Season 6, Episode 6
Frank Goes Downstairs
Plot Summary-After lying about why Ray and Debra fell off the bed, Frank ends up in the hospital trying to fix their stairs.
Nitpick of the episode-Course, no way in real life Frank would have experienced a fall like that and come away with just a few bruised ribs.
Best Line-“I thought what they had you on was marvelous. I’m going to call Mexico to try and get some for the house”…Marie
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-tag was longer, Frank remember Rays story after all
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Frank, even drugged up he’s funny. And the scene where he falls through the stairs was brilliantly staged.
Worst Character-Ray, sigh. Really? Bragging to your friends about the fact you fell onto your wife during sex and injured yourself? How old again??? And I love how after he falls off the bed, on to Debra, he wants to keep going even though she hurt herself. What is up with this guy?
Final Thoughts-A few seasons ago we saw that Ray gets uncomfortable talking about sex with his father. This is the episode that really explores that. I also like yet another misdirection, it starts out as another Ray wanting sex story but turns into a Frank episode by the end. Frank also reveals, while medicated, that he liked it when Ray moved next door so they can be pals. This is something of course Frank would never admit had he not been pumped full of drugs. This episode is ok but aside from the very clever stunt where Frank falls through the stairs there’s nothing to remarkable.
Grade-B
Season 6, Episode 7
Jealous Robert
Plot Summary-Debra and Marie scheme to get Amy and Robert back together.
Nitpick of the episode-There is one point when Ray is trying to tell Robert the truth and Debra elbows him in…a private area to shut him up. I always love how on TV husbands can never be abusive to wives but it’s perfectly ok when the wife is abusive to the husband.
Best Line-“I’m going to go home and work my way thru a box of ho hos”…Robert
Episode Fun Fact-
Deleted Scenes-Debra asking ray about her dress
Syndication Edit-longer start to act 1, the tag
Best Character-Frank, he has a great scene where he explains how Marie got him so jealous he went over and proposed (after banging up his hand). You could say that this goes against what we learn in “Good Girls”. There we learn that they got married because Marie was pregnant. But it’s vague and there’s no reason why both stories couldn’t be true. Maybe he cared more that Marie cook only for him then he did that she was carrying his child. Sounds consistent to me.
Worst Character-Robert, he’s pretty rude to Amy when he sees her with Gianni and while he feels bad right after..yeah he should have kept his mouth shut. And why is he so jealous, is she not allowed to date?
Final Thoughts-Another Debra scheme, though Marie does acknowledge it was her idea at first. All it does is get Amy and Gianni together (briefly as is revealed later). It really feels like they were running out of ideas with the Robert stuff, and as I noted before it won’t be long before the show finally gives up on it and lets him finally have a relationship. The whole scene at the end with Robert is basically rehash. I do love how Amy stands up to Robert she may be shorter than he but can still lay down the law.
Grade-C+
Season 6, Episode 8
It’s Supposed to Be Fun
Plot Summary-When Ray is criticized for his joking about his son’s basketball playing, he tries being supportive. And goes a little too far.
Nitpick of the episode-That whole second act is ridiculous, what the hell was Ray on during that scene???
Best Line-“I’ve accepted the fact that I have one son who’s good at basketball and another son who’s only good at running around in a circle and pretending he’s Scooby Doo.”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –coach Brian appears for the second time but unlike the tball episode we’re on his side
Deleted Scenes-more of the family at the game
Syndication Edit-line of dialogue explains why Marie had food in the second basketball game
Best Character-Geoffrey, at the end when another kid asks Jeff is Ray is his father, all the kid can do is shamefully shake his head no. And for once I am totally on Debra’s side in that kitchen scene.
Worst Character-Ray, no question! Bad enough he makes the stupid jokes at his son’s expense, but when Bryan and Debra confront him on it he just keeps defending himself (even though he’s clearly in the wrong). Then he tries to be supportive…and gets so over the top all of the other parents have to sit away from him!
Final Thoughts-This is another one where it’s supposed to be funny but it’s just dumb. What the heck is ray doing in that second half? He’s trying to be supportive I guess but he acts like a loon. Since this is the third time I’ve made that point, I guess that sums it all up. As for the first half I can forgive the jokes but Ray doesn’t take responsibility for them which is jerky. Again he comes up with every excuse he can why it’s not his fault until finally giving up and talking to his son. Speaking of those jokes what was the point of his jokes if no one is laughing and he could (and does) hurt the kids feelings? Ray learns in this episode that a little joke can last forever. But, why does he go the other extreme in the second game?
Grade-C+
Season 6, Episode 9
Older Women
Plot Summary-Everyone is startled when Debra’s father comes to Thanksgiving with ah an older woman.
Nitpick of the episode-The thing that bugs me the most is that the creators had to use a retcon to make the whole premise work. All of a sudden Ray and Debra had a housekeeper helping them when Ally was first born. One that was never mentioned before, and will never be mentioned again. As The Church Lady used to say, How Convenient!!
Best Line-“Kill is going to Debra you!”…Frank
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-tag, Debra talking to her mom in ally’s room, her mother telling them warren is bringing a friend to thanksgiving (this was an easy edit it serves no purpose at all)
Best Character-Ray, yeah what he said was stupid but it was an accident and he apologizes. The apology scene is very nice, and I can always forgive an honest mistake.
Worst Character-Debra, I get she is upset but the way she makes it about how Ray wants someone different is ridiculous. More below. She also pisses me off when she gets mad at Ray for being on her mothers side. She’s just awful in this episode.
Final Thoughts-Alright I’ve been waiting for this rant. So Ray accidentally points out that Warren wasn’t looking for a younger woman he was looking for someone different. A rude thing to say right in front of Lois (rub it in why don’t you!). But this is what bothers me, Debra comes back to yell at Ray about what he said (which I get) but doesn’t stop there. It becomes this whole thing about how men always want someone different, who they have is never good enough. Sigh. How does Debra make these leaps? Even Ray says it was just a stupid thing that accidentally slipped, not an indicator of his personal feelings! Marie also yells at Frank, who said nothing! Then it gets worst when they pull out the retcon so Debra can make her point. Yeah, because women never look at or fantasize about men. Right! This will happen more as we go, Ray will say something specific and Debra generalizes it so he’s just a jerk, and it pisses me off every time. The only good scene in this episodes is the one where the guys question Warren on why he is dating an older woman. His reasoning makes sense, and I give the episode credit for taking time to show the other side of the coin. And the scene where Ray apologizes to Lois is good, he calls her “mom” at the end which will came back in another episode. Bet you can’t guess who didn’t like that so much?
Grade-B-
Season 6, Episode 10
Raybert
Plot Summary-Robert lies to a girl, saying that he is Ray. When this works the two realize that combined they have better chances with women then they do apart.
Nitpick of the episode-How long did Robert really think he was going to get away with that lie?
Best Line-“Didn’t I teach you anything, you gotta problem with your woman you don’t go out and get another one. Then all you got are two problems.”…Frank
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-the beginning of the teaser with ray playing with his cereal before Robert comes in, The original start of the final scene with Marie and Debra
Syndication Edit-The tag where the second woman from the laundry room brings her father to meet Ray, only for him to quickly realize that it isn’t. Again, how long did Robert think that could last?
Best Character-Frank, his catchphrase of “Oh Crap” is always funny but it’s the biggest laugh of the episode here as he is clearly trying to comprehend what he is hearing at the same time!
Worst Character-Robert, yeah sorry dude you should have been honest up front with Natasha
Final Thoughts-The premise is ridiculous but the episode works because of the sharp writing. In fact that last scene is cliché but it’s incredibly funny because we know these characters so well that we enjoy their reactions. Debra has little to do in this episode but her facial expressions after Natasha reveals she is dating “Ray” are perfect. As are Frank and Marie’s. And in the first act we see Ray and Robert getting along nice, for a change. It’s always nice to see Robert not be in jealous douche mode. The only down side is we get more “what’s wrong with Robert” dialogue in the end which is getting real monotonous.
Grade-A-, what could have been stupid instead becomes a very well written and performed episode
No comments:
Post a Comment