Season 4, Episode 6
The Sister
Plot Summary-Debra’s sister visits and announces she’s going to become a nun.
Nitpick of the episode-Why is Debra such a witch when Ray tries to talk to her about what is bothering her? Even Ray points out its ok for to psychoanalyze him up and down but god forbid he try to get to the root of her problem.
Best Line-“Ray and Robert, they have this, like, completely screwed up relationship, but at least they have each other, you know? I mean, they fight, they compete and they blame their lives on their parents. They’re real brothers!”…Debra
Episode Fun Fact –Debra’s sister appears for the one and only time
Deleted Scenes-Ray tells Debra what he warns for breakfast
Syndication Edit-Ray and Robert singing a song, this brief scene makes when Ray calls back to it in the next scene make more sense
Best Character-Marie, the scene where she comes over with the cake shaped like a cross is adorable
Worst Character-Debra, this was a tough call but I gotta pick her for that scene I mentioned in my nitpick where Ray is trying to be supporting but all she can do is scoff at him.
Final Thoughts-This episode works because the actress playing Jennifer is just great. She feels real and I totally buy her being Debra’s older sister. We barely heard of this character so don’t really care if she is being a nun, but the writing makes up for that. I also get what Debra’s problem is, by the time we get it out of her anyway. Debra doesn’t have a brother or sister she can count on which probably does suck sometimes. The one lame thing is how the family acts around Jennifer after announcing she’ll be a nun. Like they have to be all religious or something. The worst is Franks crazy question which is a bit out there even for him. Who wonders that? The scene between Debra and Jennifer is just great. The only annoying thing I guess is that the only thing Robert contributes is more crying about he second rate status in the family.
Grade-A-
Season 4, Episode 7
Cousin Gerard
Plot Summary-Ray is forced to work on his book with his annoying whiny cousin, who everyone thinks resembles Ray
Nitpick of the episode-Find it hard to believe Ray didn’t know how nasally he spoke. And why hasn’t the his book been mentioned before now? Ray has even scoffed at the idea. When I first saw this episode I thought I missed something.
Best Line-“Because everyone hates me, and before he got here they didn’t know that”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –Actually Gerard had been introduced in the wedding episode, but since his scenes were cut we officially meet him here.
Deleted Scenes-Ray looks for his notes but Debra through them out (this scene would be reworked and used in another episode)
Syndication Edit-Debra teasing Ray
Best Character-Debra, she isn’t wrong when she points out how similar ray is to Gerard
Worst Character-Ray, classic ray worrying about something stupid though hearing him complain about someone whining in a nasal voice is pretty funny
Final Thoughts-Kudos to the creators, the idea for this episode was “Ray meets his double” which I thought when the show first aired would be a gimmick like a dual role or someone in makeup to resemble Ray. Instead we get an actor who really does sound like Ray but only resembles him in a very vague sense, but it works! It’s basically Ray but sadder and mopier. Played by Fred Stoller who excels at mopey characters. The scene where the family realizes how similar the two are is pretty well done (for once they’re not wrong) and that final scene between Ray and Gerard is funny.
Grade-B+
Season 4, Episode 8
Debra’s Workout
Plot Summary-Ray worries when he and Debra suddenly have more sex than usual
Nitpick of the episode-Debra denies having more sex with Ray because shes all turned on by the aerobics instructor. She says it’s more about her feeling good after working out. Nope, I think Ray’s right and I think Debra knows what she is doing. It’d be fine if she was honest about it. The worst part is that if the situation was reversed you know Debra would have a fit.
Best Line-“I’m tired, could you call yourself an idiot?”…Debra
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-The opening with Debra making Ray skip golf. While technically you can lose this scene, the replacement is the first scene at Monk’s and it’s a bit long for a teaser.
Best Character-Ray, Ray Romano has some nice moments in this series where he actually does a little acting. Maybe this started in season 4 because it took a bit for him to learn how to. But the moment where he says that he doesn’t like what Debra is doing and kicks the trash could have been funny but instead it’s quite serious, it even changes Debra tune. For once he’s insecure about something real.
Worst Character-Debra, not enough she gets all turned on and uses Ray, but when Ray tries to discuss it she calls him and idiot until she sees he’s really upset about it.
Final Thoughts-Another great episode. I like how Ray puts two and two together when he sees who the aerobics instructor is. The scene where he and Debra talk about it is a nice scene because for once Debra isn’t mocking Ray. At first anyway. The scene with ray at the class is a little goofy. I love the writing this season it isn’t just the family arguing with each other they actually discuss things! Trust me that happens less often as the series winds down.
Grade-A-
Season 4, Episode 9
No Thanks
Plot Summary-Debra tries being nice to Marie by ignoring her insults
Nitpick of the episode-Even Ray says you can’t use the same approach with an adult that you would use with a child
Best Line-“It’s like getting into a hot bath. You know, at first, you don’t think you can take it. But then, you know, once you get all your luggage in it’s not that bad.”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Ray at the car show with Frank and Robert. Easy edit since Ray explains what happened very clearly, we didn’t need to see it.
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser
Best Character-Marie, one thing that isn’t talked about much with her is that she is a very smart person. She can always see what game Debra is playing and counter so that she doesn’t succeed. This episode is a prime example.
Worst Character-Frank, he notes he had to spend the day with sourpuss Ray. What does he expect Ray to be like after picking on him all day?
Final Thoughts-You could argue this is a retread of the being nice episode from the last season. But since it involves Marie the episode takes it a different direction. In that episode Ray was trying to be nice, here Marie is just playing Debra’s game. One criticism I have is that this barely counts as Thanksgiving episode since the holiday is done in the first five minutes. But that’s ok. The stuff with Robert and Frank making fun of Ray is annoying but thankfully we don’t get too much of it. The big scene is the one at the end where Marie basically deconstructs what Debra had been doing. It leaves her speechless, and is one of the shows best scenes.
Grade-B+
Season 4, Episode 10
Left Back
Plot Summary-Ray is afraid that it’s his fault Michael has to be left back because he is slower than Geoffrey
Nitpick of the episode-Robert admits he knew that Ray had been held back and even felt sorry for him. Its stuff like this that makes it hard to swallow Robert’s “Ray gets everything” whining at times.
Best Line- Nothing.” My father thinks that Geoffrey has homosexual tendencies.”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –Michael may be slow at cutting paper but Geoffrey is slow at sports as well see later on
Deleted Scenes-Ray having to be reminded about the teacher conference, Ray and Debra in the kitchen talking about why Ray was at the school
Syndication Edit-Ray helping Michael cut paper
Best Character-Ray, it’s always nice to see him care about his kids for once
Worst Character-Frank, yeah Deb and Ray are right what was Frank thinking going to talk to the teacher?
Final Thoughts-This is one of those episode where on another show, the plot would have been squarely focused on the kid. But since this show doesn’t do that, we focus on Ray feeling upset that he has passed his stupidity on to them because he was also left back. And the result is the episode kind of dragging on. It’s basically Ray obsessing with no real resolution. I think that scene with Frank was thrown in to fill the time. At the end we learn the kids will retake pre-k which we already established was likely. As I noted before the kids started having more to do as they got older. The twins get their most screen time so far, and the comedy routine they do at the end is pretty damn cute.
Grade-B-, a little draggy
I said that Season 4 was great, but there is one exception to that we’ll get to next time!
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