JETT: Thoughts on Episode 1 “Daisy”

Jett is another win for Cinemax. Seriously – they are killing it over there with the original programming and Jett is no exception. Let’s talk about the pilot, shall we?

Jett stars Carla Gugino as world-class thief Daisy “Jett” Kowalski. Fresh out of prison, she is forced back into doing what she does best, and a cast of morally ambivalent, dangerous and eccentric criminals, from budding femme fatales to compromised law enforcers, are determined to exploit her skills for their own ends.

First of all the aesthetic of the show is amazing. Every shot looks like it was perfectly framed. Part of the episode is set in Cuba and the dancing, drinking, all set to a beautiful background of old buildings and classic cars was fantastic. There was also a scene where Jett and Quinn (her collaborator/lover) were sitting in a bathroom. She was on the back edge of the tub and he was in the tub and it was the most beautiful shot ever. The vibe is obviously current, but with a 70’s tinge. The colors are brighter, the lighting, the decor, it all works together to highlight the actors.

Second the cast includes everyone who has ever acted – ever. I may be exaggerating a little, but not much. My sister watched with me and she recognized 90% of the cast. You all don’t know my sister, but that isn’t something she is known for. Unless you are Olivia Benson on Law & Order she doesn’t have time to memorize your face. The whole show she kept say, “Oh I know him. Oh I know her.” From the first episode alone: Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) , Gre Bryk (Bitten, The Handmaid’s Tale) , Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage, The Deuce) and Michael Aronov (The Americans, The Blacklist). Something else that isn’t always prevalent in TV is the mix of race and gender. We saw interracial couples, and hints at upcoming stories involving LGBTQ lifestyles.

Oh and Carla Gugino is a force! She’s a whole f*cking vibe. This show was created/written/directed by Sebastian Gutierrez who has been Carla’s partner for over 20 years. It is clear that this show is the perfect vehicle for her. Carla exudes that kind of effortless confidence that makes her sexy and a badass without being overt. Her character Jett has a host of issues to deal with from motherhood to warring gangs. It is a complicated, full character and I am so here for it. We are in Peak TV times, there are a lot of great shows on right now, but very few of them feature an unapologetic single woman handling her own business while still being vulnerable.

Follow along here for our continued coverage through the season.

JETT airs Friday at 10pm on Cinemax