What I’m Watching: Grandfathered

Grandfathered: Season 1, Episode 6 “My Amal” (B+)

I actually liked this episode more than the previous few, since I think it worked on almost all levels. We didn’t see much of Annelise and Ken, which is telling, and I’d argue that the restaurant should take just as much of a backseat in future episodes as it did in this installment. What we got instead was Sara innocently trying to set Jimmy up with her friend Heidi, mainly to get his mind off Vanessa, and his refusal prompting Jimmy to pressure her to take her out instead. I almost didn’t recognize Dave Coulier as Heidi’s patient who got a funny line about never being seen, and I think that was a perfectly appropriate cameo. Sara helping Jimmy and spending time with him when her car broke down and he used her for shade was entertaining, and it seems that she may well be getting won over by his charms again. The fact that he called her to tell her he had a great time was sweet, but naturally he ruined it by making the call when he still had Heidi over. Vanessa suggesting a friends with benefits arrangement with Gerald was a twist, and I enjoyed watching him try to be all macho and explaining the ways in which he took the emotion out of it. Deciding that trying a relationship wouldn’t be wise was a mature decision, and it seems that Gerald is happy knowing that his feelings have been acknowledged. Maybe now we can see him start dating some other people and watch Vanessa’s jealously develop just as much as his has.