Younger

I got something, people. Did you grab a chance to watch Younger, the TV-Show whose Season 2 just premiered on Wednesday? You must. Did you know it's created by Darren Star, the creator of Sex & The City?

His narrative, whatever the subject, and often it's relationships within ourselves, as much as our surroundings - is always fresh while being relatable.

I stumbled upon the book it's based on, "Younger" by Pamela Redmond Satran, a few months back. Didn’t really think it’s going to be a mind-blowing read, but I needed something to relax my mind after spending the whole week staring at the computer, wrestling with my projects. My reading habits are usually a bit odd; I'm a weirdo who reads political issues by Salman Rushdie or my fav Woody Allen trilogy before bed, just so I can worry a little more about the world and sleep, right about never.

I devoured Younger, both TV-Show & the book in a week. Verdict? The world fucking sucks more often then not, when you're born with a vagina. Shit you'll be dealing with, you can't even fathom growing up. It just slaps you in the face. The book and the show depict all the cold showers that await you, in some form or another. The show deals with it brilliantly, as it did in SATC. Darren Star's famous approach to relatable women's issues are something that is both refreshing and daunting to watch.

Younger is about dealing with age and trying to revive your life, instead of taking a back seat; when the circumstances (and choice in partner) royally screwed you over.

Not to get too much into the plot of Younger and spoil it for you, it follows a woman, age 40, divorced, left with no money that husband spent gambling and whatnot, forced to re-enter a working world. She goes to few job interviews, but having not worked for 20 years, applying for entry-level jobs in her 40's, being out of the loop for so long, not in touch with Millennial things like social media and the whole digital hoopla; she can't seem to get any jobs.

Enter being mistaken for a 26 year old in the bar, enter best friend with an idea to give her a make-over, learn the things of the new generation, and pretend she’s 26! And she does, goes out again, interviews again, and gets the first job she sought. Plus a 26 year old boyfriend. It's smart, raw, scary at times, but definitely a must see, at any age.

While watching the show, I remembered that internet outrage a few moths back, when singer Nicole Scherzinger guest appeared on Wendy Williams Show, where the host started to (unfathomable, the cruelty women can spew at eachother) called Nicole up on live television, criticizing her on being 37 and wasting 8 years of her best years on a relationship with race-car driver Lewis Hamilton (Nicole’s ex), while she didn’t have any kids, even thought he is wealthy, so she could, and why didn't you, - and your life is basically pointless. (??)

The show plays with exactly that, the unkindness women experience from the society, yes; men, yes; but mindblowingly the worst = from other women. Specially when the age is concerned. What's unimaginable to me is the way the age is perceived, from the ones that judge by it. Like its a permanent thing, like color of your skin, or a size, height. If you’re tall, you’ll never be short, your hight is permanent. But your age is not permanent, and if you are 20 or 50 judging someone by age, hello; you either already been there, or you will, sooner than you think! With same exact issues and facing the same exact unkindness from all directions.

Isn't it smarter to relate? Comfort?

Men do it so much better then us, no matter what stage in life they reach, there's always an enviable bonding in play, like they're some kind of tribe, a cult, with a life's mission of perseverance! In the words of famed social critic Camille Paglia:

Women need to study the immensely productive dynamic of male bonding in history. With their results-oriented teamwork, men largely have escaped the sexual jealousy, emotionalism and spiteful turf wars that sometimes dog women.

Can we not be more like them? Unburdened, relaxed, supportive?

Where is that enormous anti-compassion coming from? Specially about our life choices, that with us, often depend on some shitty circumstance guys put us through; sometimes we surrender, settle and regret our lives while finding solace in people thinking we have it all, while crumbling inside; and sometimes we leave, grow balls (pun intended), leap and refuse to live by other people's perception of what we should do, but just our own. Regardless of the Wendy's of the world, or anyone else daring to judge.

The show brilliantly digs in all these issues, but mostly how to deal with all these circumstances not by avoiding them, because we can't. None of the women ever will be able to avoid some of these issues. But what we can do, is try to deal with them with dignity. That is one circumstance we do own. And when you own your shit, instead of letting life run you over; well that's the actual win over life. Not other way around.

It has the signature of Sex & The City all over it, but dealing with the issues of current times. The internet, digital traps, trying to be and stay relevant; dating, the traps of self-worth. But what I like the most is a dynamic between two guys, two choices; young, hot, flashy dude and handsome, mature stable man. Interesting to see what both add or subtract to the life that has been on sidelines for so long.