What I’m Watching: The Great Indoors

The Great Indoors: Season 1, Episode 18 “Party Paul” (B+)

I’d always thought that Jack’s history with Brooke was something that would come out eventually and cause some real drama, but I think I’ve been thinking about it all wrong. Jack liked to mock Paul because he truly doesn’t seem real, but he’s still loyal enough to Brooke as a friend that he’s willing to try to make Paul seem decent to Roland when he saw what it meant to her. Roland also happens to be terrible at lying and completely ignorant of how improve is supposed to work, and only once did Jack give him a taste of his own medicine by setting him up to step in it. Paul didn’t seem quite as bad – or bland – as normal, but he was still never going to live up to Roland’s expectations for his daughter, which apparently are represented well by Jack. Their constantly rotating piano reunion was odd but entertaining. It’s useful that Emma has a way to keep track of her boyfriend which helped them find out where Jack and Roland were when they were out on the town and then to find Paul when he disappeared from the bar. Jack’s efforts to be accepting of Mason being bisexual were pretty cringeworthy, and I’m surprised that Mason knew more than two words that started with “bi.” Eddie being worried about not being in great shape for his first physical in eight years and started a diet on a whim was very typical, and at least he’s good for some minor comic relief.