The Being Erica BS detector: Season 3, Episode 2
Episode 2 of Being Erica aired last night, and again, we’re left craving some more extensive time travel. (It’s kind of hard to play time cop when only a few minutes of the episode take place in the time travel vacuum.) Still, we managed to spot a few details worthy of the BS detector.
As always, we’ll leave the more general analysis—like how not-hot Ryan’s haircut is or how ick that “We are a full service gym” comment was—to the other experts. Click here for a more thorough explanation of the time copping process or read on for this week’s scorecard.
The time period: Somewhere around 1999. It’s Claire’s stagette, and when Claire and Ethan split in season 1, it was 2009, and they had been married for 10 years. (This back-to-the-future mission happens because Erica is having trouble letting go of Ethan, so she travels back in time to learn from another woman who has loved and lost the same dude.)
• Technically, our first objection isn’t a matter of historical accuracy, but are we the only ones who find it hard to believe that Erica would throw a party in honour of a girl she can’t stand? As Claire says to Erica, “Do you really think that you throwing me a party to make Ethan happy is going to erase all the years of tension between us?” We don’t. (-1)
• As the girls enter downtown clubland, the camera pans to a light display–free CN Tower. The lights were added in 2007. (+3)
• We’re pretty sure the song playing at the drag bar (actually, El Convento Rico) is Geri Halliwell’s version of “It’s Raining Men,” which didn’t come out until 2001. If we’re wrong, we’ll do an orgasm shot in penance. (-2)
• Claire uses a totally outdated, era-appropriate cellphone when she calls Ethan from the club (+4), which only highlights the fact that in 2010, Erica uses a payphone to call him. The notion that Erica Strange, publishing whiz, would be operating without a cell is ridiculous. (-8) Also, that phone booth was totally spotless and almost inviting. If that’s what Toronto phone booths looked like (rather than sketchy STD receptacles), maybe we wouldn’t be such a cell-dependent society. (-1)
• And since we’re very briefly breaking the rules and opening this up to the present day: would anyone really buy a magenta car? (-2) Julianne would! (+6)
Final score: -1
Wouldn’t she use a pay phone so that his call display wouldn’t give her away? Just a thought.
I found it a bit distracting that every girl at the bachelorett was wearing a tight tank with her bra showing……not so 1999, seemed more 2009.
Nadine, this is 2010! Obviously Erica has heard of *67.
did they say it was 1999 for the flashback? B/c I recognize the Kylie Minogue song to be from around 2001. (I remember b/c I was in first year uni when it came out… 2001-ish)
which Kylie Minogue song was it?
I agree, payphone was for anonymity. And Shazam says yes, it was Geri’s version.
I thought it was a good episode, altho’I was kind of mixed up about the time period at first, but then “caught on”. I like Erica; she’s so sweet and caring, doesn’t ever want to hurt anyone. Though, she is human, and shows that “other” side of herself, occassionally. I agree with Charles’ comment. I hope that her show doesn’t get “canned” too soon! I’m “hooked”!
Agree with Jo. People don’t use pay phones for anonymity, they use *67. Having Erica on a pay phone is just like all those movies where totally modern people still use old fashioned answering machines so that the audience can hear the message too. Good for the drama but NOT AT ALL true to life.
Julia bought a magenta car because Ford has thrown a shed-load of sponsorship money at the program to promote the Fiesta? I couldn’t help but notice the slow lingering shots of the car. Who cares though? As long as Being Erica is back on the screens. I do hope the Kai storyline is a good one!
Also, when Erica goes to use the phone booth, she puts in only one quarter when it actually costs $0.50 to make calls now!
Biggest flaw in this epidode: Julianne appears totally stoked to be driving a Ford Fiesta.
Yea, I’m not picking up what they put down there.