S01.E05: Nevertheless... She Went Clubbing

[tessaray]

Quote

Unbeknownst to Lena and to her dismay, Martin starts to date a familiar face and surprisingly begins to see the world of relationships through brand-new eyes. Meanwhile, Lena tries to show she's a good role model to her kids by proving a point and faking a night out on the town.

[Kip Hackman]

"Holy tone shift, Batman!"

[readster]

The hell? No, really, did the writers realize they were going to be a bad show and just said: "The hell with it!"?

[ItCouldBeWorse]

So the 16-year old has never babysat her younger brothers, one of whom is 14?

[Kip Hackman]

This show went from dark/depressing rom-com to zany family sitcom at world record speed.

[JasmineFlower]

I don't know what the hell that was, but whatever it was is a show I can get behind. Complete 180 from what we've seen so far. I really liked it, laughed out loud multiple times, and now I'm firmly on board with this show if this episode's tone becomes the norm and not the outlier. 

[thesupremediva1]

I...did not sign up for this show. The last four eps might as well not have happened. I'm lost and not in a fun way. This is the boring, predictable route and I don't have room in my TV viewing schedule for more of the same.

[bros402]

So I went into this episode thinking "So I sort of liked but didn't 100% like the 4 episodes so far, but I will give the 5th episode a shot."

And, uhhhh..... that was one hell of a tonal shift. I liked it, but they need to find a good middle ground between this and the tone of the first four episodes.

[readster]

10 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

So the 16-year old has never babysat her younger brothers, one of whom is 14?

Yeah, that made no sense, just like Lena getting into a club that was not even opened yet. Sorry, but that's now how clubs operate and she would have been shown the door right away. Plus, remember, she was trying to prove a point, by being zany. Because, what sitcom mom hasn't done that over the last 40 years? Yeah, I think the writers seriously just gave up and this show is really looking not to be renewed. So, they just said: "Let's just do what we want, everyone is getting paid." 

[JasmineFlower]

FWIW, this is way more of what I was expecting of this show knowing who created it. This new tone is much, much more in like with Emily's previous shows.

[chaifan]

I think this could have been the show's pilot, with bits and pieces of what we saw in the first 4 episodes covered in flashbacks (the initial awkwardness of the split/living arrangement, the dad figuring out how to be competent, the realization that they weren't meant for each other, etc.).  I liked this episode, despite the weird club-not-open-yet scenario.  I hope Lena gets her turn at a date where the new guy unknowingly points out Martin's major flaws. 

 

ETA: slightly off topic, but I think part of the reason I liked this episode is because it followed Black-ish, which was really depressing this week and dealt with all of the pre-divorce stuff Martin & Lena would have gone through but we didn't see. 

Edited May 2, 2018 by chaifan

[rho]

12 hours ago, readster said:

Yeah, that made no sense, just like Lena getting into a club that was not even opened yet. Sorry, but that's now how clubs operate and she would have been shown the door right away. Plus, remember, she was trying to prove a point, by being zany. Because, what sitcom mom hasn't done that over the last 40 years? Yeah, I think the writers seriously just gave up and this show is really looking not to be renewed. So, they just said: "Let's just do what we want, everyone is getting paid." 

If the club wasn't even open yet, how was there already a super drunk girl barfing in the bathroom? 

[bros402]

16 hours ago, JasmineFlower said:

FWIW, this is way more of what I was expecting of this show knowing who created it. This new tone is much, much more in like with Emily's previous shows.

This too - I liked the tone of her previous shows.

[readster]

11 hours ago, rho said:

If the club wasn't even open yet, how was there already a super drunk girl barfing in the bathroom? 

Exactly, that made no sense and they could have just said: "Our waitress got called in and she partied last night." All they had to say, because also, how did she get drinks?

[Guest]

I didn’t like this one at all, and I liked Suburgatory and Selfie.  Nothing was funny to me and a lot of it was stupid like the whole club thing.   

Why does 41 year old Hudson get two half-his-age love interests in the first 3 eps?   

[readster]

27 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I didn’t like this one at all, and I liked Suburgatory and Selfie.  Nothing was funny to me and a lot of it was stupid like the whole club thing.   

Why does 41 year old Hudson get two half-his-age love interests in the first 3 eps?   

With both Suburgatory and Selfie, they kept the original premise and even had everyone doing things that made sense. They characters didn't seem like cliches or oblivious to things. Even on Selfie, John Cho's character wasn't someone who was "out of touch with the times or something." He was just traditional and realized he needed to start breaking out of his comfort circle. Here we have Hudson who is a "man" he can't do laundry, realized he avoids seeing his wife naked or having sex for 2 years. Then a dance instructor gets "lost in his eyes" and he has a revelation followed by his soon to be ex-wife having sex with someone 10 years younger than her in their drive way in his car. Meanwhile, Lena is such a control freak and wants things her way, but can't just come out and tell her husband about he is being a jerk, self-centered and oblivious for no reason. Yet, she has to prove she is an awesome parent by trying to go to a bar that isn't open yet and how to party to prove to her teenagers that partying isn't everything. She comes off looking like an idiot.  

Edited May 3, 2018 by readster
didn't, not did.

[AnnaRose]

37 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I didn’t like this one at all, and I liked Suburgatory and Selfie.  Nothing was funny to me and a lot of it was stupid like the whole club thing.   

Why does 41 year old Hudson get two half-his-age love interests in the first 3 eps?   

Yeah, I found that part of the episode really annoying.  The standard Hollywood message - guys who throwaway their marriages with the mother of their children as soon as things get difficult get to date young, uncomplicated, beautiful women who are so much more fun and easy going.  (Because they don't have to be responsible for raising kids and keeping a home functioning.)  Ugh.

[Guest]

I guess to their credit the mom character also had two out-of-her-league dates within ten minutes of separating.  In my experience, being a middle aged single parent in the dating scene is nothing like that and I resent the implication.  To me, comedy is funniest when it has situations I can relate to.  I didn't relate to anything in this episode.  And I'm pretty much Lena so I should've.  

[JasmineFlower]

1 hour ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I didn’t like this one at all, and I liked Suburgatory and Selfie.  Nothing was funny to me and a lot of it was stupid like the whole club thing.   

Why does 41 year old Hudson get two half-his-age love interests in the first 3 eps?   

To me, because they have eyes and can see what he looks like. I find him getting action, from women of all ages, nothing but accurate. An unattached 40-something year old that looks great, is in good shape, seems like a decent guy, and doesn't have a record? In real life, the women would be swarming, especially the single mothers in the area. That's exactly how it is in any area I've lived, the women pounce at the first sign of singledom. Also, I don't have a bit of an issue on this show in particular where 44-year-old Jenna Fischer already got her own half her age boyfriend to start the series.

[Guest]

I don't find Hudson that attractive.  He looks like Gary Sinise in bad need of a haircut, and I like the shaggy look but his is not good. 

The single dads I know are all paying online dating services to meet women.  They have as much to offer as this character plus don't live in their ex's back yard.  Hot 20-somethings aren't coming out of the woodwork for them.  These two on the show weren't even single mothers. 

I don't know, I wasn't into men old enough to be my dad when I was in my 20s, especially ones with young kids and no great earning potential.  It's a sitcom and a MMV thing, though.   

[readster]

5 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I don't find Hudson that attractive.  He looks like Gary Sinise in bad need of a haircut, and I like the shaggy look but his is not good. 

The single dads I know are all paying online dating services to meet women.  They have as much to offer as this character plus don't live in their ex's back yard.  Hot 20-somethings aren't coming out of the woodwork for them.  These two on the show weren't even single mothers. 

I don't know, I wasn't into men old enough to be my dad when I was in my 20s, especially ones with young kids and no great earning potential.  It's a sitcom and a MMV thing, though.   

Hudson has that older guy attractiveness, but I agree and being a straight married guy myself, I don't see these younger women just swooning and "getting lost in your eyes" crap. It's funny because my wife is 2 years older than me and people thought I married younger, but at the same time. When Mrs. Readster tells her friends and co-workers I do laundry, vacuum and take the kids to places. They go: "Can we switch husbands?" "My husband does that like once a month." However, Hudson is suppose to be this "guy" who who is oblivious and doesn't even known how to do laundry because he's some "cliche". These days, older guys might be attractive to younger women, but Hudson has no really good charms going for him. He works an ok job, hangs with his friends as soon as something happens. Barely knows what his kids are doing, can't cook or clean and can't tell he hasn't slept and blatantly avoiding seeing her with no clothes on for 2 years. That isn't someone that women would be attracted to, at least not long term once they get to know him. 

[JasmineFlower]

On 5/3/2018 at 12:50 PM, Winston9-DT3 said:

I don't find Hudson that attractive.  He looks like Gary Sinise in bad need of a haircut, and I like the shaggy look but his is not good.  

That's legit one of the most cutting comments I've seen or heard in a long time. lol Different strokes. In my experience, I think way more would be like me and find Oliver attractive, both today and years ago and wouldn't think to give Gary Sinise, who is barely average looking at best, a second look. I've seen plenty of comments in recent years still complimenting his looks.

And yeah, I see plenty of mismatched age couples where I live and where I used to live, which are both in and around major cities. If the guys look like they are in their late 40s or 50s? Doubtful, but most of them can pass for their late 30s, so yeah, 20-somethings are interested. And having a kid, in my experience, is not the deal breaker it once was since many more available men have them now.

It sounds like you don't like the character in general especially since you can't relate, so maybe it just doesn't matter, but I don't understand the earning potential comment. Jenna's character mentioned working part time in this episode, so he has to be the one who is gainfully employed full-time to afford that house.

Edited May 4, 2018 by JasmineFlower

[Guest]

I like the character in general fine.  It's the situations I can't relate to.  Forget going clubbing alone at 5pm, who goes grocery shopping with their ex?  I didn't even do that with a spouse.  Who can't afford an apartment but gets private dance lessons in their home?  Or takes an hour long Uber ride to try to impress their snobbish teen?  

My bar may be high for married men old enough to be my father but they'd have to be more than just gainfully employed to interest me.  

I missed Diane Farr in this episode.  Her sperm bank stuff was unrealistic, too, but mildly interesting.  Though I've never used a sperm bank, so maybe you do 'open an account' like it's Wells Fargo.

[readster]

10 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I like the character in general fine.  It's the situations I can't relate to.  Forget going clubbing alone at 5pm, who goes grocery shopping with their ex?  I didn't even do that with a spouse.  Who can't afford an apartment but gets private dance lessons in their home?  Or takes an hour long Uber ride to try to impress their snobbish teen?  

My bar may be high for married men old enough to be my father but they'd have to be more than just gainfully employed to interest me.  

 

That's what even critics have said. For two people who apparently just keeping their heads above water, they seem to spend money on things when they complained that they don't have enough money and couldn't move out because they couldn't afford to and the house being "under water". Hudson would have been less of a moron and pay attention the last 2 years, he wouldn't be in his current situation. Plus, those lessons probably cost a first month's rent right htere. 

[bros402]

14 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I like the character in general fine.  It's the situations I can't relate to.  Forget going clubbing alone at 5pm, who goes grocery shopping with their ex?  I didn't even do that with a spouse.  Who can't afford an apartment but gets private dance lessons in their home?  Or takes an hour long Uber ride to try to impress their snobbish teen?  

My bar may be high for married men old enough to be my father but they'd have to be more than just gainfully employed to interest me.  

I missed Diane Farr in this episode.  Her sperm bank stuff was unrealistic, too, but mildly interesting.  Though I've never used a sperm bank, so maybe you do 'open an account' like it's Wells Fargo.

I've only been involved in the deposit, but the withdrawal process seems like a bank, with more paperwork

[STOPSHOUTING]

Could not be more out. This is a totally different show than the first episodes and, while I don't think those episodes really worked either, there was a spark of something that kept me hoping they'd figure it out but, nope, this one was downright AWFUL. They couldn't have gone in a wrong-er (intentionally dumb, just like the show) direction.

From the patently stupid plot lines — leaving kids to go to a not-yet-open club, then finding a drunk girl (what, how?) in the bathroom and mom-ing all over her. The too young, too similar-looking love interests for Oliver Hudson, one of whom sleeps with him after he pretended she was a babysitter/tutor and paid her $12 AND then they make a you could do this professionally joke after sex? Gross doesn't even begin. 

And the whole, "she's so uncomplicated" misogynistic B.S. on top of it. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Disgusting isn't a strong enough word. Actually mad at myself for watching it. 

I get they decided they didn't want to do a will-they, won't-they rom-com between the exes. Great. I don't need that. But ... This? Crash and burn is too kind a descriptor for whatever this was.

[Kip Hackman]

1 hour ago, STOPSHOUTING said:

I get they decided they didn't want to do a will-they, won't-they rom-com between the exes. Great. I don't need that. But ... This? Crash and burn is too kind a descriptor for whatever this was.

My question is, WHO decided they didn't want to do a will-they/won't-they rom-com? My guess is, some network exec watched the first four episodes and said, "This doesn't work. At all. You're gonna have to change this up."

That would explain the sudden, 180 degree shift in tone. Because it sure didn't seem organic. 

[Guest]

12 hours ago, readster said:

That's what even critics have said.

I was curious so I looked.  Ha, EW calls Hudson’s face ‘very punchable’ right in the title.  

http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/23/splitting-up-together-ew-review/

I didn’t realize he played Jeff Fordham in Nashville.  He was a good villain.  

[readster]

4 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I was curious so I looked.  Ha, EW calls Hudson’s face ‘very punchable’ right in the title.  

http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/23/splitting-up-together-ew-review/

I didn’t realize he played Jeff Fordham in Nashville.  He was a good villain.  

I like: "Martin and Lena’s marriage is far less interesting than their individual struggles to figure out why it failed." 

Well Martin as they said is a man-child who is oblivious and you want to punch him. Lena is a micromanaging, but don't say what is really bothering you because they should know why. What we see are two couples who after some extremely stupid decisions since the day they got married let everything just fall apart. Then one thinks some super romantic gesture will fix everything and the other is too busy being super mom instead of just going: "What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn't you want to see me naked for 2 years?"