Season 7, Episode 21
The Shower
Plot Summary-After Marie gets Debra angry at Amy’s shower, she over drinks and ends up behind bars with a DUI.
Nitpick of the episode-I looked it up and I guess you can gets arrested for a DUI even if the keys are just in the ignition. That seems a little extreme, but I guess the episode wins this one.
Best Line-“Oh! So she finally killed Ma.”…Robert after seeing Debra in prison which was a great moment
Episode Fun Fact –Debra says a line in prison about being glad she’s out since she has three kids at home. This line is taken straight from Ray Romano’s standup. The amusing thing to me is that it took until season 7 for them to work it in!
Deleted Scenes-more at the bridal shower, Marie and frank commenting before ray and Debra come home from jail
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Robert, that scene in the jailhouse is great but the best part is when Robert walks by Ray and Debra, and then realizes who he just walked by! I also love how thrown in to the scene he is, as if the creators forger Robert was a cop and then they remembered so they got him into the end.
Worst Character-Marie, what is it about her that she can’t just be somewhere without also being the center of attention? Can’t she just sit back and relax? The worst part is when Debra stands up for herself and insists she doesn’t need Marie, what does Marie do? She gets pissy and leaves. Ugh. Fair is fair and she does give a nice apology at the end.
Final Thoughts-This episode is saved by being really funny. Without that it’s just another crazy Debra getting mad at Marie episode. I already talked about how well done the jail scene is, but the scene at the hearing for Debra to get her license back is good to. I like that Marie apologizes and the scene features Joel Brooks, a great character actor who always gets a few laughs. I like seeing Debra getting a little karma here for being a bit crazed half the time. I’ve noticed that Marie is quicker to apologize for things than Debra.
Grade-B+
Season 7, Episode 22
Baggage
Plot Summary-Ray and Debra lock horns over who will be the one to move a suitcase
Nitpick of the episode-My favorite part of this episode is the beginning when Ray is relating the story of the suitcase to Robert. We see a little everyday life that is often overlooked on the series, like Debra watching TV with the kids. And yes I could be real nitpicky and point out that the fork and spoon which Marie claims have hung there for 40 years were very different in season one, but even I can overlook things like that.
Best Line-“Don’t let a suitcase full of cheese be your big fork and spoon”… Marie
Episode Fun Fact –The episode won an Emmy for best writing in a sitcom and was voted fourth favorite by fans.
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-Longer tag, we get Robert’s reaction to Ray’s story and Debra asking Ray if he wants to eat something besides cheese for dinner.
Best Character-Marie, she absolutely steals the episode. First with her speech to Debra about that first fight with Frank. And then that tag where she tries to take the big fork and spoon down, only to find time has stained the walls. It’s a great tag as Frank just looks on in confusion, and then when Marie leaves he wonder where the fork and spoon even came from. He had forgotten all about it! One of the shows best laughs.
Worst Character-Debra, there’s a difference between making a point and just being passive aggressive. I get her argument that she has to do everything, but when she goes into the suitcase to get clothes out and still refuses to move the suitcase I lose any sympathy for her argument.
Final Thoughts-I think we’ve all had a situation like this, where something needs to be done but neither want to do it. So you basically wait each other out hoping that the other will finally do it. And this episode handles it well, though maybe a little extreme. But as I noted Marie steals the show with the speech about the big fork and spoon. They have been there since the start and now we know why! The scene where Ray and Debra make up is good too, leading to that final visual gag where the two are struggling with he suitcase when Robert walks in.
Grade-A, great episode. Possibly the last “A” of the series!
Season 7, Episode 23
The Bachelor Party
Plot Summary-When Ray throws a lame bachelor party for Robert, he is forced by the girls to throw a better one.
Nitpick of the episode-What the hell made Ray think playing cards with Gianni was enough of a bachelor party? The only way I can see this making sense is if Robert told him that was all he wanted, but the episode doesn’t support that. And why didn’t frank tell Ray the lodge lost their liquor license earlier? Don’t worry they get it back next season.
Best Line-“Are you giving me permission to get a stripper?”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-more of the landlord in the teaser
Best Character-Ray, points for trying I guess but why the hell did he pick the lodge of all places?
Worst Character-Peter, what the hell is up with that scene where he deliberately and hurtfully tells Robert tat Ray was forced into throwing the shower? Thankfully the series will make Peter likable later for now he is a true jackass.
Final Thoughts-Once again we get a conflict where there was none needed. The fact Ray had to throw a second bachelor party was fine, we didn’t need that crap with Peter being incredibly nasty and trying to spoil it. Robert doesn’t even care at the end, so why bother? I am not sure why the creators wanted us to hate Peter here but as I noted that would change after the season was over. And yes I get that he wants to stop the wedding but how is getting Robert mad at Ray going to accomplish that? And that’s really all I have to say about this episode, because it’s basically old man jokes and a longer than usual tag with the guys coming home drunk.
Grade-C, Accomplishes nothing, was this a filler episode?
Season 7, Episode 24
Robert’s Wedding Part 1
Plot Summary-Robert’s wedding day is here but is worried that Peter will do something to disrupt it. In the end, it’s someone else who disrupts things!
Nitpick of the episode-Why did anyone let Peter be in charge of anything???
Best Line-“This is my wedding day and I’m in no mood for fun”..Robert
Episode Fun Fact –Brad Garrett won an Emmy for his performance in this episode.
Deleted Scenes-Here’s a switch, the syndicated episode adds a scene with Gianni in the bathroom which isn’t on the DVD version
Syndication Edit-for some reason these two episodes don’t quite and hour so in order to fill the half hour in part one of the rerun they added a long recap of Robert and Amy’s relationship
Best Character-Robert
Worst Character-Marie, WTF are you thinking???
Final Thoughts-Let’s save my speal on Marie for the next section, except to say I will give credit to the series for the misdirection. You expect Peter to be the one to act up, not Marie! The worst part of the episode is crazy long recap of Robert & Amy’s relationship. Trust me, that’s a real fast forward moment. Aside from that the episode is pretty much what you would expect. Robert is nervous, Peter tries something, Amy is beautiful and then when we get to the ceremony..where the real fun begins.
Grade-B-
Season 7, Episode 25
Robert’s Wedding Part 2
Plot Summary-Marie interrupts the wedding ceremony leaving Robert and Amy in shock. Until Ray’s toast.
Nitpick of the episode-They make it clear that Marie tried to say her speech to Robert before the actual wedding, but why didn’t she do it the day before or something?
Best Line-“I loved it when my mother said: “I’m a mother, you are my business!” You know what we’re waiting for Ma? Your “GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE”….Ray
Episode Fun Fact –the guests at the wedding include several recurring characters like cousin Gerard, Judy, Bernie and Linda even though none get any lines at all.
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Ray, the toast was fantastic and for once he does something smart and it doesn’t get undone.
Worst Character-Frank, his whining about the cash bar was a bit much.
Final Thoughts-When I first saw these episodes and Marie stood up at the end of the last episode, I was appalled. But the more I thought about, it kind of made sense. And when we hear her reasoning, well it’s classic Marie. Of course she’d more concerned about expressing her feelings and not whether or not she was embarrassing her son (or Amy) in the process. The scene afterwards is great as tensions are boiling, and I love how Pat finally calls out Marie on her narcissism before Debra can give her two cents. Ray saves the day with his toast. The sweetest moment is when Robert and Amy hug Marie, they know she meant well and this isn’t a day to be mad. What a nice episode this turns into!
Grade-B+
Thus concludes Season 7. It wasn’t awful, but its clear age was starting to show. Thank goodness for the Robert arc in the season. I’ll be back with Season 8 and fair warning, remember the griping I did during the first season? Yeah we may be getting more of that.
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