S03.E02: Dinky Dinkies

[AnimeMania]

Overwhelmed by the amount of change happening in the lives of her loved ones, Sam is hit especially hard by a friend’s brutally honest comment. Later, Sam helps Brad with a special task ahead of his and Joel’s housewarming.

Premiere Date: November 3, 2024   HBO   10:30pm

[Blakeston]

Wow, major warning signs from Fred's wife. She handled that about as badly as possible. I was expecting Sam to have more of a reaction.

I get that it's difficult for Trish to see someone living on her father's property, but the "eeew gross!" reaction she had was pathetic. She goes from being so likable to being so unlikable - just like a sister, I suppose.

[Harvey]

Ouch, the hits just kept coming! First her fitness / eating habits are not up to standard, then everyone knows she has no money. I am sure the show is building towards something with all this, and I am curious to see what that will be.

[sistermagpie]

Wow, I knew from the preview that Fred's wife was going to say something that made Sam feel bad, but I wasn't expecting it to be that bad. I'm surprised the summary describes her as "a friend" who's being "brutally honest" when she doesn't know Sam that well and seems to be judging her more based on what she looks like and liking donuts more than snacks that come with a "they taste better than they look!" caveat.

I'm so interested in what they're doing with the new couples this season, in fact. On one hand we've got Sam's issues we already knew, where she doesn't like change. But she's working on that. I loved that Brad trusted her enough to work with her on the song, and the way she encouraged him and made him feel safe enough to sing to Joel. This is not a woman who's dragging people down. And I hope she becomes friends with Iceland--he seems great and he's a good example of a person who seems to be alone and okay with himself.

But otoh, there's signs that being in a couple doesn't automatically mean you're making healthier choices that will make you happier and more yourself. Tricia's hiding her pillow empire from her new guys, which is just funny and I like her feeling like she has a secret identity.

But then we've got Joel clearly never wanting to really stick up for himself and what he wants. Sam's right that wanting children is not something you can just let go like a second piano--and it was hilarious when she pointed out that Joel's stepchildren were 30 and he'd never met them so does that really count? Joel's so sensitive to others he backs down without Brad even forcing the issue.

And then we've got Fred's wife deciding that Sam is a bad influence on Fred. I don't see how batting practice can really become a thing that takes the place of the brunch where Fred, Joel and Sam could talk and laugh. Joel and Sam already naturally prefer to stand on the sidelines. One of the perks of being an adult is not having to go to gym class. 

Sam is trying to keep things the same, but she was right that Fred didn't have to eat anything she brought. Sam isn't pressuring him to eat donuts the way his wife is pressuring him and everyone else to eat her granola and celery. She seems to have made Sam her nemesis in this and that's going to drive a wedge between Sam and Fred. Especially since it seems like Fred's happy to blame any slip ups on his part to lack of will power when Sam puts food in front of him rather than just honestly object to being enrolled in an intense weight loss program he's not really committed to. He and his wife had a long distance relationship before, it seems, and she's made a lot of plans for how their life will be now.

[peeayebee]

8 hours ago, sistermagpie said:

And I hope she becomes friends with Iceland--he seems great and he's a good example of a person who seems to be alone and okay with himself.

I'm pretty sure that Sam and Iceland are going to get closer. It might not work out, but there will be an attempt.

Big red flashing warning signs with Joel and Brad. They clearly love each other and enjoy each other's company. But first (last week) we saw Joel giving in to Brad's preferences about the kitchen setup. Then Joel decides (obviously not on his own) that they're not going to have children. Then Joel reveals that he doesn't particularly like Brad's church. Did I miss anything.

And yet, I absolutely adore Brad. The conversation he had with Sam when she came to help with the song was sweet and funny. I just love his sense of humor and his calmness. When he was explaining to Sam how it felt when Joel looked at him, I was reaching for the tissues. And then more tissues when he sung. 

I wasn't sure how he was going to react to learning what a dutch oven was, but it was just fine. 

B & J napkins. HA!

The return of St Louis sushi!!!

The church ladies were nice enough, I suppose, but you can tell they are patting themselves on the back for being friends with a gay man. Maybe I'm being too harsh. It's more like Sam said, that they consider themselves a gay mascot.

Not sure what's going to happen with Fred and Susan. When he took that red pepper (I think it was) from Susan, he didn't look excited about it. 

[chaifan]

This season isn't really doing it for me.  I loved Seasons 1 and 2, but things are sort of plodding along, and the depressing is outnumbering the funny at least 3:1 for me.  Tricia was so likeable at the end of Season 2, and now between dumping plans with Sam at the last minute to her weird dislike/aversion to the Iceland guy, she's just coming across as a brat.  I know this isn't a laugh track type sitcom, but everything seems so dour.

I don't want Sam and Iceland guy pairing off, but a friendship there would be nice.  What did Sam find in the little metal box that she took out of the basement?  I was sort of hoping it would be a stash of cash her dad hid away.  (She already found the map, so that wasn't it.  And geez, just put a rock or bird bath or garden gnome on top of the septic tank so you can find it again! 

 

[sugarbaker design]

I just love that I can be all misty-eyed one moment watching Sam help Brad sing to Joel, and the next moment I'm cracking up to "She'll Be Coming On The Mountain When She Comes".

[pasdetrois]

I have family members who are painfully introverted older men, and Sam's quiet support for Brad was the episode's gem. And she knows that performance can set a lonely or shy person free.