Season 6, Episode 11
The Kicker
Plot Summary-When Frank catches the game winning football at a game, he decides he’s going to keep it
Nitpick of the episode-The fact that Frank managed to catch that ball is beyond preposterous. Also Debra states she read Ray’s column when they were dating even though its been established he didn’t get it until they were engaged. By the way no radio station would share Frank’s last name like that.
Best Line-“I caught that ball fair and square and anyone who doesn’t like it can kiss me in the back pockets”…Marie z. ,
Episode Fun Fact –I don’t usually comment on continuity flubs but it’s obvious when he ball breaks the window it doesn’t come from across the street (you can even see the arm of the stage hand who threw it!)
Deleted Scenes-ally is upset ray did the puzzle on the cereal box, Ray worries about the remote (these are both stupid bits best cut)
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser, frank wants her spoon
Best Character-Ray, the way he handles the problem is very nice (better than his first idea to trash his father in the newspaper-yeah that was a bad idea!)
Worst Character-Frank, do I need to explain why?
Final Thoughts-This is sort of a perfect Frank episode, as we see all his sides here. His sarcastic side, his jackass side, and in the end that he does have a heart when he’s finally persuaded to return the ball. What’s interesting is how against Frank the family is, I mean it’s not even close! ! That whole scene where they try to get the ball from him is a cute moment with all of them working together for once. The way the problem is finally resolved is cool. The scene in the kitchen with the family listening to the radio is probably a little longer than it needed to be, we get it!
Grade-B+
Season 6, Episode 12
Season’s Greetings
Plot Summary-Marie and Debra try to write a Christmas letter together
Nitpick of the episode-This is an unfair nit since it comes up in the episode, but Robert kept that letter from ten years ago all that time????
Best Line-“She makes it sound like it’s all her while poor Debra drools into a cup”…Debra
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Debra, nice to see her stand up to Marie a little here and it;s also nice to see her working with Marie in writing the revised letter, they work well together when there is no venom spewing.
Worst Character-Robert, it is soooo nice to see Robert’s jealousy of Ray get called out a bit. Finally he realizes that all he thinks of he doing better than Ray, or hoping Ray is punished if Robert does fail. That is pretty messed up (Ray’s line in fact). To bad despite realizing that in this episode he forgets it right after.
Final Thoughts-Christmas letters are an annoying thing, why do people send those? So it’s nice to see the series tackle it. My favorite scene is the tag where the family is sitting around on Christmas Day reading and heckling other letters. So often the Christmas episodes end on a sarcastic note, this one ends on a very sweet note. The bulk of the episode is just the family arguing in the kitchen about what they wanted the letter to say. And comparing it to the letter Marie wrote ten years earlier.
Grade-B-
Season 6, Episode 13
Tissues
Plot Summary-Ray decides he wants to make more decisions around the house, including buying tissues no one likes which leads to a fire in the kitchen.
Nitpick of the episode-How did Ray take so long to notice the fire does he have no sense of smell? And it’s obvious it’s a controlled fire
Best Line-“You can’t even let me name my imaginary dog”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Frank wants a snack
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser, ants in the house (the deleted bit established why Ray buys the ant spray later)
Best Character-Debra, I like that she keeps her cool for most of the second half of the episode and of course is badass in the end when she puts out the fire with no trouble at all. Course she has to be cool to make Ray’s craziness seems even more so.
Worst Character-Ray, once again for obvious reasons. Crying you never get your way is kids stuff. And Ray the family is right, those tissues were half off plus a coupon for a REASON, obviously the store was trying to unload them because they were crap
Final Thoughts-Ever wonder what would happen if Ray suddenly got a spine and stated to stand up for himself more? I get the feeling that was the genesis of this idea, as he suddenly decides he should be allowed to make more decisions. The problem is he’s a big baby and can’t accept criticism. Not only he buy stupid items but his little fit when the family critiques the tissues he buys ends up causing a fire. I love how in the tag all we see is a look from Debra for it to be made clear Ray no longer makes his own decisions.
Grade-B
Season 6, Episode 14
Snow Day
Plot Summary-A snow storm strands Ray and Debra at Frank and Marie’s, where a slip by Debra hurts Frank’s feelings.
Nitpick of the episode-I commented once long ago that characters on TV never seem to believe in checking weather reports before traveling. This episode is another fine example since despite planning on going on a trip Ray and Debra seem clueless to the blizzard hitting and shutting down the airport.
Best Line-“I can’t believe I’m having a good time with you?”…Amy
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-top of act 2, Debra trying to call frank back into the house
Best Character-Marie, for once she’s right
Worst Character-Debra, I guess it’s hard to accept a flaw in yourself as Debra fights hard to insist that the family is not right at all. Which they are. It’s the whole core of her character thinking the Barone’s are nuts.
Final Thoughts-One thing you can’t say about this show is that it’s dark. Meet the exception! As I noted This seemed to be the season for our character to start learning a little about themselves, first Robert in the Christmas episode and now Debra here. Of course she thinks she’s better than the Barone’s, and I have already commented on a few episodes where this is very clear. The scene where Ray proves that point is odd and dark, but it works. And while what Debra says is mean I can see why she’d say it since the family seems so pleasant for once, including Amy. I love that last scene where Frank tells Debra he always thought she was on his side against the others. It harks back to the comment Frank has made about feeling like Debra is his daughter he never had. And this episode ends with the family dancing to “Jungle Love” which sort of becomes the unofficial theme song after this episode.
Grade-B, the episode shouldn’t work but it does!
Season 6, Episode 15
Cookies
Plot Summary-Ray is put off when he meets the tyrannical head of Ally’s scout troop and their argument ends in a fight
Nitpick of the episode-I think Peggy takes her role a little to seriously. But since she softens in later episode we can assume that she just gets a little carried away.
Best Line-“They bought cookies from your friend, Peggy Hitler!”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –First appearance of Peggy who will soften after this episode and be likable. Also Ally’s friend is played by Ray Romano’s real life daughter.
Deleted Scenes-
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser before Ray and Ally enter the house
Best Character-Debra, the way she stands up to Peggy at the end is awesome! However….
Worst Character-Debra, this was a standard setter for her. She takes something Ray comments on and rather than agree or even help, she makes it about him. Ray doesn’t like Peggy, but since Ray’s an idiot and can’t be right Debra insists the problem is that he hates women..period. Which is plain ridiculous! The worst thing is after she calls Peggy a bully herself, Debra still won’t admit Ray was right. Oh and I love when Ray insists Debra take Ally to the next meeting she starts in with the “Ray hates spending time with his children” crap even though he was the only guy at that meeting in the opening!
Final Thoughts-This episode…is one of those episodes which has stuff to love and other stuff that pisses me off. We meet Peggy, who will stick around. It’s kind of cool to see Ray get upset about something and I like him helping his daughter even if his motives are less than noble. I already talked about Debra but the rest of the family isn’t much better when they refuse to support Ray, agreeing with Debra that he hates women and even buying cookies from Peggy with no regard to Ally. The fight between Ray and Peggy is well staged and goes a bit further than you would expect something like that to go. You almost think Rays going to get hurt before Debra finally intervenes. And since we always have to punish Ray even when he wins, in tag we see him proudly sitting in the beach chair he has won. Only to have it break.
Grade-B+, may have been an A if not for that whole “Ray hates women” garbage. It’ll be children he hates in a similar episode, but we’ll get to that one.
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