Show’s surprises are what make it real, compelling
As underscored by his film “American Beauty” and TV series “Six Feet Under,” Alan Ball not only understands the symbiotic relationship between tragedy and comedy; he also is especially adept at mining that thematic synapse.
In “Here and Now,” Ball’s new HBO series, Audrey Bayer Boatwright (Holly Hunter) and Greg Boatwright (Tim Robbins) are the parents of a multiracial family. She's a former therapist; he's a philosophy professor who is discovering that all the philosophical knowledge in the world cannot assuage the depression he feels as he is about to turn 60.
The couple’s younger daughter, Kristen (Sosie Bacon) — their only biological child — is a high-school junior in a hurry to grow up. One son, 22-year-old Ramon (Daniel Zovatto), was adopted from a Colombian orphanage; he's in love with Henry (Andy Bean), whom he met at the coffee shop/laundry he frequents.
Daughter Ashley (Jerrika Hinton). who was adopted from Liberia, has her own fashion line. Son Duc (Raymond Lee), a Vietnamese adoptee, is a “motivational architect” who says that he's celibate.
The whole United Colors of Benetton construct is a pack of lies — characters who lie to themselves and to one another, often without the faintest sense of betrayal.
Greg is more of a father to his teaching assistant, Michael (Kevin Bigley), than to either of his sons — which Duc, in particular, resents.
During his career, Greg has written only one book and is still coasting on its success.
The approaching milestone birthday becomes the mechanism for the slow but
inevitable tumble of the family house of cards.
“Here and Now” is nothing if not unpredictable. Hunter’s character is such a brittle control freak, that it's easy to see why Greg feels so defeated. And yet, there's a core of abiding love to the relationship.
Another relationship seems blessed with exceptional love — until half of the pair disappears in the middle of the night.
Most surprising about “Here and Now” is its supernatural element — when Ramon starts seeing the number 1111 everywhere.
Ramon begins therapy with Farid Shokrani (Peter Macdissi), whose son is in school with Kristen. Farid has his own family issues.
The series has moments when events feel overly manufactured, but the show’s strength is rooted in the search for genuine emotions and personal authenticity shared by members of both the Bayer-Boatwright and Shokrani families. In different ways, both clans have allowed themselves to be pressured into displaying what they think is proper behavior.
Most of the performances are quite good.
Hunter is often comically over-the-top, but she credibly and rather tenderly reveals Audrey’s vulnerability at unexpected times.
Her work helps reinforce how real people with real emotions are struggling to break through the social pressure and detritus of contemporary life.
Such struggles are what draw us to “Here and Now” to root for Ball’s precious and flawed creations.