What I’m Watching: United States of Al (Series Finale)

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 22 “Chaos / Aashob” (B)

This isn’t the finale this show deserved, and it’s a shame since it could have ended on a more ambiguous note like “B Positive” did, though surely neither of the creative teams thought they were definitely going to get cancelled. I’m a big fan of actress Jayma Mays, remembering her roles in “Red Eye,” “Glee,” and “Trial and Error,” and I don’t think this is the best showcase she’s had. While I did enjoy the reactions that both Ariana and Lizzie had when she showed up in full-on stalker mode and came on very strong, her going down that route was not what I would have liked to see from the character. Al squirming also isn’t his bets mode, since it’s better when he’s realizing something about how his upbringing and culture doesn’t tell him everything he needs to know or helping someone else discover something they never would have known. Riley forum-shopping about whether to tell Freddy was probably a good sign that he shouldn’t have gone through with it, and it shouldn’t have been too surprising that the former hockey player knows when to play dumb and was very well aware of what was happening with him and Vanessa. I liked Hazel’s comment that she did see the other guy, and he looked fine, and that Riley switched into mature parent mode when she lamented that Freddy and Vanessa were probably going to have a baby now. Vanessa sending in the divorce papers and breaking up with Freddy gives her some time to figure out what she wants, and ends this show on an unfortunately unresolved note. While it hasn’t always been spectacular, I have enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what this cast does next.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Adhir Kalyan as Al

What I’m Watching: United States of Al (Penultimate Episode)

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 21 “Desire / Khwast” (B+)

It’s sad to know that this show has just one episode left, but at least others were well aware of that just a day before this episode aired, not that it means we’ll get any kind of closure since that wasn’t know when these installments were being filmed. I like that, after finding out that Al was falling behind on his schoolwork because he was distracted by Cindy, Art’s move was to threaten to call his mom so that she could shame him into getting back in shape. It was funny that Lois didn’t see right away that it was Al who had sent her the message that resulted in her coming over to keep Art distracted, and I also liked that Riley left to start driving without knowing where Cindy lived. Holly was about as giving as she could be under the circumstances when she spit on the piece of paper with Cindy’s address in it. I enjoyed Cindy’s belief that Riley had brought two undercover cops with him, and that she was the one who cut Al off when she realized that he was devoting all his time to her. Stopping by Brett’s office to encourage him to get grading right away was a humorous ending, and I wonder if we’ll see more of the different couples in the show’s now-final episode. As Vanessa refused to take Riley’s desire to stop sneaking around seriously, she dropped an unfortunate bombshell on him, one that underlines her lack of commitment to a reconciliation that now seems just as unlikely as ever.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 20 “Sock / Jeraab” (B+)

I wasn’t sure how Riley’s affair with Vanessa was going to come out, but having him panic over having accidentally put on Freddy’s sock and call to freak out at Vanessa over the phone with his sister and father in earshot was pretty great. They were both just shocked that it had come out like that, and I love that Art said he hoped they weren’t using protection because he wanted more grandkids. During their rather lengthy search of the bedroom for the sock, they made one very important discovery, which was that she hadn’t actually sent the divorce papers in. While Art interpreted that as a sign that she didn’t want the marriage to be over for good, it turns out she was just trying to figure out a way to not feel like it was cheating. Freddy remains completely clueless but will surely be heartbroken when he finds out, and then there’s Hazel, who has her own kind of science and will definitely have something to say about her parents’ potential reunion. Al made a predictable mistake as he prepared to get intimate with Cindy, and, as usual, being his true self was the right choice, since she was impressed that he was honest with her. She’s also good at taking care of someone when they ingest something that could be poisonous, suggesting that maybe she has some experience with this kind of thing and that perhaps Ariana is the safer choice for Al if he wants to live a long and healthy life.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 19 “Guilt / Gunah” (B+)

It’s very true that, up until this point, Riley hasn’t been remotely interested in learning anything about Freddy, and in fact, he’s been downright hostile to him. Now that he and Vanessa have officially filed their divorce papers, he could theoretically be able to let go, but instead he’s still carrying on an affair with her and he’s the only one who seems to be feeling guilty. Making Freddy a birdhouse was a kind gesture, and I suspect that Freddy’s ominous words at the end were free of any true meaning, but he’s going to find out eventually, especially considering that Al knows and might accidentally share it with the wrong person. After Cindy tagged Al in a photo on Instagram, Al was resigned to marrying the neighborhood bully to appease his furious mother, and it was fun to see Art step in, after earlier telling Lizzie that he could translate Angry Disappointed Parent without even knowing how to speak the language, to defend Al to his mother and assure her that he was an incredible guy who was raised very well by his mother. I enjoyed Ariana’s reaction to finding out that Al was going to have to dump her because a white girl tagged him on social media, and I think there’s hope for the two of them working out now that Al’s letting his vulnerable self be seen. Breaking up with Cindy for good isn’t going to be easy though, and he’s the one with the neater love life right now anyway compared to Riley.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 18 “Divorce / Talaq” (B+)

Al was all about being involved in two relationships in this episode, but it turns out he’s not the one who suffered the consequences of not being monogamous. Cindy trying to take him into Canada even though he didn’t have his green card was a red flag that she was going to push him far beyond his boundaries, but then he has an amazing time with her at the aquarium when she said all the right things about how she saw the world. And Ariana, who might be a better cultural fit for him since she can understand a degree of his experiences back home, and bringing him to a soccer bar to root for Barcelona just made him realize that he can’t make up his mind between the two of them. I enjoyed Hazel making fun of Riley and Vanessa for waiting until the last minute to do their taxes when they had the whole year to do them, and who would have thought that it would be Freddy who made them realize that they finally needed to get a divorce to make it official? But closing one door often opens another, and in this case that was Riley and Vanessa sleeping together. Holly was calm in her tone when Riley told her, but she was pretty definitive about them not staying together. Freddy showing up to surprise Vanessa with a sweater got her panicked, and for good reason, since we’re now apparently going to follow a continuing affair that’s only going to leave Freddy hurt in the end.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 17 “Virgin / Bakr” (B+)

Al got into this new relationship very fast, and though Riley wanted to make sure that he thought she was special enough for him to be willing to have sex for the first time, Holly did make the introduction. It’s possible that Cindy is the type of friend who you enjoy hanging out with but wouldn’t want your friends to date, though she probably should have expected that her eagerness to try anything would have led to them making out almost instantly. I appreciated seeing Jayma Mays, an actress I’ve watched for years on shows like “Heroes” and “Glee” and who I still remember from the movie “Red Eye,” in a different role, one that found her constantly pushing limits. I’m not sure whether Al’s decision to be totally honest with her – something she had to process out loud and which he didn’t comprehend was unusual – will mean that we’ll get to see her again or if he’s going to give a real romance with Ariana a shot. I’m all for that, but it’s not going to be such an easy switch given how he so often throws himself all-in for any endeavor. I liked Hazel’s insistence that she was part of this ride and deserved to be filled in on each step of it, but her funniest line was early on when Al wanted some of her food and she chastised him for not being ready when they were placing the order. There wasn’t too much happening with the other characters in this episode, but I guess Riley and Holly seeing another couple be far too affectionate in public was a sign that they’re both on the same page about where they want to be.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 16 “Gout / Nikres” (B+)

This episode started off with a flurry of double entendres, with Lois describing her “yelp as the review” being the best of them. But then things got more serious with Art’s gout flaring up, and his reluctance to go see a doctor was a very relatable storyline. Even Riley’s therapist understood and thought it was a legitimate and understandable course of action. Naturally Al would be the one to go ahead and call Lois first to tell her, and I enjoyed that he apparently always introduces himself by his full name as if she doesn’t know who he is. She knew exactly what to do to inspire him to take action immediately, and it was a good thing he did given his rising A1C level. I did enjoy his intense resistance to the idea of eating healthy, declaring that, at Outback Steakhouse (a favorite restaurant of mine, I’ll admit, though I haven’t been in a few years), “if you order a salad, they take you out back.” He seemed tremendously offended by the idea of putting a plant burger, or worse, fish, on his grill. I’m glad he has a kindred spirit in Hazel, who didn’t want the raccoons to be attracted to the delicious smell of all the snacks that she wanted to turn into trash. Ending with the two of them trying vegetables together was very entertaining, and they really shouldn’t have started with carrots and then ended with raw cauliflower, arguably one of the least appealing ways to eat that particular food.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 15 “Tattoo / Khaal” (B+)

The sleeping arrangements on this show continue to amuse me, mainly because Al never seems to get the beauty sleep he wants if anyone else decides to interrupt it, but he’s the culprit just as often trying to get them excited about something that only matters to him. Riley asking him for help with where to take Holly for a date made some sense given Al’s much more romanticized notions of love and the world in general, but apparently camping is not his cup of tea. Riley did fall hard for Vanessa, which isn’t a bad thing, but the giant tattoo of her name that he got was definitely a bit much. Somehow, he managed to follow up his questionable blowing out of all the candles and wearing multiple shirts with an offer to “Donald Duck her” with a shirt and no pants, but fortunately he ended up telling her rather than trying to turn Holly into Hazel. The fact that she’s now just going to make fun of him is a great result, one that shows that she’s probably right for him. His going all in on this relationship is sure to bother Vanessa once she finds out, but she was preoccupied here with Hazel wanting to have cool hair like her Aunt Lizzie and taking it upon herself to cut it. It’s not all that often that we get to see Vanessa upset with anyone but the two men in her life, and maybe it would have been more entertaining if Lizzie hadn’t warned her before she brought Hazel over to show her what she had done. Art’s efforts to help Hazel by sharing his regrets got intense very fast, and I think he realized that it was a bit much given her swift departure.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 14 “Kiss / Maach” (B+)

It’s fun to see this friendship blossom between Lizzie and Lois, and to watch how it affected Art, first through jealousy and then legitimate concern about taking away another mother figure from Lois if they ever broke up. The impact of them spending so much time together is much likelier to have an adverse effect on Lizzie’s life since she’s still very far from fifty and therefore might regret something like, say, bursting in during a class to plant a kiss on her very frazzled boyfriend. Brett seemed quite pleased even if he didn’t expect it, and I imagine that will accelerate the progression of their slow-moving relationship. It was funny to hear Wayne warn Riley not to go to Vanessa and tell her he knew what it was like for her to have a spouse away at war, and even though she was confused about why he was there, his surprise visit went pretty well. My favorite plotline from the episode started with Hazel asking Riley for $20 just to have “pocket money,” followed up by an equally unsuccessful ask from Al and then her needing to get a job. Al’s hatred of dogs didn’t stop him from following her to make sure she was safe and then insisting that she not give up when she started to find the work too difficult. She used that to her advantage the next morning by forcing him to get up with her at 5am by calling him a quitter, which even involved Riley’s half-awake participation.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 13 “Hunt / Shikar” (B+)

I like when Hazel gets a chance to be in the spotlight, and opening with her “pre-gaming” for dinner was an entertaining start. Riley was understandably upset that Freddy had taught her how to ride a bike, though Freddy wasn’t too happy with the idea of murdering fish with explosives that Riley started talking about when he decided to take her hunting. That didn’t go well but she was a very natural driver, which of course led to them getting pulled over right away. Asking the police officer is she should follow was pretty funny. Vanessa coming to bail Riley out may have been one of the first times that she wasn’t mad at him even though he was in trouble, and that she saw how they had to work on their coparenting so that they didn’t feel like they were missing out. Al got predictably way too into spinning and competing with Dirk because he thought that Ariana was into him, and of course they ended up continuing past the point of both Ariana and Lizzie stopping because they couldn’t stand it anymore. It’s good that Ariana and Lizzie are going to spend more time together, at least, but Al really did miss an opportunity as Lizzie tried to point out to him when he could have left Dirk there to spin on his own. I love that Art’s secret activity is painting over graffiti, fighting his nemesis Fishstick, and that Lois enjoyed coming out with him even if she wasn’t on board with the way he liked to do all of it.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 12 “Poker / Pokar” (B+)

Al’s justification for playing poker even though it was haram didn’t hold much water, though I can understand how he got excited about the idea of being able to read people and beat them with his skill. I suppose it’s easier to opt to stretch some boundaries when there isn’t a crisis but instead an opportunity that seems manageable, though Al fell hard and fast for the gambling habit that he just couldn’t quit. His nightmare where he ordered a Slippery Slope and Lizzie brought him a bottle of haram as Hazel was revealed to be the devil was entertaining, and I like that Art was the one to try to get him to stop. Riley had success by having Al come outside in his underwear, and it’s not common that he’s the more levelheaded one. I’m glad that we got to see an extended spotlight on Lizzie’s burgeoning romance with Brett, which involved a solid date and then Lizzie getting awkward with her finger guns on the way home. It’s fun that Brett admitted he came the night before to practice his artistic skills and that he then showed up at her house to show that he could really play music. Having Lizzie confide in a disappointed Vanessa about how the date went was also a nice touch since we don’t tend to see the two of them getting to be sisters and friends anymore, but hopefully Freddy and Vanessa playing poker with the family means they’ll be more involved and present this season.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 11 “Punch / Musht” (B+)

We don’t see quite enough of Hazel on this show when things are focused on the adults, and so it was good to take a break from the new relationships that both Riley and Lizzie are in to return to the child who has a lot of sense for someone with so few years on this earth. Her getting in trouble for punching someone at school elicited very different reactions from her two parents, and Riley being more open to the idea that there could have been a legitimate reason for her to hit someone did not sit well with Vanessa at all. That she went back to apologize to him and then ended up hitting him again was a humorous but unfortunate development, and it’s hard to earn points for sticking up for those who are being mocked or treated unfairly when you’re also in the wrong. Any hopes of Riley and Vanessa getting back together have surely been dashed by this point, and Riley wasn’t too open to Freddy’s perspective even though the two of them have been getting along better recently than they were a while back when Riley was still obsessed with winning back his ex-wife. Al, Art, and Lizzie also offer helpful perspectives, and Hazel is lucky to be able to benefit from multiple opinions that surround her and help mold her into a surely very opinionated and resilient individual who is absolutely best described as precocious with a bit of devilishness mixed in for good measure.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 10 “Professor / Ustad” (B+)

I wasn’t sure if we’d see Al’s professor again, but it seems like he’s going to become a more involved member in his personal life, paying Al back for the many interruptions in his professional space. Of course Al would have distinct ideas of what is and isn’t okay regarding the expression of romantic interest in a member of someone’s family, and he’s also very clueless about social cues in American culture. As usual, one of the most entertaining parts of this was watching how Art reacted to Brett flirting with his daughter and Al getting worked up about the whole thing. I’ve often felt that Lizzie is the most underused character on this show, and giving her a love interest is a great idea if only because it might enable her to have more screen time. I’m not sure I would have chosen Brett as the most exciting option, but it’s at least good for her to get back out there with someone who seems harmless at best and perfectly safe, though likely too boring for her to ultimately decide that he’s the right one for her. I’m glad that Holly is sticking around and doesn’t seem too turned off by Riley being Riley. He was understandably panicked about not being able to perform as he hoped to, and I enjoyed that he tracked down his therapist and followed him to the hospital so that he could get some crucial advice even as the man was undergoing medical treatment.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 9 “Christmas/Krismis” (B)

I like that Riley and Vanessa’s relationship has come back into focus after being out of sight for a while, and that it was Vanessa who was much too bothered by Riley bringing a date with him to Art’s party. To be fair, Riley started it by not being open to Hazel being with her on Christmas Day so that Freddy’s parents could see her, and there’s no reason that he shouldn’t have finally asked out Holly, especially since she was half-jokingly upset with him that he hadn’t called her yet. Hazel was very open to the idea, and I like that she asked Riley if she could bring her boyfriend. Holly did a great job bonding with Hazel over a game of basketball, which was sweet to see. Unfortunately, Vanessa didn’t take her presence in stride, and the fact that Freddy, the man who is never bothered by anything, was embarrassed by her, said something. Art has his own relationship issues to navigate with Lois when he found out just how expensive the soft sweater she got him was, and the way they got through it with Lois confirming that he had not yet apologized was sweet and endearing. After everyone kept making sure to wish Al happy holidays rather than Merry Christmas, he just wanted to go caroling, and even though they got wet with the sprinklers trick, I think he enjoyed himself. I also liked Art’s description of his favorite ornaments, all of which he liked because they were free.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 8 “Wisdom/Hikmat” (B+)

Mind-altering medication is usually a great opportunity for the truth to come out, and that was definitely the case here. This show tends to confront more serious themes like post-traumatic stress and Al being away from his family in Afghanistan, but there hasn’t been as much around Art and how he is as a father. When he’s in the right state of mind, Al is better at communicating things that might not come across the right way, but telling Art that he was a bad father crossed the line in a way he didn’t intend at all. The point was, of course, well taken in the end, but much of it has to do with the fact that the way in which Art interacts with his children doesn’t support the way that Al believes elders should be treated and respected by their offspring. It was definitely uncomfortable to see how offended Art was, and for Al, once he was able to come back to his senses to a degree, to be legitimately worried about and sorry for what he had done. Lizzie, as usual, was there to help fix things, ensuring that those who needed to hear each other actually took the time to stop and listen. This is where I think this show does tend to work well and achieve an interesting exploration of cultural differences and how they can blur the lines of what’s acceptable in one place and foreign in another, unable to be understood without the proper context.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 7 “College/Pohantoon” (B)

Al going to college is a big deal, but it was never going to be easy, just like so many other adjustments to the American way of doing things. I enjoyed the casting of John Ross Bowie, an actor I feel like I’ve seen in so many projects over the years that it looks like I probably recognize most from “The Big Bang Theory,” as the professor who reacted poorly to Al coming to see him and then was beyond intimidated and subservient to Riley when he showed up to knock some sense into him. Getting Hazel’s input on all this is also always fun, and, after getting the adjustment he hadn’t necessarily earned, Al put his newfound psychology knowledge to use to work on Riley and the effects of his separation from Vanessa that he still hadn’t quite accepted. It was great to see more of Art’s dating life and how he so quickly found out when he wanted to go to a particular restaurant that Lois had previously been married to a big-time football player who, worse than anything else, Art had really liked. Lizzie was probably a bit too eager to rub it in his face and get his reaction on camera, but that does tend to be the way of doing things in this family, mocking rather than comforting, showing a different kind of support than perhaps the traditional loving way parents and children are supposed to be there for one another when things get tough.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 6 “Veterans Day/Roz-e Sarbaz” (B+)

I appreciated the opening scene of this episode since I’ve done the same thing on birthdays in the past, trying to map out all of the places that are offering freebies and figuring how the best route to get the most food. This was a fitting installment to deal with many of the complicated aspects of celebrating Veteran’s Day, with both Lizzie and Riley grappling with the lingering effects of being at war. We don’t usually see the serious side of Lizzie, who wanted to take advantage of some time alone to go through a box that ended up being much better to do with her father there. Art was in fine form enjoying the procedures of the day that made him feel like he was still doing what he used to do. Riley getting the news about his disability rating came with a lot of baggage, and Al was eager to make him feel okay about it while he struggled to reveal it. Bonding with someone else who had similar reservations about their public perception turned out to be very helpful. My favorite part of this episode, however, was seeing Hazel clearly into a boy and flirting with him, only to see her crush subverted by an interfering Al, who humorously applied his own notions of what a romance should be on the kids. Hazel’s reaction to Al being present and saying embarrassing things was great, for once enabling Al to be the adult and Hazel to the helpless and horrified child.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 5 “Date/Didar” (B)

A big part of this show has always been that Al has had a different life experience that often leaves him unprepared for how things work in the United States. It’s understandable that he would think that Ariana would see the world similarly to him because of her heritage, but his expectations were way off. She did let him down gently when he expressed how all in he was on just the first date, but it’s hard to imagine that there’s a path forward for them given how heartbroken he was to find out that she was seeing other people. Lizzie was sweet to try to help Al, pushing him not to be too forward and to not complement her more than once a date, or once an hour based on his pushback, for instance. It’s good to see her featured in a mildly dramatic context, using her own wisdom from past relationships to coach someone who was coming at it from the complete opposite angle. I enjoyed seeing Vanessa and Art go to the drag race together and hearing them talk as legitimate friends who haven’t had the chance to really spend time together since Riley and Vanessa separated. Hazel getting punished for cheating provided a great opportunity for Riley to be able to try to teach her a lesson before eventually opting for a bonding experience that enabled them to do something together and then scare both Lizzie and Art by camouflaging themselves in the leaves while they were talking outside.

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 4 “Panic/Tars” (B)

So we’re taking a bit of a break from the kiss on the cheek that Al got in the previous episode to unpack some deeper issues affecting Al that he’d like to think don’t represent something worthy of his dignified heritage and are instead merely an American invention. Al passing out in the supermarket was a surprising start, and he went on a whole journey of denial as he tried to reason out why it wasn’t a big deal and how all his time spent in a war zone meant that he knew exactly how not to panic. As usual, Hazel was helpful in pointing out to him things he should have realized on his own, while Art and Riley were mostly about the comedy and poking fun at his determination not to listen to anyone else. It was Lizzie who managed to break through most, underlining the importance of talking to someone and finding a way to be able to think about what was eating away at him and causing him to experience panic attacks. This show does a decent job of walking a line between drama and comedy, infusing most of its moments with a lightness that real life often affords but not shying away from the harsh realities that do remain ever-present, even if they’re not always visible on the surface or at the forefront of someone’s mind at every moment. Now, can we get Al to freak out about something else and go on a date with Ariana?

What I’m Watching: United States of Al

United States of Al: Season 2, Episode 3 “Mo/Masoud” (B)

Al’s eagerness to get his sister married off so that he can bring her to the United States seemed at first to be hyper-specific, demanding too much that wouldn’t be able to be met given where he was. But then he found the perfect person, who happened to be Kasim’s very own son, which anyone watching knew was too good to be true but he was happy to go along with anyway since it would ultimately help his sister. Mo was absolutely his family’s version of Lizzie, and while the whole non-Afghan thing might be a problem, I would be thrilled to see the two of them date. This was all a pretense for Al to reunite with Ariana, and while they were more invested in insulting each other than flirting, that kiss on the cheek that she gave him at the end of the episode indicated that she might be open to a courtship, which would be wonderful to see. Art and Kasim get along so well even if he’s not entirely hip to all of his, or Mo’s, references, and so the warm relationship would extend to multiple generations of the families. Riley and Freddy competing over who was the better bowler was both petty and immature, but it was a helpful opportunity for them to see eye-to-eye and for Riley to realize that Freddy is about the best possible stepfather he could hope for Hazel to have, even if he’s not totally ready to step aside and relinquish the possibility that he could save his marriage.