The Writings of John Ryan Sullivan

We can accept the title On Television even though what I am writing about is only available from a streaming service, right? I’m struggling enough as it is to have categories for what I write about so if we could not nitpick that would be wonderful. Otherwise I’m going to use an AI randomizer for the names of the posts and then we will all be equally miserable.

So now that we’ve settled that matter, Ride or Die. Streaming on Amazon. Starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer. Where to begin?

I enjoyed Ride or Die despite being confused by it. Before I started watching I wish I knew the following: all of the interesting/exciting elements of this show, espionage, assassinations, crime, mysteries – do not really matter. I don’t write that to say these things are not interesting or entertaining. What I mean is the show itself is not concerned with these elements.

The only thing this show cares about is the relationship between our two main characters, Judith and Debbie. If you go into Ride or Die understanding that everything else is secondary at best I think you will have a wonderful time.

This is by far one of the more unique shows I have watched for the simple reason that the friendship between two women is the central aspect of the show. I’ve not seen that before. There are many exciting, fantastic aspects of Ride or Die but what really pleased me was seeing that a friendship was the driving force behind everything.

That the two leads are wonderful actors should be of no surprise given the work they have done previously. But they are, truly. The show goes in many different directions and allows each character to grow and change and learn and fail. It’s really quite lovely. As many people online have pointed out Ms. Waddingham playing a secret agent/assassin is a great fit and her physicality lends itself easily to the role. She also switches between playing a cold-blooded killer and warm and kind person with startling ease.

Octavia Spencer playing a more normal (meaning not a super spy/assassin/hacker/parachutist) character is given many opportunities to display grit and courage and resolve. Her character is thrust into an unknown and frightening world and she conveys the complexities of what this must be like beautifully.

The series has a wonderful supporting cast who do an excellent job bringing this world to life. Bill Nighy, Ed Skrein, Sylvia Hoeks, Bill Bailey and the rest of the cast are interesting and fun to watch. Only all of them are, by nature of the show, truly secondary to Judith and Debbie. People come and go with frightening ease and if you are looking for closure or deeper connections I fear you will be disappointed.

Which, in many ways, is the best part of Ride or Die. Each episode I found myself tensing, certain it was going to fall into predictability or cliche. Only it doesn’t. Many of the solutions to problems are interesting and unique. Each time I was certain the plot would go in a particular direction I was pleasantly surprised.

As someone who has watched quite a few government/spy agency television show (this year) I can say this is a refreshing change of pace. The chemistry between the leads is infectious, you can tell how much they care for one another and enjoy spending time together. For a show fraught with danger it is, strangely, quite comforting.

I don’t think I have much more I can add. With managed expectations of what this show is I think nearly everyone will find something to enjoy.