Pam and Tommy (1×04) The Master Beta Review

For our review of the first three episodes of Pam and Tommy, click here.

Time to calm things down as the situation became a lot more serious.

Of course there were going to be repercussions for Rand after what he did as this episode dealt with what happens next as that contrast between the power of celebrity and a common everyman could not be more evident as he was reminded of how alone in all of this he really was. Meanwhile, the series’ titular couple were going to figure out what was going on which had repercussions of their own, touching on gender dynamics through the lens of 1990s pop culture. There appeared to be cracks in that relationship but whether or not they will survive through this remains to be seen.

As far as the sex tape was going, it was a hit that found an audience spanning the world thus becoming a lucrative business for Rand and his partner Miltie (Nick Offerman). Meanwhile, Pam and Tommy were celebrating their first baby until that celebration was cut short once they noticed their safe missing. While their valuables were one thing, that sex tape was another. Their difference in concern over the matter was jarring. That being said, they took matters into their own hands by hiring a private investigator named Anthony Pellicano (Don Harvey) who was essentially a hired goon. Tommy certainly had enemies but the lack of recognition of Rand wasn’t surprising and his confession of how he mistreated him was something. Pamela definitely didn’t know what was going on.

Pellicano went straight to Rand and roughed him up while trashing his apartment though did not end up with the tape. Miltie was in a much different situation and may not necessarily have been honest with what he was doing with his part of the operation while others tried to bank on their operation. Nevertheless, it was all about staying ahead of the various goons that were sent after them and the tape. Despite that, Rand was stuck with all the grunt work in the midst of that cloud looming over them. Suffice it to say that it wasn’t easy but he survived thus far. However, it looked like he would have to survive whatever was going to come next alone as Miltie conveniently flew to Amsterdam for business.

At the end of the day, regardless of Pam and Tommy’s issues may have been at the time, they still valued their privacy as the episode ended with a moment of catharsis for them when Pamela smashed a paparazzi’s windshield. It was always going to mean a little more to Pamela because she was a woman and Lily James’ performance as Pamela in this episode was sensational. Letting that human side come out, showing vulnerability and discomfort among other insecurities and letting all those emotions come out in that one moment was powerful to watch.

In the end, Pam and Tommy doesn’t always have to be wild to be effective but we surely haven’t seen the end of that yet.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.