Dummy: Pro Sex Doll or More Mockery?
Posted on August 08 2020
Sex dolls have been featured in television shows and movies in the past. At times the portrayals are creative, sensitive, even a bit funny. Lars And The Real Girl starring Ryan Gosling is an example of this. Now, someone has decided to center an entire sitcom around a sex doll. The show is Dummy, and it stars Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect, Scott Pilgrim, Trolls) along with Donal Logue (Gotham, Sons of Anarchy, The Patriot).
Plot Summary
In the series, Cody (Kendrick) discovers that her boyfriend (Logue) has a sex doll. Predictably, she's pretty upset about this at first. However, before long she warms up to the doll, and a very strange friendship forms. Yes, the sex doll talks to her. Be prepared to suspend disbelief.
This is presumably going to be a short run series. The show runs on Quibi, a newish network that is known for producing shows specifically made for mobile screens. The episodes here are also exceptionally short. Dummy comes in at around six minutes per episode.
What's Good About Dummy
First, we loved that every character here is 3-dimensional. Yes, Dan owns a sex doll, but he's never portrayed as a weirdo or dysfunctional. We also really enjoyed seeing a couple that has a sex doll incorporated into their relationship in a reasonably healthy manner.
Sex doll acceptance aside, the writing here is very well-done. Both stars have comedic chops, and it shows. The episodes are fast-paced, and viewers are left wanting more at the end. Dummy manages to be clever without falling into the predictability of lame sex doll jokes.
Also, we love to see any show that breaks the mold. When most series are nothing more than a regurgitation of old ideas or exploitive reality shows, it's nice to see something truly unique. Even better to see a creative twist on the ‘buddy comedy’ trope using a successful but neurotic woman and a sex doll in place of the usual bromantics.
Anything Bad?
We have to be honest. There’s nothing here that is going to win any Emmy Awards. Nor is this a show that is going to spur any serious social changes. The show is also a bit of self-indulgence on the part of creator Cody Heller in that it is a fictionalized version of her relationship with Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon. The show also offers a humorous view on a couple of serious topics. Some viewers might be uncomfortable with that. Still, the show is creative, funny, and unique. Overall, we think it’s worth watching.
Why Should Sex Doll Fans Care?
We are keenly aware that men and women who enjoy using sex dolls are often grossly mischaracterized and mistreated. Because of this, we are always interested in any creative work that turns misconceptions about sex dolls upside down. In this case, we see sex doll acceptance, great humor, and creative writing. Hopefully, this encourages anyone on the fence about buying a custom sex doll to make a purchase! We think that’s well worth checking out. In fact, we wish there was more sex doll positive content out there. We’d certainly love to learn about any recommendations our customers have.
