TVSquad

(S0E03) "If you ask them first, 90% of them will say 'No.' But hey, once it's up there..." -- Belle

Ahh, the pitfalls of being a London call girl. I'll have to remember Belle's trick for when I'm stuck with a marathon runner and I'm on someone else's clock. That someone else is Ashok. We met Belle's very first client tonight. I already hope we see more of him.

My review of Secret Diary of a Call Girl is after the jump.

First, this episode was better than last week's. I like getting know a bit more about Belle's / Hannah's character. The tidbits about her business are interesting, but you can't build a show around just that. I enjoyed getting to know Ashok a little bit too; he seems every bit as charming as she described him.

We learned a bit more about Belle / Hannah in the way that she looks at Ashok. She smiles at him as if they really do have a relationship. (Perhaps they do in a way.) They joke. She gives him a book. He knows what she drinks. Also, I found it interesting that she pointed out Ashok's wife hasn't had sex with him for years, justifying his decisions to hire a prostitute.

The "moonlighting" was quite amusing. Our London call girl doesn't sleep when she's doing all-nighters. She meets a man at the hotel bar who was hungry for a good time (and willing to pay). Belle assessed him -- apparently a man's shoes and watch will tell you how quick he is in bed. Sounds like easy money, right? When he said he was a marathon runner, I laughed out loud. It's moments like that where Billie Piper really shines. As some of you have pointed out, she's great at breaking the fourth wall. And she is. However, only some moments are really conducive to it. And it doesn't always need a one-liner. It can just be a sarcastic look.

For the past two weeks, I've noticed (and you readers, too) that Belle constantly breaks her rules. For example, this week she had a beer yet she told us last Monday that she never drinks on the job. Belle seems so meticulous about following her rules and being professional. But she's always breaking them. One of the commenters pointed out that maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. I think it's a good possibility. I just don't see what purpose that serves. Am I missing something? I guess I'll just have to get over it.

Just one more thing. I'm currently reading the real Diary. I noticed that the show glossed over what Belle puts in her bag at the beginning of the episode. Here's the passage from the Diary where she lists everything. I'm interested to her your thoughts.

Small handbags, bah. The magazines can tout this or that tiny purse of the season. But considering what I typically leave the house carrying,

a pair of folding scissors (stray threads are the enemy)
a pen (my memory is good, but not htat good)
phone (phone agency on arrival and leaving)
condoms (polyurethane as well as latex -- some people have allegries)
a spoon
bottle of lube
lipgloss (reapplying lipstick after a blowjob is too complicated)
compact and mascara
small vial of scent
tissues
spare knickers and stockings
keys, bankcards, other normal detritus
and sometimes, nipple clamps, ball gag, and a multitailed rubber whip

(Belle du Jour, page 14)