‘Minx’ Recap: ‘The perils of being a wealthy widow’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

(L-R) Jake Johnson, Ophelia Lovibond, and Elizabeth Perkins as Doug Renetti, Joyce Prigger, and Constance Papadopolous in Episode 201 of ‘Minx’ – ‘The perils of being a wealthy widow’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Minx’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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When we reach a point where we are close to achieving our dreams and are ready to set out and seal the deal so to speak, the prevailing belief in this life… is that we need to be prepared to do what must be done to have fate sign on the dotted line. Which means, if we need to compromise a little, so be it. If we have to leave certain people that helped us get there behind to close the deal… oh well. Because the dream is everything to us and we didn’t make sacrifices and fight this hard to have nothing to show for it, and of course… with success in hand, we can always replicate what we left behind and assume control of what we still desire… right? Well perhaps it doesn’t have to be that way. Perhaps we can replicate everything that helped us accomplish the climb and do things our way if we so choose. And it just so happens… that the season two premiere of the STARZ series, Minx, ponders upon how that might work.
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For when we return to this world in ‘The perils of being a wealthy widow’, Joyce Prigger is in fact… following the standard societal edict for bringing one’s dreams to life Since Doug is nothing but a memory, courtesy of the fact that every publisher and their brother is knocking at her door to have them sign with her. For they understand the power and the gravity of the magazine and know what it would do for their portfolio. That means… Joyce thought she should… sign with whomever offered up the best deal, to give Richie and Bambi what she promised. But instead, there is nothing but hesitation from Joyce in this tale, for something just doesn’t sit right with her regarding this decision and that puts her at a strange crossroads in this story. One where she simply cannot decide what is best for the magazine. Which of course puts Bambi and Richie at a crossroads since they expected to get right to work. But instead, they’re at the mercy of crisis. The kind that leaves Joyce wondering if just signing on the dotted line without giving it a second thought would cause more harm than good.

Almost as though, what they are offering isn’t complete, as though going the traditional route would ruin the dream, since big publishers would of course want their stamp upon it and compromise the magazine, and she isn’t the only one feeling as though this new path forward isn’t quite right. For Doug isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders either. Because despite fully believing that his company will be just fine without Joyce at his side, it’s obvious… it won’t. Because every connect he has from a distribution standpoint… know that he’s toast without his flagship product. To the point where things go from bad to worse. For not even banks will offer him a loan to keep things going, and the same goes for the most unsavory of folks in his inner circle. Leaving Doug and sadly, Tina, without much of a future really. Just a bunch of magazines waiting to hit the stands that will likely have to get there the old-fashioned way. With gusto and elbow grease and a crazy road trip that Tina shows little interest in and well, these polarizing problems for both Joyce and Doug… help them to come to understand that the classic route of seizing one’s dream… isn’t the best way to handle it.

No instead, when one has exactly what they want and need in hand, they need to keep the status quo going, and find new ways to be pioneering to seize hold of what matters most and believe it or not… both parties found that in this tale. For this story also introduced Joyce and Doug to one Constance Papadopolous. A former shipping magnate with money in hand that well… was a trailblazer back in her day and remains a firecracker now. One that inspires Joyce to no end but of course… seems out of reach. To the point where Joyce feels the need to just sign with a traditional publisher and get it done. But Doug knows the misery and compromise that would bring and inspires her… to chase the person that inspires her. To keep everything pure, to remain the outsider and the outlier she and the magazine are viewed to be. Which leads to a powerful meeting, wherein Joyce finally takes charge through and through and… seals the right deal for her future. One that will also help Doug… since she did realize she needs his uncompromising and unorthodox view of the industry. But more importantly… it will bring Minx back to life and move it to new heights and give Joyce… an un-compromised dream.

All of which makes this… a powerful season premiere. One that truly does inspire and ignite something within the viewer. Since it tells us… don’t listen to those that say we must compromise to have what we want. No, we should instead, be mavericks and be bold and get what we need so that we don’t experience regret or worry, and that’s just great to see on screen. But what matters most, is that we get more of this glorious and refreshing series. Courtesy of the fact that it was given new life on STARZ, allowing for us to finally see Joyce’s dream come to fruition and learn more about the ups and downs that come with chasing one’s dream as a rebel, an outsider, and of course… we are reunited with characters we love, and we also will get to see what comes next for them. Such as where that whole love affair that Bambi is caught up in, will head next. And it will be both interesting and wonderful to see what lies ahead for Joyce and her loyal crew as they get back to work and solidify the dream. Until next time.  

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