GRChereck January 26, 2019 Share January 26, 2019 Quote Maya and Melanie (Sarah Chalke) take their promising new fashion line to the 2019 Abilities Expo, only to walk into a room full of familiar and unfriendly faces. Ray accompanies JJ on an overnight college visit. Meanwhile, Dylan's test scores lead her first to Mr. Powers' office hours, then to a journey within. Link to comment
GRChereck February 2, 2019 Author Share February 2, 2019 (edited) Like two of my favorite episodes (1x13 "Sick Day" and 2x12 "The Hustle"), discussion of familial roles was all over this one: -- Jimmy holds up his relationship with Maya as a model for Kenneth to emulate with Melanie, urging him to support and not question her when she's in charge; but later when things look especially hopeless for the ladies, Jimmy (who otherwise has a hard time seeing how he "matters") steps up when he's needed most and gives them a talk to pick up their spirits. With his advice, emphasizing how they're fighters for their families (especially their special-needs children), M&M are better-equipped to try to win over the many people they'd picked fights with and wronged in the past (they even finally get their own unnecessarily cumbersome slogan right). -- JJ relishes an opportunity to go on a college tour without his mom, so of course it would infuriate him all the more when Ray takes the "Mom" role upon himself instead of just being a brother to have fun with; Ray gets frustrated with JJ's resistance "at every turn" and attempts to prove he can loosen up (he still can't stand beer, but what he thinks is "dessert" -- Jell-O shots -- ends up doing the trick). While taking a drunken Ray from the party to the dorm, JJ's new friend says "There's nothing worse than a guy who needs your help but won't take it" (referring to Ray's grumbling about JJ's "driving"), which JJ takes to heart; as he's putting Ray to bed, JJ admits it's not easy for him to accept help from his little brother, but he acknowledges that they should look out for each other and he appreciates Ray's efforts. :) -- Speaking of Ray, his being "the smart one" in the DiMeo family is revealed by Dylan as the root of her struggles in school (to Mr. Powers, who wants to understand the gap between her outstanding standardized-test score and her less-than-stellar classwork / grades); after a call to a drunken Ray, who attributes her superior schemes and pranks to her sharp intelligence, she realizes the doesn't have to be constrained by her own role if Ray can be "dumb" once in a while (though as one who presumably still isn't inclined to care what others think, she'll continue to see grades as the sort of "external validation" she doesn't feel she needs). Edited February 2, 2019 by GRChereck correction 4 Link to comment
kathyk24 February 2, 2019 Share February 2, 2019 I hated Ray in this episode. He was acting as JJ's PCA and he gets drunk? That's irresponsible behavior and I'm surprised JJ wasn't angry with him like he was with Kenneth in Inspirations. I liked Dylan's storyline and Jimmy's speech to Maya. Link to comment
Chit Chat February 2, 2019 Share February 2, 2019 8 hours ago, kathyk24 said: He was acting as JJ's PCA and he gets drunk? In Ray's defense, he didn't know those were jello shots. He thought they were dessert, and by the time he realized what he'd done, it was too late! As far as protecting JJ, I'm sure that's a tough position for Ray to be in. He's grown up watching what can go wrong and how it adversely affects JJ, so it would be difficult to step away from the "protector" role - especially in the environment they were in where nobody knows JJ, and there were quite a few drunks running around too. The family is having to relearn their roles in regards to a grown-up JJ. 11 Link to comment
Bobbin February 2, 2019 Share February 2, 2019 It's hard and frustrating for JJ to assert himself as the protective big brother, but he always manages to come through. Carrying Ray and putting him to bed was a sweet role reversal. I laughed when drunk-drowsy Ray asked JJ to repeat that he loved Ray for trying to help after Ray was sober and could remember it, and JJ shook his head "No." Drunk Ray reminds me of the Halloween episode when a drunk JJ drove his "Delorean" into a tree! 4 Link to comment
bros402 February 3, 2019 Share February 3, 2019 I preferred Ray in this episode as opposed to recent ones - at least Ray getting drunk makes sense - he thought he was eating Jello. This episode was a lot better than some of the recent ones 4 Link to comment
71dude February 3, 2019 Share February 3, 2019 Quote This episode was a lot better than some of the recent ones Agreed - even Mr. Powers was less campy than usual. I've been waiting for a Ray drunk scene and they delivered. I have nothing against Sarah Chalke but her character just doesn't interest me. I'd rather see Marin Hinkle but she appears to be in another show. 2 Link to comment
bros402 February 4, 2019 Share February 4, 2019 8 hours ago, 71dude said: Agreed - even Mr. Powers was less campy than usual. I've been waiting for a Ray drunk scene and they delivered. I have nothing against Sarah Chalke but her character just doesn't interest me. I'd rather see Marin Hinkle but she appears to be in another show. Marin Hinkle is in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - if you haven't watched it, watch it - one of the funniest comedies in years. I like Sarah Chalke - she brings more to the character than the writers put on the page. 5 Link to comment
SnarkySheep February 4, 2019 Share February 4, 2019 So Melanie claims to be Disability Supermom all the time, as much as Maya...but has all this time to hang out at the Dimeos', working on their business and going out with Kenneth? Where IS Logan, by the way?? 1 Link to comment
GRChereck February 4, 2019 Author Share February 4, 2019 46 minutes ago, SnarkySheep said: So Melanie claims to be Disability Supermom all the time, as much as Maya...but has all this time to hang out at the Dimeos', working on their business and going out with Kenneth? Where IS Logan, by the way?? I would assume he's in school, being watched by Taylor at home, or their dad has joint custody (like a couple weekends a month or so) -- speaking of which, Mel must be getting a helluva lot of alimony and child support if she can afford to start a home business and (apparently) not have to work a regular job outside the home... Link to comment
tennisgurl February 5, 2019 Share February 5, 2019 I liked the plot with Ray and JJ, I could understand both of them, and why Ray wanted to look out for JJ, and JJ not wanting to admit that he needs help. And Ray while Ray didnt mean to get drunk, I actually preferred this to Ray going to increasingly ridiculous lengths to hit on girls. A lot of the season seemed to be about the family trying to get ready to see JJ as an adult who is trying to make his own way in the world (when he can) and JJ trying to look at a world where he finds a balance in accepting help when he needs it, and moving on from living with his family all the time and striking out on his own. 2 Link to comment
bros402 February 5, 2019 Share February 5, 2019 15 hours ago, GRChereck said: I would assume he's in school, being watched by Taylor at home, or their dad has joint custody (like a couple weekends a month or so) -- speaking of which, Mel must be getting a helluva lot of alimony and child support if she can afford to start a home business and (apparently) not have to work a regular job outside the home... Logan probably gets like ~600 a month in SSI. Let's just say Logan and Taylor's father is a doctor who likes to daydream and has a best friend who is a surgeon. 3 Link to comment
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