Splitting Up Together: Season 1, Episode 3 “Street Meat” (B-)
This episode got away from the theme of having one parent in charge of the week, mainly because Lena allowed Maya a crack at taking care of the children that she started to think she might want to have. I’m all for giving Diane Farr as much as possible to do since I think she’s a tremendous actress who deserves a much bigger spotlight than a supporting role on this show. She did her best to be the fun parent despite Mae’s constant judgments of her, and then she ended up being happy with how things turned out even if they seemed questionable in the moment. Mason’s Uber date complete with different sexual milestones being offered based on the class of service requested represents the most up-to-date technological humor I’ve ever seen, though I find it hard to believe that these kids would be so well-versed in the different kinds of rides they could take with their parents’ permission. It should have been obvious to Charlotte that Martin was only learning how to dance so that he could woo his ex-wife, and his failure to notice that she was into him was strictly because of that. Unfortunately, her mistaken belief that he was already dating led to Lena opening up to a new guy with a very atypical romp in his car right in front of the house, devastating Martin, who has now missed his chance with a woman who was actually in to him. I’m not feeling so much like I need to catch episode four and beyond, but I may still opt to tune in.
Showing posts with label Splitting Up Together. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Splitting Up Together. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2018
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Round Two: Splitting Up Together
Splitting Up Together: Season 1, Episode 2 “Devil May Care” (B)
I’m still not sure about the enduring power of this show and its premise, but this second installment was fun. The initial squabble between the former couple about who got the comforter took a backseat to the challenges Martin faced in taking care of the kids and proving that he could be just as competent as Lena. Mae was the one who created difficulty for him, objecting to the way in which he generalized about women, and watching him try to wrestle with her while she just laid there was pretty painful. Putting on pink hats with the boys was a decent attempt at a peace offering that didn’t go over too well, and it was only after he did some serious reading and made an honest effort that he found a way to get through to her. The fact that his unattractive mush turned out to be delicious was a nice win for him, and he’s definitely on the path to being a more present parent even if he’s not aware of the existence of serving utensils for a shared dish. Lena had some troubles of her own going on a date, giving way too much direction on how to kiss to the doctor that she found very charming. I like that she tried to appear less high-strung to the guy at the bar who started chatting her up when he left, but still made sure to note that she wasn’t going to be able to mute her impulses. I’d be curious to see where that relationship goes.
I’m still not sure about the enduring power of this show and its premise, but this second installment was fun. The initial squabble between the former couple about who got the comforter took a backseat to the challenges Martin faced in taking care of the kids and proving that he could be just as competent as Lena. Mae was the one who created difficulty for him, objecting to the way in which he generalized about women, and watching him try to wrestle with her while she just laid there was pretty painful. Putting on pink hats with the boys was a decent attempt at a peace offering that didn’t go over too well, and it was only after he did some serious reading and made an honest effort that he found a way to get through to her. The fact that his unattractive mush turned out to be delicious was a nice win for him, and he’s definitely on the path to being a more present parent even if he’s not aware of the existence of serving utensils for a shared dish. Lena had some troubles of her own going on a date, giving way too much direction on how to kiss to the doctor that she found very charming. I like that she tried to appear less high-strung to the guy at the bar who started chatting her up when he left, but still made sure to note that she wasn’t going to be able to mute her impulses. I’d be curious to see where that relationship goes.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Pilot Review: Splitting Up Together
Splitting Up Together (ABC)
Premiered March 27 at 9:30pm
How many ways can the nuclear family be modified to create a compelling show that will draw in a new audience? In this case, ABC’s latest isn’t actually original, but an adaptation of a Danish series. It’s notable because it brings Jenna Fischer back to television in a regular role for the first time since “The Office,” joined by Oliver Hudson from “Rules of Engagement.” Co-parenting after divorce has been a subject of many shows, though it’s rare that former spouses choose to cohabitate while raising their families. The notion of the off-duty parent living in the garage is one that’s bound to fail, though it seems that this show is intent on being more sentimental than might have been expected since Hudson’s Martin is finally starting to realize that he wasn’t a terribly present or attentive husband to the woman that he now calls his ex-wife. Fischer’s Lena, on the other hand, is becoming aware that she’s not entirely capable of raising teenage boys on her own, her masturbation pantry with a Ruth Bader Ginsberg poster being a prime example of a misstep. The most entertaining moment was definitely Lena texting her son a winky face after he mentioned his balls thinking he was a potential suitor and anyone other than her son. It’s good to see Diane Farr from “Rescue Me” and “Numb3rs” and Geoff Pierson from “24” and “Dexter,” as well as Lindsay Price from “Eastwick” and “Lipstick Jungle,” in the supporting cast. This show might be fun, though I think that it could lose steam if reconciliation seems too possible.
How will it work as a series? Their kids seem to be very opinionated, and they don’t see eye-to-eye, which is going to make parenting a bit of a challenge since Lena and Martin also aren’t on the same page most of time. There are many predictable antics that I’m sure will ensue, but again I think that it might work less well if they don’t actually stick to splitting up.
How long will it last? Reviews are mixed, which isn’t much of a surprise. Though this show’s numbers weren’t nearly as resounding as those that returning sitcom “Roseanne” got earlier in the night, they were pretty good, suggesting that, if it continues to perform strongly, it might well find itself a stable part of ABC’s Tuesday night lineup.
Pilot grade: B-
Premiered March 27 at 9:30pm
How many ways can the nuclear family be modified to create a compelling show that will draw in a new audience? In this case, ABC’s latest isn’t actually original, but an adaptation of a Danish series. It’s notable because it brings Jenna Fischer back to television in a regular role for the first time since “The Office,” joined by Oliver Hudson from “Rules of Engagement.” Co-parenting after divorce has been a subject of many shows, though it’s rare that former spouses choose to cohabitate while raising their families. The notion of the off-duty parent living in the garage is one that’s bound to fail, though it seems that this show is intent on being more sentimental than might have been expected since Hudson’s Martin is finally starting to realize that he wasn’t a terribly present or attentive husband to the woman that he now calls his ex-wife. Fischer’s Lena, on the other hand, is becoming aware that she’s not entirely capable of raising teenage boys on her own, her masturbation pantry with a Ruth Bader Ginsberg poster being a prime example of a misstep. The most entertaining moment was definitely Lena texting her son a winky face after he mentioned his balls thinking he was a potential suitor and anyone other than her son. It’s good to see Diane Farr from “Rescue Me” and “Numb3rs” and Geoff Pierson from “24” and “Dexter,” as well as Lindsay Price from “Eastwick” and “Lipstick Jungle,” in the supporting cast. This show might be fun, though I think that it could lose steam if reconciliation seems too possible.
How will it work as a series? Their kids seem to be very opinionated, and they don’t see eye-to-eye, which is going to make parenting a bit of a challenge since Lena and Martin also aren’t on the same page most of time. There are many predictable antics that I’m sure will ensue, but again I think that it might work less well if they don’t actually stick to splitting up.
How long will it last? Reviews are mixed, which isn’t much of a surprise. Though this show’s numbers weren’t nearly as resounding as those that returning sitcom “Roseanne” got earlier in the night, they were pretty good, suggesting that, if it continues to perform strongly, it might well find itself a stable part of ABC’s Tuesday night lineup.
Pilot grade: B-
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