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Mae Cannon (Zoe Lister-Jones) is not happy, and she wishes for change. When her current marriage with Elijah (Whitmer Thomas) is devoid of romance, the world she Slip (without the s) into–which is also the title of this character-driven comedy–is different after each one-night stand.
In each episode, she Quantum Leaps into another version of herself. At first, she tries to figure out what’s going on, and although I disagree with her idea, my theory has better weight so she won’t fall down again. Unlike that NBC series, she has no mission to right a wrong, and the situation gets quirkier as she questions why this latest relationship matters. The story by Lister-Jones gets stranger, and it has to be binge-watched to appreciate the various character arcs going on.
The people Mae meets change each episode, and for the most part, the series considers what makes life worth living for than to stay dragged in the mud. This talent is also great at looking bewildered at the start of her next leap after she has an orgasm. Ultimately, she’ll have to decide if returning to her reality is worthwhile than sticking to the one she’s at.
I’m glad the idea isn’t stretched out too long. The seven episode count is more than enough to cover a lot of ground about examining one’s self-worth. The sci-fi elements are very limited to a dream-sequence and rhetoric about why this is happening. I suspect the magical realism started because of some curse as art for the hungry ghost exhibit is moved around. She was transfixed on the art and and somehow the veil between worlds was made thin.
What this series is about really focuses on relationships than copy from Everything, Everywhere All At Once. That also includes Gina (Tymika Tafari) who is her BFF. She’s the only constant who can put up with Mae as she wonders if she’s still a museum curator, homemaker or something else. They grew up in the foster system, so that’s perhaps why they manage to stay sane despite all the chaos going on. I want to compare this gal to Al Calavicci, but there’s nothing to suggest she knows she’s not even the same person Mae Knows. Instead, each world reveals how her friend has been changing on the inside, so to speak. Despite the body hopping going on and trying to lay down evidence it’s happening, those plants don’t appear in the other parallel universe.
After finishing watching this series, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the comedy-drama Dead Like Me. In this program that sadly was cut short, even the heroine here was feeling down. Georgia Lass was just as equally sad with her life. Although her fate was sealed by getting clocked on the head by falling space debris and waking up a Reaper, a guide into the afterlife, that new life helped lift her spirits (pardoning the pun).
In Slip, Mae is a lost soul needing guidance. Perhaps that’s why the series makes use of the Hungry Ghost motif, because unless they’re shown the way instead of being ceremoniously fed, they’ll be unhappy for the rest of their days too.
5 Stars out of 5
Slip Season 1 Trailer
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