S01.E08: Heat Wave

[tessaray]

Quote

In the Season 1 finale, Lena and Martin choose to share the house for the summer while the children are away at camp despite Lena's reservations, but soon realize it might not be the worst idea. They collectively agree to throw their annual backyard pina colada party where they will celebrate their independence from their children. Elsewhere, a friendly face returns back home and Martin can't help but see it as a sign.

[Armchair Critic]

Lisa Apple needs to go away... please don't let her be pregnant.

Edited May 23, 2018 by Armchair Critic

[Kip Hackman]

Yeah, I'm out.

[readster]

Yeah, they got the green light for a 2nd season. So, they went with going with a possible pregnancy. When Martin has been failing to perform because he didn't want to until now. Yeah, I'm majorly out. I really wish they didn't get the 2nd season ok since Alex Inc was a failure. Then we wouldn't have gotten that. Yeah, they complain about money and yet they not only send all 3 kids to summer camp, but throw their annual summer fiesta. So, how are they in financial problems? What does Martin do again? Oh... never mind. 

[vibeology]

A backslide was inevitable in terms of storytelling so I guess I'm okay with it. It gives the show a chance to either try at a reconciliation or make things worse between Martin and Lena.

Not interested in Lisa Apple. She's fine as a character but so clearly incompatible with Martin and not a great fit with the rest of the cast either. If she's pregnant I'll be sad because I think there's enough storytelling potential just with Martin and Lena to not need a pregnancy and new baby.

I'm baffled by the money situation. The show made these people being upside down on the mortgage a key plot point yet they're flush enough to send three kids to a sleepaway camp (with transportation) for what I understood to be the whole summer. That's got to be crazy expensive. Either you're rich enough to afford that or you're too poor to split up but it can't be both.

[BooBear]

2 hours ago, vibeology said:

I'm baffled by the money situation. The show made these people being upside down on the mortgage a key plot point yet they're flush enough to send three kids to a sleepaway camp (with transportation) for what I understood to be the whole summer. That's got to be crazy expensive. Either you're rich enough to afford that or you're too poor to split up but it can't be both.

I thought that was kind of explained this episode... basically this "reason" is bull. The reality is that both (though they just called out Martin) don't really want to completely separate from each other and are using the "money" thing as an excuse. 

I really think Lena is being sort of passive aggressive. There is no way in the world she should have bought that Lisa would be ok with her in the house but then she runs around in "that" outfit? Come on Lena.   If I was living in the house with my ex I would be my room for the night with baggy sweats. Not "going to the bathroom" in my sexy pjs. But I would never be in the house with my ex having sex with someone else. Just too weird. 

That is what bothers me about it... both parties seem to be playing games and messing with other people to play them. 

[thesupremediva1]

Well I'll be on my island of one but I don't care. I loved this episode! Yay for Lena and Martin! 

Lisa Apple is not interesting enough to stick around. That better be a false alarm that just wedges some doubt into Martin and Lena's reconciliation. 

They can stretch this out if they do it right. One season of lingering doubt about the reconciliation due to Lisa Apple's (preferably negative) test; one season of them secretly sort of dating and hiding it from the kids because they don't want to confuse them unless they're sure it's for real; one season of them openly back together as a couple but not married; one season of them deciding if they want to remarry/officially recommit or if their dynamic is better outside the confines of marriage.

That's all nebulous and right off the top of my head but it can work. I do love the fact that Lisa Apple basically fixed all the lingering questions/ issues around the plot holes by basically saying that they're lying about all of it and/or choosing not to fix it so they can hold onto each other.

I love turtles so I thought that was cute. Sad that it took a turtle for Martin to wake up but I think he has some deep issues they need to explore in detail in the coming season. We know a lot about what makes Lena tick and very little about Martin. But I think that's by design because Martin doesn't really know himself. 

I missed Milo this ep. But not the other kids. I enjoyed seeing Martin and Lena as adults.

Lindsay Price and the dad are underused gems in this show. Please give them meatier stuff next season. I missed the sister too. 

I never cared for The Office, and never seen Oliver Hudson in anything before, but wow I really like them both in this show. I think the two leads are charming enough to make up for the flaws of the plot.

Edited May 23, 2018 by thesupremediva1

[luna1122]

I still like it too, and thought what happened on last nite's episode was inevitable, but that it doesn't mean a happy ending, necessarily. These two had issues and problems, and if they become a couple again, those things will still be there. But maybe they've learned their lesson and won't let it slide into apathy and resentment again. Whatever, I just love the leads. They're both quirky and a little weird and completely charming, and I just like watching them.

I didn't miss the kids AT ALL. Did wonder why Lena's sis wasn't at the Pina Colada party.

I nearly cried when the turtle came home. Yeah, I'm that person.

[readster]

3 hours ago, BooBear said:

I thought that was kind of explained this episode... basically this "reason" is bull. The reality is that both (though they just called out Martin) don't really want to completely separate from each other and are using the "money" thing as an excuse. 

That is what bothers me about it... both parties seem to be playing games and messing with other people to play them. 

That's what it comes off as, so having this and Lisa Apple buying the pregnancy test at the end just cements that the entire premise was never thought out. So, even though Lena had no sex or had Martin see her naked for 2 years until this episode. Means that she basically wanted an excuse to sleep with someone. Then add in the fact that Martin is that oblivious to things so when Lena finally did it, he decided to sleep with Lisa. So, if they are suppose to be "legally" separating. Then they have committed fraud, they have no money issues and have put their kids through this crap for nothing. They come across as two very manipulative and poorly communicating individuals. Hence, I will not continue watching in season 2. 

[Court]

While I find this show very enjoyable,  I'm always questioning the premise.

Why exactly did they divorce? They could have talked about the sex thing. I'm over hearing the show tell me how many problems they had when we never see/saw it. 

So tired of hey we're done and surprise I'm pregnant now. 

[readster]

6 hours ago, Court said:

While I find this show very enjoyable,  I'm always questioning the premise.

Why exactly did they divorce? They could have talked about the sex thing. I'm over hearing the show tell me how many problems they had when we never see/saw it. 

So tired of hey we're done and surprise I'm pregnant now. 

Just like with: "Hey, I'm Martin, and it's 2018, and I don't know how to do the laundry, only can make mac & cheese, I hang with the buds and never talk to my wife." "The school counselor is also wondering what the hell our problems are, but we can't talk about them." Then add in their neighbors and closest friends don't get why they separated either, it just paints them all as they have no ability to talk to anyone. Lena is just sexually frustrated and Martin just can't buy a clue. The writers thinking this will keep the show going and add in a surprise pregnancy, which critics said was just plain stupid and that if they make it past next season will take a miracle. Even with ABC taking chances on new shows that don't look promising and Modern Family most likely ending next season. 

[Philip]

This show has had a very rocky road but I've to say this is the best episode (for me) since the pilot (which wasn't very good but introduced the characters) so I guess I'll be sticking around for the ride.

 

P.S. I quite like Lisa Apple's character a lot than the regular ones or even Bobby Lee's one (he kind of feels like a drag now, imo).

[bluebox]

Do Martin or Lena have jobs? There have been casual references to coworkers but we never get any indications of either of them working...I had assumed that Lena was a SAHM but Martin is also just like, always around...

[MoreCoffeePlease]

Lena works part-time at a paint-your-own pottery place.

[GoldaVining]

I love Jenna and Oliver and I want to see them on my tv in something but this was the season finale and I'm still not invested. I just want a Bobby Lee spin-off.

[Guest]

I didn’t mind the last ep but haaaated this one.  Ugh, the pina colada song crap, and the flirting ... painful.  

[KnoxForPres]

14 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I didn’t mind the last ep but haaaated this one.  Ugh, the pina colada song crap, and the flirting ... painful.  

Right!?  Like what the heck here. 

In general I find them nauseatingly cutesy. Who is like this?  Their quips and banter kill this show for me. Give me good, funny, well done heartbreaking dialogue and I’m all in. But they are way too “adorable”.   And their acting skills rise above this so I blame the writing. 

This show is just really bad. I’m kind of in shock it got renewed. 

[readster]

13 hours ago, KnoxForPres said:

 

This show is just really bad. I’m kind of in shock it got renewed. 

Sorry to say, with The Middle ending and Alex Inc doing bad and having less than a handful of new shows next year and with Modern Family coming to an end next year. ABC basically said: "It has modest ratings and we have nothing else, so let's give it another season." Writers: "Awesome, we have a really badly written cliffhanger that everyone will hate." 

[msrachelj]

On 5/22/2018 at 11:45 PM, readster said:

Yeah, they got the green light for a 2nd season. So, they went with going with a possible pregnancy. When Martin has been failing to perform because he didn't want to until now. Yeah, I'm majorly out. I really wish they didn't get the 2nd season ok since Alex Inc was a failure. Then we wouldn't have gotten that. Yeah, they complain about money and yet they not only send all 3 kids to summer camp, but throw their annual summer fiesta. So, how are they in financial problems? What does Martin do again? Oh... never mind. 

how do they afford that HOUSE?!! the house of my dreams. i think i have to stop watching just because i am so angry i will never have anything like it. what do they both do for a living? i stopped watching  but came back for the finale. why are they getting divorced? they seem to like each other. counseling? insane. and yeah, house is underwater, send the kids to camp and spend hundreds on a party for no reason. good grief. 

14 hours ago, KnoxForPres said:

Right!?  Like what the heck here. 

In general I find them nauseatingly cutesy. Who is like this?  Their quips and banter kill this show for me. Give me good, funny, well done heartbreaking dialogue and I’m all in. But they are way too “adorable”.   And their acting skills rise above this so I blame the writing. 

This show is just really bad. I’m kind of in shock it got renewed. 

pretty bad show. love jenna fisher and oliver hudson seems ok (is he goldie hawks son?) and is nice to look at. but this is so sickeningly sweet my teeth ache.  

[readster]

2 minutes ago, msrachelj said:

how do they afford that HOUSE?!! the house of my dreams. i think i have to stop watching just because i am so angry i will never have anything like it. what do they both do for a living? i stopped watching  but came back for the finale. why are they getting divorced? they seem to like each other. counseling? insane. and yeah, house is underwater, send the kids to camp and spend hundreds on a party for no reason. good grief. 

We have no idea with what Martin does for a living, just that Lena has her own pottery micro business. The entire "under water" was revealed to be a lie, they made up the excuse because they didn't want to really live apart until they got things in order. In Martin's head that meant sweeping Lena literally back off her feet because they "didn't dance at their own wedding 18 years ago." For Lena, it was an excuse to finally have sex and have a man see her naked in 2 years. Also basically saying that Martin a few years ago felt he didn't need to try things anymore and since Lena was so into having things her way. Martin didn't do anything around the house, which of course pissed Lena off. Martin apparently had great sex control, because apparently not having sex in anyway for 2 years is fine. The contrive plotting the entire show, they could have gone the easy route and have it where Martin was impotent and be too embarrassed about it. The way it was looking, and the way they were writing it. That seem to be the reason and would have been in character for Martin. Instead it was: "I don't see why I have to do it if I don't have to." Hence the entire: "I don't know how to do laundry or cook a meal, because I'm a man." 

[msrachelj]

9 minutes ago, readster said:

We have no idea with what Martin does for a living, just that Lena has her own pottery micro business. The entire "under water" was revealed to be a lie, they made up the excuse because they didn't want to really live apart until they got things in order. In Martin's head that meant sweeping Lena literally back off her feet because they "didn't dance at their own wedding 18 years ago." For Lena, it was an excuse to finally have sex and have a man see her naked in 2 years. Also basically saying that Martin a few years ago felt he didn't need to try things anymore and since Lena was so into having things her way. Martin didn't do anything around the house, which of course pissed Lena off. Martin apparently had great sex control, because apparently not having sex in anyway for 2 years is fine. The contrive plotting the entire show, they could have gone the easy route and have it where Martin was impotent and be too embarrassed about it. The way it was looking, and the way they were writing it. That seem to be the reason and would have been in character for Martin. Instead it was: "I don't see why I have to do it if I don't have to." Hence the entire: "I don't know how to do laundry or cook a meal, because I'm a man." 

wow. he really sucks. i hope he has a good job because it doesn't sound like she can support the house herself. and this living in the shitty un airconditioned garage is b.s. that house surely has a downstairs room that could be used as a guest room

[Guest]

Or take the pina colada money and buy a small a/c or swamp cooler for the garage.  

[readster]

58 minutes ago, msrachelj said:

wow. he really sucks. i hope he has a good job because it doesn't sound like she can support the house herself. and this living in the shitty un airconditioned garage is b.s. that house surely has a downstairs room that could be used as a guest room

That's why critics have really said the set up and Martin's character doesn't make any sense. Especially, after the finale aired, one critic even said: "So, the entire premise of the series is BS because you have two people who can't talk to each other. Put their kids, friends and family through a lies on their finances just for a joke." "Yet, neither of them can see the damage they are doing and Lisa Apple after calling Martin and Lena on their crap finds out her period is late." "So, let's put in a cliffhanger that is surely to make people want to stop watching." The show doesn't know what it wants to be. Having a couple that grew apart, but still trying to make things normal for their kids. Having a husband who can only get dressed, but makes some big money in a job that is never talked about, but not only doesn't want to have sex with his wife, but avoids seeing her naked ALL the time for 2 years. Then everything is pointed out to be an excuse, because they actually fine financially and could just sleep in separate bedrooms, but oh no, the writers need a punch line for their jokes with the garage and telling people they are living paycheck to paycheck, but then shipping their kids off to summer camp and throwing block parties. Yet the person who calls them on all the obvious crap is the person who Martin doesn't want to sleep with the second time because: "he's tired." Seriously, give it up. 

Edited May 26, 2018 by readster
make not many.

[KnoxForPres]

5 hours ago, msrachelj said:

how do they afford that HOUSE?!! the house of my dreams. i think i have to stop watching just because i am so angry i will never have anything like it. what do they both do for a living? i stopped watching  but came back for the finale. why are they getting divorced? they seem to like each other. counseling? insane. and yeah, house is underwater, send the kids to camp and spend hundreds on a party for no reason. good grief. 

pretty bad show. love jenna fisher and oliver hudson seems ok (is he goldie hawks son?) and is nice to look at. but this is so sickeningly sweet my teeth ache.  

Yep- you’re right. He’s  Kate’s brother in real life. 

[Guest]

On 5/25/2018 at 2:31 PM, KnoxForPres said:

Right!?  Like what the heck here. 

In general I find them nauseatingly cutesy. Who is like this?  Their quips and banter kill this show for me. Give me good, funny, well done heartbreaking dialogue and I’m all in. But they are way too “adorable”.   And their acting skills rise above this so I blame the writing. 

This show is just really bad. I’m kind of in shock it got renewed. 

And as if it wasn’t quippy enough, the song had to be that one, which is just so on the nose.  “Look, our couple here is just like the one in the song!  They had to go looking elsewhere to realize their twu wuv was right there at home all along!”   Barf.  

I liked the song choices better when it was Ben Folds stuff.   When Lena was the metaphorical brick drowning Martin, and vice versa.   

[ItCouldBeWorse]

I wonder if when Milo (who, by the way, seems too young to be sent away to sleep-away camp; don't they have day camps in their area?) comes home, he will inform them that the turtle is not Josh.

If you pack medication in your kid's trunk instead of having it sent directly to the camp nurse through a service set up for that purpose, the medicine will be discarded if found by a counsellor and your kid might even be sent home for smuggling drugs into the bunk. That is such a huge no-no.

A good sleep-away camp is easily $3-$4k per child per 1 month session. 2 months for 3 kids would be $18-24k. There's no way that Lena is sending those kids to a cheap, poorly run camp.

Edited May 28, 2018 by ItCouldBeWorse

[readster]

1 hour ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I wonder if when Milo (who, by the way, seems too young to be sent away to sleep-away camp; dont they have day camps in their area?) comes home, he will inform them that the turtle is not Josh.

If you pack medication in your kid's trunk instead of having it sent directly to the camp nurse through a service set up for that purpose, the medicine will be discarded if found by a counsellor and your kid might even be sent home for smuggling drugs into the bunk. That is such a huge no-no.

A good sleep-away camp is easily $3-$4k per child per 1 month session. 2 months for 3 kids would be $18-24k. Theres no way that Lena is sending those kids to a cheap, poorly run camp.

Yet, the only one who realizes that their talk about being "under water" is crap is Lisa. While everyone else is: "Wow, they still have money after all of this." It just paints everyone as: "Duh, let's walk now, right, left, right... wait... what foot goes next?" 

[Guest]

I just watched the season 1 finale of Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce, which I started long ago and dropped.  Very similar story... 40-somethings split, they immediately each find a hot young boy and girlfriend, they flirt and decide to reunite, then the season ends with a scene of the young girlfriend proclaiming pregnancy.  

[readster]

8 hours ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I just watched the season 1 finale of Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce, which I started long ago and dropped.  Very similar story... 40-somethings split, they immediately each find a hot young boy and girlfriend, they flirt and decide to reunite, then the season ends with a scene of the young girlfriend proclaiming pregnancy.  

Which really shows how original the writers were. Of course it seems ABC's plans this year were having cliffhangers with a character announcing they were pregnant after a couple reconciled with things. 

[dangwoodchucks]

Why does Martin always look like he needs a shower? And why does everyone have to say Lisa Apple when they discuss her, why not just Lisa? You can make a drinking game out of it. I have a feeling the writers are so proud of the cutesy surname they’ve given her that they have to constantly point it out. Please stop.

I got a chuckle out of Lena’s “I don’t want Josh in my hair” line. 

[BoogieBurns]

24 minutes ago, dangwoodchucks said:

And why does everyone have to say Lisa Apple when they discuss her, why not just Lisa? You can make a drinking game out of it.

I think it's because Lena and Lisa sound pretty similar. They probably should have named her ANYTHING ELSE to keep from the confusion. However, I do have a friend John Thomas who no one has ever called "John". It's not impossible, but it is quite redundant.

[Guest]

They like the similar names, I think.  Maya, Mae, Mason, Milo and Martin, and Lena and Lisa.  

In the next episode of Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, the divorcing couple have sex in their car in broad daylight in front of the house with the kids inside.   Not that I think that this network is stealing from a crappy Bravo show that aired four years ago, it’s just there’s nothing really new. 

[readster]

10 hours ago, dangwoodchucks said:

Why does Martin always look like he needs a shower?

I would like to know myself, he always looks like he has had a hard day outside, but we don't know what his JOB is!

[Philip]

On 6/1/2018 at 3:29 PM, dangwoodchucks said:

Why does Martin always look like he needs a shower?

Some men swear a lot depending on the tempeture of their bodies. My body gets really hot and sweaty so I need to take 1-2 showers every day, Works for me, so I can deal with cold weathers easily and don't need to use too much clothing.

 

Anyway, why the heck hasn't a new episode aired yet? 

[biakbiak]

3 minutes ago, Philip said:

Anyway, why the heck hasn't a new episode aired yet? 

Because this was the season finale, the first season was only 8 episodes.

[Philip]

3 hours ago, biakbiak said:

Because this was the season finale, the first season was only 8 episodes.

Aw, that was short. Not even 10 episodes.

[SoMuchTV]

On 6/27/2018 at 2:37 PM, Philip said:

Some men swear a lot depending on the temperature of their bodies. My body gets really hot and sweaty so I need to take 1-2 showers every day, Works for me, so I can deal with cold weathers easily and don't need to use too much clothing.

 

Anyway, why the heck hasn't a new episode aired yet? 

Most accurate typo (or auto-correct) I've seen lately.

[readster]

If they hope for this show to survive in season 2. First of all, they need to make the cliffhanger non-existant. Second, they have to have them face their REAL problems in season 2. It should be about trying to rebuild a marriage and if they can't. Then they need to make it a less "stupid way" to try and divorce. This all started because Martin felt he didn't need to try anymore in his relationship. Lena because she couldn't open her mouth. 

[teddysmom]

After seeing Jenna with John Krasinski for 9 years and the chemistry out the butt that they had, it's hard to see her with someone who can't act his way out of a paper bag.  Pam & Jim even had problems in their marriage, and fights and they were realistic. He invests money without telling her, she has a mild flirtation with the boom mike guy and he finds out, they're on separate paths but figure out how to get things right again.  You were so invested in the two of them that you cared that they worked things out. 

Everything about this show is  so contrived, the kids are cliches, the sister being a crazy irresponsible single, the married couple/hot wife/nerd husband. 

Also, what does Martin do other than jog? 

[teddysmom]

On 7/12/2018 at 11:40 AM, readster said:

This all started because Martin felt he didn't need to try anymore in his relationship. Lena because she couldn't open her mouth. 

What guy doesn't want to have sex FOR TWO YEARS!!!  I mean even if he didn't love her like he used to, men still want sex, don't they? Two years? JFC

[readster]

1 hour ago, teddysmom said:

After seeing Jenna with John Krasinski for 9 years and the chemistry out the butt that they had, it's hard to see her with someone who can't act his way out of a paper bag.  Pam & Jim even had problems in their marriage, and fights and they were realistic. He invests money without telling her, she has a mild flirtation with the boom mike guy and he finds out, they're on separate paths but figure out how to get things right again.  You were so invested in the two of them that you cared that they worked things out. 

Everything about this show is  so contrived, the kids are cliches, the sister being a crazy irresponsible single, the married couple/hot wife/nerd husband. 

Also, what does Martin do other than jog? 

I really don't think the creators and writers of this show knew where they wanted to go with the show. You can see that majorly in episode 5 opposed to the first 4 episodes. There is a major tone and writing shift. If I had to hazard a guess I think originally the plan was: "Lena and Martin are a married couple that have lost it." "They don't communicate with each other, Martin feels he doesn't need to try anymore and Lena feels she has to control ever aspect of their lives." "They decide to call in quits, when secretly they still love each other." That's the concept, but they didn't map out the characters. They made Martin a walking cliche of a 1970s husband. He doesn't know how to clean, he wants to be the "fun dad" and he doesn't know how to making anything outside of mac & cheese and a sandwich. He's oblivious to the most obvious things and rather job early in the morning, and keep going to avoid not seeing Lena naked and has had no sex with her in 2 years. How? Good question? Meanwhile, Lena feels she does everything, she runs her own mini business, always cooking, cleaning and feels that no one can do it better than her and as a result. Everyone let's her do things because if they try, she will yell and lecture them they aren't doing it right. Then when she does show them, it still isn't right. Meanwhile everyone else just doesn't get their divorce, acts like they live in a fantasy world. Lena is basically sexually frustrated, gets a guy and sleeps with him. 

[readster]

5 hours ago, teddysmom said:

What guy doesn't want to have sex FOR TWO YEARS!!!  I mean even if he didn't love her like he used to, men still want sex, don't they? Two years? JFC

Or how about the fact in those 2 years, Martin didn't see Lena naked at all. Apparently he was always up early for a run for an hour or two. Came back in time for the kids to go to school, everyone was dressed. Then took a shower and then did whatever the hell he does for a living. Then come home, ignore her and go to bed early and never see her take off her bra or jeans and get ready for bed. For said TWO YEARS! Never once did Lena go; "Hey, let's have sex tonight, all the kids are out." Didn't ever go: "Why do you avoid seeing me naked?" Oh no, she just woke up one day and went: the squirrel in the tree has seen me more naked in the last 2 years than her own husband. Let's also not forget that they never had their "First Dance" at their own wedding because they were busy socializing and Martin thought he could make up for the last two years by learning dance lessons and taking Lena out. HUH? Also, apparently no body thinks about birth control. Oh no, Night Club Guy can just whip it out and have sex with Lena like they are 17 and never once does Lena go: "Oh, do you have a condom?" Or that Martin feels so pissed seeing that he goes and sleeps with Lisa twice and yet the talk of birth control is never brought up. Oh look, here is a cliche bad cliffhanger with Lisa buying a pregnancy test. The day after she told off Martin that they were all lying to each other and their "underwater house" is bullshit. Because apparently, she missed her period the next day. Yeah, that will be such original story telling?

[teddysmom]

I figured Lena is on the pill or has an IUD.  

This show is so beneath Jenna Fischer it's not even funny. Even the promo photos piss me off.  Oliver Hudson has this smug look on his face and she is like "Oh well it's crazy". 

And they do like a 10 month time jump. Oh look everything is working out fine, we act like a family, we do everything together.  

So they're getting along really well, and STILL not having sex. 

Why even get divorced?