‘Mammals’ Recap: ‘Episode 1’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Mammals’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we look at love through rose-colored glasses in popular entertainment and it makes sense as to why. After all, love does a lot of positive things for us. It lifts our spirts us, it motivates us to be more and be better and to go the extra mile for the person that has captured our heart. So why not present it in books and film and television shows in a positive and enticing light? Well, the answer to that question is simple. In that, constantly presenting this concept and search in such a saccharine light creates false expectations for love. The kind that disappoints us deeply when we finally come to learn what love is all about in this life.
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For it is in fact, supremely difficult to maintain. Because love and all that it comes with, requires a true partnership. One where compromise and communication are key as are matters of give and take so that both parties feel happy and fulfilled. Not to mention, it also requires adaptation since people grow as the years roll along and to not adapt to one another’s needs and wants, can result in people growing apart. But above all, what we truly need to learn about love, is that sometimes it just doesn’t work between two people. Because one or both parties that have a spark aren’t actually compatible and it is important, we learn those lessons… so we don’t find ourselves devastated when a love affair doesn’t work out and it just so happens, that a new series on Prime Video, works to hammer home those lessons.

For Mammals is indeed about the harsh realities of love and how the modern world of technology has brought forth new challenges for it as well. But of course, it doesn’t get into such matters right away, instead… it outright fools us into believing we’re about to enjoy a traditional romance story. After all, when we meet Amandine and James Buckingham in this tale… they’re on cloud nine. For they are in love and on a weekend getaway to enjoy a little time together before their baby arrives. And they make sure to make time for magical moments and they’re even neighbors with freakin’ Tom Jones during this weekend. But the loss of their child on this romantic getaway due to a miscarriage, changes everything for them. Not because of the loss, since that seems to reaffirm their love for a brief moment. No instead, the discovery that Amandine is having an affair, rocks James’ world and leaves him questioning the solidarity of the love he thought he knew. 

Which is… the perfect way to explore the realities of love. Because not only does it offer that modern twist and how technology helps us to easily meet our needs in this day and age, but it really does dive deep into… how hard love is and how we truly romanticize the belief that it is enduring and forever. Because obviously, Amandine isn’t getting something out of this and has different needs that don’t align with James and not knowing that because of poor communication and a focus on the fluff over the substance has brought James to a desperate point. One where he even goes so far as to try to end the affair to have his storybook romance back, only to learn another horrifying twist about this little secret that his wife is harboring from him. Something that will undoubtedly be explored in later episodes. 

But before that gets underway, we can in fact, celebrate quite the brilliant series premiere. For this is a refreshing take on the romantic comedy that just hasn’t been done before. Because it’s realistic and fascinating, and honest and raw, and the comedy really does help to never make the uncomfortable nature of said honesty overwhelming. Which is a credit to James Corden’s comedic chops here, since he plays Jamie and brings perfect balance to the role and well… in the end, this is a series that absolutely grabs hold of you and never lets go. Because it finally speaks to a reality that storytelling has been unable and unwilling to embrace and that raw nature of the story compels you to continue the journey and see what other truths await us and if James can reconcile them. Until next time.

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