Ep 1. The Other Davina
- July 20, 2014
- 26 min
Sensitive Skin is an original dark comedy-drama series starring Kim Cattrall that explores the life of an aging woman and her struggles to come to terms with her changing body and the direction of her life. The show is a thought-provoking and deeply empathetic portrayal of the ups and downs of aging that many viewers will find relatable.
In the first season, Episode 1, titled "The Other Davina," we are introduced to the character of Davina Jackson (Kim Cattrall) as she celebrates her 60th birthday. Davina is an intelligent, successful woman who has been working as a book editor for most of her life. She is married to her second husband, Alan (Don McKellar), a neurotic artist who cares deeply for her but whose own insecurities often get in the way of their relationship.
Davina is shown to be deeply dissatisfied with her current life, feeling stuck in a rut and longing for something more. As she tries to come to grips with her aging body and her own mortality, she starts to question whether she's made the right decisions in life and feels a growing sense of restlessness.
At her birthday party, Davina finds herself drawn to a young woman named Alannah (Elana Dunkelman), who she sees as representing the youth and vitality that she feels she's lost. Alannah is a free-spirited musician who is living with a group of fellow artists in a rundown apartment building that they've turned into a makeshift commune. Despite being almost twice Alannah's age, Davina feels a strong connection to her and begins to spend time with her, much to Alan's dismay.
As the episode progresses, we see Davina's relationship with Alannah develop as she becomes increasingly involved in her life and the lives of her friends. In contrast, her relationship with Alan begins to unravel as he becomes increasingly jealous of her attentions to Alannah and starts to lash out. Meanwhile, Davina's work life begins to crumble as her job at the publishing company appears to be in danger due to a merger.
Overall, the episode is a nuanced and thoughtful exploration of aging, mortality, and the search for one's place in the world. Kim Cattrall has an excellent performance as Davina, capturing the character's vulnerability and sense of confusion as she comes to grips with the reality of her life. The show is beautifully shot and offers a unique perspective on aging that is both uplifting and poignant. Fans of thought-provoking comedy-dramas will definitely want to check out Sensitive Skin.