What I’m Watching: Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie: Season 2, Episode 10 “The Loophole” (B+)

Let’s start with the more serious of the two plotlines in this episode, one that managed to unite a bunch of characters and send things in a finite direction for all of them. Grace’s visit to the hotel with Phil was serene, full of genuine joy and pleasure, and she was having a blast pretending that he was a hired prostitute when Paul Scheer’s overeager room service bellboy arrived with a feast for them. Everything seemed like it could always be like this dream, and then he got a call that his wife and dog had gone missing, leading him to run out so abruptly that he forgot his cell phone. Seeing Amy Madigan’s Elaine in person really destroyed Grace, since she was so sweet and lost, forgetting who Grace was from one moment to the next, but she did experience one brief moment of lucidity in which she recognized Grace and knew exactly who she was. For Phil to be tethered to her in this way and to live a separate life with Grace could never work, and I think that even he realizes that. I love that Frankie’s latest effort to reclaim her lube led to an unexpected reconciliation between Robert and Sol, precipitated by Robert’s delight at getting to argue Sol’s legal claims in their makeshift court in Brianna’s office. Their layered conversation brought up some important points, and it’s so great to see them back together. Frankie also grew and let go, even if Brianna was merely concerned with not having more dramatics come up again soon. And Bud was just there to fail to read the room, left to hug himself.