What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method (Series Finale)

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 6 “Chapter 22. The fundamental things apply”

This show has had a perfectly decent run, but over the course of three seasons, it’s produced only twenty-two episodes, which most half-hour comedy series traditionally made in just one season. But I think that this was a great and fitting way to wrap things up, and while I would have happily watched much more of it, this will do just fine. I didn’t mind the time-jumping that occurred over the course of this finale which wasn’t super-sized but did a fine job of bringing its plotlines to a close. Estelle’s apology to Mindy didn’t go over very well at all since it was mainly about how the younger generation needed to be able to take humor better, and, despite Roz’s thinly-veiled messages during the wedding, Estelle did end up sticking around to make Mindy miserable after they got married. The ceremony was sweet, and I enjoyed Martin poking fun at how Mindy first introduced herself by telling him that he looked like a Pez dispenser. This is definitely an Emmy-worthy episode for Kathleen Turner, and my favorite line was her hope to be “drunk enough to vomit all over his mother.” Seeing how close they got as her health declined was heartwarming, and it’s nice to see that Sandy managed to repair some of the relationships in his life. Robbie hiring a hitman to kill Martin but paying the wrong guy was pretty hilarious, and I enjoyed his subplot with Phoebe this season. What I appreciated most was the very sentimental ending, with Sandy appropriately winning an Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series and getting to acknowledge Norman, Roz, Mindy, and his students before sharing his excitement with fellow winner Margaret. I like that it wasn’t him winning an Oscar but instead something arguably much less significant that was still a formidable recognition of his accomplishment at such an age. I was worried that Alan Arkin’s departure would make this season weaker, but it’s been a great goodbye.

Series finale: B+
Series grade: B+
Season MVP: Michael Douglas
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Alan Arkin
Best Season: Season 1
Best Episode: “Chapter 1: An Actor Avoids”

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method (Penultimate Episode)

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 5 “Chapter 21. Near, far, wherever you are” (B+)

Now that everyone is aware of her condition, Roz has taken center stage, and, as usual, she’s pretty set on what she wants to do. Sandy was adamant that he wanted to take care of her rather than have her move into an assisted living facility or go on hospice, and he’s being there for the way that he very much wasn’t when they were actually married. It was sweet to see how they spent the time after that with the montage of Sandy working on the movie and coming back to find Roz asleep in his trailer, and I’m glad that the role appears to have worked out rather than having been a false start. After the painfully overdramatic “Titanic” scene was recreated by two of his students, Sandy shared a very heartfelt sentiment about how death scene monologues aren’t real and the living are irrelevant for the dying which could well serve as a key Emmy clip for Michael Douglas if he deservedly earns another nomination this year for his work. It was not great to learn that Martin’s mother had almost immediately offended Mindy by making a joke about her weight and that Martin had simply giggled rather than admonishing her for it. Telling “Sammy” that there was nothing “sandy” about him was pretty ferocious, and that’s not going to be easy to resolve. I did enjoy the brief appearance by Phoebe and Robbie in which they pitched a philanthropic foundation that almost won Sandy over until they clarified about the salaries they intended to collect. I don’t know what to expect from the finale but this has been a solid and fun season so far.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 4 “Chapter 20. The round toes, of the high shoes” (B+)

I was glad to see that guest star Morgan Freeman was used in exactly the way he should have been, simply showing up in the opening scene and showing that he was more than capable of subverting Sandy’s class and using it for his own aims, or rather for a fun little bit of improv. Sandy’s response of “Are you saying I’m not the horse?” was a highlight of that exchange. In the aftermath of Sandy having to apologize to Martin, it turns out that he was right to be concerned, since Martin went overboard with his purchase of a new car and his plans to break ground on a home theater. Sandy’s new dynamic with Roz was fun, and it was entertaining to hear them talk about how they used to not like each other and to see Roz pour more salt on Sandy’s food after chastising him for having it in the first place. Identifying herself as a replacement for Norman was astute, but of course it was also indicative of her declining medical condition, one that’s sure to change things for everyone. I’m not sure if it will affect Sandy’s big break role in Norman Levinson’s new movie, which is an interesting development. I like Levinson’s work, which includes “Rain Man” and “Bugsy,” and I thought that he fit in well on this show, especially as a friend of Norman’s. Phoebe and Robbie’s desperate efforts to get Sandy to give them money are getting worse and worse, but they show no signs of giving up anytime soon.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 3 “Chapter 19. And it's getting more and more absurd” (B+)

I wasn’t sure how the big visit to Sandy’s house was going to go, and I’m glad that didn’t end up being a giant confrontation but instead split up into two camps as Sandy quickly convinced Phoebe and Robbie that they should reconsider having a scientologist lawyer present who was going to take thirty percent of whatever they got for himself. They’re doing a very poor job of showing that they deserve to have the money given the instructions that were left for Sandy, and I have a feeling that he might actually be inclined to give it to them if they stopped for one second to mute their desperation to get what they believe they’re entitled to. Martin took a much different approach, startled to hear about the amount that Mindy was getting but far more offended by the fact that Sandy didn’t trust him. He played it extremely cool when Sandy came in to his shoe room with a half-hearted apology that ended up being sincerer than I expected, and his reaction as soon as he walked away indicated his true feelings of elation. I hope that whatever wedding Mindy does plan will be a pleasure to watch, though it’s good to know that she, like her mother, enjoys messing with her father. Seeing Roz and Sandy interact is a lot of fun, and they’re managing to do a good job of being parents to their adult daughter after what’s evidently been a rocky history. This show manages to incorporate famous actors in a subtle way, and I’m curious to see how Morgan Freeman does in front of Sandy’s class.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 2 “Chapter 18. You only give me your funny paper” (B+)

This show has twice been nominated for a SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series, which is a bit strange given that it’s a mostly two-man show with a supporting cast that doesn’t always have that much to do. That said, to me the most underappreciated member of the ensemble is Sarah Baker, who plays Mindy and makes her more than just an eye-rolling daughter who scoffs at the belligerence of her stubborn father. This episode showcased that as her mother came to visit and she called Martin out on doing with her the same thing he always does with her father, to go on about the glory days that are long gone that she couldn’t possibly have experienced given how much younger she is. The complexity of dealing with money in relationships is an interesting theme to explore, and I suppose it says something about Sandy that, even though he gets along swimmingly with Martin, deep down maybe he’s not sure that he’s the right for his daughter. Sandy isn’t always in touch with what’s going on in the moment, like the fact that one of his students landed a gig and shouldn’t have told the rest of the class about it since they now resent her instead of expressing happiness for her success. Though he had his ex-wife labeled as “Queen of Pain” in his phone, it doesn’t seem like she’s out to get him, but it should be fun to see Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas share more scenes together if she sticks around for a bit.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method (Season Premiere)

The Kominsky Method: Season 3, Episode 1 “Chapter 17. In all the old familiar places” (B+)

I’m honestly quite surprised that this show is going to end up being the only Emmy nominee for Best Comedy Series from last year to return in time to be eligible again this season. It’s impressive that it was filmed and finished during the pandemic, returning more than a year and a half after the second season for its final run. I had heard months ago that Alan Arkin wouldn’t be coming back and thought that might mean this show would be scrapped entirely, but instead this was a heartfelt episode paying tribute to Norman and looking at what life is going to look like for Sandy going through it all on his own. Those brief snippets of Norman were fantastic reminders of Arkin’s unrivaled line delivery, and he will definitely be missed. I’m not sure his three-scene appearance here is substantial enough to merit Emmy attention, but he really was superb in this role. It’s not clear whether Phoebe or Robbie will continue to appear now that Norman is no longer alive, but I wouldn’t mind checking in with either of them on their rather wild and unhinged endeavors. Paul Reiser’s Martin has earned a major promotion to the role of Sandy’s potential new best friend, and Sandy seems to like him enough to tolerate him even if the nature of their relationship given that he’s dating his daughter is a bit peculiar. Sandy’s nighttime rendezvous with his housesitting neighbor was unexpected, but it all made much more sense when it turned out to be a freebie given by the prostitute as a thank you for finding her cousin’s dog. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next over the course of this last season.

Netflix Catch-Up: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 2

I did two things when I watched the second season of this show that I don’t usually do: got through the entire thing in under a week, and broke my cardinal rule of not watching a second episode before reviewing the first. There’s a reason that I don’t typically do that, since now it’s ten months later and I never ended up writing about any of the episodes. After being unexpectedly snubbed for Best Comedy Series last year, this show did get into that race this year, submitting six of its eight episodes for consideration, and both Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin got nominated again. I do think that they’re both deserving and do great work even if some believe that they’re not trying all that hard. Douglas’ selected episode, “Chapter 12: A Libido Sits in the Fridge,” is the one that finds him contending with the unanticipated consequences of medication and his entertaining relationship with Lisa. Arkin’s is “Chapter 14: A Secret Leaks, a Teacher Speaks,” which has him beginning treatment and taking new steps in how he interacts with Madelyn and Phoebe. Both are strong and excellent choices. I appreciated the recurring guest appearances from Lisa Edelstein as Phoebe, Jane Seymour as Madelyn, and Nancy Travis as Lisa, as well as the increased focus on Sarah Baker’s Mindy. I was surprised to see Paul Reiser, who had the pleasure of meeting at a screening at Sundance, as Mindy’s much older boyfriend, and he definitely had fun with that part. I also enjoyed the guest spots from Kathleen Turner, Allison Janney, and Haley Joel Osment, whose sister Emily has been a member of the cast since it started. I look forward to watching the third and final season when it premieres – and reviewing each episode as I watch it.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Alan Arkin

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method (Season Finale)

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 8 “Chapter 8: A Widow Approaches” (B+)

That’s it for this show, a short run that nonetheless earned it plenty of praise, including Golden Globe wins for both the show and Michael Douglas’ performance. This was actually a much more fitting showcase for Alan Arkin, who started the episode off worried about having dinner with a widow who was after him because of Eileen, but of course he’s able to talk about it with her and get her approval, including a subsequent instruction to apologize to Diane for the way that he treated her. Things got bad fast when Norman lashed out at her for trying to monitor his drinking and, more generally, take the place of his late wife, but we learned that there’s much more to it than that. Running out of his house to get away from all the voices is a sign that the loneliness is getting to him, and calling Sandy from a random gas station indicates that he might need to spend more time around others who are looking after him. Sandy’s relationship with Lisa seemed to be proceeding okay despite his past missteps, but now he managed to go ahead and screw it up again by forcing her to choose between having him as an acting teacher or as a student, of which she humorously chose the latter. A second season hasn’t yet been commissioned, apparently because Douglas is wary of making more episodes than just eight, but I’m absolutely up for more of this story and getting to see these two friends navigate getting old together.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 7 “Chapter 7: A String is Attached” (B+)

The dynamic between Sandy and Norman is probably the best reason to watch this show, and that’s definitely what made this episode so great. In one of his regular conversations with his deceased wife, Norman accepted the idea of giving the money to Sandy as a gift but immediately argued that he should purposely say that there were no strings attached just to mess with him. No strings is indeed the biggest string of them all, but that strategy backfired for him when Sandy was far too proud to accept it. His plan to pay back $1000 per year would likely have exceeded his life (though the 102-year-old Kirk Douglas, actor Michael’s real-life father, makes the case that he has great genes), and I liked the IRS agent’s response to his sob story about his accountant dying, very straightforwardly asking why he didn’t just find a new accountant. Mindy taking the money straight to the IRS was a good move, though I was worried she was going to get into an accident on the way due to how her aggressive driving was being portrayed. Margaret’s superb monologue felt a bit random, though I guess it’s worthwhile to remember that Sandy does occasionally spend some time as an acting teacher. His Bluetooth mistake didn’t help matters too much, and I think the relationship with Lisa is really over, though the fact that she called his daughter to pick him up suggests that she’s invested with the family enough that she may one day change her tune.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 6 “Chapter 6: A Daughter Detoxes” (B+)

Sandy has been spending so much time thinking about his prostate that it appears he’s gotten a bit behind on a few other important facets of his life. Not paying taxes for three fiscal years, which he tried to argue weren’t the same as real years, is now certain to bankrupt him with almost $300,000 owed. He went to great lengths to make his relationship with his daughter seem like it was going fine, which actually seemed a little disrespectful considering the way things were going between Norman and Phoebe. Sandy was pretty jovial when he called Lisa to check in, and apparently him not bothering to call her for a week after they slept together was enough to piss her off, likely dooming their relationship going forward. At least Sandy survived the episode after Norman made more than a few allusions to thinking about suicide and Sandy’s own nightmares got the best of him. Norman evoking the last scene of “Thelma and Louise” was entertaining, and I think that he’s trying to keep himself amused by freaking Sandy out since the two of them really are in this together now, alone and trying to stay healthy in their old age. Phoebe’s many previous rehab stints appear to have been quite unsuccessful, and though it didn’t seem terribly nice for Norman to tell Sandy to keep on driving when she ran out of the latest rehab place to beg them to take her with them, she could probably use all the help she can get.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 5 “Chapter 5: An Agent Crowns” (B+)

We didn’t spend as much time in the bathroom with Sandy as in previous episodes, but he did get a relatively alarming if still hilarious call from Dr. Wexler telling that something else would kill him before his prostate. Going to a park and getting looked at like he was a pedophile didn’t do much to up his confidence, but he followed that up with a far more successful visit to Lisa’s home in which he managed to make a great case for a relationship and have some apparently decent sex. Even listing the many, many medications that he was taking didn’t kill the mood. Doing a reverse mortgage commercial wasn’t ever going to go well, and Norman calling to tell him the news about Phoebe was just a helpful way to get him out of there after his ethical objections to the copy were handily rejected. I liked getting to see what Norman is like at work, pretty much just as sarcastic as he is with Sandy but considered to be very important even if people think that he’s ready to be pushed out. Whispering to the woman next to him that she’d fill him in later was an entertaining dynamic, and everyone groaning when he asked for a part for Sandy was indicative that perhaps Norman really has been doing his best to get Sandy work even if he hasn’t been successful. I’m always happy to see Elliott Gould, and his “One Foot in the Grave” script about a character suffering from dementia who forgets everything except justice sounded like a disaster. Seeing him take over for Sandy in the commercial was a fitting sendoff. Not much came of it, but watching Mindy do her one-woman show with alcohol in hand when she was subbing for Sandy helps to explain just what kind of parent he was.

What I’m Watching: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 4 “Chapter 4: A Kegel Squeaks” (B+)

I assume there are some who find this show’s focus on Sandy’s prostate to be a little much, but Michael Douglas manages to make it continually entertaining. Expressing both admiration and irritation with the young men who were able to provide a steady stream of urine next to him in the bathroom was very funny, and everyone in his life is giving him crap for having to go to the bathroom all the time. Phoebe gave Sandy and her father quite a scare when they thought that she was floating lifeless in the pool, but their complicated relationship wasn’t going to be resolved that simply. I hope we do see Phoebe again since I think she’s a very interesting character, and she gets Norman considerably more riled up than his usual grumpiness. The obsession at the supermarket with the “finest ham” was odd but amusing, and Sandy didn’t seem to care about the quality of the meat nearly as much as his host Norman did. Sandy’s relationship with Lisa is another realistic element of this show, since she wasn’t jumping at his offers to go out when he called at a random hour, later than she might have liked, and she wasn’t too bothered by the fact that he had urinated in her bushes, something that she had definitely seen while he thought he was being stealthy. I still think the two of them will work out, but I’m glad to see that it’s proceeding at a relatively slow and unrushed pace.

Take Three: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 3 “Chapter 3: A Prostate Enlarges” (B+)

This show has had a great few weeks, earning three bids from both the Golden Globes and SAG. I liked it a lot when I started it, and the only reason that I’ve lagged a bit on watching it is that I’m trying to find the right time to enjoy it with both my wife and my in-laws, who love it just as much. This episode was a productive continuation of the events of the first two episodes, opening at the shiva for Eileen where Norman was more than eager to tell the rabbi how little he cared about covering the mirrors and how much he recommended the shrimp. Phoebe is certainly a handful, and Mindy’s story about her babysitting days was a worrisome insight into her past. Aside from having conversations with his dead wife, Norman seemed to be coping relatively well, and his daughter was causing him the most aggravation before he broke down at the cleaners. Sandy’s prostate problems were portrayed in a very entertaining manner as he continually tried to deny that there was anything wrong, and I’d say that having to pee in the bushes after he said goodnight to Lisa was a sign that he really needed to get it checked out. Danny DeVito as his urologist was a great bit of casting, and I remembered right away that Michael Douglas produced the 1975 Best Picture Winner “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in which a much, much younger DeVito starred at the very beginning of his career. Jude’s scene choice was particularly cringe-worthy, and hopefully the way class goes will improve considerably when Sandy gets to focus again.

Round Two: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method: Season 1, Episode 2 “Chapter 2: An Agent Grieves” (B+)

I’m happy to report that the second episode of this show is just as good as the first, and I actually watched it less than an hour later, penning my review so that I could watch more with my wife and in-laws right away since they’re not accustomed to waiting a full week between installments that are all available to binge right away. I like that the story just continued from the first episode, with Norman struggling to move on, understandably, and Sandy trying his best to do the right thing in the moment even when it wasn’t his first instinct. Eileen picking everything out ahead of time helped, though some of her requests were rather extravagant and not entirely easy to arrange. Having Jay Leno and a male Barbra Streisand impersonator attend and perform at the funeral were decent references to their celebrity connections that weren’t too indulgent. The dynamic that Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin have really is great, with them garnering applause for interacting genuinely during the acting class. I also liked Norman telling Woody that he should really go by Woodrow if he’s going to sell coffins. I’m eager to see what his daughter, played by Lisa Edelstein is like, since her first appearance showing up in the middle of his eulogy suggest that she’s much of a positive influence. As Sandy’s relationship with Lisa progresses, it’s clear that she’s a bit better off than most of his acting students, namely the two who were far too eager to act out their “Incestuously Yours” pilot.

Pilot Review: The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method (Netflix)
Premiered November 16

When I sit down to watch a Chuck Lorre sitcom, I expect to chuck a bit and maybe even laugh loudly once or twice. I don’t, however, expect something mature and sentimental. After making a name for himself with “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory,” among others, Lorre went to Netflix a couple years ago with “Disjointed,” another laugh-track comedy starring Kathy Bates as a weed dispensary operator, that didn’t suggest much creativity and ended up being quickly cancelled. Now, unexpectedly, Lorre is teaming with two veteran Oscars who are also Oscar winners for something that’s much more sophisticate and successful on a number of levels. We’ve seen plenty of shows about those who are way past the prime of their lives trying to stay relevant by being acting coaches, including another one just this year, “Barry.” This one is nice because it features two much older actors, Michael Douglas, who is 74, and Alan Arkin, who is 84. The best part is that they’re both great, and this show serves as a slightly more dramatic counterpart to the similarly charming “Grace and Frankie.” I’m also very happy to see Sarah Baker from “Louie” as Sandy’s daughter, and Nancy Travis, most recently seen on “Last Man Standing,” seems like a great addition as Sandy’s new date who’s going to do a deep dive into their relationship. I didn’t recognize Emily Osment as Theresa, the student who did the “Steel Magnolias” scene, but she was great. I didn’t have high expectations for this one despite seeing Douglas’ name listed on Golden Globe predictions list, but now I’m more than ready to settle in for its eight-episode first season.

How will it work as a series? Eileen dying at the end of the episode was certainly a sad direction to go, but it’s going to help Sandy realize that he’s mortal and that he should be thinking more about what he’s really doing with his life. Following his relationship with Lisa and his difficulty relating to these young, entitled acting students should prove to be a lot of fun, with some drama mixed in along the way.
How long will it last? The reviews seem to be mostly positive, but given how popular Lorre is and how respected his stars are, I assume this one will keep going as long as he and the actors are interested in continuing to produce it. I’d expect a renewal very, very soon.

Pilot grade: B+