Apple TV+’s Gutsy is nothing if it’s not good for your health. Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton apparently aim to interview heroes and people from all walks of life through their documentary Prominent figures from all walks of life, whether talking to academics, activists or firefighters, tend to find it. The reasons they emphasize are largely beyond reproach, at least if your politics is broadly aligned with that of the Clintons; their subjects are clearly admirable; their stories are continually empowering.
For a certain type of audience – say, a devoted Clinton fan or a feminist looking for a role model – it could be a good primer A wide range of issues affecting Americans today, from motherhood to environmentalism to the fight for LGBTQ rights. Its omnivorous interests and impressive access ensure that almost any viewer is likely to find some parts they will connect with beyond its eight – minute episodes. However, in its relentless pursuit of ascension, the collection has distanced itself from complexity, depth and even individuality. While Gutsy’s kindness is hard not to like, its superficiality is also hard to love.
Brave
Bottom Line Well-meaning, delicious nurture.
Air Date: Friday, September 9 (Apple TV+)
Executive Producers: Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Johnny Webb, Siobhan Sinnerton, Roma Khanna, Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, Anna Chai
First, get this out of the way: If you have strong opinions about the Clintons, Gutsy is unlikely (or even trying to) change his mind. The series is less of a sales pitch for the Clintons than a platform for the Clintons to showcase other individuals and issues they deem valuable. (No, Bill Clinton didn’t show up, if you were wondering.) However, even pro-Clinton viewers may find themselves stumbling over Gutsy‘s first obvious question: Namely, no matter how you view them as private or public figures, the Clintons are lackluster as TV hosts.
Each episode is woven around a specific theme – “Brave women have a rebellious heart,” “Brave women are a force of nature,” etc. Some interviews – usually conducted around some hands-on activities. A voiceover from the Clintons or a seemingly scripted “casual” dialogue between the two of them acts as a turning point between the two. Occasionally, these transitions bring unexpected moments of warmth and relief. I’ll admit, on an episode about women and comedy, I scoffed at Hillary’s inexcusable cheesy “de-brie” joke in front of a Parisian bum.
But while both Hillary and Chelsea have spent decades in the spotlight, they both seem comfortable with the documentary’s deliberately casual vibe, or all the eagerness to reveal More of themselves than they already have. Suffice to say, it’s hard to blame their caution. Curated anecdotes shared here by the Clintons include Chelsea’s recollections of watching Saturday Night Live mocking her appearance as a child, and Hillary’s Brazilian lingerie ad, which used She has never been on a state visit as first lady. (Hence her famous affinity for pantsuits.) They justifiably feel like a lot has been exposed. However, when the two central characters seem so irreproachable that they are completely estranged, it makes the TV unsatisfactory.
Elementary school book report. (Every time someone says “brave” in this series, take a picture and at the end of your binge you’ll have a very strong buzz.)” I think it was the funniest afternoon we’ve ever had. We learned a lot. We laughed a lot,” Hillary said during a visit to late-night host Amber Ruffin’s home in episode six. By then, we’d seen the video, so we knew it looked really fun and educational, and the Clintons seemed to really like a table that said Ruffin made them for them. Pants-centric sketches and her writers. But you don’t know this from the boring words used to describe events.
The Clintons themselves did better in the sit-ins and were apparently more comfortable listening to others present their reasons. The topics that get the most attention are bound to be big names: A-listers like Kim Kardashian and Megan Thee Stallion, and cultural leaders like Dolores Huerta and Gloria Steinem. But the most compelling conversations tend to be generated by slightly lesser-known people — like GLITS founder Ceyenne Doroshow, who speaks movingly about being the mother of a growing network of young transgender people, or inventor Alice Min Soo Chun, who offers an in-house study of the tedious process of creating a prototype. No doubt that’s in large part because we haven’t heard everything they have to say.
In the best segments, the interviewee and the event together offer a multifaceted (though still small) taste of the subject at hand. In “Brave Women Stand Up,” activist and scholar Kimberle Crenshaw gives the Clintons a mini-tour of the Metropolitan Museum exhibit at Seneca Village as a way to discuss her critique of race theoretical work. It’s an excellent use of Crenshaw’s few minutes on screen, providing just enough content for viewers to stop and visit the exhibition on their own, or check out more of Crenshaw’s work.
But this alchemy is often out of reach. I thought it would be lovely to see the Clintons talk about mother-daughter relationships while taking a tango class with Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson – but all these interactions ultimately convey is that “being a mother is One of your bravest things” vague cliché. can do. (That word again.)
Gutsy‘s roster of heroes is truly impressive, and the questions they ask are worth pondering. If the series brings more recognition to some of these women and the work they do, then maybe it’s a worthwhile effort for that reason alone. But for those who are really involved in these ideas and don’t It can be a frustrating watch for anyone who cares about being curious about their nuances. For example, in “Brave Women Refuse to Hate,” gathered for brunch to discuss battling harassment and vitriol There was little cross talk among big names (comedian Negin Fasad, journalist Jemel Hill, gun control activist Shannon Watts), and not much exploration of the community-based emphasis in “Brave Women in Search of Justice” The underlying Yurok tribal justice system may be at odds with the more traditional policing methods seen elsewhere in the series.
The same may be true of disputes and disputes in court, and Gutsy is stubbornly focused on spreading good vibes as widely as possible. This approach does have its merits. It provides a quick and reliable dose of empowerment, and a solid compendium that brings together Talented, determined, accomplished people for later reference. But it also makes the show never as deep as it can feel, or as complex as all the characters in it. In other words, it will Prevent Gutsy from fulfilling his title.
