Girl meets girl. They lay eyes on each other and the rest…
The Netflix series, ‘Easy’ is an anthology of stories on the lives and relationships of different people living in Chicago. It is one of the few series that feature a queer love story. The two season series has one episode each season that focuses on the relationship between two young women, Chase (Kiersey Clemons) and Jo (Jacqueline Toboni). The relationship between the two begins with a one night stand and progresses to ones attempt to change themselves for the other.
“Vegan Cinderella” from the first season gives us an insight into the two characters. Jo, being a strict vegan tries to get her girlfriend to adopt her ways. Getting her to watch cruel videos on animal slaughter and crimes, makes Chase want to vomit her good-looking sandwich. However, she isn’t able to hold up being a vegan and Jo compromises.
This episode shows us that like another relationship, the two want to do things for the other to be more liked and end up making compromises to suit their relationship. Chase is a 20’s something girl who is funny, excited and has an urge to please her partner. From attempting to be a vegan to riding a bicycle in the snow, she puts a lot of effort to be liked. Jo meanwhile swoons over these attempts and falls in love with Chase all the more. The episode ends with Chase giving up on her veganism since it just isn’t for everyone.
Season Two of the show gives us a step ahead on the relationship between the two. From moving into a place together and dealing with insecurities. In “Lady Cha Cha”, Chase takes up burlesque classes for fitness reasons but then ends up wanting to pursue it as her own. A rather predictable outcome to the episode shows Jo’s insecurities and how she deals with it. While Chase goes out planning her own burlesque show, Jo, on the other hand, organizes an art show supporting feminist work.
“We really just want to reflect how you feel as a woman in this time, what power means to you”, says Ly, a colleague of Jo’s and that’s when we cut to a shot of Chase’s class dancing. This shows that there is no discrimination on what art is, or what women empowerment is. However, we then see Jo’s insecurities light up when it comes to Chase’s ambition. During Jo’s art show Chase mans the door and distributes brochures of her Burlesque show to the guests as they come in. Jo then tells her that this may be the kind of art many people won’t agree with. At the same show, there is a performance organized by a group of women who danced naked. This puts Chase off, leaving the show and calling Jo a hypocrite. Right as she may be, Chase storms out. We then see her performance and Jo there cheering her on.
What is pleasing about the episodes is that it gives us an insight into a relationship that faces its common ups and downs. There’s a happy ending to both, even if it had to with compromises. The actors have done a great job in bringing out love and its many struggles. Like a few other episodes in the series, these two will make you stay.
The use of music in the episodes relate to the situation quite well. For instance, in “Lady Cha Cha” the use of the song Issues by Julia Michaels resonates with the Jo and Chase arguing about her choice. “But you don’t judge me ‘cause if you did, baby, I would judge you too…”
While the previous episode features the song The Well by Camdogzz. It talks about people who bring other people down and tell them what’s right and wrong.
“Fire in your blood, it resonates.
The fire in your blood, it’s understated and you’re right you won’t hold me down.”
The song also gives us the idea that this would be a relationship that will conquer its own battles. No outsider or issue can come between their happiness as shown in both the episodes.
In conclusion, the episodes are a good watch. It is for all of us, whether queer, feminist, lovers, friends, and believers. There is no relationship without its flaws, its hardships or its goodness. It speaks a great deal about our society and the many things we do not know. For us, from a nation that has still not legalized gay relationships, it teaches us about the basics we should have learned a long time ago- embracing one’s self and being able to live freely. There is no higher telling you what is right and what is wrong, who you should be with and who you shouldn’t.
Freedom is what we need.
