Warning! Spoilers for Made for Love ahead!
The story so far: Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti) has left her controlling husband of ten years Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen). She soon finds out that before she escaped, Byron had implanted the Made for Love chip into her brain. This allows him to track her and see everything she does. She returns to her childhood home for help to find that things have changed drastically.
The first three episodes of Made for Love used flashbacks along with present day events to tell its story while introducing its characters. Episodes 4-6 also alternate between the two timelines, but with much deeper progression. Where the initial parts concentrated on world building, the latest three focus on fleshing out the major players.
Themes that were touched upon are fully addressed in the most recent episodes. Hazel was an interesting character with a wacky background. She obviously wanted something more than what Byron could offer, but there were only hints at what. Independence? A greater say? Adventure?
What was set in motion comes into focus in Made for Love. There is a surprising amount of depth to Hazel. The ideas of empowerment and individuality are still there, but the show is also a story about a woman who has been trying to find herself. Milioti is excellent in her role as the nuanced Hazel.
Magnussen is the perfect foil as the oblivious tech giant. The episodes do a great job of showing how emotionally stinted he is without making him come off as pitiful or downright evil. There is a sadness to Byron — and he is definitely a villain — but Made for Love does a great job of showing how similar the two main characters are.
The HBO Max series also manages to keep a silly quality about it that makes it so fun to watch. Hazel’s dad (Ray Romano) relationship with Diane gets increasingly strange while Byron’s attempts at being a “real” person are funny. Made for Love is blend of science fiction, comedy, and topical subjects that viewers will enjoy.
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