Sarah Jessica Parker goes through bittersweet ‘Divorce’

Thomas Haden Church and Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker explores life after the glamorous “Sex and the City” with the bittersweet “Divorce” (HBO, Mondays, 10 p.m.), a new comedy-drama series dedicated to dissecting a festering relationship.

“I don’t love you anymore. I want a divorce,” Frances (Parker) tells her husband Robert (Thomas Haden Church), who is a decent guy, if somewhat dull. The bombshell sends him reeling, but it has been long overdue.

Frances, a weary wife and mother of two kids, has been feeling trapped in the monotony of their marriage for quite some time.

Even before declaring her wish to end their union, Frances has been secretly seeing another man, Julian (Jemaine Clement), who immediately dumps her when he learns of her plan to divorce her spouse. Julian wants to keep their dalliance a secret, and believes it would lose its magic because of the change.

But their affair is soon discovered by Robert, who bars Frances from entering their house.

Created by Sharon Horgan, “Divorce” shows promise, despite the obvious storytelling routes it takes. Frances is a departure from Parker’s previous role, the fashion-forward sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw. “Divorce” gives her an opportunity to portray someone “normal,” for a change.

After “Sex and the City’s” six-season run and two movies, Parker is now mostly subdued as the unhappy and disillusioned Frances.

The most enjoyable part of this new venture, though,  is former “Saturday Night Live” regular Molly Shannon. As Frances’ manic gal pal, Diane, who is going through her own problematic marriage, Shannon delivers a frenetic, over-the-top portrayal that provides the show with the energy it needs. She is a rampaging whirlwind in an otherwise somber and fragile setting.

The show needs that balance. Between the painful deterioration of the main couple’s relationship and the “regular” trappings of this show about endings, it is going to need all the mirth and optimism it can get!

Molly Shannon