Summary
The creators of Baby Fever leave their moral guidelines at the door despite it being a well-produced comedy-drama. That’s a problem, as audiences do not know what to do with it.
The problem with Baby Fever is that it is an authentic and well-produced drama, but the lead character, Nana, remains questionable, even in the depths of Season 2. It’s entirely possible that due to its authenticity, the creators have intentionally allowed Nana to manifest into who she is. She’s not a good person by any means.
From a critical point of view, I need clarification. How can I enjoy a series with a central character I do not particularly like? My confusion is doubled by the intimate performance of Nana, played by Josephine Park, who is arguably experienced with her craft and does not fear the closeness of a camera lens.
Season 2 picks up slightly after Season 1. Nana has had her baby, which was conceived illegally, and the biological father, Mathias, is not in town and is unaware that he is a dad.
Swirling around the plot is Nana’s curiosity about her father. She has many questions about her birth father, and the empty void in her life, a lack of a father figure, provides justification for how she acts in adulthood.
Baby Fever does not appear to have a redeemable character unless there’s a huge swing in principles in Season 3.
Let’s narrow down the problem, as simple as it is. Nana is a criminal. Arguably, she’s committed a sex crime. She’s used her position at a sex clinic to impregnate herself against the will of her ex-lover, Mathias.
I’m unaware of the laws in Denmark, but I am sure in some parts of the world, it could be argued in courts that this is an act of sexual assault. The topic of “consent” is undoubtedly the center point of the story. If we flip genders, and the man impregnates a woman without her consent by inseminating her with a semen sample, he’d be the town’s witch and likely to serve jail time.
Baby Fever does not uphold itself well in the “my body, my choice” argument.
That is why I have a problem with the character Nana. Even if you argue that the TV show’s genre is partly “comedy,” you must still adhere to the principles set and communicate them to the audience.
I loved Scrubs, but I would never imagine it supporting a doctor abusing their authority in a comedic sense. The flaws of each character were questioned. You felt a certain way about them, and the script allowed there to be themes surrounding their decisions.
Putting aside the central character’s illegalities, Season 2 of Baby Fever raises more questions about Nana. She’s arguably less likable, as her bad decision-making now adds further layers.
Now that she has what she wants (a baby), she’s suddenly hungry to return to her career at the clinic. Suddenly, being a mother is not as important now that she’s shared DNA with Mathias. The premise of Season 2 is that it takes her less than three months to decide to quit parental leave.
And then, once Mathias returns in Season 2, Nana turns even uglier, especially when it involves him being romantically involved with another woman. Of course, I will not spoil it, but I was dumbfounded by the writing involved. She’s a villain. No doubt about it.
How do you parse the writing in Baby Fever? Do the writers accept that we are dealing with a narcissist with suspected borderline disorder?
If the story is that Nana is the bad product of modern-day relationships and fourth-wave feminism, then I can concede that this is a certified comedy-drama series. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I’m merely trying to avoid the double standard.
However, if the writers are completely unaware of the severity of their lead character’s actions, then the writing has misguided morals.
I suspect they are aware of it; “Worst Mom in the World” and “Can You Bring a Child to Prison?” are the names of two episodes.
But if the creators are aware, Nana is not a character we should take lightly. Her being drunk when she inseminated herself is not an argument for her actions, even in a comedic sense. Baby Fever is a lesson for young adults of today. Remove the natural incline of narcissism, apply accountability, and embrace natural relationships.
However, if my fears match reality and the people behind the show do not understand the terribleness of their lead character, then I’m unsure of the point of Baby Fever as I conclude Season 2.
All I know is that I enjoyed it and have no idea what to do with it.
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