Episode Review: The Studio Episode 2 - "The Oner"

Welcome back to the blog readers. After not planning to go through all the bells and whistles in doing reviews for this new show called The Studio (2025), my mind was changed after watching the premiere episode. That episode was funny, sensible, and just satirical enough that it walked the line between enjoyable and cringe. Would I feel the same about this episode, titled "The Oner," written by Peter Huyck, and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg? Stick around to find out.

NOTE: I will be using spoilers for my thoughts, so DO NOT read ahead if you have not seen the episode.

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I want to admit something to you guys. When I heard the basic premise of this episode (in that a film crew was looking to film a one-shot take, also known as a "oner" while the episode was filmed that way as well), I was absolutely intrigued because I love things that are filmed (or filmed to appear as if it was) in one take. Roger Deakins absolutely deserved his cinematography Oscar for his work on 1917 (2020) for that same reason. And I think whoever shot this episode should get the same love. This episode was wild, chaotic, and so much fun. Seth Rogen is killing it in this show so far (especially in this episode) and I love the story they are trying to tell.

I mentioned it in my review of the premiere episode, but Seth Rogen absolutely gets his character of Matt Remick. After seeing these last two episodes, I cannot picture anybody else playing him because Rogen brings such a charm to this role that he helped create. And nothing helps to solidify this fact more than the fact that there is a lot of physical acting he has to do in this episode, and I believe he is able to pull it off flawlessly while still being able to make us laugh (and cringe) at the screen. I mentioned an Emmy nomination may be coming Rogen's way if he is able to keep up this dim-witted, yet charming character in my review of last episode, and he is making that case much easier for me.

I am going to talk about the story of this episode, and then I want to talk about the overall story I think the creators are trying to tell with this character and show. In this episode, Matt Remick and Sal Seperstein are on their way to the set of an unnamed film that stars Greta Lee and is directed by Sarah Polley. They are at a mansion to film the final scene of the film, in which it is to be shot as a "oner," or a one-take. Matt desperately wants to be on set to watch the filming of this scene, while Sal knows the crew do not want him there. The scene is also set to be filmed during sunset because that is the only available time. Matt arrives in a suit and believes he is dressed too fancily for the scene and changes into something more appropriate from the wardrobe department. He joins Polley in the video village and Polley is able to negotiate Matt getting the money to play the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" over the scene.

Patty and Sarah are trying to get Matt to leave the set, believing his presence will be a detriment to the cast and crew. Greta Lee also reveals she wants something from Matt: his private plane for the press tour of the film. Attempts to film the scene are met with issues. Matt requests a change that costs them time, he is talking too loud and distracting Greta from the video village, he wanders from the "village" they set up for him, he is wearing one of the replacement costumes for an extra, he accidentally appears on camera, and he gets injured when he falls on one of the props. After shooing one of the set's doctors away, the scene is able to go off without a hitch, until Great criticizes someone for parking in the driveway (this was Matt's car from when he arrived). He gets the keys from his suit, leaves the set, and learns they were ultimately unable to get the shot.

Before I let you guys go, I did say I wanted to talk about the overall story we appear to be getting from this season. While the stories of these first two episodes do not seem to be related in any way, I personally think they are. I think what the creators are trying to tell us is that despite Matt saying he is different than any of the other money-hungry studio execs in Hollywood, I think he is not any different. When he caves under pressure and abandons Martin Scorsese's Kool-Aid film for the one with no substance, you know there is a problem here. Then, directors don't even want him on their sets because they know he will only ruin everything (case and point this episode). I think the overall story they are trying to tell us is that Matt is not qualified to be a studio head, and I predict we will find this out by the time this season ends.

The Studio's second episode is as wild as anything you can expect from Seth Rogen, with laughs, gags, and sweet, sweet chaos. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.