What I’m Watching: Suburgatory

Suburgatory: Season 1, Episode 16 “Poetic Injustice” (B+)

This episode was a bit peculiar, but it still proved to be quite funny by shifting the focus from some recently highlighted players to people like Fred and Sheila. Fred reading Sheila’s diary and discovering her fantasy about George being covered in oil resulted in some hilarity, namely his trying and failing miserably to grow a goatee. The funniest part, of course, was that it wasn’t even George Altman but George Stephanopoulos, whose last name, I’ll admit, I don’t know who to spell either. Tessa’s obsession with the new poetry teacher who preferred Dalia’s airy observations to her English prowess was not unlike her, and I like how we never actually found out the reason for Ms. Evans’ favoritism but instead had our lead character get schooled by Dalia, who simply told her that her need for her approval was dumb. My new official favorite part of the show is single Dallas, who has her fun but shines most in moments where she stands up for herself in even the most only subtly suggested of situations. Her response to George’s correction of her language was particularly brilliant, asserting her status as a full-grown woman with the right to use the wrong word if she wants. Having Dallas and George get together would be great, and surely isn’t too far off, but it’s sort of nice to have them in this will-they-or-won’t-they stage where they’re just flirting and having fun with each other, neither eager to be the one to make the first move.