Fantasy Island Season 2 Episode 1, “Tara and Jessica’s High School Reunion/Cat Lady,” makes me realize how much I’ve missed these characters.
The opening episode of Season 2 opens doors for us to explore throughout the season, making future episodes all the more exciting.
Here Kitty, Kitty
Jasika Nicole (Fringe) shows up on the island as enigmatic Andi, a self-proclaimed “cat lady” who loves her cat dearly and sometimes chooses to stay inside with him rather than go out on a Friday night.
Andi wishes that Bobo, her cat, could show that he loves her, and they really leaned into this.
Ultimately leading Andi to realize she needs to put herself out there more, it feels like there could be an easier way to do it than turning the cat into a human. It is deeply disturbing.
While Andi’s part of the episode wraps up in a nice bow, the same cannot be said for other storylines.
30-Year Loser Reunion
Is that too harsh? Eh.
Jessica and Tara come to an island that can grant wishes more out there than you could dream, and wish for… a prom redo? They’re so focused on who they couldn’t be as teenagers that their adulthood has been shadowed by it.
These women are so caught up in the past they don’t realize that what’s in front of them — independence, strength, rebirth.
The island brings them through a journey that therapy could’ve done 20 years ago. As much as Fantasy Island would like us to truly care for these women, we aren’t, at any point, given enough to truly care about them.
We feel compassion for them, and we’re happy for them, but at no point do we feel anything beyond one-tuned emotions. This, unfortunately, leads to the women and their stories feeling inauthentic.
Love Is in the Air… Until It’s Not
Elena and Javier, we find out, are in a secret relationship. And they have been for a small while.
The two don’t feel like they’ve earned their happily ever after. They’re cute together, but there’s nothing between them that makes me swoon or feel excited when we see them.
On the other hand, Ruby faces her first heartbreak solely on the island, and though upsetting, it’s clear almost immediately that this will be good for Ruby and her character growth.
Ruby deserves to fall in love again and again, on this magical island, and not being with Gina will give her this chance.
Their being apart is sad, yes, but I’m confident they’ll grow more without each other than they would’ve together.
Stray Thoughts
- Why was that litter box nicer than my apartment?
- The truth serum drink looks so good. Drop the recipe, writers room!
- If I ever go to a magical island and make a wish to redo my prom, I give full consent to the island’s caretaker to bash me over the head with a rock.
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What did you think of this episode of Fantasy Island? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Fantasy Island airs Monday at 8/7c on FOX.
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