TVSquad

(S01E08) Like so many of the episodes this season, this one felt too short. The show is good but when it feels too short, it often feels underdeveloped too. Despite the lack of development in places, Belle did get some closure. And I think it's pretty obvious that closure in a season finale is important. I, for one, was glad to see her satisfied with her situation at the end.

Tonight Belle tried her hand at being a courtesan. Wow, semantics makes all the difference, huh? There's your street-walking hookers, your pimped out prostitutes, high class escorts, and your professional courtesans. As she explained how courtesans were different than even highly paid call girls like herself, I thought of one of her very first asides on Secret Diary of a Call Girl. In the season premiere Belle told us that it didn't matter which way you slice it or what you call it, she gets paid to have sex.

I think we saw tonight that terminology does indeed matter to Hannah / Belle. Being a "courtesan," means that she can call the shots. She'll have a few long-term clients. She work with a sisterhood of courtesans, not fork over forty percent of her earnings to Stephanie. And she get more money and prizes. In fact, Belle got a sweet flat with a view of Big Ben out of the deal.

The courtesan storyline worked rather brilliantly this episode. I liked how it worked on a thematic level. Belle wants independence (i.e. from Stephanie, from her current life as a call girl). And she thinks being a courtesan is the perfect answer. But Belle finds out that she really lost a good deal of control. Being a courtesan is very much like being a kept woman. Belle sat in a lovely home in Scotland while it rained and Mitchell went to work. She was so bored and uninspired by the trip that she threw his cell phone across the floor. This didn't go over well. And when Belle tried to call the other women for support, she was gravely disappointed. So, overall, points for good thematic work.

Now I want to address briefly why I think the show is underdeveloped. (I really think it should be an hour.) I like finding out more about these clients of Belle's. When we only see them for a few scenes in a single episode, they come off as one-dimensional. For example, who is this Mitchell person? Belle seems to have such a chummy relationship with him, yet the only person she ever mentioned in any affectionate way was Ashok. Also, I had no idea that Belle wanted more out of her career. We did know that she was unhappy with Stephanie, but even their last exchange didn't leave me thinking that Belle would just up and leave Stephanie. What do you think?

If you're looking for more Belle, get the book. The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl is really good. I'm about two-thirds of the way through. If you don't want to get the book, there's always her blog.