dungeonwriter

Gary Yamamoto is officially the greatest character. MVP. I mean, seriously, the sheer coolness of "No." Just no. He doesn't need to see the presentation. Just bring him the facts and let him enjoy his snack. He can't be charmed. He can't be shmoozed. He can't be browbeaten. "We're contacting your superiors." Karens want to see the manager? Gary says there's no one to talk to. He has a checklist and he's going to get it done and he's not interested in your excuses. Because he is Gary the God of Red Tape.

They pretty much cleared the stage. While I'm overjoyed Luca is gone, I wish Aaron had fulfilled his teaching fellowship abroad. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and if he throws it for Zooey, he's a fool. Not sure how they will do the bicoastal thing, and Jr. isn't as compelling a character as Zooey was. And Andre saying he has nothing holding him back from moving with Zooey? Not...a Wife, 4 other kids and a job.

I would think Aaron would be relieved to be timezones away from Zooey's horrible behavior. Her "I'm going to South Africa" was sickening, she culd't let the poor guy have a second of attention. It is literally all about her. Can you imagine how she'd behave if she was in South Africa and not getting attention? Run, Aaron. Run and don't look back. I love my MOT Nomi but she did this to herself. She wants Phil on her terms and only hers, and sees him as a secondary figure, and he's pushing back. Honestly, she shouldn't have brought him into Luna's life, if she didn't expect him to want a say in Luna's life. So, is the show ending?

I wish they would let Jabari Banks be more loose and funny like this, he's effortlessly charismatic and he has comedy chops.

Seriously, Zooey, you will never succeed if you keep being distracted. She needs an intervention, because she is written to be talented. Worse, she keeps cycling through toxic relationships, Luca (who slut-shamed her, is controlling of women and awful) and Aaron (who can't deal with her craziness but is drawn to it) and she needs to focus on herself. Aaron is so self-absorbed. I hate this attitude on the show that the world owes them anyone. Doug is right, you need to make sacrifices to get your way to the top but then the top is where you get to make the rules. And now he's quitting a great job? I hope Ana and Nomi go to Stanford Law together and have a wildly successful law firm. They are nuts, but they own it. I would love Vivek and Doug to have this genius start-up, Nomi and Ana to be their in-house lawyers and hijinks ensue. Spin-off, anyone?

I miss the charm of the original show. Carlton was pretentious and naive in the show, but so good-hearted, honest, studious, respectful, and genuinely socially awkward. This Carlton is a sociopath and it's scary. I found the Stepping Scene to be the only time the show felt like it had its original "Fresh" flavor. Will Smith is so effortlessly charming that he made people like him, and there were so many scenes where that gregarious zest for life melted people around him. This Will isn't given enough time to be charming, because there's so little space for humor.

I totally support free expression, but there's a time and a place. If your choices will make others uncomfortable, you do have to ask yourself if that is worth it. I prefer to wear pants at all times, because I feel the most me in them. I hate dresses and skirts, it makes me feel like I'm back in religious school and I feel like I'm stuffed into a cell and choking when I wear them, since they trigger bad memories. Still, at my grandfather's Orthodox Jewish funeral on Sunday, i found a dress and stockings to wear, because it wasn't about me, it was about supporting my family and showing respect to an awesome man, and my comfort would have been at the comfort of others. Wearing a dress means people will stare at Des and Jazz, and it will be the spotlight, instead of enjoying formal together. I do see her issues with Des's clothing choices to be a problem, but I hate the selfishness of "I NEED TO BE ME" at a formal public event. It's not like Des is trans and feels like he is being forced to mask. He feels equally cool in male and female dress, so why not be cool with things that make Jazz happy too? If he really felt it was a deal-breaker, say so. And waiting till the last second up so she couldn't get another date instead? Not okay. Nomi is still horrid, but she's growing. I think Phil can legitimately have a prior engagement and need to celebrate another day. Luna is two, she won't remember or care. My 22 month old goddaughter doesn't know what day it is, and if I told her today was her birthday and brought a cake, she'd be gleeful. And if I brought her cake in two days, she'd be gleeful. Let's be honest, Luna and Goddaughter just care about the cake. Nomi is resentful she did all the work, after choosing to shut Phil out. Phil can have work to do, Phil can have many reasons he can't make it. It doesn't make him a bad parent. I want to throw things at Luca, he's the most selfish, entitled, sexist, lazy, creepy, horrible character ever, Glad his sister can slap sense into him.

Zoey is so selfish, the show doesn't even bother hiding it. She's the worst, and Aaron is right to leave her. Anna finally had a good story. She looked like she'd kill Vivek for kissing and tell.

I miss Mixed-ish, a show which dealt with social issues with humor, had great actors and great characters. I actually didn't hate-watch it. Still wish Zoey could have learned more from her mother's life. I also want to know about Vivek's family issues.

Ariana is kinda horrible. She knows Al loves her and she totally enjoys messing with him. I want Lizzie to shake him and say "Seriously, Al, she isn't the traditional Afghan wife you dream of. She will never want to be the adored wife Al wants her to be, she's too independant." Hazal admired her father from afar. Now that she's with him more, she is getting a more realistic view of him. And Kudos to Vanessa and Riley for a flawed, but ultimately loving co-parenting relationship. Lois and Art are so cute.

Ahhh, my favorite show to hate-watch while doing chores. Nomi is not thinking like a mother. You don't have to be friends, but you can co-parent. He can provide some support/babysitting and get to know his daughter. She's not a kid anymore, she's 21. I swear Zooey believes the sun isn't the center of the universe. Seriously, she's a terrible girlfriend, Aaron should run. He feels weird about her and Luka because literally a day after she ended it with Luka, she jumped to kiss him. Any time they have trouble, she'll run to Luka. On another note, Luka is the biggest hypocrite on the small planet we call Earth. He's a woke feminist who believes he can control his sister's body and sexual choices. In previous seasons, he's been incredibly sexist to Zoey, while talking about how enlightened he is. But yeah, his adult sister decides to have a consenting adult relationship with a wonderful guy and he engages in physical violence? No amount of kooky new age sayings can justify that. The twins rule. As always.

I fell off my chair with the workout scene. A colleague is a former special operations soldier and I could actually see him doing the snow thing, and getting the hose, with that same smile of a sociopath. Al's addiction is definitely dealing with the issues he's been facing, as well as a place he can feel great. As much as he more than pulls his weight, he is dependent on the Dugans for so much and that irks him. He wants to provide for his family more, he wants to settle down and marry, (he can't exactly have a wife living in the garage on a cot) and he feels helpless to help his family and country. Poker makes him feel empowered. I laughed at Al's mother yelling at him in the dream. Love it. Yup, It almost reminded I really like Lizzie and Williams. He respects her, banters with her so sweetly and really seems to adore and worship her. He's willing to be patient, he stimulates her intellectually, and he's no longer so cringey. I think it's a good match.

I don't think it would work for so many reasons. While Muslim men can marry Christian women, Lizzie clearly is fairly secular and I don't think it would work, given how much value Al places on his faith. Lizzie is too progressive for the traditional Al, and Al is wonderfully traditional and shouldn't have to shift his core values for love. Lizzie just doesn't seem interested in guys like him, based on her crush on the professor and her late fiance. She's fiercely independent and Al seems more interested in someone who he needs to care take. I think Al misses his sister, and transfers those feelings to Lizzie. I like Lizzie and the Professor, he's extremely intelligent and he makes her smile and appreciates her art. I think she really seemed comfortable with him.

I'm normally with you, but Hazel is a child. It's not an excuse, but her brain just isn't fully mature, which is why you're right, she does need anger management. When she talks about blanking out and having rages, that's something she needs to deal with, with a therapist. Her parents' divorce and her father's issues do take a toll on her. I also really think some of it is trying to be like her father. She idolizes him and she rightly predicted what her father would do, and do the same thing. She needs better coping skills, as does Riley.

Especially given her academic probation for cheating, and her dropping out mid-semester, and her not only not getting the internship but completely disrupting it so badly that she was fired. In most schools, she'd get an F for the internship and be bounced. If they wanted to be more fair and still get her out, she could have been allowed to do charity hours to something like Dress for Success, and applying her talents to help the less fortunate. That would move my dial from "hell no" to "Meh, hours are hours, she's doing decent work, give her a C and let her be out of our hair." But no, Zoey needs to get her way by coasting.