‘Minx’ 2×03 review: “It’s Okay To Like It”

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the TV show being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Minx Season 2 takes a time jump in Episode 3, “It’s Okay To Like It.” We’re thrown into the wildly successful flow behind Minx’s next issue with the added pressure of a reporter from Rolling Stone there to cover Bottom Dollar Publishing.

Joshua Gomez plays Simon, the reporter sent from Rolling Stone. Although officially he’s there to cover all of Bottom Dollar Publishing, really he’s interested in Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond), the feminine powerhouse behind Minx the magazine. Like Joyce always is, she’s an uptight mess about the inquisitive eye of Simon and puts on a tight-lipped show while doing everything she can to avoid Simon. However, it Simon is the catalyst for Joyce’s new perspective on her success and secure place at Minx.

I gobbled this storyline up. It follows a similar structure to previous Minx episodes, focusing on the limitations of Joyce’s strict perspective on professionalism and feminism. However, it also underlines that Joyce is not unequipped to handle Minx. Quite the opposite, and she emphasizes that it’s time for her to enjoy the security in her position—you know, live a little. I loved it; given what we’ve seen of Joyce so far, it felt right.

And I lost it when it turned out Shelly (Lennon Parham) and her husband, Lenny (Rich Sommer), were hosting swingers’ parties! Are you kidding me? Did I not say in one of my previous reviews that I was hoping for some polyamory with this couple? Of course, I hoped it would have included Bambi (Jessica Lowe), but I’ll take what I can get. And Shelly’s alter ego? Bella LaRouche? Genius!

“The Adventures of Bella LaRouche” would make for an incredible regular column at Minx, and I sure hope that’s what Shelly plans to do. Something is refreshing about how the writers are framing Shelly’s story. They’ve taken what once was a storyline about her inability to orgasm during sex with her husband into a dark sexual feminine energy she carries in and out of the bedroom. I’m happy to see Lennon Parham’s performance take that on and blend seamlessly into Shelly’s previous characteristics.

I am concerned about where the writers are taking Richie (Oscar Montoya) this season. Last week in Episode 2, “I Thought The Bed Was Gonna Fly,” he was hooking up with a Hollywood producer, which was exciting, but he was also a little dismissive of Bambi, along with everyone else. Now, he’s showing up late for meetings after partying all night and hooking up with all the models from their shoots.

This could lead to some ugly places for his character. I hope the writers don’t intend to use Richie as a sacrificial lamb for the sake of drama. Minx doesn’t seem like the kind of show to dispose of a Queer Latinx character, yet they’re not precisely painting him in the best light. Not that Richie should be the perfect gay man every episode—just, I worry about where they could take his arc, especially considering this is a period piece.

Bambi and Doug (Jake Johnson) continue to be the two characters whose roles are shrinking every time we see them. I’m glad that Tina (Idara Victor) has found her groove and she’s no longer being treated like a secretary by Doug. She’s even on par with Bottom Dollar’s new owner, Constance (Elizabeth Perkins), as far as the power pyramid goes. Although, as Tina’s influence grows, Doug’s authority wanes. Will their relationship survive the season? I also have concerns about Bambi becoming Doug’s secretary and a shame-filled depression affair between Bottom Dollar’s bottom two occurring. It makes for great storytelling but as a loyal viewer, hard to watch.

I knew that the added presence of Elizabeth Perkins would change the show’s dynamics—yet another element I predicted in previous coverage. I didn’t expect how likable her character would be while she dismantled the routines with which we grew familiar. Because of Constance’s presence, Doug is put on a shorter leash; Perkins holds all the power in these scenes and yet remains so delicately adored. At the same time, Johnson shrinks his performance of Doug and shows a gradually more defeated version of the character.

“It’s Okay To Like It” had everything that made Minx Season 1 thrive—photoshoots, fish-out-of-water scenarios, frivolous characters used as punchlines, frisky reveals and fantastic character arcs. This episode is one of the most well-rounded, well-written, and well-performed episodes in the series thus far.  

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Featured image courtesy of Starz