The trailer for Damon Lindelof’s Mrs. Davis is as inexplicable as imagined
The creators of Lost and Young Sheldon would like to talk to you about this globe-hopping action-comedy about a motorcycle-riding nun's quest for the Holy Grail
Aux News Davis
Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez’s Mrs. Davis is as hard to describe as any of Lindelof’s projects, which is probably part of the allure. The first teaser promised a Her-like story about an A.I. living in an earpiece. When the titular Mrs. Davis “wants to talk to you,” the user pops the earbud in and follows its directions. When Mrs. Davis finally gets around to a nun named Simone (Betty Gilpin), though, the woman of God and her A.I.-hating ass are sent on a global quest for the Holy Grail. Yes, that Holy Grail.
Mrs. Davis looks like many things, and when Lindelof is involved, viewers can usually count on seeing all of those things, too. What starts as the classic story of a nun annoyed by algorithms turns into a globe-hopping adventure with resistance fighters, motorcycle chases, and people pledging fielty to a stupid computer program. Unfortunately, it feels all too relatable.
The scale of this thing is much larger than anticipated—and the teaser promised international locations. Well, now it’s a motorcycle-riding nun searching for the Holy Grail that an artificial intelligence named “Mrs. Davis” sent her on. Along the way, she discovers a piano-infested wheat field, a cult of Davis obsessives, and a shower of green goo. Simone finds herself holed up with a group of resistance fighters aiming to pull down the algorithm.
Though we don’t know how this adventure-comedy will play out, it does have those Lindelofian signatures that made Watchmen, The Leftovers, and Lost so compelling and divisive. Most importantly, there’s a shot in the trailer of Margot Martindale, who is credited as Mother Superior, holding a bottle of brandy and saying, “Let’s party.” Yeah, we’ll check that out.
Mrs. Davis would like to talk to you on April 20 on Peacock.
21 Comments
They had me at, “No one calls Facebook ‘Doug.’”
I have to admit, that line was where I maybe started to change my mind about watching. Or at least giving it a shot. (But I tend not to be a huge Damon Lindelof fan, so I’ll likely talk myself out of it).
I like most of Lindelof’s stuff. Big Bang Theory, on the other hand, is a hard turn off. I’m choosing to look past that and give it a chance because the trailer looks good, and I really like Betty Gilpin.
On the one hand, this looks like a mess. On the other, Betty Gilpin. So, yeah, I’ll watch it I guess!
I know we bitch about the writing quality on the A.V. Club a lot, but this got me:“the classic story of a nun annoyed by algorithms”
Anyway, this looks pretty fun. And a hell of a cast: Betty Gilpin (!!!), Chris Diamantopoulos, Tom Wlaschiha, Character Actress Margo Martindale, Katja Herbers!
Lindelof wrote “The Hunt”, which starred Gilpin.
Thanks for the reminder, I need to go back and watch that.
Am I crazy, or did I see John Carroll Lynch in there? One of my favourite That Guys.
I also spied Jake McDorman, who was quite charming in the way-better-than-it-had-any-right-to-be Limitless Tv show.
If it’s even half as good as Watchmen or The Leftovers, it will be worth watchng.
Right? I bet I won’t have any idea what’s going on for a full season but I’ll still stick it out because The Leftovers taught me it’s worth it!
I love how the sub-heading describes it as being from “The creators of Lost and Young Sheldon.” Oof, I almost stopped reading there.
Yeah, that’s not good marketing. The Leftovers & Watchmen though, that’s good marketing.
“a nun named Simone (Betty Gilpin)“Sold.
Lindelof made 3 of the best TV shows ever – Lost, The Leftovers and Watchmen – so count me in.
this feels like one of the last ‘weird expensive streaming shows’ before the belts all get tightened.
They’ve still got a few weeks to decide not to air it after all.
Looks like one of those comedies that people say “It’s really interesting!” to avoid saying it’s not funny.
If only Lodge 49 had gotten a third season (and this kind of budget).
The premise doesn’t really grab me, but damn if I’m not pretty much sold just on the presence of Betty Gilpin.