What I’m Watching: Life in Pieces

Life in Pieces: Season 4, Episode 5 “Sonogram Frog Rub Family” (C)

I found most of this episode to be highly forced, with the first three segments feeling entirely contrived. Greg had to try very hard to say things that sounded bad and then pretend like he didn’t realize their double meanings, and it was obvious from the start of that vignette that he would steal the photo, they would take it home, and they’d eventually discover that they were going to be having a girl. Why they would trust Tim’s medical opinion is a mystery, and the only worthwhile part of that whole bit was the parting quip about a son’s hockey game and how he was his best friend, something Greg oneday hopes to experience. I don’t know too much about different animal species, but it seems unlikely that the internet would recommend to exterminate a type of frog immediately upon discovery, which is both violent and rather repugnant. Leave it to this crew of teenagers to fail completely because all of them except for Tyler were far too sympathetic to the plight of poor Michael. I didn’t know why Tim’s plotline took a sharp turn last episode, and now we see that it was the prelude to him being far too friendly in a way that should merit a response from the Short family that has had no trouble telling him how little they think of him in the past. The fourth segment was the only saving grace, though it too took an unexpected dramatic turn. Why the woman who delivered bad news by pushing a box of tissues towards her clients didn’t think of this match that seems likely to come to fruition is unknown, but maybe this new family could work out splendidly, fulfilling the longtime dreams of these eager soon-to-be parents.