Mrs. Davis (2023-Present) TV Drinking Game
Sip from the Grail: each time you spot a biblical reference/parallel. Helps to brush up on the gospel once in a while, eh?
Sip from the Grail: each time David Arquette and/or Chris Diamantopoulos show up onscreen in a campy or revealing outfit.
Sip from the Grail: each time Simone/the nun receives messages ‘via Proxy’ from absolute strangers.
Sip from the Grail: for each cartoonish stunt
Sip from the Grail: each time Simone/the nun ends up at Jesus/Jay’s deli counter.
By: Vidal d’Costa (A Toast) –
A.I. comes a-knocking quite literally at Simone/Lizzie/The Nun’s humble convent (psych if you thought she was gonna be the titular Mrs. Davis!) and our female protagonist is thus tasked with tracking down the Holy Grail. However this is a quest that’s beset by insurmountable physical and mental challenges such as rising doubts over her religious calling/responsibilities, past torments, conspiracy theories, and of course, technical glitches in the ‘system’.
A Toast
Created by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof, Mrs. Davis is a show with one foot rooted in reality and the other firmly venturing into outlandish territory, and is definitely a top tier show that champions the need for engaging, goofy, soulful, and even thought-provoking writing, without sounding like a worn out, preachy record either. I would even go so far as to label it as a worthy spiritual successor to similar shows before it such as Good Omens (with hints of the ‘more dark and Evangelical’ seasons of Supernatural and the overall bittersweet but invigorating, ultimately charming energy of Our Flag Means Death).
It can honestly be a pretty daunting task in itself to craft a piece of media that can provide a balanced worldview about A.I., social media, and religion too, so Mrs. Davis delivers with a take that isn’t entirely too cynical at how it portrays all these core topics. Impressively enough, it also treads a fine line between acting as a biting critique of the negatives, as well as a bordering on sentimental homage to the positives of both spirituality and socializing online, while also benefiting from the nuanced manner in which its writing humanizes the characters- ranging from humans to divinity and even artificial intelligence.
The first two episodes may not have struck instant comedy gold for me initially, but it does redeem itself with tremendously fun and kooky Looney Tunes-style stunt choreography. And despite this slight lag in comedic writing, the first half of the show is still captivating as it sets the stage for a chaotic second half while also primarily establishing the characters and their respective personal or professional motivations.
The show is unhinged, yet very well-paced without appearing overstuffed, and manages to cover a lot of ground within a span of just 8 episodes. It also throws multiple and unpredictable curveballs at viewers that might leave one dazed and confused at the end of each episode, albeit as it progresses, these mounting questions and doubts are clarified (all in good time). Without giving away any major spoilers, the repressed Catholic in me also greatly appreciated the incorporation of Biblical imagery (some subtle and others rather in-your-face) and the cheeky pop culture references, too, evoked instant cinephilia (they don’t hold back with the callbacks to The Sound of Music). The instances of foreshadowing and flashbacks further play a pivotal role in character development while also delivering serious gut punches in a manner that chatGPT couldn’t even recreate if it tried to! (Never has a simple game of Rock Paper Scissors made me cry like a baby…)
Betty Gilpin has never failed to impress in the acting department for me and she is unwavering in the role of a nun who is deeply committed to her vocation, her innermost desires, and her numerous side quests… even when she’s covered from head to toe in homemade strawberry jam. Jake McDorman is yet another standout as her ex-lover and confidante Wiley (AKA the personification of a ‘Doubting Thomas’ type ). The supporting cast comprising of Andy McQueen as Jay/Jesus (yup, the very same), David Arquette (in a short but memorable stint as a magician on the verge of losing his job to emerging tech), Ben Chaplin, Mathilde Ollivier, Margo Martindale as the Mother Superior, and others all deliver impeccable performances, too. Chris Diamantopoulos particularly had me howling with his on-point comic timing and an over the top Aussie accent in his role as JQ, a professional poker player-turned-vindictive wildcard revolutionist.
Verdict
In this rather unstable, dreary, and demotivating atmosphere of ‘mankind vs machine’, a show like Mrs. Davis especially feels very apt indeed… Much like sipping on a warm and comforting bowl of hope that definitely helps one in momentarily exorcising, staving off, or even confronting any past or present demons that may have resulted in feelings of worthlessness and/or sapped one of their boundless creativity.
