American Spirits

Dorn (Exalted) spins an enjoyable if chaotic satire of celebrity culture and the dark side of fandom. At the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic, singer Blue Velour, 38, is at the peak of her fame. Superfan Rose Lutz, 24, secures a job as Blue’s assistant and moves into the singer’s lavish home. Unbeknownst to Blue, Rose is the creator of the BlueBeards subreddit, a “QAnon-level delusional” forum dedicated to unpacking Blue’s suspected romance with her producer, Sasha. When Blue’s tour is canceled as the world goes into lockdown, she lashes out, throwing her iPhone against the wall and almost hitting her sister in the head. Quarantining with Sasha and Rose in the redwoods, Blue is seemingly “unafraid of the virus,” declaring their home a “news-free household,” and she sends Rose on unnecessary errands like buying her nail polish and candy. Despite these mundane requests, Rose believes that “for the very first time, her life was exactly what she wanted it to be.” But as Rose and Sasha become closer, Blue grows increasingly resentful of their bond, creating a rift that leads to a shocking finale. The plot meanders, and some developments are over the top, but Dorn has a fine ear for dialogue and a sharp view of a celebrity’s cosseted world. Just like its characters, this is messy and appealing in equal measure. Agent: Sarah Phair, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (Apr.)