What I’m Watching: Better Things

Better Things: Season 5, Episode 2 “Rip Taylor's Cell Phone” (B+)

Sam really doesn’t get any credit for what she does, and it’s now becoming increasingly clear that her daughters are keeping her out of other family activities and conversations because they don’t think she can handle them. After failing to contain her excitement about meeting Marty Kroft, who is apparently a regular visitor to the grocery store, she sprang into action when she heard gunshots, and then had to deal right after that with her mother mentioning that Max broke her nose. The fact that Phil wasn’t even concerned about having given $7,000 to a scammer was irritating, but not nearly as much as the fact that Frankie had already helped her grandmother file a police report without even bothering to tell Sam. Her fitting experience was hellish, and I was very concerned that she was going to get into a car accident during her lengthy rant to Mal even with her phone down on the seat, but fortunately she said her piece and then was able to communicate what she wanted, which she doesn’t usually do. I was pleased to see Ron Cephas Jones playing himself, and I think his project idea sounds perfect for her. I had the chance to interview him for his role in Apple TV+’s “Lisey’s Story,” and he really was very nice, so I would be thrilled to see him appear more on this show, especially if he’s going to be a comforting figure for Sam who will finally value her the way so few do.