slcskp

The bulk of the episodes take place in the summer of 1972. This episode and "Christmas 1972" are deliberately out of sequence with the others. Tim Doyle mentioned in an interview that ABC had mandated a Christmas episode, since every other ABC sitcom that aired the same night also had a Christmas theme. https://variety.com/2018/scene/events/the-kids-are-alright-tim-doyle-michael-cudlitz-family-dynamics-christmas-episode-1202933790/ I suspect the network did the same thing for Valentine's Day, and that the series will resume with summer 1972 next week, and Lawrence will be back to wearing his cast.

Interesting article in The Hollywood Reporter this morning. Looks like "Valentine's Day" was written by Ellen Doyle, wife of Tim Doyle, the showrunner for TKAA (and the grown-up Timmy Cleary). From the previews that have aired this week, it looks like another hilarious episode, so I'm looking forward to their team effort tonight. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/i-left-tv-business-raise-my-family-now-cant-get-back-guest-column-1185645

I keep waiting for the show to explore William's character in more depth. He has a paper route, he plays the piano and the organ, and he sings, and we found out in this episode that he also plays the harmonica, he cooks, makes coffee, and dispenses the best advice in the family. For all that, he doesn't seem desperate for attention and approval like Timmy and Frank, he isn't on an existential quest like Lawrence, and he's clearly nothing like Eddie and Pat. When does he get a storyline?

Having grown up with a sarcastic mother in a family of all boys, I gotta say that bit between Mike and Peggy didn't come off to me as her being mean-spirited. I think this was Peggy's way of telling Mike he was being ridiculous and needed to get over himself.