What I’m Watching: Breeders

Breeders: Season 1, Episode 6 “No Talking” (B+)

I wasn’t sure whether this show would pick up right after the events of the previous unexpectedly dramatic half-hour or whether it would just move on to the next parental issue faced by Ally and Paul. I never would have imagined that Daisy Haggard, who I first remember making faces on “Episodes” while offering minimal other verbal communication, could be a theoretical Emmy contender, but this episode and the one before it are startling displays of her talent. Her concern upon hearing a commercial airing that should have been hers to manage brought her back to the reality that her mourning period, however unusual it might have been, took place as the world moved ahead without her. Darren didn’t seem to be all that helpful in terms of giving Ally the professional support she needed, but he proved that he absolutely was when he drove quickly to beat their train and show that he really got it. It was entertaining to see Ally and Paul react to the therapists they tried, and Ally taking her unlicensed student therapist down a peg was especially fun. What was most moving, of course, was what Ally realized she needed most after she screamed and swore at her family to shut up. Asking Paul not to touch her, sit next to her, or talk to her but to just be with her was a chance for her to just sit with her grief, affirming this show as a smart, strong series that isn’t just about the comedy.