by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
In the streaming era, shows are getting a shorter leash, and many are getting canceled after one season. It’s frustrating when a series isn’t given enough of a chance to flourish, especially since most streaming services don’t release their numbers. There are a lot of shows I wanted a second season of that unfortunately never came to fruition. Then there are shows like This Fool, a sitcom on Hulu that I didn’t think had a chance at a second season, but scored a renewal anyway.
We are lucky to have a show like this get a second season.
I went into Season One with zero expectations. I knew about Chris Estrada’s standup comedy, but I wouldn’t have considered myself a fan. After Season One, I started to find more of his content, and was excited about Season Two. The main character, Julio (Estrada), was in a pretty dire situation after Season One, so I wanted to see what they could come up with for his story. I had some reservations about a sophomore slump, and that they would either retread old storylines or try to go too big, too fast. Thankfully, Season Two splits the difference.
During Season One of This Fool, Julio is a frustrating character who is constantly getting in his own way, and has no regard for the effect he has on other people. In Season Two, I saw a Julio who still makes frustrating decisions, but who is maturing and growing. We see this with his drive and the initiative he takes when it comes to his professional career. Also, he takes some responsibility for the decisions he makes with his love life. The relationship he’s in during Season Two is something he’s never experienced before. How he handles this situation in his relationship proves to me how much Julio has grown from Season One to Two. Props to Estrada for his smart writing, and for not falling into the trap of making Julio the same person going into Season Two.
This Fool has a lot to say about Los Angeles. The City of Angels feels like one of the characters of the series: aimless and struggling. Criminal justice, and by extension the LAPD, is taken to task for their lack of accountability, and for their struggles with professionalism and decorum. There is a two-part episode where Julio gets caught up in an attempted robbery, and during the ordeal, the LAPD takes advantage of the situation for selfish reasons. Although this is oversensationalized, it shows how criminal justice in L.A. isn’t what it should be. This is also true through the dueling coffee shops that are looking to employ ex-convicts and wrongfully accused people. These two groups fight for who is worthy of redemption, and they fight to establish which one is worse off. It’s profoundly funny as it sheds light on the view of criminals.
Representation matters, and Latino culture is celebrated throughout the series, even when it seems like Estrada is making fun of it. We see close-knit families, overly protective parents, and a community that rallies around each other at the drop of a hat. Episodes showcasing the poverty and hardship of Latino individuals in Los Angeles underscore the real-life struggles they’re facing. The stories feel personal for Estrada, and he injects much of his personality into them.
The biggest thing holding This Fool back is the inclusion of Minister Payne (Michael Imperioli). After the events of Season One, it felt like Imperioli might be gone from the series for good. How he comes back is funny and a great commentary on the wealth disparity in our country. But everything else he does feels so out of place, and he attempts to take the spotlight away from Julio. I concede that Julio needs Payne to help him with his new business venture of the Mugs Not Thugs coffee shop. Payne’s inclusion highlights a potential crutch for Julio to be unsuccessful. The story would still work without Payne, but they would have to find a different way to give Julio more guidance on how to run a business.
This Fool manages to make Julio a stronger character who still makes hilariously bad decisions. While there is some retread from Season One, the Latino representation, along with poking fun at Los Angeles, gives me enough to appreciate what Estrada is looking to do. This is a rare successful sitcom on Hulu, and it offers a diverse array of stories that are both charming and engaging. More people need to watch this show because Julio’s adventures are starting to get good. I’m concerned this will become a casualty of the strikes, but we need more shows like this on television.
Rating: Liked It
This Fool is currently streaming on Hulu
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Twitter, Letterboxd, and Serializd