Leading up to this episode, the couple’s sex tape was stolen by the mullet-wearing electrician Rand Gauthier, and he began to distribute it with the assistance of his friend Miltie (played by Nick Offerman). However, the end of Episode 3 didn’t even begin to show the repercussions of these actions, instead, it concluded with Pamela finding out that she’s pregnant and the rock-and-roll couple rejoicing over the happy news. Episode 4 gets right to the action, opening up with the mass distribution of the tape and some overenthusiastic viewers settling in to press play. The episode makes for an entertaining watch, however, the series still refuses to commit to a consistent tone — an obvious effect from telling a story, equally, from the victims’ and assailant’s perspectives, something that could’ve been a fun juxtaposition if it wasn’t for the unresolved-nature and high-stakes of the situation.
Episode 4 Gets Right To The Drama
Rand and Miltie find themselves in trouble after pitching Pamela and Tommy’s sex tape to “half the Valley.” Pamela and Tommy hire a private investigator and a gang of leather-wearing bikers to track them down and stop the spread of their tape. The couple’s happy illusion is broken over breakfast when Tommy declares that the image from their first ultrasound is worthy of being protected in their safe, but when he goes to lock it up, he finds the safe missing. In a mad scramble for justice, Tommy lists the stolen items to the authorities, forgetting about the explicit tape. Although that’s not the case for Pamela. She gestures him over and expresses her concern, prompting Tommy to let the police know. The reality of the situation sinks in when Pamela tells Tommy that she feels “violated” to his confusion. The drummer questions her and adds that he feels “p*ssed.”
As the episode continues, Rand discovers that Miltie has been selling the tape beyond what they’ve discussed. It is now being distributed in such large quantities, with no legal protections, that people are bootlegging their own copies and adding to the spread. Scenes alluding to this, as well as the violent chase to stop distribution, are shown between the slow demise of Pamela and Tommy’s relationship. In addition to the harassment Rand is getting from the forces trying to pin him down, he is also battling a fallout from Miltie who, after accusing him of snitching, left Rand to do the “operations” work while he jets off to Amsterdam.
Rand is seen pathetically scrambling around to cover his tracks despite having not monetarily gained from the success of his exploit and getting furious as he realizes that he has no control over the situation (which he caused). And, once again, taking the backstory is Pamela’s growing feelings of insecurity and instability amid the controversy. She catches a group of cameramen gathered around, watching the sex tape, on the set of Baywatch. She and Tommy go to investigate at a local library — because where else can you access the internet in 1996? — and gasps at finding the tape being labeled as “Pamela’s sex tape”, once again, alluding to the patriarchal factors at play.
More devastation is thrown Pamela’s way through the episode as she has a full-blown argument with Tommy and later, suffers from a miscarriage. The couple is chased by paparazzi the entire experience, from their mansion to the hospital, and back to their mansion. Losing it, Pamela takes a golf club to the pap’s car windshield and finds herself breaking down while being carried away by her husband.
The Rand Thing
Despite the drama-filled episode being carried by Stan and James’ full-bodied commitment to their striking characters, “The Master Beta” eventually ends with Seth Rogen’s sorry-faced Rand on the run, seeking support from his soon-to-be ex-wife and her partner. Earlier in the episode, there was a solid attempt at comedic relief after Rand confronted a man selling bootlegs of the sex tape outside a video store. Rand went on a rant about how unethical the man’s actions are, eventually disclosing that he wasn’t mad about the lack of consent from the subjects on the tape, but rather, the act of “profiting off of somebody else’s labor” — his own.
While it may get a solid chuckle from some, others will find themselves rolling their eyes at the pseudo-intellectual nature of the character. His “I am karma” shtick wore off fast and the pandering to his character has quickly become an annoyance, to the point that leaves one guessing if the focus on the character is a result of the star-power of Rogen and his role as an executive producer.
The voyeuristic aspects of the show are fascinating and complement the roll-out of events, which feel more real-time than expected, given the show’s biographical nature, and Stan and James continue to impress as their performances are brought to new levels. But as the camera is continued to be pulled away from the title characters, Pam & Tommy seems to be setting itself up to be a short-lived experience.
Pam & Tommy drops new episodes on Hulu every Wednesday.
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