HBO: Please Renew Enlightened

Enlightened, the HBO dramedy Starring Laura Dern, Luke Wilson, Diane Ladd and Mike White, just had it's first season finale. And it's one of the best shows you're probably not watching. Dern (Jurassic Park, Little Fockers, Recount)  plays Amy Jellicoe, who has a complete and crazy breakdown at her office. She had an affair with her former boss Damon (Charles Esten) which crashes and leads to the meltdown. Amy is then sent on a spiritual retreat and comes back with a new outlook on life...though not everyone can accept it. Old habits die hard. Dern does a fantastic job in the role and makes it all believable, and you really want to pull for Amy, who has been beaten down and doesn't seem to have anything go right for her in the beginning.

The finale changed that. Damon and Amy's former co-workers up top (she now works in the basement of the office) allow her to present some information to them about company practices. They only do it to have a laugh at her expense though, and she hears them making fun of her on her way out. Amy gets the last laugh though when she storms in and reminds Damon she knows all about how they receive kick backs and double dip at the expense of other workers. She then gets back downstairs and manages to get a hacked password from her co-worker Tyler (Mike White), so she can now have all their e-mails. Will Amy take down those at the top and transform their company, Abbadon? That is one of the cliffhangers, along with if her drug addicted ex-husband Levi (Luke Wilson) will get the same help that she did.

Enlightened didn't bring in huge ratings, but there is a chance it will get renewed. Reviews have been solid, HBO seemingly likes the show, and since HBO is premium and not ad-supported, ratings don't matter quite as much (though still important). But please HBO, let this show have more episodes. A great show like this deserves the chance to increase it's audience. It has happened before.

And people, go watch it however you can! When the DVD comes out, On Demand, reruns, however. You won't regret it. Enlightened is one of the most satisfying new shows of the season. And speaking of Laura Dern, I wonder if she will be in Jurassic Park 4?