What I’m Watching: 2 Broke Girls

2 Broke Girls: Season 1, Episode 16 “And the Broken Hearts” (B+)

I’d imagine that those unimpressed with the use up until now of the supporting characters will be generally pleased with how this episode changed that. That’s not necessarily addressing Han, whose Valentine’s Day enthusiasm turned out to be all for naught, or Oleg, whose quite literal comments about coming with Sofi were a bit, shall we say, invasive. At least she can throw it back at him, which is something that many aren’t capable of doing, and she even out-one-liners Max. What I was particularly excited to see was the focus on Earl, who up until this point has been used merely to deliver comments and liven up the diner environment with his sarcasm. His casual heart attack provided a wonderful impetus for Max and Caroline to rush to his defense, Max with her fierce threatening of the desk jockey and Caroline by reaching out to her former doctor boyfriend. Being shut down by the doctor because of who her father was an unfortunate kick in the pants to Caroline, but it’s nice that her father, however terrible a person he might be, still sent flowers, and even sent some to Max, prompting an expected inappropriate comment on her behalf. This show can still manage to bring the funny even without a single mention of cupcakes. Making taking the people out of the diner is just what this show needs to energize itself, utilizing its regular cadre of characters to greater comic effect when they have to interact out in the real world.