S07.E15: I Don't Know How She Does It

[ari333]

I liked it. I know his show has gone downhill since early seasons, but it hasn't tanked as badly as others imo (Big Bang)

 

Any dancing by Cam and Mitch is a win for me.

 

And I always enjoy Pepper and his antics.

[Traveller519]

Lilly's "If anyone asks, I'm with you" to the Asian family was the highlight of the show.

 

Enjoy seeing Joe Mande's marketing character popping up again.

[hoodooznoodooz]

I liked Gloria comparing Jay to the marauders, and the marauders ranking higher because at least they were willing to converse. (And I hardly ever like Gloria.)

Didn't like Luke telling Manny that he now knew that he has three gay uncles.

Did they explain why Pepper's wedding planning business is suffering?

[ari333]

Im glad you guys showed up. I thought I was ***crickets*** talking to myself heh.

 

I liked Lily in this, but then I always like her.

 

I didn't get why the wedding business had fallen off either for Pepper. I'd think it'd have picked up.

 

I liked Phil as a detective using the times of Clare's movements. :-)

 

When Luke and Manny took Gloria's car I thought there was going to be a "the car is stolen! ....with Joe in it!"  moment.

The former babysitter at the computer repair place looked familiar , but I couldn't place her.

The computer freezing on the porn is a variation of the old trope in which is the porn VHS tape gets stuck in the tape player. Been there. :-)

[Sparger Springs]

The computer stuck on the porn site was stupid. Those boys have been around computers there entire life. Neither one of them thought of control alt delete, turn it off or take the battery out.  There first thought was to go to the apple store

 

[VCRTracking]

Favorite part was when Cam and Mitchell are embarrassing Lily with their dancing at the wedding, Lily says to the Asian family at a table "If anybody asks, I'm with you."

 

It's funny how that Nathan Lane has to play Pepper more subdued and less flamboyant in this episode when he's also doing the same thing playing F. Lee Bailey now on The People Vs OJ Simpson!

 

I liked Manny thinking Alex was flirting with him although I wish there had been previous episodes where he mistakenly thought Alex was into him so it would be funnier.

[Rowsdower]

The computer freezing on the porn is a variation of the old trope in which is the porn VHS tape gets stuck in the tape player. Been there. :-)

 

The key difference, of course, is that the computer had no physical malfunction.  I'll assume that the battery was non-removable, but an unresponsive application can be force-closed easily in any major operating system (as Alex demonstrated).  The premise that Manny and Luke would seek human assistance instead of obtaining instructions via a simple Google search from another device was a ludicrous contrivance.

[ari333]

The computer stuck on the porn site was stupid. Those boys have been around computers there entire life. Neither one of them thought of control alt delete, turn it off or take the battery out.  There first thought was to go to the apple store

 

I didn't know any of that :-)  If I watched porn now that'd be useful .

I assumed Luke and Manny were freaking out and not thinking straight.

[jessro92]

What took me out of the episode was Luke and Manny never noticing Joe asleep in the back, especially considering they got in and out of the car multiple times.

[MaryMitch]

Did they explain why Pepper's wedding planning business is suffering?

I don't think they said anything specifically, but I suppose there was a big rush to get "gay married" after it became legal in California, and the rush is over.

 

I loved this episode! I don't have a problem with Clair getting some help; after all, Gloria had a nanny. I loved how she and Phil hugged at the end.

[possibilities]

Yes, in addition to the strangeness of the kids not knowing how to get out of a frozen screen, I also thought the big event was going to be Joe waking up in the car while they were driving around, or Jay and Gloria thinking Joe and the car had been stolen.

 

Also, letting Joe sleep all day is a sure way to have him up all night. I couldn't believe Gloria and Jay didn't wind up fighting about that as well.

 

Still, I liked this episode overall. The marriage of Claire and Phil is one of the things they can usually make work, and him feeling inadequate but in the end not taking that out on her was an example of how people who love each other actually might behave, instead of the usual TV marriage based on contempt and one-upping. She wasn't actually doing stuff to make him feel inadequate and he wasn't actually motivated to expose her. They wound up working together, making adjustments based on the new circumstances. That's what marriage should be, not an endless string of battles as some shows seem to think.

 

Also liked Cam and Mitch being on the same page, and how they handled the discovery that Lily hated their dancing and had been sabotaging them. "We always knew you'd hate us for something, we just never knew it would be something we were good at"-- Ha! I hope they sent gifts and apologies to the people whose wedding invitations had been Lily-intercepted. Also liked how everyone wanted Mitch's divorce lawyering business card. It wasn't what I expected, but it seemed true enough-- the more marriages the more divorces.... Also, they should get a babysitter for Lily. Taking a young child to a lot of weddings seems strange to me. It's not like there were  other kids there, or she really had relationships with the couples getting married. No wonder she hates it. It's all her parents' adult friends. I didn't think kids were even invited to those kinds of weddings. It would be different if it was Haley's wedding or some other family member, but these seemed to just be Mitch's and Cam's friends.

 

I don't like the way Gloria and Jay lie to each other all the time. It's weird to me. They seem to actually do fine when they are honest, and to love each other as much as Phil and Claire. But they both seem to have a really hard time just being real.

Edited March 3, 2016 by possibilities

[Traveller519]

The impression I got about the business was that the frequency of weddings had slowed down since same-sex marriage became legal. Where Pepper was able to be pickier during the rush, he now had to take most of the jobs that came his way.

[AnnaRose]

Still, I liked this episode overall. The marriage of Claire and Phil is one of the things they can usually make work, and him feeling inadequate but in the end not taking that out on her was an example of how people who love each other actually might behave, instead of the usual TV marriage based on contempt and one-upping. She wasn't actually doing stuff to make him feel inadequate and he wasn't actually motivated to expose her. They wound up working together, making adjustments based on the new circumstances. That's what marriage should be, not an endless string of battles as some shows seem to think.

 

Also liked Cam and Mitch being on the same page, and how they handled the discovery that Lily hated their dancing and had been sabotaging them. "We always knew you'd hate us for something, we just never knew it would be something we were good at"-- Ha! I hope they sent gifts and apologies to the people whose wedding invitations had been Lily-intercepted. Also liked how everyone wanted Mitch's divorce lawyering business card. It wasn't what I expected, but it seemed true enough-- the more marriages the more divorces.... Also, they should get a babysitter for Lily. Taking a young child to a lot of weddings seems strange to me. It's not like there were  other kids there, or she really had relationships with the couples getting married. No wonder she hates it. It's all her parents' adult friends. I didn't think kids were even invited to those kinds of weddings. It would be different if it was Haley's wedding or some other family member, but these seemed to just be Mitch's and Cam's friends.

 

I don't like the way Gloria and Jay lie to each other all the time. It's weird to me. They seem to actually do fine when they are honest, and to love each other as much as Phil and Claire. But they both seem to have a really hard time just being real.

 

Gloria and Jay lying to each other all the time is very weird.  Although it did lead to the "Don't open that!" standoff which I found surprisingly amusing as it played out.

 

Claire and Phil on the other hand have an awesome marriage, and Phil's response to finding out about Claire was really terrific.  I would like a Phil of my own.

 

I also appreciated Cam's and Mitch's 'oh well' reaction to Lily as they went off and dance... and Lily's response too, but I almost always love her.

 

I totally expected that Jay and/or Gloria would freak out that Joe was missing, so I was happily surprised that they didn't go there.  Joe is adorable and I love how the show has used him.  Such a cutie pie!

[CleoCaesar]

Interesting how Cam/Mitch can be all "it's not gay marriage, it's just marriage" (during their engagement episode, I think) but suddenly "gay divorce" is somehow different from regular divorce?

 

I don't understand how anyone can watch scenes with Luke and Manny and NOT come away thinking that Nolan and Rico are pretty much the worst actors on the planet. Seriously, it's season 7 and somehow I am still taken aback every time Rico awkwardly breathes out a badly paced line or Nolan stumbles around the actual words. I get that the teenage years can be awkward, but damn. Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winters did not have anything resembling that extent of struggle.

 

Lily's delivery of "'WHY?'" was funny at least.

[seacliffsal]

I thought that this was the funniest episode in a long, long time. I really enjoyed it. The stand off scene was fabulous. Everyone had a role to play and it was kind of seamlessly put together.

[whatsatool]

Loved Claire assistant. More of him.

[tennisgurl]

The stand off was worth the price of hypothetical admission alone. That was hilarious. 

[readster]

The key difference, of course, is that the computer had no physical malfunction.  I'll assume that the battery was non-removable, but an unresponsive application can be force-closed easily in any major operating system (as Alex demonstrated).  The premise that Manny and Luke would seek human assistance instead of obtaining instructions via a simple Google search from another device was a ludicrous contrivance.

I hate when TV or movies do that with technology. I have a degree, I'm a tech teacher and seeking a PhD in Instructional Tech. It was so beyond stupid and a troupe. They even could have forced power off on their device. Going to the Apple Store, oh come on! Do these writers live in 1997 or something?

[ElectricBoogaloo]

they should get a babysitter for Lily. Taking a young child to a lot of weddings seems strange to me. It's not like there were other kids there, or she really had relationships with the couples getting married. No wonder she hates it. It's all her parents' adult friends. I didn't think kids were even invited to those kinds of weddings.

There were lots of kids at the wedding, or at least enough that there was a kids' table, which is where Lily was seated.

[Rowsdower]

I hate when TV or movies do that with technology. I have a degree, I'm a tech teacher and seeking a PhD in Instructional Tech. It was so beyond stupid and a troupe. They even could have forced power off on their device. Going to the Apple Store, oh come on! Do these writers live in 1997 or something?

 

They've demonstrated keen familiarity with such technologies when it was convenient for them.  They knew perfectly well that the scenario was unrealistic, but they assumed that their program's audience wouldn't.

 

I can excuse ignorance, but not laziness and disrespect.

[Enginerd]

I loved Claire's assistant, but I don't understand why her family can't do most of this stuff for themselves. Haley and Alex are adults! They can't pick up their own dry cleaning and gifts? Luke should be able to make cupcakes at his age, too, but since he's a particularly doltish case I can see why no one would want him using the oven. But no one else can do it, or stop at a bakery? This whole family, none of whom are young children, can't fix their own lunches? None of them could run errands because the electricity was out *only in their own house*? Sounds like a perfect time to run errands!

I get the storyline of Claire feeling like she's not there for her family enough, but they could find ways that she's failing them that are more believable for their ages and abilities.

 

Pretty much everyone in this family is so pretentious and dishonest, it's hard to care about their conflicts. This stuff is funny once in awhile, but it's starting to seem to me like the only way the writers know to set up drama is to make everyone unwilling to admit to anything, their likes or dislikes, whether they have done something, whether they are familiar with something that is apparently cool, etc. etc.

 

Claire's assistant is amazing and frankly way too good for these people.

[CleoCaesar]

This whole family, none of whom are young children, can't fix their own lunches?

 

The Dunphy children are horrifically babied. And have been since season 1. I get that Claire was a stay-at-home mom so her life revolved around them, but still. When I got to college, all I saw was legal adults who couldn't manage to do laundry (i.e. press three buttons on a machine) or cook something/anything, even as basic as pasta. Now I just assume that they came from families like the Dunphys. There's really no excuse for treating their mother like an assistant when they are perfectly capable (or should be) at the ages of 17-20 of doing simple things like baking cupcakes from a mix or picking up dry cleaning.

[readster]

The Dunphy children are horrifically babied. And have been since season 1. I get that Claire was a stay-at-home mom so her life revolved around them, but still. When I got to college, all I saw was legal adults who couldn't manage to do laundry (i.e. press three buttons on a machine) or cook something/anything, even as basic as pasta. Now I just assume that they came from families like the Dunphys. There's really no excuse for treating their mother like an assistant when they are perfectly capable (or should be) at the ages of 17-20 of doing simple things like baking cupcakes from a mix or picking up dry cleaning.

Same here and I wasn't the best at the laundry at that age, but guess what, I knew the basics. By the time I was 12 I could make my own grilled cheese sandwich and my stepfather came over and said: "Well done and now, I'm going to show you how to make a sub." Sadly, with Claire and Phil, they did everything from Haley, Alex and Luke and are just lost now. I remember a few seasons ago when Phil gave Alex the wrong allergy medicine, which was the drowsy type. My wife and mother-in-law shouted: "You can't do it yourself?"

[CleoCaesar]

Phil gave Alex the wrong allergy medicine, which was the drowsy type. My wife and mother-in-law shouted: "You can't do it yourself?"

 

God that was annoying. These teens are just helpless at basic things.

 

Worst example was that dumb episode where they're all late for a dinner reservation and Phil and Claire leave Luke home alone. The guy is 14 and Claire acts like he's 4.

[readster]

God that was annoying. These teens are just helpless at basic things.

 

Worst example was that dumb episode where they're all late for a dinner reservation and Phil and Claire leave Luke home alone. The guy is 14 and Claire acts like he's 4.

I remember both on Black-ish and My Wife and Kids in episodes where the parents didn't tell them the usual spiel on the house rules while they were gone. They went: "They didn't tell us any rules, we can do shit since they didn't tell us any rules." Which is horrible, they didn't get that by their ages (16, 14) that they have to constantly remind you of the rules while they are out for a simple dinner or outing.  I mean come on, my nieces and nephews are in their teens and they know the rules when their parents are out because you know, they can think for themselves and use the bathroom without permission. Unlike these kids and let's not get started on Manny the one time he was left alone, he didn't know what to do with himself. Which was really sad.

[Enginerd]

I know some people really are that way with their kids. It just boggles my mind.

 

I have a coworker who has a son who is in college, and he monitors his kid's every move from two states away. He checks in on every school assignment, he monitors the dining hall listings and recommends to him what to eat. When his son was coming home for winter break, he sent him a packing list and instructions for how to take the light rail to the airport and check in and what to remember not to have in his carryon luggage. Which I can kind of see if he had never traveled on a plane before, but he had a number of times and he's a smart kid; I'm sure he can manage it.

 

And when this coworker's two sons were middle-school/high school age, he would still either get someone to stay with them or else freak out if they had to be left alone for the evening, and the idea of their fixing themselves dinner was just a no-go.

 

I don't understand it at all. By the time I was 12, I was in charge of making the pies for Thanksgiving, I did a lot of the dinner cooking when I was in junior high and high school, and I was left to take care of not only myself but toddlers and infants for hours at a time. Even by the time I was in upper elementary school, my mother would have rolled her eyes if I'd expected her to make my lunch for me.

[CleoCaesar]

I know some people really are that way with their kids. It just boggles my mind.

 

That kind of helicopter parenting is just crippling their kids and preventing them from being actual adults. It's so common that it does boggle the mind. No wonder the current crop of teens/college students made things like tiptoeing around "microaggressions" and getting "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" into actual things they're demanding others provide for them. They've been so coddled and babied that they think that's how the real world should treat them too. /soapbox

 

Back to the Dunphys. Phil and Claire are good people and loving parents but damn if they didn't raise 3 pretty maladjusted children.

Edited March 5, 2016 by CleoCaesar

[indeed]

Haley is a 22-year-old (or really close to it) assistant and constantly doing errands for her boss. I'm sure she's capable of feeding herself and picking up dry cleaning because she probably has to do that for him. No excuse for not being able to pick up a dress. Wonder how it got to the dry cleaners in the first place?

Yes, that plot should have had better examples in it. (Am I the only bothered by Claire throwing out perfectly good food when she decided to make the sandwiches herself?)

[sadiegirl]

Yes, that plot should have had better examples in it. (Am I the only bothered by Claire throwing out perfectly good food when she decided to make the sandwiches herself?)

NO!! You're not the only one.  When she pushed all that food in the trash, I was speechless.  What a stupid thing to do, on so many levels.  Must be nice to have that much money that you can toss out perfectly good food.  Does not make any of them look good.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I know! She should have let her assistant take it home or she could have taken it for her lunch or something.

 

I loved Claire's assistant, but I don't understand why her family can't do most of this stuff for themselves. Haley and Alex are adults! They can't pick up their own dry cleaning and gifts? Luke should be able to make cupcakes at his age, too, but since he's a particularly doltish case I can see why no one would want him using the oven. But no one else can do it, or stop at a bakery? This whole family, none of whom are young children, can't fix their own lunches? None of them could run errands because the electricity was out *only in their own house*? Sounds like a perfect time to run errands!

ITA - if you are old enough to drive or move out of the house, then you are old enough to make your own lunch, pick up your own dry cleaning, go to Best Buy to pick up a gift (and wrap it yourself, damn it!), and either make your own cupcakes or buy some at the grocery store.

 

I, too, remember my freshman year in college when some people were baffled by the washing machines. I was the oldest child in my family and we moved across the country when I was nine. My parents were so busy with the new house that first summer (digging trenches for the sprinklers, putting in grass, unpacking, etc) that my mom told me if I wanted clean and unwrinkled clothes, I would have to do my own laundry and iron my own clothes. There was no wacky misunderstanding where I flooded the entire house with bubbles or I had a shirt with a giant iron mark burned on the front because hello, it's not rocket science. I was surprised my freshman year in college when there were people in my dorm who had no idea how to do their own laundry. I was like seriously? You just put your clothes and the soap in the machine and then push the big button.

 

I agree that both Claire and Phil spoil their kids by doing way too much for them. There is no reason why two college aged ADULTS can't drive to the dry cleaner and Best Buy on their own. And even though I agree that Luke is probably better off not going near the oven, I bet that Manny would be thrilled to bake for him (or at least help him pick out some decent ones at the closest grocery store or bakery).

 

The whole purpose of parenting is to raise responsible independent adults. As much as I love Claire and Phil in certain respects, they are not doing well in this aspect of parenting, and you know it's because they love to feel needed.

[needschocolate]

I remember both on Black-ish and My Wife and Kids in episodes where the parents didn't tell them the usual spiel on the house rules while they were gone. They went: "They didn't tell us any rules, we can do shit since they didn't tell us any rules." Which is horrible, they didn't get that by their ages (16, 14) that they have to constantly remind you of the rules while they are out for a simple dinner or outing.  I mean come on, my nieces and nephews are in their teens and they know the rules when their parents are out because you know, they can think for themselves and use the bathroom without permission. Unlike these kids and let's not get started on Manny the one time he was left alone, he didn't know what to do with himself. Which was really sad.

 

I confess, my boy is like these sitcom kids.  He  follows the rules if I say something, but if I don't say anything, he thinks he can do whatever he wants.  I have tried to make him understand that he is old enough to know better on his own and I try to give him consequences when he doesn't follow the rules, but I am a sucker for his big brown eyes and forgive him too easily. I guess it is no surprise that he still lives with me, even though he is thirty-five, in dog years.  I didn't have this problem with my other dogs - I could let them have free run of the house and I knew that they would get into no trouble while I was gone.  This boy is a different story. He thinks rules are only meant to be followed if I mention the rule or command every single time.  If we are on walk and he sees something he thinks is food, and I say "leave if" he will not take ti, but if he sees something else three feet farther along, and I don't say anything, he will immediately pick it up and eat it.  My human children always followed the rules and were quite good at handling the basics in life (making lunches, etc...) when they were still minors.  

[Shermie]

^^^???

Anyway, why did Luke need cupcakes? Isn't he kinda old for school bake sales? And don't these high-end types prefer those enormous over-icinged cupcakes from specialty bakeries?

Ugh, agree with everyone that those kids are way too old to have their mommy pick up their dry cleaning, buy their gifts, and make their lunches. Gawd.

[mansonlamps]

Yeah I couldn't get past the stupidity of a high school graduate out in the working world who wouldn't pick up her own dry cleaning. And I have to say wouldn't, not couldn't, just because it's true. And her parents indulging that selfishness.

[Enginerd]

And then her mother buying her a new dress to make up for not having picked up her dry cleaning. WTF?!

[MaryHedwig]

I loved the old lady twins with matching outfits at the Wedding outcast table.  They looked like they belonged on everyone's D-list.

[qtpye]

You know, I had actually forgotten how old the kids are.  When Claire was upset "that she was only able to make them soggy tuna fish sandwiches" I thought they all must be school age.

 

I could stay home by myself since I was 11.  By the time I wen to college, I did my own laundry, had a job, and could cook my own meals. This really was not that big of a deal.  Both my parents had demanding careers and I learned to be independent.

 

Now, that I am a parent, why the heck would people want their children to be so stupid and helpless?  I know helicopter parenting was popular, but I enjoy it when my kids are smart enough to do things for themselves.  It also boosts their confidence and they do not love me any less for it.

 

Not that I want the show to be dark and gritty, but  "hiding your amazing personal assistant from your husband so you can be CEO of a company inherited from your father, after spending the majority of your professional life being a housewife" is a very first world problem.

 

Not that there is anything wrong with being a housewife.

 

I guess part of the show's appeal is that these people lead very charmed lives.  It is an interesting contrast to the much more humble economic circumstances found in shows like The Middle.

Edited March 14, 2016 by qtpye

[DrSpaceman73]

I never considered it when I first watched, but yes, it does seem a bit ridiculous this is a high schooler (though, a dimwit), a 20 something with a job and a COLLEGE student at Stanford, not some elementary school kids. As others have pointed out, here's a thought, do some stuff on your own, lazy kids. Grow up. All good points.

I too always find it amusing the comparisons between The Middle and Modern Family. Definetly a contrast in styles and I certainly find The Middle more realistic and relatable. They go to extremes. The Middle they ignore the kids to the point of nearly being negligent. On Modern Family they worry about not praising every kid enough it seems for every little thing and little decision they make. AT least the Dunphy's seem to do so. And this episode is a prime example of how immature their kids must be if they still require this degree of assistance at their ages.

And many shows do this, I know, including the middle. And it's mostly due to it being a TV show, it's easier to keep the kids on the show as they age. But.......WHY IS ALEX HOME SO MUCH???? Does she live at home or not? I am still not clear. She said she wanted to move back home in one episode, but then she did the jump in the pool thing in the dress, did she decide to stay on campus or not? Either way, it annoys me.

[biakbiak]

But.......WHY IS ALEX HOME SO MUCH???? Does she live at home or not? I am still not clear. She said she wanted to move back home in one episode, but then she did the jump in the pool thing in the dress, did she decide to stay on campus or not? Either way, it annoys me.

The last episode featured her roommate, this episode featured them buying her roommate a gift. She lives on campus but like many people who live close to their family go home often. She goes to Caltech not Stanford, it's not that far from her home. This episode mentioned she was home doing her laundry. I have known people who drove further to do their laundry or study away from school because they hated dorm life.

Edited March 12, 2016 by biakbiak

[readster]

The last episode featured her roommate, this episode featured them buying her roommate a gift. She lives on campus but like many people who live close to their family go home often. She goes to Caltech not Stanford, it's not that far from her home. This episode mentioned she was home doing her laundry. I have known people who drove further to do their laundry or study away from school because they hated dorm life.

I had several friends during my undergraduate days where their roommates both in the dorms and later apartment went home almost every weekend or every other weekend. They lived from 30 to 45 minutes away and it was doing it for either laundry, seeing boyfriends/girlfriends, close relationships with family members, ect. I know this is TV and so forth, but it existed 40 years ago, it existed 20 years ago and it does today. Kids go home for various reasons even in college. Even if its just sleep in their own bed once a weekend and get their laundry done for free.

[qtpye]

I never considered it when I first watched, but yes, it does seem a bit ridiculous this is a high schooler (though, a dimwit), a 20 something with a job and a COLLEGE student at Stanford, not some elementary school kids. As others have pointed out, here's a thought, do some stuff on your own, lazy kids. Grow up. All good points.

 

 

It is particularly ridiculous for two technically grown adults to expect their CEO mother or busy realtor father, to rush home and make their lunches.

 

If I had been kicked out of college and living with my parents for free at Hailey's age, they would expect ME to help them out with errands.  Heck, I would probably volunteer, job or no job.

[readster]

It is particularly ridiculous for two technically grown adults to expect their CEO mother or busy realtor father, to rush home and make their lunches.

 

If I had been kicked out of college and living with my parents for free at Hailey's age, they would expect ME to help them out with errands.  Heck, I would probably volunteer, job or no job.

I know and then you add in that Claire basically dragged them to "daughters at work day" when there were no other daughters, but them. Add in Phil wanting to do these way ward projects of his. No wonder the kids are so babied, they figure: "We have to drop everything for mom and dad, they can drop things for us!" "Oh no, I have to pee, I better text mom to see if I can use the bathroom." 

[Gweilo]

I had several friends during my undergraduate days where their roommates both in the dorms and later apartment went home almost every weekend or every other weekend. They lived from 30 to 45 minutes away and it was doing it for either laundry, seeing boyfriends/girlfriends, close relationships with family members, ect. I know this is TV and so forth, but it existed 40 years ago, it existed 20 years ago and it does today. Kids go home for various reasons even in college. Even if its just sleep in their own bed once a weekend and get their laundry done for free.

 

But this episode all took place during the week, didn't it?  Manny & Luke were skiving off school, and Claire was going to work.  So why is Alex at some during the day on a weekday? Bah! 

 

It would be so easy to make the TV show showing Alex at uni in a realistic way: 1/3 episodes she's not physically in (on Skype etc), 1/3 episodes set at weekends, and 1/3 episodes set during uni holidays when she's home.  Hell, even a couple of episodes they could go out to her uni for various convoluted reasons!

[biakbiak]

Last week was a weekend when they were there and finishing a huge project, CalTechs winter term ends in March meaning that they have a few days with no classes only studying, a few days where finale papers are due and final exams (which not all classes have and aren't necessarily at the same time as the class was) and than a two week break so there is any number of reasons that Alex could have been home. Or just as likely the writers don't really care but I would point out that there has already been several EPs where she was at school and she has appeared on Skype.

[Gweilo]

Yeah it seems like there are plenty of reasons why Alex would be home on a weekday, but the writers need to be more consistent about how they address that.  So either have a throwaway line each episode in which Alex appears that acknowledges why she's home (weekend laundry run; holidays; study break) or not address it at all.  But they keep flip-flopping between the two approaches, which is sloppy.  I never really thought about it, but sitcoms about kids really need to be thinking 5 years ahead about what to do when the children need to grow up and move out.  Or just do what the Simpsons does, and keep them in statis for 20 years!

[LakeLover]

But this episode all took place during the week, didn't it?  Manny & Luke were skiving off school, and Claire was going to work.  So why is Alex at some during the day on a weekday? Bah! 

 

It would be so easy to make the TV show showing Alex at uni in a realistic way: 1/3 episodes she's not physically in (on Skype etc), 1/3 episodes set at weekends, and 1/3 episodes set during uni holidays when she's home.  Hell, even a couple of episodes they could go out to her uni for various convoluted reasons!

 

 

Spring break? :)

[readster]

Yeah it seems like there are plenty of reasons why Alex would be home on a weekday, but the writers need to be more consistent about how they address that.  So either have a throwaway line each episode in which Alex appears that acknowledges why she's home (weekend laundry run; holidays; study break) or not address it at all.  But they keep flip-flopping between the two approaches, which is sloppy.  I never really thought about it, but sitcoms about kids really need to be thinking 5 years ahead about what to do when the children need to grow up and move out.  Or just do what the Simpsons does, and keep them in statis for 20 years!

How true and its a trap that TV series keep falling into, especially when they become hits. They have to try to go: "If the character is 15  now and we will probably on air for at least another 5 years with our ratings and rewards, better look a head." Of course with Haley, they had her get kicked out of school for the dumbest reasons, not to mention, she could have gone to another college or community college. Instead it became: "I want to do fashion and I work for some big shot and get ahead in life." She saw how that worked out, but the plan was then to cheat on an engaged man, who was engaged to a lying cheater himself, but hey Haley is the better choice." Same with Alex, they had to keep her in the: "Nerds don't get it." I mean even when she was competing with Sanjay for valedictorian, oh they just both happened to be bad at PE. Because, remember, smart kids can't be athletic either. Writers put themselves in these boxes and instead of trying to be better writers, they just go: "Its too hard, let's break them up or write out the characters. Waaaaa!" Oh grow up!

[TV Anonymous]

Did Claire really throw away good, uneaten sandwiches her employee made to the garbage? And that only so that she could make her version of the sandwich? I know that this is a comedy show, but somehow I am offended by that scene.

Edited March 21, 2016 by TV Anonymous