Season 3 of The Comeback premiered on HBO Max on March 22, almost 12 years since Season 2’s premiere in 2014.
Starring Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback satirizes a Hollywood life led only on the surface, designed for external and temporary viewing and never intimate connection, relationships, or self-discovery beyond what is curated to be shown and performed.
Kudrow’s character “Valerie Cherish,” despite her washed-up celebrity status, leads with lovable ineptitude and an unwaveringly chill demeanor that sugarcoats shallow, self-serving intentions that feel both hilarious and uncomfortably relatable to the viewer.
This season’s satirical reflection doesn’t limit itself to the entertainment business it lives in. In fact, the one-note Hollywood world in The Comeback could be interchangeable with any corporate jargon, lip service, and flowery language frequently equated with professionalism.
Kudrow’s “Valerie Cherish” expertly demonstrates the contagion of social media culture in her ironically-named podcast “Cherish the Time,” diluting the emotions of the front-facing stars into surface-level, performative feelings designed to be perceived, rather than felt. This mentality is symptomatic of every character touched by the entertainment industry, categorized by an externally motivated life of being perpetually watched.
The gap between each season of The Comeback has further cemented its sharp cultural critique of the media landscape. Season 3, Episode 1 uncorks the glamour of Hollywood to reveal its shallow monotony, ultimately setting the scene for the season’s exploration of the impact of AI on creative art forms.
The first two episodes are out now on HBO Max, with new episodes released weekly until the finale on May 10.