We’re finishing up Season 8 today. As you may recall the season was pretty strong in the start. Will it finish up that way?
Season 8, Episode 16
Security
Plot Summary-Robert is torn between being a security salesman or staying a cop
Nitpick of the episode-Where the hell did this security salesman stuff come from?
Best Line-“I didn’t get robbed till I got an alarm!”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Robert reflecting on the birthday party
Syndication Edit-top of teaser
Best Character-Amy, she actually stands up to Marie showing she has more of a spine then Debra
Worst Character-Robert, for the life of me I will never understand why Robert has such a hard time making a decision in this episode. Actually that isn’t so bad, the real question is what made him decide being a security alarm salesman was the way to go?
Final Thoughts-Well we’re back were we left off, with another episode that aggravates me. What the hell is up with that security system nonsense? It’s lazy sitcom nonsense that shouldn’t be on this show. And if that’s bad enough Robert is an idiot for the whole episode, why is that decision so hard to make? Amy says he has asked literally everybody! Even when he finally makes it he’s practically forced into it by Ray. To be fair the debate about why Robert should or shouldn’t quit is handled well and it’s nice to see Amy stand up to Marie a little bit. Marie is of course Marie, only caring about herself. It’s also cool to see pat and hank disagreeing, it makes them more human.
Grade-C
Season 8, Episode 17
The Ingrate
Plot Summary-When Ray gets an honorary doctorate, everyone wants credit.
Nitpick of the episode-Amy feeling the need to point out how Ray neglected to mention Debra in the speech was a little douche. And how did he forget her? We didn’t see the process but it seems hard to believe Ray never caught that. Course its possible it was in there at one point and he accidentally edited it out, that happens.
Best Line-“And you sweet mother. Without your pushing, I would still be in your womb.”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Ray being teased, Debra makes a point
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Amy, I love how she deconstructs Robert here (mostly offscreen). He spends the first half jealous of Raymond. Obviously Amy had a talk with him because he comes into the next scene congratulating Raymond and saying “your success is your success and no my failure so as any brother should I am happy for you”. I love how we never saw the talk between Amy and Robert and yet we can tell exactly how it went.
Worst Character-Marie, she’s ridiculous here. Ray mentions Marie in the speech but since he didn’t mention Debra he does a whole article about her. Debra is happy, guess who isn’t? Of course now Marie wants “her” article. Ughhhh. You know Marie once in awhile “wife” trumps “mother”.
Final Thoughts-You won’t believe how the episode ends. With the whole family arguing in the kitchen. I know, how different! Most of it is ok. Debra is calm and reasonable which is always nice. Not even caring that Ray failed to mention her in his speech. Actially she seems a little to happy in parts. By the way, I can’t decide if its lame or funny that Ray didn’t realize that he’d have to give a speech. The fact that Marie is jealous of the article where Ray gives Debra her credit is vintage Marie. I mean is it ever ok for Ray to give his wife credit over his mother? When Ray commend that Marie got her credit in the speech she minimizes the speech that she praised the day before. It ends with Ray giving them all some credit and it’s lame.
Grade-B-, home improvement did it better
Season 8, Episode 18
Crazy Chin
Plot Summary-We finally get the answer to the burning question, why does Robert touch food to his chin?
Nitpick of the episode-Why has Robert never stopped that chin thing?
Best Line-“Mom it’s normal for a couple to fight, remember that in case you and dad have one”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Amy discussing Robert with deb and ray (this edit is obvious after you see the scene)
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Debra, kind of fun how she gets to the bottom of the chin thing and it even makes sense
Worst Character-Marie, when Robert and Amy have a fight she slips back into her “Robert is ruining his life” crap even though they’re married now!
Final Thoughts-This episode is ok though there isn’t much to it. The end is the same as the previous except the subject is different. The family in the kitchen. It’s a different kitchen thus time, is that something? At least they gave Debra a conclusion that makes sense. Though in order to pad the episode we get the nonsense about Amy needing to try to relax Robert more. Its not even a good theory if Robert did that because if stress it’d mean he was stressed All the time! So what is the reason for the chin thing? Nah, watch the episode if you want to know.
Grade-B-
Season 8, Episode 19
The Nice Talk
Plot Summary-No one likes it when Ray and Pat stay up late having a talk
Nitpick of the episode-While I am on Ray’s side here I think he did read a little to much into that talk. Amy even points out, Pat’s like that with everyone.
Best Line-“I didn’t know you needed support. Any time you need to talk, I’m here for you, dumbass.”…Frank
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-original teaser with Amy’s family arriving, Robert jealous of Ray
Syndication Edit-top of act one
Best Character-Ray, it’s nice to see that Ray, who always has a problem talking to people, is capable of it once in a while.
Worst Character-Robert, I changed my mind about this one. The way he is jealous and the tries to manipulate the others into also being upset that Ray and Pat talked is rotten. If you’re wondering Marie was my first choice, we’ll get to her in the next section.
Final Thoughts-This episode annoys me, though not as much as others. I guess I can see Robert being jealous that Ray talked with Pat. And I can see Hank wanting to know what Pat said about him. But the other reactions are stupid. Debra wonders why Ray can’t talk to her, well maybe it’s her? Nah course not. And Marie is upset because….why is she upset? I think it’s the same as Debra, Marie wonders why Ray can’t talk to her but can other people. Except how many episodes have we seen the first person Ray runs to discuss something is Marie? Remember their walk in Italy? By the way Peter is here for basically no real reason. This episode really feels like “The Ingrate” all over again.
Grade-B-
Season 8, Episode 20
Blabbermouths
Plot Summary-Ray is upset to learn Debra tells secrets, until he discovers how much fun sharing secrets can be .
Nitpick of the episode-The fact Ray said that about Roberts marriage is far fetched at best
Best Line-“I didn’t say your marriage didn’t have a chance in hell. The way that sounds. I- Alright, look. There are certain things that a man says to his wife when he’s just trying to, I don’t know, fill the silence!”….Ray
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-Debra tells Amy about marriage
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Frank, in the tag he wears a toupee. It’s funny
Worst Character-Amy, the family is right if she was upset she should have talked about it not kept it quiet
Final Thoughts-This episode ends with the family arguing in the kitchen. Well at least we get something new. And it is funny to see the guys sharing secrets, especially the one about Marie and her sauce which of course she refuses to acknowledge. But the way she reacts to hearing that Ray was dreaming of a woman, telling Debra right away, is stupid. And once again we get a forced conflict as all of a sudden Ray said a mean thing about Roberts marriage that was repeated from Debra to Marie to Amy.
Grade-B
Season 8, Episode 21
The Model
Plot Summary-Robert has been discovered by a modeling agency, only to find out that it was a big scam
Nitpick of the episode-Robert should have been a little skeptical, by the way I would have loved if they’d shown Robert arrest the guy who conned him.
Best Line-”Yeah sure. I can just imagine the headlines: “Giant Cop is Giant Schmuck!”…Robert
Episode Fun Fact –
Deleted Scenes-none
Syndication Edit-the scene where Ray takes pics of Robert was longer
Best Character-Robert, he’s just funny in this one,
Worst Character-Ray, what the hell dude? Why did he take the fact that no one liked the pictures so personally?
Final Thoughts-Another good episode is spoiled by a stupid ending. Ray takes it personally when the family says how bad the pictures are, why? He’s no professional! The whole point was to not reveal that it was a scam so Robert could back out of the thing with his dignity, what the hell? Maybe if they had established that Ray thought he was a good photographer or something. I get they needed a final joke but making Ray a loon was stupid. As for the episode it’s ok, it’s a good Robert and Ray episode because it isn’t about them being jealous of each other for once. You gotta love how Ray makes up bad things about himself to get Robert to smile, of course it works he’s programmed to enjoy bad news for Ray.
Grade-B+
Season 8, Episode 22
The Mentor
Plot Summary-Everyone is shocked when a man shows up claiming Frank was a great mentor
Nitpick of the episode-I know Frank liked this guy but the hug he gives him is a little out of character. The girls are right, how come he could hug these guys but not his sons?
Best Line-“You sure you don’t mean *tor*-mentor?”….Ray
Episode Fun Fact -top of teaser
Deleted Scenes-Marie gives the kids a gift idea, Ray admits he liked the hug
Syndication Edit-
Best Character-Frank, always nice to see him happy and nice to see he has some redeeming qualities though why his family never sees them is beyond me
Worst Character-Amy and Debra, love how they’re busybodies now and literally forcing the guys to hug is a bit much
Final Thoughts-This episode makes a good point, you can’t deal with your kids the same way you’d deal with a colleague at work. That’s what Frank did, and while Ray and Robert are damaged Sam was actually motivated. This makes sense. Heck in another episode Frank points out that the way he acted was “only business”. The scene where Ray vents his frustration was well done too. Bet you can’t guess how the episode ends? The family in the kitchen where the girls are trying to get the guys to hug. Good thing these kitchen scenes aren’t getting repetitive.
Grade-B-
Season 8, Episode 23
Golf for It
Plot Summary-Ray and Robert get into a debate about who loves Marie more
Nitpick of the episode-why are Debra and Amy given almost nothing to do in this one?
Best Line-“We’re doing this because Lee’s son has nothing better to do all day than kiss his mother’s behind?”…Ray
Episode Fun Fact –Ray Romano‘s real-life brother appears in this episode as the golf course official who informs everyone of their tee time.
Deleted Scenes-more of Marie’s guilt trip, Robert and Ray working on the shelves
Syndication Edit-top of the teaser
Best Character-Ray and Robert, mostly because they pretty much are the episode.
Worst Character-Marie, once again she has to be better. She makes a big deal about Ray and Robert painting some shelves because her friend Lee had shown the wonderful thing her son did for her. Typical.
Final Thoughts-This is a really hard episode to critique. A lot of the things Ray and Robert talk about are heavy subjects everyone has to deal with. Then they go and have that stupid fight in the van! It’s nice to see them finally stand up to Marie in the first half. The second half gets very heavy, and there’s no way for me to really describe you really need to see the episode it’s 100% dialogue. Very well written dialogue. The inevitable fight that Ray and Robert have is silly. Well staged, but silly.
Grade-B+, lack of Amy and Debra keep this from being an “A”
Well folks what did I think of season 8? Yeah the magic was clearly gone but the episodes still had their charming moments in them. You may have noticed there wasn’t an “A” in the bunch. That’s because things got a little to repetitive with more contrivances to fill out the stories, there was never that one episode that seemed to really stand up above the rest. Especially in the second half. This was actually supposed to be the final season, but the network talked them into a Season 9. Will it be better, or as bad as Season 8? That’s what we will figure out next week when we begin to finish up these articles and this look at one of the best sitcoms of all time.
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