Based on Alison Nutting’s novel of the same name, “Made for Love” features a premise that could fit neatly into a 70-minute episode of “Black Mirror.” In actuality, there will be so much more to unpack as this is the newest show on HBO Max where the first three episodes have just premiered.
We learn that Hazel Gogol (a great Cristin Milioti) is on the run from a 10-year marriage with a tech billionaire and megalomaniac, Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), in the show’s clever play on Google. Sticking to that theme, Byron has created a virtual reality hub where he and Hazel have lived for the past 10 years.
However, when Hazel learns Byron has made the pair of them the test dummy of his revolutionary gadget called ‘Made for Love,’ she escapes. This microchip, by the way, is a chip implanted in the brain that puts couples on the same page, eliminating any secrets between one another as you always know what your partner is thinking. It’s a neat concept, but surely terrifying as it eliminates any and all privacy.
A fascinating commentary on relationships
That’s what makes this concept so intriguing: We learn about the control exercised by Byron within the relationship, as “Made for Love” is a fascinating commentary into relationships, and especially toxic ones. Magnussen is great as the dry tech billionaire without a sense of humour who wants to control the world by having everyone rely on his technology. That’s how the series also comments on society’s reliance on tech.
The way that parallels how he needs to control his relationship is very well-written. The topic is something similarly explored well in Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man,” a tonally different film where a woman also escapes a toxic relationship from a millionaire. There’s great tension here too. In “Episode 1,” Byron whispers to Hazel, “You’ve been lying to me,” before greeting his guests with a beaming smile.
Milioti is so great as Hazel shows her anxiety of the situation, wondering, “What does he know?” Magnussen is great as he shows the many faces he can wear. In Milioti’s performance, we see she desperately needs to be somewhere else as the character, anywhere away from him. I’m looking forward to Hazel’s journey as a person as she gets to be her own person.
Cristin Milioti and Billy Magnussen in “Made for Love.” Photo credit: John P. Johnson/HBO Max.
I also thought the show’s ideas of privacy were great, especially when Hazel experiences zero privacy even without the chip. When she plays a video game she’s forced to give feedback on their relationship before going on with her day. I won’t spoil the comedy of that specific feedback.
Mixing sci-fi with humor in equal measure
The show’s science-fiction, but also incredibly funny. Cristin Milioti and company—notably Dan Bakkedahl as one of Byron’s cronies—and especially Ray Romano as Hazel’s father, Herbert add humor throughout. That dynamic is fun and has a lot to unpack. It seems like it’ll lend well to Hazel’s development as a character throughout the series.
During this three-episode premiere we see the show can juggle humour and entertainment in background episodes revealing more about their relationship. This is seen best as a journalist visits Byron and Hazel in the Hub. I’m curious where the story’s going; it sets up certain dominoes that could lead to unpredictability throughout the series.
Important to note is novel author Alissa Nutting has a “written for television by” credit on the first three episodes. It’s always great to see the original novelist involved in the writing. This will hopefully provide a faithful adaptation for fans of the novel as it goes from page to screen.
