Let’s wrap up season 2…….
Season 2, Episode 21
Traffic School
Plot Summary-Robert tries out teaching traffic school to the family by using a puppet named Timmy
Nitpick of the episode- It drives me nuts when Robert says that if it had been Ray’s traffic school they all would have sat quietly. Does Robert not realize that the family does give Ray a hard time once in awhile too?
Best Line-“The binder’s not just a guide, Debra. The binder is… binding.”…Robert
Episode Fun Fact –Amazingly Timmy would appear again
Deleted Scenes-Frank and Marie about the answering machine
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser and the second act where Marie singles out ray for laughing at Robert (even though they all were)
Best Character-Frank, I love the “revenge” he gets on Timmy in the end!
Worst Character-Robert, this is his episode but seriously dude, get over it already
Final Thoughts-I’d really like to know where the heck this idea came from. This is an interesting dive into Roberts psyche. It gets downright uncomfortable. But as the episode goes on we see that the problem is Robert holds on to everything. The whole bit with Timmy is odd. I like the talk in the end between Ray and Robert, where Ray tells him being smothered was just as damaging as being neglected. And Rays right, Robert doesn’t own messed up. But it’s a decent episode especially for season 2.
Grade-B+
Season 2, Episode 22
Six Feet Under
Plot Summary-Ray has a midlife crisis when he realizes he is shorter.
Nitpick of the episode-why doesn’t Debra just lie to ray about his height to make him feel better? She does get him insoles so I guess that’s something
Best Line-“When I was a teenager I wanted to write the Great American novel. But then I realized that I didn’t even want to read the Great American Novel.”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –Peter Boyle as Frank does “The Wizard advice “to Ray almost exactly as how he said it to Robert De Niro’s character in ‘Taxi Driver!
Deleted Scenes-Frank’s egg order
Syndication Edit-Ray obsessed with his height at a basketball game (despite quitting last year we he’s back on the Nemo’s team. Won’t be seen again).
Best Character-Robert, he points out that Ray is doing pretty good in life and he’s right
Worst Character-Debra, she picks on Ray for worrying about his height but makes a death face when he comments on her weight. At least Ray acknowledges her double standard this time. And the topper is Debra saying she already had a mid life crisis (of course she did. By the way Debra a midlife crisis is more than getting your nails done) as demonstrated by her use of cream on her hands before going to bed. And of course she calls him an idiot again.
Final Thoughts-This episode isn’t the worst but man is it forgettable! I always forget about it until I watch it, and then I remember why I couldn’t remember. Nothing really that remarkable happens in it. It starts with Ray having a midlife crisis and turns into an episode about where the family is going to buried. What? The mid life crisis stuff is so weak it’ll come up again. The tag is frank singing like Tony Bennett at a karaoke club which is so absurd that it’s funny.
Grade, B- forgettable
Season 2, Episode 23
The Garage Sale
Plot Summary-Frank decided to hold a garage sale while Ray think he might want more kids.
Nitpick of the episode-Robert finds shoes Marie bought Robert for Christmas but never gave him. How did she forget that exactly?
Best Line-“We’re having a garage sale. No, no, better. Make it a yard sale. That’s classier.”…Frank
Episode Fun Fact-
Deleted Scenes-Frank tells Robert to look like he’s security
Syndication Edit-teaser, frank reading the paper but Marie won’t listen
Best Character-Frank, he’s great in this episode
Worst Character-Ray, sigh. What can I say? Fighting over a crib they might need with a lady who WILL need it? Here’s an idea, why not talk to your wife! Ok I get the feeling sad that the kids aren’t babies anymore thing, but still!
Final Thoughts-This episode starts out good enough, but when Ray starts getting obsessive about having another kid it just loses me. I mean, where did this come from? We do eventually get a sweet scene between Ray and Debra at the end but the trip there gets annoying. The funniest line is when Marie reveals she wished Robert had been a girl and even dressed him in dresses.
Grade-B
All three of these episode have the same problem, it almost feels like the creators had an initial idea but couldn’t flesh it out so they threw in a different premise entirely.
Season 2, Episode 24
The Wedding:Part 1
Plot Summary-How Ray married Debra
Nitpick of the episode-Frank interrupts Ray and Debra because he forgot his driving glasses. That we’ll never see him use again.
Best Line-“Last night when my dad asked you to marry me. And you said yes to my mother”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –Father Hubley is introduced, and they must have liked Charles Durning so much they brought the character back. Even though he goes from Debra’s families pried to the Barone’s in subsequent episodes.
Deleted Scenes-Establishing the wedding that begins the frame (which is pointless so, good edit)
Syndication Edit-teaser, ray dressing
Best Character-Debra, she’s adorable here
Worst Character-Robert, again he’s jealous rather than congratulating Rays announcement.
Final Thoughts-This episode is pretty good. Even if the proposal here doesn’t mesh with what has been established before. But that’s ok. Here I can understand why Ray was worried Debra didn’t really want to accept the proposal considering how nutty it got. Though the fact Ray is surprised that Debra has already begun planning the wedding is stupid as is suggesting only inviting 20 people! Though to be fair Debra should have set the date and location with Ray. And of course this sets the path where he is convinced Debra cares more about the wedding than marrying him. This will get worst in the next episode. Speaking of which…..
Grade-B-
Season 2, Episode 25
The Wedding:Part 2
Plot Summary-How Ray Married Debra
Nitpick of the episode-seriously Debra now many signs to back out do you need?? And why wasn’t this a one hour episode it was clearly structured as one
Best Line-“You got cold feet, get some socks”… Debra
Episode Fun Fact -The flower girl is played by Ray Romano’s s real-life daughter Alexandra, who would have a recurring role as Ally’s friend later on. Ray’s real life father also appears though not as the character he’d play later on. Also uncle Mel’s final appearance.
Deleted Scenes-Marie introduces Cousin Gerard (who will appear again), Robert worrying about his toast
Syndication Edit-recapping the previous episode
Best Character-Robert, he ends up giving a nice toast
Worst Character-Ray, the scene where he and Debra meet the priest pisses me off every time I see it
Final Thoughts-OK where do I even begin? I am not sure what they were going for here but man it doesn’t make it for me. First of all, I was willing to accept Ray worrying about the proposal but the way he acts when meeting the priest should have made Debra walk then and there! Did the show forget they had been dating awhile before this point? Then the whole thing in the church is just ridiculous. He acts like a goof ball through the whole ceremony. We’re told later that was Ray happy not drunk. Sure. Then the two have their first fight right at the reception. I get Ray being nervous but he goes above and beyond nervous in this episode. The worst part is this was written by the shows creators! I find it interesting there’s no commentary on the DVD. I’m sorry but I hate this one, I saw this when it first aired and it turned me off of the show for awhile. I think it’s supposed to be sweet but it doesn’t work for me.
Grade-C, and I’m being kind
Well we’ve gotten through two seasons now. Season 2 was a marked improvement of Season 1 but it wasn’t perfect. The show’s writers were still having trouble figuring out that it’s only funny when the focus is on the family. Next time we start Season 3 which started great, but real life problems bogged the season down. But we’ll get into that next time.
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