LA MESA, California – While my twins and husband were in El Paso, Texas visiting family for a few days during their Spring Break, I watched a few seasons of Younger, a rom-com-drama series on Netflix.
Directed by Darren Star, who is Jewish and whose claim to fame includes Beverly Hills 90210 and Sex and the City, in which some episodes had Charlotte York converting to Judaism, and marrying her divorce lawyer Harry.
The plot concerns a 40-year-old divorced single mom, Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), who took a break from working in the publishing industry in New York City to raise her daughter, who is now studying abroad. Trying to return to the work force, Liza goes on many job interviews only to be turned down due to her age.
She moves in with her lesbian-artist friend Maggie (played by Debi Mazar who has Jewish ancestry) and gets a full makeover to appear 25, which lands her an assistant position to a major publishing house.
In season one, episode 11 Lauren Heller (played by Molly Bernard, who is Jewish) throws herself a “hot Mitzvah” since who at 13 is “hot”? Add 13 years to her first Bat Mitzvah and she is 26, accomplished, confident, and not awkward. Interesting concept for a party do-over.
Throughout the three of the seven seasons I have so far watched, there are Jewish undertones. Lauren Heller’s mom Denise (Kathy Najimy) invites the girls over and offers them wine and snacks. They gather in the kitchen gossiping and asking about their dating lives. I saw this as the typical Jewish mother feeding the girls, making sure they eat and also interested in hearing what is going on their young lives.
In season three, Lauren Heller runs into an old friend from Camp Ramah and starts dating Max Horowitz who is a medical intern. They date for a few episodes before Lauren dumps him since he is too boring and makes her feel “basic.” She goes back to her lesbian fling with Maggie.
Also in season three, Maggie starts dating Malkie, an Orthodox clothing designer and boutique owner. Maggie apologizes to Malkie, telling her she was getting mixed signals and thought she was a lesbian. Malkie tells her she is Orthodox and is in a lesbian group known as “Orthodyke.” Another topic I wondered if that is a real thing?
Malkie invites Maggie to join the other women in the mikvah. When she undresses and the other women see her tattoos, one being a cross, they jump out of the water believing the water is ritually unclean. The mikvah subsequently was drained. My thought was why would Malkie invite her to the mikvah if she is not Jewish? Wouldn’t that come up when you are dating someone?
To apologize to the women for ruining the mikvah experience, Maggie invites the women over for Shabbat dinner and gets all the ingredients to make brisket and matzo ball soup from the kosher butcher. But it had me wondering about the plates used and her kitchen not being kosher.
The Jewish undertones throughout had me wondering with each episode what else might pop up. But so far into season three, it has kept my interest. I hope Liza and her 26-year-old tattoo artist boyfriend stay together and live happily ever after.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.