Selfie Review

Selfie Review

               I’m not going to lie, the title gave me pause. Selfie, really? I expected a story of obsession and social media popularity. Shallow was the word that kept coming to mind. The basic description was of a 20-something woman, who loved social media, but decides to reevaluate some things when an embarrassing incident goes viral. It doesn’t offer much hope for the lead character. And I was worried she would become a character we’d love to hate, one we could only see as, well, shallow. The trailer, however, altered my perspective. Karen Gillan plays Eliza Dooley, a woman who is glued to her cell phone and her variety of social media accounts, and the followers they bring. But when she becomes a viral joke, she propositions her company’s marketing image expect, Henry, to give her an image makeover of her own. For a show with a title that seemed so shallow, it had a lot of depth. The title now seemed fitting, posing a question about what image we are focused on, and if maybe there are more important things. I was curious to see if the show leaned more toward the title or the trailer, if the depth really did exist.

               “Being friended is not the same thing as having friends.” It is the realization Eliza had after her embarrassment went viral and no one came to her aid. She was alone growing up, with no friends to speak of, so she thought if she mirrored herself after the popular girl, she would be liked. But being truly liked is not the same as social media likes. Something Eliza learned from Henry as he attempted to transform her inside as well as out. During a wedding date, Eliza reverted to old ways, causing Henry to quit with no hope for her to ever change. But not long after she took an interest in her company’s receptionist, Charmonique, and saw herself actually changing for the better. With some desperate pleading on her part, Henry agreed to work with her again. The truth is this show is about a vapid girl learning there is more to others and herself than she thought. But it is also about Henry, who has his own shortcomings, not really close to anyone as well. Together they may be able to figure out what it really means to connect with someone. There is more to Eliza than meets the eye, and there is more to this show than its shallow title.

               I will be continuing with Selfie, as long as the characters continue to grow and the show shows more depth than a selfie allows.

               Check out Selfie on Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

~Amysoamazing Tumblr