Hulu's Shrill - Episode 1.03 "Pencil"
Annie isn't going to let her troll ruin all the success she's had recently. So, she invites Ryan to a work event - excited to introduce her boyfriend into her life.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Hulu's Shrill.
"Pencil" was written by Dave King and directed by Andy DeYoung
Annie has long been putting all of the work into her relationship with Ryan. She has strived for them to be a public couple who actually care about each other's interests outside of the bedroom. And yet, he shuts down every suggestion that she has. It gets to the point where many people in her life wonder if she just made him up. She tells her co-workers that she is bringing Ryan to a work event celebrating the art of Gabe's husband. He doesn't show up and her friends aren't immediately compassionate to her and how devastated she feels in this moment. She feels powerless there. She can't do anything to take down her troll's content on her article. That's what she is primarily focusing on as well instead of the fact that she has the website's most viewed page for the week. She is questioning if something can be done to turn off her own notifications for this personal hatred towards her. There isn't. There is also nothing she can do to feel secure in her relationship. Ryan isn't at this party. He conveniently excuses his behavior by saying that he put the wrong date in his calendar. Blame could be placed on communication issues between them and how they struggle to remain engaged over time instead of in the short bursts where they are actually with each other. However, Annie feels so trivialized and betrayed when she sees the event Ryan went to instead. He would rather stay at home and compete in pencil fights with his friends. These guys see it as this progressive and empowering movement because gender plays no role in who wins each battle. However, it just seems so silly and inconsequential. In that moment, Annie doesn't care. She just wanted to show off her boyfriend to the world. She understands that he is a man-baby who is simply horny all the time. And yet, she was willing to adjust to that in this environment. She saw it as the first step for their relationship to evolve and grow. That also included telling her parents about him. She may have been defensive because her mother continues to point out that she doesn't play the field in the same way that Fran does. She wants to exert control over her own life in saying that she is just as happy and satisfied in that sexual way. However, she isn't. She gets the sage advice to completely forget about Ryan and go have sex with a ton of guys. That could give a significant boost to her confidence. But she is right back at Ryan's place confronting him. That impulse is still there to try to make this work even though it seems destined to fail. A healthy relationship shouldn't be this hard. Annie just has that natural impulse to be nice and willing to give a person chance after chance to prove that the past isn't who they inherently are. It appears as if Ryan is incapable of change. As such, it's meaningful that Annie doesn't go over there for a second time after he reaches out by text and assumes that she will once again run to him. He shouldn't expect that. He has to earn her trust back. Annie is becoming powerful. She first chooses to do so by essentially stalking a woman on the street who immediately presents as the woman Annie would love to be. It is creepy and could show some dangerous impulses from Annie. But it also serves as a distraction. The kind of realization she needs to understand that she deserves. And then, she returns home and has sex with Fran's brother, Lamar, during the last night of his visit. That too is refreshing and gives the understanding that Annie is choosing herself and putting her priorities first instead of catering to the rest of the world.
