‘These Days’ Review: Marianne Rendon Shines Bright In An Intimate Series About Isolation

I know I’m not alone in having little to no interest in stories about quarantine, especially while we are still in quarantine, and simply longing to bust out and hug our friends again. But a new project has shifted my perspective on the matter. These Days, an entry in the Indie Series program at the Sundance Film Festival this year figured out a way to tell a story about quarantine, and even made it while in quarantine, that is also enjoyable to watch while yes, still in quarantine.

The series comes from writer and director Adam Brooks, who reunites with actress and producer Marianne Rendon, as the two previously worked together on the Bravo comedy/drama series Imposters (Season 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix now). Here, Rendon stars as Mae, a dancer who is all by herself, except for her adorable dog Diego, in her New York City apartment as she mourns the loss of someone called Sam (viewers will learn more about this as the series goes on) — and if that’s not bad enough, she even tries her hand at online dating during this time. Fellow Imposters fans will also enjoy that her first virtual date is played by her former co-star Parker Young.

However, it’s not until she begins chatting with Will, played by William Jackson Harper of The Good Place that it seems as though maybe this whole online dating during a pandemic thing isn’t so bad! The two have such incredible chemistry that can be felt through all screens: the ones they’re on and the ones we’re watching through, that one can’t help but wonder if they’ve been doing digital meetings all wrong this whole time. But, as with seemingly everything these days (no pun intended), there’s a catch that is revealed before the end of the episode by Will’s boss, played by Amy Brenneman.

These Days was filmed during quarantine and despite the bleakness of the world in 2020, from the specific horrors of dating online to the sad thrill of listening in on neighbors’ arguments to having complicated feelings about the 7 pm cheer to being all alone with nothing but your overwhelming feelings about everything, the project looks stunning. Even shots of desolate New York City streets appear bright and stylish, as do all the homes featured here. Hell, even the actors on their computer screens look gorgeous, which all adds up to a very satisfying and positive viewing experience. Other projects have tried to capture Zoom life, but this one has managed to add some perspective and light to it all (literally and figuratively), making it not just tolerable but actually quite visually and emotionally pleasing.

And that goes for the whole project: there is an authenticity to this that makes it feel relatable and watchable in a way I did not quite expect. Of course, a large part of that is Rendon who is exceptional here. She’s good in everything, but here, she’s also good at everything. The actress shifts from being emotional and vulnerable to being utterly charming and even performing a dance we should all learn for our Zoom calls, as it is too good to be confined to TikTok, all within the span of minutes. These days aren’t any I thought I’d want to see depicted on screen, but These Days has done such an incredible job telling this specific story that I can’t wait to see more.

You can screen the pilot for These Days on-demand with the purchase of a festival pass beginning today through February 3rd.