Better Things: Season 2, Episode 7 “Blackout” (B+)
I liked this episode a lot, since it featured a minor catastrophe and Sam’s typically casual reaction to it, followed by some unexpected intimacy that didn’t go as anyone planned. After Frankie tricked her mom into throwing her phone in the sink so that she’d have to buy her a new one, making smoothies and watching TV were suddenly off the table thanks to a power outage. The way that Sam speaks to her daughters isn’t entirely her own fault – they do make some dramatic accusations. Max seemed to think it was a nuclear strike and they were all going to die, and Frankie was preoccupied with Sam saying they weren’t going to die and then it coming true anyway, while Duke was as usual the most relaxed of the three. After Sam left with Jeff, the conversation took a more mature direction, with Jeff summing up that the worst part about divorce was being asked about it all the time when Sam wasn’t at all interested in talking about Xander and his relationship with his daughters. Running into Robin at the hardware store was extremely awkward, particularly because Sam didn’t bother to clarify that she wasn’t dating Jeff. When he made a move in the car, Sam had quite the reaction, repeating “no” over and over while holding her hand over his mouth until he came out with a poorly thought-out “Well…” and then proceeded to say some rather blunt and vile things that made her laugh to think that she even considered something happening between them. “I think that we should bone mainly because I really want to bone you right now” was the truly classic and memorable line of the hour.
Showing posts with label Blackout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blackout. Show all posts
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Monday, August 2, 2010
What I’m Watching: Rescue Me
Rescue Me: Season 6, Episode 5 “Blackout” (B+)
Even with all of the drinks that Tommy has had over five seasons of this show, he’s never had a bender like this. Of course that’s mostly due to his dear family members lacing his drink, though no one knows that until the damage has already been done and Colleen has gone missing. One of the hooks of this show has always been watching just how self-destructive Tommy is, and this episode, like many of the others, manages to find a lot of humor in the midst of such a serious situation. Some of it is more uncomfortable – like Tommy yelling at his dead son – while some is more conventional and flat-out silly, like Damien going from bar to bar with the idiotic duo that is Sean and Mike. Past wounds seem to have been forgotten, like Lou who is walking around as if he’s healthy as the day he was born and drunken Tommy who doesn’t even seem to care that Franco and Janet are sleeping together (as far as he knows). Tommy’s newly gleaned but hardly certifiable knowledge that his cousin, who back in season one used to be a priest, is now bedding Sheila should play out interestingly, though he has far more pressing things to deal with now that his daughter’s well-being has been severely put at risk. I’m sure this episode will have repercussions that will reverberate throughout the rest of the season if not the entire series, and Tommy’s path to being “rescued,” as the posters for this season stamp on his forehead, will have to take a serious detour.
Even with all of the drinks that Tommy has had over five seasons of this show, he’s never had a bender like this. Of course that’s mostly due to his dear family members lacing his drink, though no one knows that until the damage has already been done and Colleen has gone missing. One of the hooks of this show has always been watching just how self-destructive Tommy is, and this episode, like many of the others, manages to find a lot of humor in the midst of such a serious situation. Some of it is more uncomfortable – like Tommy yelling at his dead son – while some is more conventional and flat-out silly, like Damien going from bar to bar with the idiotic duo that is Sean and Mike. Past wounds seem to have been forgotten, like Lou who is walking around as if he’s healthy as the day he was born and drunken Tommy who doesn’t even seem to care that Franco and Janet are sleeping together (as far as he knows). Tommy’s newly gleaned but hardly certifiable knowledge that his cousin, who back in season one used to be a priest, is now bedding Sheila should play out interestingly, though he has far more pressing things to deal with now that his daughter’s well-being has been severely put at risk. I’m sure this episode will have repercussions that will reverberate throughout the rest of the season if not the entire series, and Tommy’s path to being “rescued,” as the posters for this season stamp on his forehead, will have to take a serious detour.
Monday, January 25, 2010
What I’m Watching: Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty: Season 4, Episode 12 “Blackout!” (B+)
Usually episodes like this signal a stalling or treading of water for TV shows, but this one actually makes sense and drives the plot forward in a major way. While the initial device of Betty letting strangers into her apartment building and then having them rob her neighbors was a bit annoying only because it once again saddles Betty with the unquestionable fault for something when all she thought she was doing was a good deed, it doesn’t seem all that unrealistic or crazy. Bobby stopping by Ignacio’s house just as he finished watching a scary movie and all the lights went out was great, and Ignacio really gave him quite a beating with that frying pan. It was fun to see them bond, especially as Bobby let loose and Ignacio just listened to it. The most exciting convenient connection that came about as a result of the blackout was Betty’s rhetorical question about Ignacio being with anyone who knew how to pick a lock and the subsequent cut to Bobby explaining to Betty how to get out of the building and making fun of her for being worried about the wires electrocuting her. Another stellar scene was Marc questioning Amanda about where she last left his laptop and her poor attempts to avoid answering his questions by staring blankly right at him. Seeing Marc and Betty team up for the common good of their careers again was nice, and it’s great how things all work out in the end and Wilhelmina promoted Marc even though he didn’t hand in his application just so that she could have him by her side more.
Usually episodes like this signal a stalling or treading of water for TV shows, but this one actually makes sense and drives the plot forward in a major way. While the initial device of Betty letting strangers into her apartment building and then having them rob her neighbors was a bit annoying only because it once again saddles Betty with the unquestionable fault for something when all she thought she was doing was a good deed, it doesn’t seem all that unrealistic or crazy. Bobby stopping by Ignacio’s house just as he finished watching a scary movie and all the lights went out was great, and Ignacio really gave him quite a beating with that frying pan. It was fun to see them bond, especially as Bobby let loose and Ignacio just listened to it. The most exciting convenient connection that came about as a result of the blackout was Betty’s rhetorical question about Ignacio being with anyone who knew how to pick a lock and the subsequent cut to Bobby explaining to Betty how to get out of the building and making fun of her for being worried about the wires electrocuting her. Another stellar scene was Marc questioning Amanda about where she last left his laptop and her poor attempts to avoid answering his questions by staring blankly right at him. Seeing Marc and Betty team up for the common good of their careers again was nice, and it’s great how things all work out in the end and Wilhelmina promoted Marc even though he didn’t hand in his application just so that she could have him by her side more.
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