What I’m Watching: Vice Principals (Season Premiere)

Vice Principals: Season 2, Episode 1 “Tiger Town” (B+)

I actually just rewatched this show’s pilot a few weeks ago with my wife and some friends, none of whom were quite as enchanted with it as I found myself. It’s great to see how much this show has grown in season two, opening from a similarly dramatic standpoint of Neal recovering from his gunshot wound and laced with just as much infantile behavior from its two main adults. Neal has come full-circle in regards to Ray, who he now likes, while he’s not so into his ex-wife, who has hated him for a while. Lee has gotten himself very comfortable at school, turning it into exactly the operation he’s always wanted it to be, but he’s missing something crucial, which is Neal’s presence. The triumphant return of Mr. Gamby the disciplinarian at the very end of the episode was fantastic, and I like how the new vice principal, Dayshaun, and Amanda were all excited about it. Neal’s reaction to the celebrations in his honor was typical, and even though he’s become mellowed by his injury, he’s the same man he’s always been. Tracking down Belinda and accidentally throwing the gun across the floor made for a magnificent moment that I assume will be the last we’ll see of her, featuring her proudly revealing the tattoo of Neal and Lee that she got on her back so that she can literally put the shit behind her. Only on this show would that fly, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the next six episodes of this show play out since, sadly, that’s all we’re going to get of it.