[S01.E09: No Strings Attached]

13 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Yeah I agree with you. Also, the pain point of Nya's life right now is all around procreation. And this beautiful women shows up with her gorgeous children and husband, and HER husband comments about how much he wants kids- yeah I could see her feeling insecure. Not that she begrudges LTW her life (she barely knows her) but its more like "by golly I don't need to be reminded of this right now."

I can see Nya side-eying LTW with her weird outfit, limo, and perfect little family. But I thought Nya was outwardly happy for the help. 

On 1/30/2022 at 9:36 PM, BrindaWalsh said:

Was anybody else besides me surprised by Nya's reaction to Lisa and the insecurity that came of it?  

Nya was introduced to us as this revered and highly-respected Columbia University professor whose classes were legendary and provocative in high demand.  She is a published author and activist.  Professors like that at a university like Columbia usually also have 1) an ego (a well-earned ego, but an ego), 2) confidence in who they are, what they do, and what they specifically bring to a table and 3) a remarkable ability to socialize with a variety of different social circles.  I highly doubt that Nya would have been so intimidated by Lisa showing up in a limo to paint a women's shelter and calling in a couple of taco trucks.  If she hasn't met Lisa before, she's certainly been surrounded by 100s of other people just like her over the course of her career -- all of whom were probably tripping over themselves to make the acquaintance of Dr. Nya Wallace.  

I will have to rewatch because I don't remember seeing Nya react to Lisa in any way except surprise and gratitude. I guess I missed a lot LOL. 

That said, just because Nya has a great career doesn't mean she doesn't envy people who have other things that she doesn't have, especially with her husband putting so much pressure on her. And being able to socialize in different social circles doesn't mean someone doesn't still get all in their feelings with the kind of pressure Nya's husband has put on her and that they've both put on her body. 

12 hours ago, BrindaWalsh said:

Maybe, I just found it a bit...odd.  There were other ways to show interaction between the two without it being the "insecurity" factor -- I thought it actually came out quite nicely when her husband observed "The Cleavers" painting the room and fit into their already existing narrative.  This other element just felt forced.  But JMHO.

I was so annoyed with Nya's husband in that scene because I feel like all the pressure is on her. And she did make a rude comment about LTW's family probably having 2 nannies or something like that. But I felt like that was more directed at the husband who made it seem (to me) like he could have what LTW's husband has if only Nya would get pregnant. And that's so untrue. 

[S01.E09: No Strings Attached]

On 1/28/2022 at 6:35 PM, JeanJean said:

I so wanted Che to have someone else in her apartment.

All told, this episode and the last one were better. It's like the reboot is finding its legs. Too bad they ruined Miranda - I'm in the camp of she totally doesn't act like her, and it would have worked if Miranda had wrestled some with the changes she was inflicting on her family. She was much more concerned with Dr. Robert's (yum) feelings when she went back to Steve.

And as a few other posters mentioned, it would have been interesting if Lily used a diva cup. The times, they are a-changing.

I wanted Che to have someone else in their apartment, too! People commented in earlier episodes that Cynthia Nixon was telling part of her own story and I didn't believe it. But apparently, she's had some influence on the story and it seems that we won't see a more realistic outcome.

Re: Lily, I can see her having trouble with a diva cup, too. 

On 1/28/2022 at 7:02 PM, RealHousewife said:

Were you also on the smaller side for your age? I know some tiny girls who started menstruating very young, but I wondered if I started at 15 because I was slight. It's more common to start menstruating in your mid-teens than it is to have a baby around 50, but there have been more posts about Lilly being too old to get her first period than for Nya to try to have a baby. 

I know Lilly just wanted to begin tampons because of the party, but no she's absolutely not too old to get her first period. 

Is Nya supposed to be around 50? I haven't heard her age mentioned at all. I know the actor might be but I don't know how old the character is supposed to be. I feel like if she were 50ish, we would have heard her mention it (I'm 50, I don't want to do IVF anymore) so I guess I missed something.

I suspect we haven't seen as many posts about Nya trying to conceive at her age because we don't know her age.

Lily's not just starting to get her period (she's trying tampons for the first time) but it would still be perfectly normal for her to be starting at 15. I think the average age of menarche so people probably don't realize that 15 is still within the normal range because they're used it something different.

On 1/28/2022 at 7:56 PM, mikem said:

I thought the extremely lengthy screentime about a 15-year-old having trouble inserting a tampon to be a very strange choice.  I was happy to read online that Cathy Ang, the actress playing Lily, is 26 in real life, which makes it less icky.  She's a really good actress.  I really thought she was a teenager.  

I agree it was strange to have so much screen time for the tampon issue but I don't think it's icky for a teenager to play a part dealing with a menstrual cycle. 

23 hours ago, candle96 said:

My best friend got her period for the first time when were 12 (at summer camp!) and she put in a tampon as if she'd been doing it her whole life. I tried on and off for a couple of years, but never really got the hang of them. Finally a beach vacation the same week of my period forced me to figure it out when I was about 15. Then I had a friend in college at 18/19 who couldn't use them and were several of us went into the bathroom with her in the dorm to coach her along. Everyone's different!

The last two experiences you mentioned is more in line with what I'm accustomed to. Like you said, everyone is different!

13 hours ago, BrindaWalsh said:

The writers have it wrong about white women and their checkbook. The rich white woman is absolutely allowed to still write her check instead of rolling up her sleeves. You don't want her to go away. You don't want ANY donor to go away, unless it is Bill Cosby or Richard Sackler or somebody like that. You can't dictate how a person chooses to be charitable unless they want to give you a check for something that doesn't quite fit your priorities or mission, or there is some quid pro quo thing they are trying to push through.  You just can't prop the white donor on the pedastal anymore.  Instead you have to talk about the impact of that gift and focus on the community it helped.  Think pictures of the women and children in the shelter, and an article about how their lives are more stable now with maybe a small mention of the donor. As opposed to a story about the white woman and her checkbook and why it was important to her to write her check for this specific cause, along with a perfectly poised photo of her all glossy and impeccable, surrounded by the shelter children.  That is what doesn't work anymore.   But if Carrie wanted to write a check to the shelter and join Seema for a cigarette while Miranda, Charlotte, Steve, Nya and others painted?  That is perfectly acceptable.

Carrie should have stayed home and written a check. If I had a rich friend who would show up to paint wearing ridiculous heels and an oversized, expensive wedding band secured with a band-aid, I'd beg them for a check instead. But that was Miranda talking - the one who shows up for grad school quoting her anti-racist book and commenting on the professor's braids. She's the poster child for white guilt so it made perfect sense that she pushed her ideals onto Carrie. I know the show's writers are responsible for writing Miranda's dialogue but I didn't take it as the show making the statement; it was very on brand for Miranda. 

[S04.E10: Spills, Pills and the Midnight Lasagna]

On 1/19/2022 at 10:58 PM, Bastet said:

She kept turning him down, but he would not respect her "I'm not interested".  (And Louise had the nerve to lecture Jackie, as if she was obligated to reciprocate his interest, instead of - if she was going to get on anyone's case about their personal business - telling her brother to back off.)  Then a few episodes later they wrote her as being into him, perpetuating the sexist (and dangerous) myth that if you refuse to accept a woman's rejection and just keep turning up long enough, she'll eventually say yes.  And not much later they added indebtedness to their new dynamic, when he loaned her money for The Lunchbox.

I mostly just go with how he/they have been written this season, since they seem intent on keeping him around, but when he does something shady like not telling her about the ex, I'm reminded how much I hated him in the beginning.

Now it makes sense why I didn't like him but I couldn't put my finger on why. I guess in between seasons I forgot some of what happened and I started to warm up to him because he seemed to genuinely care for Jackie. But now I've gone back to not liking him and I know exactly why: his shady antics with the ex. I don't remember Louise butting in, though. Oh, how I long for a different story line for Jackie. 

I haven't missed any episodes but I do forget a LOT. I think it's just because the show isn't that great (but I'm still here!). 

[S01.E09: No Strings Attached]

13 minutes ago, mansonlamps said:

I believe the point was supposed to be white women have to do more, hence Seema's comment that said something like she was happy not to be white in this particular situation.  I'm sure checks are welcome from all people who can afford to write them. 

Nya, who's actually running this nonprofit seemed like she would be happy for any kind of help: painting, cash, taco truck, etc. But Miranda, the poster child for white guilt, brought Carrie's race into the conversation because she cares so much about appearances.  

[S01.E09: No Strings Attached]

On 1/27/2022 at 11:11 PM, Scarlett45 said:

Surrogacy isn’t cheap-assuming Nya and Andre can make an embryo, they might have to consider a gamete donor.
(for either one)  Again not cheap, and they are still renting, so while they probably live a nice life as childfree double income couple, those costs might be higher than they can spend.

Adoption is cheaper than surrogacy or buying eggs(sperm is cheap comparatively), but still a cost. And like @Ms Blue Jay said- some people only want to be parents if it’s relatively easy, but aren’t interested in exploring every single ave. 

It's quite possible adoption wouldn't cost them anything. There are tons of children in NYC who are available for fostering and adoption. Parents can receive adoption assistance. 

So I further agree with you that some people only want to parent if it's what they consider easy. Although this IVF that Nya has been going through is hardly easy. 

Nya sounded bitter when she spoke about how LTW's family probably has more than one nanny. But she's right. Her husband is looking at LTW's husband with the kids as if he, too, would have that if only Nya would get pregnant. 

[S01.E09: No Strings Attached]

 

On 1/27/2022 at 5:17 AM, Aulty said:

The story with Charlotte and her menopause/flash period did feel like a SATC-Charlotte plot, I'll give them that, even though I didn't get all the fuss about using tampons.

I did like them sitting around the table and Charlotte gloating, only to get her period while wearing all white!

On 1/27/2022 at 9:25 AM, Trillian said:

I really didn’t get what the big deal was.  Why wouldn’t Lily want to use tampons? Is that a thing now?  And I don’t remember it being difficult to get the hang of it. Maybe I’m a bad mom, but when my daughter started, I handed her the box, showed her the diagram in the package insert and just hovered outside the bathroom door for a couple of minutes.  That’s more than my mom did. Somehow, we survived without hysterics. 

Lily's hysterics are more related to her being Charlotte's daughter, I suspect.

Lots of girls and women aren't comfortable using tampons. That isn't new. It's great that you had an easier experience but it's not the same for everyone. It doesn't make you or your mom bad either. 

I always knew about tampons, but I always thought they were for adults and I knew a lot of girls/young women who didn't use tampons until years after getting their first period. 

[S04.E10: Spills, Pills and the Midnight Lasagna]

On 1/13/2022 at 12:34 AM, Bastet said:

But this was another ho-hum episode.

I missed the first five minutes, so I missed the set-up for Mark's problem.  "Is this your first day here, who's happy?" about him not wanting to struggle like the rest of them and Darlene being reluctant to pull him from the magnet school were nice moments of a story that wasn't properly told.

I loved "You were right, Mom, I did say that ('If you hate me, then I'm doing my job') to my kids one day", though.

"You are not old, you are crazy" and "I don't want to be active, I just want to sit and go to hell" were funny moments between Jackie and Neville, and they're clearly trying to salvage this relationship for the long haul despite the creepy way it began, but I'm still on the fence.

At least we know where Harris has been staying (that looked like a different trailer, but I didn't pay proper attention the first time, and that's an obvious unforced error I hope the show wouldn't make).

I like Mark a lot so I was happy to see him have a storyline here. Plus, I have experience as a smart kid who's not challenged in a regular school/class but then overwhelmed in a more challenging environment and turning to something like pills to try to keep up. 

Re: Jackie and Neville's creepy relationship start - what was that? I haven't missed an episode but I honestly can't remember. 

Also happy to see Harris is OK. 

And LOVED the, "You were right, Mom" comment from Darlene.

On 1/13/2022 at 2:27 AM, Cherpumple said:

I liked that Jackie (finally) addressed her concerns with Neville like an adult rather than a lunatic, and everything worked out. I also got some laughs out of Becky flirting with the doctor and then stalking his social media. It was also nice to see Ben sitting with the family and supporting Mark without getting into a bitchfest with Darlene. What a revelation!

But yet again, I hated the way Darlene handled the situation with Mark. This woman is incapable of anything other than rash decisions when it comes to her kids. She went straight to yanking him out of his school without even attempting another solution. At the very least she could have looked at his syllabus to get a handle on his workload. And why not set up a meeting with his teachers and/or guidance counselor to discuss his options? Maybe he can change his class schedule or get after-school help. I'm not minimizing the seriousness of him turning to drugs to deal with his stress, but this school is a big opportunity for Mark, and Darlene should at least get a fuller understanding of the problem before choosing the nuclear option.

I was happy Jackie and Neville had a good talk but I was upset that he was dishonest with her in the first place. 

And yes, Darlene continues to be awful. Mark wanted so badly to get into the school. It's OK if he changes his mind but it doesn't seem like that's what happened. All your suggestions (guidance counselor, meeting teachers, looking at class schedule, after-school help, etc.) are good places to start. Also, a therapist since he did turn to using someone else's Rx. 

On 1/13/2022 at 6:44 AM, CrystalBlue said:

I kind of understand Darlene's choice to pull Mark out of the magnet school.  Dan suggested it first but then said, "You're the mother."  Darlene would have to go to the school and tell them why Mark is having problems and that he turned to drugs to cope, which would in turn get him expelled from the school for illicit drug use!  How else is she going to explain her concerns about too heavy a load or that she feels the school is not right for him and get him to stay?  Lie and just tell them she found out Mark is drinking too much coffee?

Anyway, funnily enough I found myself laughing a few times during this episode.

Mark's problems didn't start with Adderall. Darlene can be concerned about Mark's workload and want to get him help. It wouldn't be hard for her to say Mark is struggling with the course load. His guidance counselor and teachers have likely see this before but she didn't even talk to them. 

And he should also be talking to someone about his anxiety and other issues. 

On 1/13/2022 at 8:32 AM, bad things are bad said:

If a kid as smart as Mark can't handle the workload, then something is off. He should be getting some counseling at school. 

Yes, there's definitely something off. It's common for smart kids to be thrown off when grouped together with an entire school full of kids who were at the top of their class. Plus, Mark is an overachiever living with an underachieving family who cracks jokes about any sign of trying to do better or live up to your potential. Mark should be getting help. Too bad his parents are so self-involved. 

On 1/14/2022 at 4:35 AM, qtpye said:

I feel like Darlene does not really respect working hard and getting good grades because she was never that type of person. She got into “art school” on her talent and also has mentioned good grades did not do anything for Becky. Darlene never worked hard in school, yet she is the one with the degree and the manager position at the factory. Though none of this has made her successful enough to move out of her father’s house.

All if you have been talking about how good Becky looks (and she does) but I am constantly amazed at the youthful energy of Aunt Jackie. That woman is almost 70! Too bad they made her character an annoying idiot.

This is exactly what I was thinking: Darlene doesn't respect hard work. Mark cares but remember how she got him in trouble when he was taking the test. And the poor kid should have had a desk to do take his exam. And while Harris is not the bookish type, we have seen that she has more work ethic than her mother. Darlene got a job where Harris was working and instead of taking the job seriously the way Harris did, she clearly planned to goof off and do her own thing. Also, with writing, we never see Darlene trying to do that! Not necessarily as a job but writers like to write - even if it's a blog or freelance, something. All she does is chase men and I'm annoyed with how David's character was handled. 

On 1/14/2022 at 11:45 AM, izabella said:

Darlene is such a defeatist.  Dan, too, for implying she should take him out of the school.  You don't throw the baby out with the bathwater just because of a setback!  What is that teaching Mark?  "You can't do it," that's what.  "You're not good enough, so don't even try anymore."  "One mistake and it's over."  "Don't bother seeking solutions, you're a failure."

Mark clearly has anxiety, and has for a long time.  Work on that.  If Darlene can pay for a therapist for herself, she can pay for one for Mark, too.  Does he really need to stay up all night studying, or does he just think he does?  What are his grades like?  If he isn't failing, then maybe managing his anxiety about his grades would do more than yanking him out of a good school.  She didn't even bother to ask about his actual performance.  She didn't bother to ask if he was actually learning anything, or if he liked his classes and teachers.  She didn't bother to speak with his teachers and get their perspective on how well or not he was doing.  She didn't even bother to tell Mark that smart kids can succeed even if they don't go to magnet schools.

I agree with everything here. I think Mark will struggle (maybe not academically, but in some way) no matter where he goes to school. That's why it's important to address his underlying issues. Don't try to get him to cheat. Take an interest in his academics. Carve out a space for him to study - a space that the whole family respects. Lots of smart, academically inclined kids haven't developed good study habits because they never needed them. They're not even trying. 

Darlene isn't used to Mark needing help in school and she wants to go back to Mark not needing that kind of help so she can continue on her own journey without helping him. Her health insurance covers at least part of the cost of therapy. 

[S01.E06: Diwali]

On 1/6/2022 at 10:09 AM, Trillian said:

Maybe it’s because I watched on a small screen, but, when I saw Carrie with that ridiculous hopped skirt sari and hairpiece, I thought she was channeling Scarlett O’Ohara in the “I saw it in the window and couldn’t resist” (TM Carol Burnett) scene.

 

On 1/6/2022 at 12:55 PM, RedHawk said:

You know why Seema can't get a man? Because she smokes! I get that some wealthy women still smoke on the sly as a tool to stay super-skinny. However, most people now think it's a nasty habit and don't want to date someone who smokes. (Hi, Aiden!) Of all my friends and acquaintances, I think only 1 still smokes. It's not cool, and it will put the age on you, too.

Also, some people still smoke because it's something they've been addicted to since they were pretty young, often from their preteen or teen years. 

On 1/6/2022 at 3:59 PM, Lethallyfab said:

I wish the doctor had mentioned how Carrie’s years of smoking had taken a toll on her skin.

That would have been a good callback. I think Carrie looks older than 55 in terms of her face, neck, and skin. And smoking will definitely do that. Has her smoking been mentioned on AJLT at all?

On 1/6/2022 at 7:26 PM, chocolatine said:

I'm ticked off that after the whole scene in the sari shop with the cringe dialog about cultural appropriation, Carrie ended up not even wearing a sari to Seema's family Diwali celebration. Also, I've never seen an Indian woman do her hair with an elaborate braid hairpiece and flowers like Carrie did. I don't know what she was showing appreciation for but it sure wasn't the Hindu culture.

The scene with Brady talking to Miranda through the door while she's masturbating was terrible. And Cynthia Nixon apparently directed this episode, so it was her choice? Barf.

My refrigerator beeps when one of the doors isn't properly closed and that took me a while to figure out the first time it happened, so I could relate to that scene. That apartment was obviously the wrong choice for Carrie, and maybe she should stay in her old place for a year before she picks a new one. She's still grieving and not making rational decisions. BTW, did anyone else get the sense that Seema is taking advantage of Carrie's poor decision making? As Carrie's real estate agent, she gets a 3% commission from every real estate transaction Carrie makes - buying or selling - so it's more advantageous for her to sell Carrie the wrong place at first, re-sell the wrong place, and have her buy yet another place. That's three commissions instead of one (plus the one she got for selling the place she shared with Big).

The scene in the plastic surgeon's office was preposterous. The "simulation" was obviously an old picture of SJP in her 30s. Plastic surgery never works that way.

I think Carrie selected a lehenga she really loved and I don't know that her hair needs to be in a particular style to be appropriate. 

Also, when you say the masturbation scene (which I thought was cringe) was Cynthia Nixon's choice, do you mean how she chose to play it? 

On 1/6/2022 at 9:06 PM, TooMuchRealityTV said:

I didn't care all that much about Rock wanting to cut their hair and change their side of their room. Even if Rock had remained Rose, kids do want to change their rooms and their looks as they get older. Dolls aren't cool after a certain age, even for kids who identify as girls. This didn't strike me as all that big of a deal. In fact I'm surprised Lilly never brought up changing the room on her own. The room does look a little... young.

That room looked like the kind of room I would have had umpteen years ago. Even kids who identify as girls and who like pink and flowers, etc. would not want that room. It was so dated! I'm also surprised neither of those kids has mentioned anything before now. 

On 1/7/2022 at 1:50 AM, RealHousewife said:

Ditto! They're so wealthy Charlotte orders very expensive designer dresses for a child who hates them. Even middle-class kids that age typically have their own bedrooms. 

Those designer dresses were hideous LOL. 

And I think the reason the kids share a room is that Charlotte lives in a (very on-brand) classic six apartment. They only have 2 bedrooms. The rooms are huge but there aren't many of them. I've seen many wealthy families like Charlotte's buy a second classic six apartment next door or upstairs/downstairs and combine it so they have a bigger apartment instead of just going to a different type of home altogether. I feel like that would be a realistic story for Charlotte. 

On 1/7/2022 at 6:48 AM, Toodleoo said:

Eventually you have to choose your ass or your face. SJP has chosen her ass.

(probably some hard work to choose the ass that strongly tho, props)

Ha! I have heard that saying before. Honestly, though, I think it's genetics. Some people can work out a few times a week and eat right and stay toned even past a certain age. Some people eat right and work out more than that but have to work harder to be toned. 

In SJP's case, I think she just has certain features that make her look more mature. 

On 1/7/2022 at 10:33 AM, ifionlyknew said:

We don't know what the remaining episodes hold but other than Che leaving the show I am never going to like the character.  I wish we knew if the writers (or Cynthia Nixon) think Che was the right character for Miranda to develop feelings for.  I see zero chemistry and no matter how much they have Miranda say Che makes her feel alive and yadda yadda yadda I just don't see it. I'm pretty sure the show is using Miranda to show you fall in love with the person and not the gender but they chose the wrong person. It should have been Dr. Wallace.

I'm never going to like Che either. I am OK with Miranda's opening up to finding love with someone new and of a different gender but not if she's cheating on Steve. And I also agree Che wasn't the right person for Miranda. Gender identity aside, they just aren't a good match. Miranda is in awe of the freedom they represent, rather than the actual person. On the flip, Dr. Wallace have had more honest moments together that I could see leading to something else if the show wanted to go that route. It would feel more organic and would also explain why, in this episode, we saw the professor in scenes without the main cast. However, I do wish they had made Miranda a professor instead of a grad student so they'd be on equal footing. 

[S02.01: Call Me Kerfuffled]

On 1/10/2022 at 10:00 PM, appositival said:

I was definitely shipping the retired customer and Houdini. I'm glad to see one relationship working out on this show.

I was pleased that Max got called-out on only wanting Kat when she is unavailable.  

I really love that it was Kat's mom who pointed out that Max is interested now that she's unavailable. I think Kat and Oscar are cute together. I appreciate that he's portrayed as just a regular handsome guy who really likes Kat. I feel like Kat puts Max on a pedestal, which is why it's hard for me to even believe they're friends. Even in her dream, he was wearing a superhero costume. And it's not like they have any chemistry. I know he's a regular on the show but I'm hoping Oscar stays. 

[S01.E03: When in Rome...]

On 12/16/2021 at 2:59 PM, PRgal said:

I wonder if the $1M for Natasha was related to the son's health issues.  And perhaps tuition.  Trinity ain't cheap.

I was thinking it was a general parting gift since Big was awful. I am so curious about Natasha, though: Is she married? How old are her kids? 

On 12/16/2021 at 6:37 PM, BellyLaughter said:

I thought that whole scene at Che’s show was gonna lead to Charlotte and Rose’s storyline evolving … not Miranda becoming Cynthia Nixon… 

Hmmm, how so? 

On 12/16/2021 at 6:47 PM, WendyCR72 said:

This all just pisses me off. As I said, I have nothing against LGBTQ+ representation, but not at the expense of what ACTUALLY occurred on the original series. The foundation for Miranda's shift is crap, so I just cannot buy this.

I don't like Che. I'm sorry, I just don't.

I don't like Che as a character but they're apparently going to have a big role in this reboot. That unfunny standup routine went on for too long and the podcast (seems more like radio) is not interesting. Though Che has a few nice moments, their personality is off-putting. 

On 12/16/2021 at 6:50 PM, JeanJean said:

Logically, isn't the first thing Carrie would have asked Natasha have been if Natasha knew about Big?

I just assumed Carrie knew Natasha knew. But then, I was surprised that Carrie was surprised Natasha knew about the financial gift. 

On 12/16/2021 at 8:40 PM, Lethallyfab said:

I actually buy that.  The stereotype, which is often true, is that Macs are for creatives and PCs are for business people.  (In the episode where Miranda’s mom and Carrie’s laptop died, the tech guy told that she and Aidan were “not compatible” due to their different computers.)  There were two different kinds of cords while Carrie was searching for a charger for Big’s phone.  That said, given the product placement that Apple has had with the show for seemingly forever, I’m surprised they even acknowledged other competitors.  (IMDB claims the first movie was the first time an IPhone appeared in a film.)

I buy it, too. There are plenty of people who use non-Apple products as a preference, not because they can't afford Apple. Not everyone is a fan of the Apple ecosystem. 

On 12/16/2021 at 6:10 PM, Lethallyfab said:

I also thought Charlotte was really dumb not to stay for the afterparty when it would have been a great opportunity to talk to Che about what’s going on with Rose.  

There's nothing wrong with staying if Charlotte wanted to but not to talk to a standup comic/podcaster she doesn't know about her daughter's feelings. Especially when it seems that Charlotte is just in the early stages of talking to Rose about how she feels. 

[S04.E07: Let’s All Push Our Hands Together for the Stew Train and the Conners's Furniture]

 

On 11/17/2021 at 10:53 PM, ams1001 said:

Yeah, that was odd; rentals usually come with the appliances, at least. And did she really expect to just bring all her stuff into the house and replace all of Dan's? (They can't get rid of the couch!!) Also, they have facetime; he can still take her furniture shopping from a distance.

Though I'm pretty sure Scotch Guard isn't going to save the couch on the porch from the weather. Or critters.

Most rentals come with appliances but not all. And I thought this was a condo? 

On 11/18/2021 at 12:24 AM, bobalina said:

Louise said it was her condo tonight and she was gonna rent it out

That's what I remember - she's going to rent out her condo. And I was also wondering if that will really happen because there will be more income coming into the house and it will be hard to justify living the way they do. 

On 11/18/2021 at 6:08 AM, Browncoat said:

I think Aldo never really wanted Harris to move in. He just got caught up in the moment and felt he couldn’t get out of it.  I suspect if she hadn’t jumped the gun, he’d put her off for some reason (most likely involving the kids) forever.

My speculation is that Harris is going to go break into Louise’s condo and set up there.  At least until it’s rented out or this storyline resolves with her coming back.

I think the same thing about Aldo not wanting Harris to move in. Not every dating couple does that and it seemed rushed. 

On 11/18/2021 at 9:31 AM, theredhead77 said:

MMV, obviously. In my entire rental experience I lived in two apartments that came with a refrigerator. They always included the oven/range but a refrigerator and microwave were for the nicer, newer complexes. The last place I rented was BYO Refrigerator and washer / dryer. I offered to leave them, for free, since I wasn't going to haul them to Georgia and then landlord said no. They didn't want to deal with any maintenance requests for issues. It may not be common in IL but it does happen.

I agree that he may not pay her back and may have tried to put her off forever, but after seeing him put his kids first, and hearing about their serious issues, I'm reserving judgement on him until I learn more. As I mentioned upthread, we have no idea if Harris is offering to help with the kids and give him money, as a way to insert herself more into his life, or if he is asking for her help. Their relationship could have started as a hook-up (problematic due to the age gap) and Harris manipulated the situation to turn it into a relationship Aldo didn't really want as a way to escape her chaotic homelife. I could be, and am probably wrong, but until I learn more I'm not going to rake him over the coals as a user.

I have rented in several places over the years and a few didn't have refrigerators. I think Louise has a condo and may have been able to rent the condo with the refrigerator but it would make sense for the Conners to get rid of the old refrigerator and get an upgrade. The kitchen refrigerator can move to the garage and the garage refrigerator can move to the trash LOL.

I'm also reserving judgment on Aldo. Harris is just 19 and infatuated with an older guy. I don't think they're even on the same page about the relationship. But the way he spoke to Harris about not moving in was upfront and respectful. 

On 11/18/2021 at 10:00 AM, theredhead77 said:

I forgot to mention that if Louise had nicer kitchen appliances (such as the refrigerator and microwave) it would make sense to use those insetad of their old, breaking down appliances. I get not wanting to replace the furntiure in the primary living spaces and do love that their compromise was making the bedroom theirs. 

I hated seeing Louise in that bedroom so I'm glad she spoke up about that. But I think there needed to be a little more compromise. It would be different if Dan were against moving Louise's furniture. But the rest of those people should have no say. 

On 11/18/2021 at 10:46 AM, ams1001 said:

Is David still in town? Maybe Harris can stay with him (he can remain off screen if JG isn't available). If she stays with Jackie (or DJ) then Darlene will certainly find out so I assume she won't want to do that (because she won't want Darlene to know she was probably right). They don't seem to even talk to David anymore.

Though I was a bit annoyed with Darlene telling her to leave now if she wasn't planning to move in with Aldo for another month. Darlene shouldn't assume she can move in earlier than planned (and I got the impression she knew Harris wasn't moving immediately). Fine if she thinks it's better to not have Harris living there but she should have sat her down and discussed it, not just hand her two suitcases and shove her out the door.

I immediately thought Jackie/Bev but living with an off-screen David is a great idea!

Harris behaved horribly. And it felt like Darlene just wanted to push her off and not deal with her.  Having a random stranger facilitate that pushing exercise doesn't count as trying. 

On 11/18/2021 at 11:08 AM, Brn2bwild said:

In an episode like this, it feels like having Roseanne there would have made a difference.  During that mother-daughter fight scene, she would have shouted some obvious (and likely hurtful) truths at Harris.  It might not have helped, but Darlene's "it's all my fault/I don't want to destroy our relationship" isn't the way to deal with the situation, either.

I thought the jokes from the family were funny but the situation was hard to laugh at. Becky and especially Jackie were disappointing. 

And yes, Darlene telling her 19-year old daughter to leave and packing her suitcases was awful! She goes back and forth trying (albeit, unsuccessfully) to make things work with romantic partners but then packed her daughter's bags? 

On 11/18/2021 at 11:11 AM, peacheslatour said:

Neither was packing her suitcases and kicking her out. That was heartless. No wonder Harris is so messed up. There is no continuity in her life except chaos and dysfunction.

Yep. Mark's sunny disposition is an anomaly. The way Harris behaves is much more expected coming from  

On 11/18/2021 at 11:18 AM, bobalina said:

Unless I missed something Darlene didn't know Harris had nowhere to go. Harris should have told her.

I don't know why Darlene assumed Harris would be moving in with Aldo when she was planning to do it in the near future - not right away. 

On 11/18/2021 at 11:21 AM, izabella said:

Yes, this.  I put this fiasco on Harris.  She was too stubborn or embarrassed or something to tell Darlene she couldn't move in with Aldo and had nowhere to go.  There is no way Darlene would have let her out the door if she knew that. 

All Harris has to do is tell her mom she has nowhere to go.  She could be back in the house any time.

Or maybe she's hurt? That's how I read it. Aldo rejected her and she was disappointed. But then to come home and your mother has packed your things, even after you told her you weren't leaving yet. Harris is a legal adult but she's also a hurt teenager whose mother doesn't want her there.

On 11/18/2021 at 1:07 PM, DoubleUTeeEff said:

Going on a first date with someone to meet their entire extended family and try to mediate a disagreement between them and their daughter is so many levels past thirsty that I'm not even sure there is a name for it.

That was horrible. No words for Darlene inviting a nonprofessional stranger into her family situation like that. 

On 11/18/2021 at 1:15 PM, Jillybean said:

How does Darlene keep getting guys? They aren't losers either -- well, not until they hook up with Darlene. 

I feel like this show spends a lot of time on Darlene's love life with guys who aren't so bad. Until they are LOL.. 

[S02.E08: Ashes To Ashes]

12 hours ago, The Wild Sow said:

When he tells her he's sorry he made her break Besa, she hisses at him, "I didn't!"  

Wonder where Reggie ended up?  Someplace cold...that still has gas station attendants?  That would be New Jersey, Oregon, or couple of counties in New York State or Massachusetts.  Jersey and New York (and Massachusetts?) are awfully close to where he started out (and didn't some of the Albanians actually live in New Jersey?)  So...Oregon!  One of the more mountain areas, that gets snow instead of rain.

Heh, cold states with snow have plenty of crime!  Maybe Reggie will turn up in a future season of Fargo!

When Agnes hissed at him last week, I felt scared for Reggie. 

Also wondering if we'll see Reggie again. 

On 11/12/2021 at 12:14 PM, milkyaqua said:

Nice wrap up and yes, it was a nice change of pace to see the bad guys taken into custody rather than all winding up dead in some shoot out.  Agnes is more dangerous than Kosta and Albi.  If she could have gotten her hands on Stabler instead of trying to shoot him...  Wonder how long Reggie will survive in his new digs?

It does look like they are ramping up the Kilbride thing for the next story.  It'll be interesting to see how Bell navigates that.  Does she bring in the task force on it or try and work it alone?

We knew they weren't totally done with Wheatley but yes, not looking forward to the SVU crossover.  I was aware that Barba was coming back but didn't peg him as working for Wheatley.

This was a fantastic ending. I loved this arc but the undercover part was going to get old because Stabler kept going to the station, going home, getting publicly involved in police matters smh. Also, I would have realistically preferred that he not reveal himself to the KO as a cop but I still enjoyed seeing each person's facial expression when they say him or heard his voice. 

And Barba is back on my screen (stopped watching SVU a few years ago)? But now he's working for the defense? I'll definitely tune in!

So funny how so many people watching are wondering / worrying about Reggie. That's the benefit of a multi-episode arc: getting to know the characters instead of seeing just one side of them. 

On 11/12/2021 at 12:40 PM, illdoc said:

I think he's dead. I seem to remember seeing a body on the ground covered with ashes as Stabler & Bell entered the gym. As to why he was there, he started to say "I just wanted to ..." before the bomb went off (who set the bomb?). Maybe he just wanted one last "good-bye" and thought Stabler was there? 

Seems like Eddie Wagner's son is dead. It's so weird that we never saw him put on a stretcher or saw anyone tend to him. And then he wasn't mentioned again. What on earth was he doing at the gym? He had already said goodbye to Stabler and since he knew Stabler was a cop, why would he go back to the gym? And wasn't he en route to the airport? Also, where's the cop who was escorting him? I have so many questions. Even though the story has been realistic, I still 

On 11/12/2021 at 12:50 PM, Stacey1014 said:

This was wrapped up pretty well. Was I the only one who expected Reggie to get gunned down at the gas station?

I wonder if Elliot will have some sort of PTSD or have issues readjusting to his old life.  That courtroom scene reminded me of how he left SVU years ago. 

I can definitely see Elliot having PTSD. He is still grieving Kathy and this undercover operation seemed to give him an escape. And it's hard to spend that much time with people and not form some kind of attachment at all. 

On 11/12/2021 at 5:55 PM, TooMuchRealityTV said:

Agnes really turned out to be the most gangster of the bunch. She chose the Albanian mob over her son; she tried to kill a cop in a courtroom. It's always the quiet ones.

Last week, I thought Reggie may get killed before this arc was over. Honestly, where we last see him I think he may kill himself. I do still feel bad for him. I don't think he's terribly bright, and the mob was all he knew.

I really hate that the show is continuing the Wheatly storyline and dragging SVU further into it. I'm hoping this is brief and not a multi-episode Wheatly arc.

Yep, Agnes was straight gangster!

After all I've seen Reggie do, I still feel kinda sorry for him. He wasn't very bright and still trying to prove himself at his age - how sad. It didn't even seem like Reggie liked a fancy life. He would have been fine with a normal job, wife, taking kids to soccer practice, etc. 

[S02.E07: High Planes Grifter]

On 11/8/2021 at 7:17 PM, wknt3 said:

Come on. Wouldn't "Seer" or "Pure" or "The Gift" have been better with actual psychics? But seriously I don't think we're meant to believe that she has actual mystic abilities, just that she actually believes in it. I mean guessing that you can bribe a low level civil servant to play messenger for $50K isn't exactly something that requires other worldly perception. And we haven't seen anything that couldn't be explained by her having a bit of experience with the criminal world and a little perceptiveness. I think it was included to show that her mental issues aren't totally faked as we've seen before in the franchise even if she's not as out of it as she might seem.

Yes, I thought it was fitting that Agnes read people's coffee grounds and also that she didn't only rely on that to make decisions - including bribing the stenographer with what is more or less a year's salary. She is a part of the organization so, like you said, her perceptiveness isn't far fetched. 

Did I miss something about Agnes being shown to have mental issues? Or do you mean her speech impairment? She's never seemed out of it to me. 

On 11/8/2021 at 10:57 PM, CrystalBlue said:

I thought Eddie Wagner's Not Son was headed to the airport?  I didn't think Nova and the greedy, gullible stenographer were the same woman, but it didn't take me coffee grounds to know she was going to get shot before leaving the office.  I actually thought Albi was going to pull the gun on her after he put the money on the desk and was surprised when she ended up turning around with the loot.

An exciting and well-acted episode!

Nova and the stenographer are definitely not the same person. I was surprised at how nice they were but that's also when I realized she was going to die. Especially putting the money in a plastic bag so she didn't get blood on it!

[S04.E06: Young Love, Old Love and Take This Job and Shove It]

On 11/3/2021 at 9:35 PM, Annber03 said:

Aw, Mark. 

I totally understand him not coming to Darlene with all of this, both for the reasons he and Ben noted and because Darlene's been so focused on all her personal issues lately, to where it's harder for Mark, or anyone else, to feel like she's really in the right headspace to be there for them and talk with her. In fact, I'd say part of, if not the big reason, she's so pushy about this whole thing with Mark making a friend is because trying to meddle in others' affairs is a good distraction from her having to focus on her own.

That, and there's also the fact that Mark's a guy, and thus, he might feel a little more comfortable talking to another guy. And Ben did quite well in talking with him about everything. 

I'm glad that Mark ultimately decided to take things slow with Logan in the end. I hope they are able to stay in touch, it'd be nice to see where things go with them. Or, maybe Logan will ultimately be able to stay in Lanford, which could solve their problem right there, too. Either way, I'm interested to see what comes of that storyline :).

Also glad to see Becky thriving so much in school as she is, though I can also see where it's causing issues for her at work. Hopefully her suggestion of going part-time to help balance things better can work for her. 

Loved Dan's "reading the fine print" bit at the beginning, as well as his response when he came into the kitchen when Darlene and Ben were in there and asked what was wrong :D. 

I feel like Darlene is always focused on her personal issues. I would be annoyed that Ben is there if he didn't seem to handle talking to Mark so well. With a house full of adults, there's still no one he can really talk to. And +1 being glad Mark decided to take things slow. He's a smart kid but he's still a kid trying to figure things out. 

Happy to see Becky back in her element and I'd be thrilled to see her find a career path she loves. I think I remember her wanting to be a doctor and there was nothing wrong with that but like so many high school students, things didn't work out and it didn't seem like she had explored any other career paths. 

On 11/4/2021 at 12:31 AM, Starchild said:

This episode felt messy to me.

After that first phone call, all of Becky's interactions with her college project team were commented on after the fact. We didn't see them interacting at all.

And I think between that first scene with Mark meeting Logan for the first time at the diner, and the next watching Casablanca, a whole month had gone by, because suddenly they were messing around and Mark was in love and thinking about having sex to keep Logan invested in a long distance relationship.

I can tell you that I'm certainly not invested, having missed everything that would have gone on between them to build up to that kind of feeling.

Virtually everything significant happened off screen. It was a master class in tell, don't show.

Yes, there was a lot missing. I feel like a lot of Darlene's love life gets more airtime than anything and it's the least interesting. All 3 of the kids actually have some interesting stories that disappear after an episode. 

On 11/4/2021 at 3:02 PM, MissLucas said:

When Darlene barked at Ben: 'Why are you still here?' I couldn't resist and mumble 'Because his name is still in the opening credits.' The writers are really failing the characters here. I like Ben but it is weird for him to still hang around so much at the Conners house even when taking into account that both Dan and Mark want to remain in contact. The whole marriage-proposal plot was a trainwreck that's still causing problems.

I wasn't happy that Ben would still be in the show but he didn't get on my nerves this episode because it seemed like Mark wanted him there and they were good together. 

On 11/4/2021 at 3:42 PM, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Even with that side gig advising young HS dropouts, Becky will undoubtedly be making a lot less money working part-time at the sports bar, yet she doesn't seem concerned about this.  So no rent from Harris, and less rent from Becky?  (Although realistically, with a good management job and she and Mark occupying 2 of the 3 original bedrooms, Darlene should be paying the bulk of the mortgage and house expenses.)

I feel like Becky would qualify for different types of assistance like SNAP and Medicaid. And I doubt she'd be paying for community college. She's old enough to only provide her own income and show that she has a dependent. 

On 11/5/2021 at 1:53 AM, Yeah No said:

Does he still have a mortgage on the house?  Because usually mortgage lenders require at least some homeowner's insurance.

Dan still has at least 1 mortgage so he should definitely have homeowner's insurance. He made a joke about the fine print not covering something. Which isn't really funny at this point. I feel like thinks they have to struggle this much in order to capture the essence of the show. And I know it's a sitcom but it's not realistic and it feels like a bummer. There were still lots of jokes they could have made about a working class honeymoon.

On 11/5/2021 at 2:49 AM, Bastet said:

I don't remember anyone batting an eye at Becky (or Darlene, but Becky dated more) knowing she was straight at 14, and I similarly don't have any objection to Mark and Logan knowing their sexual orientation at this age.  In fact, LGBT teens, even though having to recognize and accept they're different than what is treated as the norm unlike straight teens who don't have to confront their feelings the same way, have an average age of awareness right around fourteen.

Across all genders and orientations, the average age of sexual activity is around 16-17, so 14 is increasingly not unusual.  Becky was 15 the first time Roseanne and Jackie talked to her about safe sex and that was many, many moons ago.

It still feels young to me, but it's not totally out there.  The issue of contemplating having sex - at any age, let alone that young - in order to hold onto someone deserved more attention than it got, though.  The franchise did much better with Becky, Darlene, and Harris, who were ready, and D.J., who wasn't, than they did with Mark's first time seriously considering it.

I agree that I have never heard that it's convenient or contrived for a 14-year old to know their sexual orientation. Lots of kids have crushes and boyfriends/girlfriends (even if they're not technically allowed to) at that age. They are young for sex but it does happen and thinking about it/planning to do it is not uncommon for kids that age. 

[In The Dark - General Discussion]

On 10/8/2021 at 5:01 PM, tennisgurl said:

"Your sister didn't die because of you, she died because of Murphy." Apparently her being a murderous drug dealer had nothing whatsoever to do with her death. I am seriously so over everyone acting like everything bad ever is Murphy's fault. Will they try and charge her with assassinating Abraham Lincoln next?

I think Jess won this weeks prize for least likable character, not counting the creepy uncle. She couldn't have just told Murphy she was alive and not to look for her? Maybe Murphy still would have looked for her, but deliberately trying to make Murphy think she was dead is seriously fucked up. 

Poor Pretzel. 

I don't know why the show makes it seem like everything is Murphy's fault. She's all of a sudden some criminal mastermind. 

On 10/8/2021 at 5:10 PM, possibilities said:

hey also tried to make it seem like Murphy was actually abusively controlling Jess, instead of that Jess and Murphy were co-dependently enmeshed. I really think that's a retcon to assassinate Murphy's character and justify Jess having tried to escape, but it's not what we saw to be true of their relationship at any previous time in the series. It also assassinated Jess's agency, and one of the things I had liked about the show is that both Murphy and Jess were characters with full agency, not just acted on but actually making choices based on their own values.

Codependently enmeshed is a great way to put it. I don't see the retcon to assassinate Murphy's character, though. She's basically the same as she has always been. 

On 10/19/2021 at 6:56 AM, yourmomiseasy said:

I enjoyed Jess telling Murphy to fuck off, tbh.  It was ridiculous the way Murphy was ordering Jess to leave the pet store and go to Canada.  When someone feels like they have to fake their death to get away from you, you might be an asshole.  All the shenanigans are not Murphy's fault, Felix and Jess did escalate everything by being stupid and taking the money.  But Murphy does make everything worse and is a wrecking ball busting through everyone's lives.  

All that being said, the biggest asshole on this show is Josh.  His hate boner for Murphy is ridiculous and that Gene is indulging it is reason number one that he's not fit to be in charge.  Also Gene's just so incompetent in general.  Of course the keystone cops didn't cover all exits of the pet store.  And just because Josh wants to put Murphy away forever and ever doesn't mean the DA is going to file charges.  Seriously, what competent DA would file charges against a blind woman for the shooting death of someone given evidence that consists of a button and Josh's hurts feelings?  How did this go far enough that it looks like Murphy has made it past booking and holding and is now in county?  Why wouldn't the DA have laughed at them and slammed the door in their faces?  

I enjoyed Jess telling Murphy off, too. I think it's an unpopular opinion because people feel like Jess was wrong to fake her death but I think that was the only chance she had to get away from Murphy. I hate how nonchalant they made Jess at the end, though. 

And yes, Gene is likeable but is so incompetent. He needed to be working with a more experienced detective (like Dean, if he hadn't been so crooked) instead of getting a promotion. Common sense tells you that if you find people in a pet store at night, employees should be there. 

The whole case is dumb - just the button that Josh miraculously saw and Murphy expertly shooting Nia. 

On 10/26/2021 at 6:42 AM, Anela said:

Max is just as much of a dick as Murphy. 

Murphy was willing to give up everything for Jess, and if Jess and Felix hadn't stolen the money in the first place, they would have been fine. This all started with Murphy trying to find out what really happened, and getting a confession on her phone, by the police officer who murdered her friend. 

Felix's sister helping them is her being a good sister, but she's also doing it because she is having sex with Max. This guy turns around and literally starts living with new women, when he needs a new start. Didn't he get involved with Murphy, because he was in with the drug dealers? I know he was a giving evidence against them, but he still met her through his involvement with the people who were willing to kill her and her friends. His whiny complaints about his new girlfriend letting her brother and his friends stay with her, when he's known her for how many days? And the whole "hey, you want to get some food?" and the rest of them running around like none of them are wanted by the police, when ALL of them are? Except for the sister. Murphy isn't the only one that the police are looking for. She was willing to take the fall for ALL of them, because she's so worried about her best friend. I haven't finished the last episode, but I see from this thread that her best friend let her think that she was dead, after calling her, which let her know that she was alive. If you want to get away from your friend, don't call her! 

Max is clingy and it seems to be connected with some sort of issues he has. He was like that with Murphy, too. And since he and Murphy broke up, he has to completely separate himself from her so he can move on. 

I think Murphy is persistent and loyal. But she was also dependent on Jess. When they split up on their way to Canada it was immediately decided Jess had to stay with Murphy. I feel like Murphy's conversations with imaginary Jess reflected some of the guilt she had for how she treated Jess. And yea, it was a huge lapse in judgment for Jess to call Murphy  and expect her to just drop it.

[S04.E04: The Wedding of Dan and Louise]

6 hours ago, ItsHelloPattiagain said:

I thought that was strange as well. One of the writers came up with "tornado" after reading a synopsis of one of the original recipe Roseanne shows.  ("that's the ticket"!)  There could have been some bittersweet moment with Jackie and Dan reminiscing about Dan and Roseanne's wedding - something that would give us a lump in our collective throats.  Instead, we got a lump of coal - whiney a$$ Darlene with her "it's all about meeeeeeee" attitude.  Sure, your father who lost his wife and is finding happiness again is purposely pissing you off by having his boss/friend stand up with him.  Your bridesmaid's dress was picked out to show your lack of chestiness.  Everything resolves around Darlene (**waves pointer finger in a circle above my head***) 

I have several young grandkids who have been in multiple weddings.  When they were babies, they were wheeled down the aisle in wagons or some kind of cute decorated carriage (in fact, the youngest is 16 months and is in a wedding in three weeks).  The more advanced "walkers" walked right down the aisle cutely into the arms of another relative (cue Emilio's aunts").  Why have Becky have a child and it goes down the vortex of "lost Connor children" with baby Jerry and toddler Andy (who did walk/ was carried at Darlene's wedding). 

Mary's song was great. I really enjoy her sarcasm!

Darlene is annoying and not interesting enough to get as much attention as she does. I also feel like she pushed Ben on her kids - instead of just dating him without bringing him into the family. And now she doesn't like that Mark actually wants to hang out with Ben. What a brat!

Beverly Rose would definitely have been a part of the wedding. If not feasible, then why not a line about how that's why they made Mary (whose sarcastic song was great) a flower girl instead or that Mary had a sniffle or that Emilio couldn't through the storm in time to bring her for the wedding.

3 hours ago, CrystalBlue said:

All the ladies looked lovely in their bridesmaid dresses, including Darlene; no suspenders necessary.

Darlene having the hissy fit at the church because Ben was there, sniping at him, was dreadful.  Everything is always about her all the time and she can't even maintain some form of dignity and decorum for two minutes.  And she's supposed to be a role model for her two children?

I'm interested in Harris' plus one Aldo and what happens with them next.  I think he's cute and since I don't get HBO I'm unfamiliar with his Righteous Gemstones role.  I'll be the only one here who doesn't care about the age difference and that's OK.  Just as long as he treats Harris right.

I guess I'm the only one who didn't enjoy Mary's little song.  Who cares what she thinks about it?  Why complain about anything while performing wedding ceremony duties?  She should have just stayed home with her MIA mother if she felt that way.  I had no problem with the bridesmaids being escorted down the aisle by the various men.  Traditions vary and there are no set in stone rules.

 

I thought they looked great, including Darlene.

Darlene is no role model, though. She's bratty and she lies. I don't like Harris with the older guy and I hope Darlene talks to her about it in a future episode. It's legal but I still don't like it. 

[S04.E04: The Wedding of Dan and Louise]

28 minutes ago, CrystalBlue said:

Starting with an episode of Louise going out on the road again, or performing locally with a band, and being introduced as the singer Louise G-whatever her name is, and Dan being disappointed, miffed or upset that she isn't going by Louise Conner.

That's a great idea! I hope the writers listen to us😁

[S02.E04: Windmount Academy, $42,000/year]

I loved seeing Sarah remember that the work she does is about the kids - not about whether they come from rich families or not. 

I enjoyed Marina's plot and I appreciated her pointing out that the chef is Puerto Rican, not Mexican. I know it's a sitcom but I wish she didn't make reference to the family being white since it's not like there aren't white Mexicans (Güeros). Marina's eyes are bluer than the "white" characters and her skin is just as white so I would have preferred to see her just focus on her culture - the food, language, and traditions.

[S04.E04: The Wedding of Dan and Louise]

2 minutes ago, bobalina said:

I think it was just Dan calling his new wife by her new title, not Louise necessarily changing her name.

I understand what you mean. Lots of women refer to themselves as Mrs. HisLastName or don't correct people who assume they're Mrs. HisLastName without actually changing their last name. I do think that regardless of whether Louise legally changes her name, she probably still equates being married with being called Mrs. Conner. Honestly, there's great discussion potential for this in a future episode. 

[S04.E04: The Wedding of Dan and Louise]

 

On 10/13/2021 at 10:16 PM, cardigirl said:

So Becky's baby doesn't exist anymore? They never even talk about Beverly Rose. This show is so bad. 

I keep forgetting about Beverly Rose because no one ever mentions her - not even Becky! They don't need a toddler on set but there's no mention of picking her up from her aunts, asking someone to babysit when she goes out, speaking about wanting to have a better future for her child - nothing. I wish they hadn't given Becky a child if they were just going to act like she never existed. 

22 hours ago, Bastet said:

I instinctively rolled my eyes at "Mrs. Conner", as I don't know one person who'd change their name after 60+ years just because they got married, but then checked myself that I don't know enough about Louise to say she wouldn't be into that, so I'm going with it.  And I don't know why Dan would want to get married in a church given his consistent rejection of organized religion, but, again, whatever - these people are rather unimaginative, and just do things the way they were traditionally done (again - baby's. breath.).

At least this wedding stuff is done, and we can - hopefully - get to finally acknowledging some nuanced feelings among the kids when Louise moves in and starts making it her house, too.

I'm also glad to get to this next phase of Darlene and Ben's relationship, where they have to figure out how to deal with each other now that he's not her boyfriend but is still involved with the family.  It's what they should have done with David after she moved to Chicago, instead of dragging that relationship out long past its expiration date.

And I'm glad Mikey seems to still indeed be a good guy who won't push Becky for anything.

"I'm a 13-gallon for future reference" about the trash bag made me laugh out loud, as did Darlene's entire recap of the scooter plan.  And LOL at Ben's mom staying away from the wedding because it's probably going to be a super-spreader event -- which wouldn't even be the worst part.  Mary's flower girl song also made me laugh.

As others have said:

In what universe does some rando walk down the aisle with the bridesmaid he's dating?  (And Darlene better take some time out from this Ben drama to talk with her daughter; Harris has had two typical relationships and then some weird-ass online thing with a married man and now she's dating someone 20 years older than her with two kids.)

Who starts a wedding knowing the bride isn't there?

I rolled my eyes at the whole Mrs. Conner thing, too, because I personally don't believe in it and I think it's ridiculous to be changing your name at this age. But I do know people who really equate getting married with the name change. And I can see never-married, white-wedding gown-wearing Louise being one of those people. 

I was glad we finally saw Mary and I've seen situations where the flower girl or ring bearer are much too old for those roles. I thought she would have been a bridesmaid or junior bridesmaid, but maybe she was filling in for the intended flower girl. 

Also assumed the weather was the reason the bridal party was escorted by their random dates since Dan only had DJ in his party.

Ben is apparently going to be around for a bit. I feel like it's forced but whatever.  

9 hours ago, Stacey1014 said:

This episode felt rushed, like they wanted to get the wedding out of the way. There was just too much stuff going on outside of the wedding. 
 

It’s a bit alarming seeing Mark stand next to Darlene. He’s just so tall and not what I’d picture the son of David and Darlene. 

Mark is my favorite. Besides being so much taller than his parents, he's also way brighter and sunnier. Harris is pretty tall, too. 

3 hours ago, bobalina said:

It's the Midwest. There are dozens of tornados every year. It would be weird  if they ALL bypassed Lanford. I'd bet it was just a way to explain the lack of friends and family and an excuse to have Jackie perform the ceremony.

I guess the storm helped them have a smaller wedding, although I don't know why they couldn't have just planned a smaller wedding that didn't require explaining why there a bunch of people there. 

[S04.E03: Welcome to the Sister From Another Mister]

On 10/5/2021 at 11:53 AM, CrazyDog said:

I thought her explanation was beautifully done. 

The brothers are amazing. I loved the look on Malcom's face when he hit the home run. He'll be a great coach for the kids. 

The show is definitely leaning into some more serious topics this season, but still keeping some of the funny. The preview for next week looks rough though. 

I love the two brothers. And I wonder if the show is moving toward a different path for Malcolm. That would be a great addition!

On 10/4/2021 at 9:19 PM, Katy M said:

How incredibly racist that to test a black person, you test out their potato salad making skills and pop culture knowledge.  Not all people of the same race have to like the same things nd do things the same way.

And I'm almost sure there's at least one black person out there that would bait a cop.

Add to that the stupidity of a grant to hire someone of a certain ethnicity and then not allow you to ask. But really what difference did that make.  Gemma said she lied on her resume, so why wouldn't she also lie if directly asked?

I think there are Black people who would bait a cop, especially someone like that character (had she actually been Black). 

And yes, I hated the Black person test, which was basically just pop culture and potato salad. Plenty of Black people would have failed that test. I know it's just a show but sometimes I get frustrated by the stereotypes it perpetuates. 

[S02.E02: It's Like the Flu]

On 9/24/2021 at 9:52 PM, juno said:

Not sure what I just watched? Besides Chip and Cory this was really bad. I feel like I just watched Bradley screaming at everyone for 50 minutes. Sometimes you watch a show and wonder why take this likeable character and make them the absolute worst that they can be? For redemption or for tension? Why make her completely unlikeable and the show along with it? Why add in 5 useless minutes of Mitch?

Believe it or not at this point I was cheering for Cory being fired for not listening to his own boss and firing her and he is my favorite character!!

Bradley's character is so unlikeable I am probably going to pull the cord on this show in the next few weeks.

I didn't like Bradley last season but I enjoyed watching her character because she was interesting and edgy. Also, I'm a Reese Witherspoon fan. 

So far, I'm finding Bradley to be less edgy and more bratty this season. It's just not as interesting. 

On 9/25/2021 at 11:11 PM, TimWil said:

Well, I think there’s a reason that Italy is also a setting in this season because it was hit extremely hard by Covid early on. My question is will it be Mitch or Valeria Golino’s character who gets sick and dies?

On a purely superficial note didn’t they call “last looks” on Jennifer Aniston’s hair when Alex makes that speech as she’s about to leave the dinner party? There’s this massive flyaway in the back of her head for the entire head-on shot as well as from other angles. Like...really? OK. Maybe it was a creative decision for her famous locks to look disheveled?

I can see it being a creative decision. She's the type of person who can be falling apart and then collect herself half a second before she goes live on air. Not having everything in place could reflect just how out of control things have gotten for her. 

Or maybe it's just that someone didn't fix her hair...I dunno LOL. 

[S02.E01: My Least Favorite Year]

On 9/21/2021 at 1:41 AM, twoods said:

It was nice to see Hasan Minaj. I wonder if they will show more of him now that he’s going to the evening news?

Looking back at New Years 2020, it seems like a lifetime ago. We really were hopeful about a new decade especially with how 2019 went. Since it started with “3 months back” I wonder if the second episode is going to start in March right when all the lockdowns started and shit starting to hit the fan.

I like Hasan Minaj in this. It'd be great to see him on the evening news. 

The timeline confused me a bit and I feel like I want to go back and watch the last episode of Season 1 to get a refresher but, if I recall correctly, that was a particularly said/emotional episode. So I decided to just start with season 1. 

On 9/25/2021 at 4:41 PM, Sweet-tea said:

It's probably fillers. I've noticed it in some pictures of her too. 

Someone else I know mentioned that, too. Maybe I'm just oblivious but I haven't noticed a change in Jennifer Aniston. 

On 10/9/2021 at 7:38 PM, SoWindsor said:

Why did they bring in this random Eric person and not have Daniel as Alex’s replacement? That created a continuity issue for me. We also see a scene of Daniel still there and based on last season there’s no way he’d have stayed if he was overlooked yet again.

I’m guessing they just decided to use Reese’s real hair instead of dealing with those terrible wigs.

I was sad to see that Claire and Yanko split again. I thought after the finale, she’d have gone back to him.

I hope we get flashbacks of Fred being fired. He was so despicable I need to see that! And I hope we get to see Steve Carrell again at some point. 

Also everyone called it when they said Hannah’s family would file a lawsuit against the network. 

I'm OK with wigs but I wish they had given Reese a better one. 

I liked Claire and Yanko together and I also enjoyed her character. I was disappointed that she wasn't in the episode. 

I think it would have made sense for Daniel to replace Alex maybe the network has never considered him as next-in-line and that's why he was looking elsewhere? Also, since he declined the opportunity at the other network, I can see him sticking around until he makes his next move. It seems like these positions are all about timing. I do enjoy Eric, though. 

[S03.E02: Welcome to the Election]

On 8/7/2021 at 8:22 PM, callie lee 29 said:

Ehh, depending on the size of the town he could likely do both. 

That's what I figured. I was responding to someone who thought Dave didn't have a job. He's a conflict mediator, though I'm not sure if he has a job or works for himself.

[S03.E08: Episode 8]

On 10/7/2021 at 2:31 PM, Danny Franks said:

Both Jakob and Ola considered that Jakob wasn't the father, but Jean assured them he was. The fact that she never doubted the father was Jakob, despite apparently sleeping with someone else in that period, is fucking ludicrous. Jean is supposed to be intelligent and measured, not a moron.

I hate cheap, inauthentic drama like this. And despite not liking Jakob much in season two, I really liked him as a quasi-father figure to Otis and an actual father figure to Ola, I don't need to see the writers ruin things with Jerry Springer-style drama.

 

I remember Ola asking if Jean tricked Jakob. I didn't realize they both questioned paternity. 

Did Jean intentionally lie or did it really not occur to her that someone else could be the father? How dumb either way!