Divorce is no laughing matter. But over the years, we have seen many television comedies that center around this sensitive topic, including “Reba”, “Cougar Town”, “The New Adventures of Christine”. But a new HBO comedy is now taking divorce in a new direction. The show, appropriately named “Divorce”, stars Sarah Jessica Parker and is being hyped as a comedy. But if you have watched the show, there is hardly anything funny. However, that does not mean Divorce is a bad show. It does manage to effectively capture the hurtful, spiteful, and painful emotions countless couples in Salt Lake City go through on a regular basis.
What makes divorce a powerful show is its ability to reach people who have or have not gone through a divorce. Parker portrays Frances, a scatterbrained woman who is involved in an unhappy marriage and begins to evaluate her life. Like many people who have gone through a divorce, Frances quickly discovers that making a clean break is not always easy. Parker’s character is a woman who has fallen out of love with her husband Robert, played by actor Thomas Haden Church. She decides to have an affair with a man, who lacks any semblance of intellect. But at the same time, she has not taken any steps to end her marriage. She then changes her mind after her friend Diane, played by Molly Shannon, decides to pull out a gun during her 50th birthday party. From that point, Frances begins the long process of painful moments that many divorced people experience.
The show Divorce has plenty of awkward moments. At times, they can seem funny–especially to those who have never experienced divorce at any level. But make no mistake, this is not a comedy. Instead, Divorce is actually a dramedy that manages to capture the emotions few television shows have before. When watching divorce for the first time, many viewers may begin to get the impression Frances is an extension of Carrie Bradshaw, the character played by Parker in the longtime HBO series “Sex in the City”. However, Parker has repeatedly insisted Frances is distinct from any character she has ever portrayed.
Whether you are going through a divorce in Salt Lake City or have already been through the process, the television show can sometimes be a bitter reminder. Frances and Robert have two teenage children, Lila and Tom. Like children of divorce in real life, they also find themselves caught in the middle of their parent’s bitter breakup. The truth is divorce does not just affect the couple. It has ramifications on just about every meaningful person in their life–whether it is your family, friends, or business associates.
Many people watch television and movies to escape from real-life problems. But there are times when art truly does imitate life. Divorce is one of those shows that entertain and yet makes us realize the seriousness, pain, and anguish countless couples face. If you are thinking about filing for divorce in Salt Lake City, schedule a consultation with an experienced family attorney that can effectively help evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.