#The Three-Episode Pam & Tommy Premiere Balances Sensitivity And Sleaze

Episode one of “Pam & Tommy” almost feels like a detour, a decent opening act for episode two’s main attraction. “I Love You, Tommy” takes us through the dizzying, ridiculous courtship that led to Pam and Tommy’s marriage – and the video that came from it. The episode also gives us a better look at the show’s two uber-committed leads, who elevate the series from what could have been a trashy retelling into something closer to a genuine love story.

The episode opens with Pamela, and title cards let us know she’ll be engaged to Tommy in two months’ time. Right now, though, she’s at a club with friends, swearing off bad boys entirely. She doesn’t realize Tommy is just one VIP section over from hers, fiercely making out with his date.

The impetus for their initial introduction is as unbelievable as the couple themselves; when Pamela buys a round for everyone in the bar, Tommy seems to think she sent him one special. He sidles into the womens’ booth, and, I kid you not, licks Pamela’s face. There’s immediate heat between the two, so this isn’t the absolute weirdest time for one person to lick another’s face, but it’s still the series’ first hint at just how much of an unexpected kick this relationship will have. Pamela, thinking quickly, turns it into a game where each person licks the face of the person next to them. Sure!

This scene is a great barometer for “Pam & Tommy” as a whole. The series never questions Pamela’s intelligence, but instead portrays her as a savvy, sweet woman with a romantic streak and an appearance that makes her easy to underestimate. The show creates a version of the duo’s love that’s silly and dramatic but rooted in real, palpable chemistry that grows into deep care. In the beginning, though, they’re just two wild things determined to show each other they’re up for anything. “I’m Greek,” Tommy says, after shattering a glass on the floor. “I’m Pam,” Pamela answers in deadpan. Now that’s a meet-cute.