomes annoying. If I have to watch her cut one more person off while they speak or cry about how her problem is bigger than everyone else's band use that as an excuse for her crazy behavior I will scream. I've had to turn it off multiple times or skip past her scenes. Not the actress's fault, it's all in the writing.

"Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce" has been something of a guilty pleasure for me. I see its flaws, I get its limitations, I sometimes find its characters just too trying, and sometimes I'm just plain bored. But just like the characters who find Abby, the lead, lovable despite her all too apparent flaws, I've stuck with it and mostly enjoyed it. It's just "off" enough to be interesting.

The opening episode of season 5, the final one, has rewarded my dogged fealty with one of the best written season openers I've ever seen. It does everything you would want an opener to do--deal with the exposition in an interesting and innovative way, remind you of why you've been watching by reestablishing the characters and their storylines, but most importantly, setting up new directions for the show to go in order to justify yet another season. There's so much packed into this episode, so much is thrown at the characters (and us)--major life changes occur and major new conflicts are set up--and it pulls it all off with aplomb.

How do the writers pull this off? By using a formally innovative approach. Form is the way a story is told--the way it's structured, the way it's approached, in effect, the way it's composed.

This episode jumps around in time (something that's become very trendy and gimmicky these days and often doesn't really work) but in a very precise way and it also shifts the point of view among the main characters (This, in the writing biz, is called polyphony). So we have time-shifting and polyphony. (Only gifted writers need apply).

It opens at a glamorous media event complete with a red carpet and the whole gang's there. But then we see Delia in distress and Abby, Jo , and Phoebe drop everything to come to her aid.

Then, immediately we jump back to six months earlier. And Abby's in bed with--oops, no spoilers here, you'll have to watch to find out. We then go through the highlights of the previous six months of her life leading up to the glamorous media event. Step and repeat with each of the other main characters in turn. There are even a few of the very same scenes (where all the main characters are present) in each of the character's 6 month highlight reel so we eventually see that scene through each character's POV, and each time we learn something new.

Finally we circle back to the beginning and we're at the media event and now understand what's going on for each of the characters and why Delia is in crises mode.

But before this is fully resolved we jump to the next day (the present) and major life changes occur, new conflicts occur, new storylines develop and a new season is set up. And we've hit the ground running.

In one episode we see all this and somehow it all makes sense. This is great writing. Clearly, Girlfriend's Guide is going out in style.