Welcome to Season 9! As I mentioned last time the season was more the networks ides than the creators. In fact they had a the final episode all ready to go the season before but shelved it. They agreed to come back with an abbreviated season, only sixteen episodes. Which means these final articles will also be a bit abbreviated with only four episodes per article. So was the season any good or should did they stay to long at the party?
(My DVD crapped out on me so forgive me if I forgot something). Let’s start:
Season 9, Episode 1
The Home
Plot Summary-Frank and Marie shock the family by announcing they are moving to a retirement home
Nitpick of the episode-This a hard one to grasp, why would Marie and Frank suddenly want to move to a retirement home? And why are they suddenly getting along so well? This one requires a little suspension of disbelief though it’s not a shark jumping moment. And why weren’t the kids around to say goodbye to their grandparents?
Best Line-“Oh, Debra… do you know what your problem is? You’re always so dramatic. I’m fine with the way we are.”…Marie
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Marie giving stuff away
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser
Best Character-Marie and frank, kudos for the writers for giving them something so against their character, but at the same time keeping the characters in character. It works.
Worst Character-Debra, when Frank and Marie are finally moving its Debra who’s sad about it. DEBRA!! What the hell? Debra has spent more episodes than I’d care to count hating having the family so close and bitching every chance she gets. What??? Feels like filler.
Final Thoughts-I’ve commented before on how the writers will switch something up so an episode will go somewhere you weren’t expecting. This happens here, doing the idea which would have been an obvious finale episode as the premiere episode. Is it good? It’s feels a little odd, maybe because everyone is happily getting along here. The whole episode feels like one big act 1. Except you have to wait till next week to get the second half. The scene where Ray and Debra and Robert and Amy celebrate the announcement is pretty much all for laughs. I complained that it’d ridiculous Debra is sad but on the other hand why aren’t Robert and Ray even a little sad? They seem a little to eager to get rid of Marie and Frank.
Grade-B
Season 9, Episode 2
Not So Fast
Plot Summary-Frank and Marie’s high life is suddenly cut short when the retirement community wants them out.
Nitpick of the episode-Maybe neither Debra or Ray had a cellphone but still it would have been nice if they had called Robert and Amy and warned them what was happening ahead of time. Also Marie made friends in “Cruising with Marie” but that was also a horrible episode that is probably best forgotten. And it never comes up but I sure hope there was some kind of refund from the community.
Best Line-“I don’t care what you call it. Look at this place. You two have turned my home into the Playboy Mansion”…Marie
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Robert gets used to changes
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser, Ray and Debra arrive to visit Marie and frank
Best Character-Frank, it’s sad to see Peter Boyle in these final episodes I give him credit for trying but it almost doesn’t feel like the same character anymore.
Worst Character-Debra, of course she tries to blame Ray for Marie and Frank getting kicked out even though it was made abundantly clear there was nothing Ray could have said or done. Yeah I know he was whining about the traffic in the opening (which was annoying) but c’mon Debra! Robert wasn’t there I can accept him blaming Ray but her? No.
Honorable mention for Marie whining about the changes Robert and Amy made to the house. Did she really think they wouldn’t change anything at all?
Final Thoughts-And here is the second half. The scene at the beginning where Ray and Debra are told they have to take Marie and Frank with them is great. The two people explain the complaints against them, but in reality they are deconstructing Marie and Frank’s characters. Those two actors are great. That scene would be perfect to show someone who wants to know who these two are. And it is nice to see that Marie is like that to everyone, not just Debra . The second half is pretty much dumping on Robert as he goes from being a new homeowner to living with his parents, again. It’s kind of refreshing to see the family acting normal again, always fighting. The tag is great where we see the effect of living with frank and Marie in not only Robert but Amy as well.
Grade-B
Season 9, Episode 3
Angry Sex
Plot Summary-Ray discovers angry sex and manipulates Debra and Marie to get it
Nitpick of the episode-To bad Marie didn’t catch The View when she was mad at Debra for three months a few seasons ago.
Best Line-“I’ll meet you there. What are we, like a freaking herd?”…Robert
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-Debra ranting about Marie
Best Character-Marie, for once she realizes she has to apologize. It’s contrived but I’ll take it
Worst Character-Ray, Debra calls it when he says he’s like a sex addict. What is it with this guy?
Final Thoughts-I was realizing that for the most part , the Ray is horny episodes haven’t bugged me as much as I thought they would. Here at least Ray gets called out on it. Pretty rotten keeping Debra and Marie fighting just get get sex. There really isn’t much to thus one it’d Ray being greedy and bragging to his friends (we’ve seen that to many times). then it comes out at the end. You’ll never guess where? Yep the kitchen.
Grade-B
Season 9, Episode 4
P.T. & A.
Plot Summary-Ray claims that some at the PTA were remarking about Debra’s clothes
Nitpick of the episode-Why does Debra never call one of the women who was there and corroborate Rays claim?
Best Line-“Feel bad? You should be in jail”…Robert
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Robert approves of Amy’s clothes
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Debra, we see all her sides here and I gotta give it up to Patricia Heaton. Though her anger at Marie is a tad much in the start.
Worst Character-Ray, what can I say about him? He lies to Debra, shatters her self esteem, and then sets her up to be embarrassed in front of the PTA. I may have issues with her but that’s still awful. To be fair, this isn’t the first time he’d lie to get out of a fight and then live to regret it.
Final Thoughts-Back in “Boob Job” when Debra came down with her (fake) enhancements, Frank and Robert were turned on but it was understated. Not so much here. It just gets, awkward. Also Robert’s obvious crush on Debra is a little too obvious here. It’s a wonder why Amy didn’t do more than just give him a dirty look. I do like the discussion we get the end when Ray explains why the way Debra dresses makes her feel insecure, and Debra explains why she dresses the way she does.
Grade-C+
We’ve only got three articles left, the next one coming on Thursday!
No comments:
Post a Comment