Mom, Leave The Crusts On!

Ryan asked me to apologise for Castle and The Cape not being up yet. He has a big veterinary exam coming up and if he doesn’t pass it he won’t be qualified to perform squirrel CPR. Well at least one part of that sentence was true. We do however have reviews of Shameless, How I Met Your Mother, House, Californication, and Bob’s Burgers. Not too shabby. Enjoy!

Spoilers.

How I Met Your Mother – “Desperation Day” (A-)

Last week I said I wanted to see Marshall’s high school years and boy did this show deliver. This was another fantastic episode from the series. Honestly, I think the Marshall’s dad dying storyline has been one of the best I’ve seen from this show in the last three seasons.

Obviously, watching Marshall regress was the comedic highlight of the episode for me. From the old school Gameboy to the Super Nintendo (I played a lot of video games as a kid), it was all a welcome blast from the past. It was his interaction with his mother though that truly stole the show.

TED: (yelling from Marshall’s room) Mrs. Ericson, we’re running low on Sunny D!
JUDY: Is orange juice okay?
TED AND MARSHALL: No!

MARSHALL: (in response to hearing his mom tripped over his hot wheels) Is my track okay?

MARSHALL: Mom, can you make us some PB&J for the road? With the crusts cut off. (to Ted) What are we doing? I mean, we’re men... mom, leave the crusts on!

But from the start this storyline has been about a lot more than just comedy, which is the reason why I’ve enjoyed it so much. My favourite scene in this episode was where Marshall describes his father driving him and his family to a cabin at night. He can’t see anything out the front of the car, but he feels safe because he knows his dad is driving. He follows it by saying that now that his dad is gone he can’t see where he’s going anymore. Later his dad appears to him in the car telling him “I couldn’t see worth a damn. I just kept driving forward hoping for the best”. And that’s it. Absolutely no attempt at humour. But that didn’t bother me at all. It was a wonderfully touching moment that reminds us why we care about these characters in the first place.

I also enjoyed Barney and Robin’s story this week. Pairing Barney up with Robin’s desperate friends (including Artemis from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) was a pretty genius move, and it led to plenty of funny moments. I also enjoyed watching him fall for Robin’s friend Nora (Nazanin Boniadi). He seems to really like her so I’m interested in seeing where this storyline takes us. Outside of Robin, who herself is a main character, I don’t think we’ve ever seen Barney in a real relationship, and with his dad soon entering the picture I wonder where this all fits in.

The only plotline I found weak this week was Ted’s. Sure I enjoyed all of his scenes with Marshall, but his reason for leaving New York in the first place didn’t really strike me as all that interesting. A lot of people rag on Zoey, and to be honest I don’t think she’s been that bad, but their seemingly unnecessary relationship drama this week didn’t exactly make me love this couple. It’s a pity too, because I really enjoyed the way they got together last week.

Californication – “Lawyers, Guns and Money” (A-)

This week's episode was great on plot points and pretty good on comedy.  

Hank is in trouble after the picture of him with Sasha and Mia circulates online.  Abbey drops him as a client, and Sasha drops out of the film.  But a silver lining remains as Eddie Nero wants to do the project.  So Hank has a meet and greet with Nero where the fantastic Rob Lowe character tells him all about his method acting and how once, to play a gay hit man, he engaged in oral sex with a man.  Just so he could understand the character.  

Hank, Eddie and Runkle eventually come to Becca's rescue when she is stuck in a tattoo parlour without the money to pay for the tattoo.  Eddie pulls a gun, some crazy shit ensues and Hank is left, still daughterless, lawyerless, pennyless, but plus one psychotic actor ready to play him in a movie.

But all is not lost.  Karen goes to see Abbey while all the stuff with Eddie and Becca is going down, and convinces her to take Hank back as a client.  Well... at least that’s the way it seems.  When Hank gets back to the hotel he is living in, he finds Abbey at the bar.  They chat for a bit.  She agrees she could take him back as a client in the morning, but as she says "there is little I can do for you as your lawyer tonight."  So, in true Moody fashion, Hank makes sweet, sweet love to her.

The very lovely lady in my life pointed out that I haven't been talking very much about the other storylines in Californication, so I’ll take a moment to catch up with those and in the future I’ll be more diligent about writing about them.  So Becca is in a band where she is living her youth in revolt lifestyle.  Marcy is pregnant, we presume with Charlie's baby.  But Marcy is also currently being courted by Stu, the producer behind Hank's movie.  In this episode, he tricks her into coming over by scheduling a wax.  They end up watching a movie together and making out in the end.  Karen is dating the father of a girl in Becca's band.  He looks like Ben Harper (at first I thought it was Hank being slightly racist, but really, he does).  Hank does not like that.

I really liked this episode.  As I wrote last week, I struggle with the way the women in Hank’s life manipulate him, but I realized this week, that I’m also pissed off at him for being so weak about it.  He never stands up to them.  For example, Sasha really fucked with him with that photo thing and then this episode he’s ready to sleep with her.  Sure she has nice tits, but come on Hank. Grow up.  It’s not so much that he’s a bad guy.  He’s a good guy, he’s just weak.  

I would have liked this episode to have a few more laughs though.  It just wasn’t quite up to the standard set by auto-erotic asphyxiation and other such moments this season.  But the plot was fantastic.  I like that Hank and Abbey hooked up and the way in which it was filmed at the end, cutting between them having sex and them talking at the bar was fantastic.  Becca and Marcy are doing a fabulous job as the filler storylines this season and I’m holding out hope that the trajectory of the show can handle a Hank that is not as majorly fucked up.  In Entourage, they’re able to shift focus every season, with characters go from being successful to not.  Why can't Hank change too?  Why can't he be helping people for once?  Have him settle down with Abbey, and give us a season or two with Hank holding it together for the people around him, not just him.  And then a big happily ever after.  I don't know why but I am really adverse to the dark endings this show is so good at.

Shameless – “Killer Carl” (A-)

At its core Shameless is a comedy first show, but that doesn’t mean it can’t bring the drama when it wants to. “Killer Carl” was an excellent example – a wonderfully poignant episode that highlighted a number of interesting character revelations, and kick started some equally interesting new storylines.

The main story revolved around Fiona doing everything she could to avoid Carl getting kicked out of school (potentially leading to a call from social services). I thought the families talk with Carl after their meeting with the principle was a particularly good scene, as was their celebration of his crippling of Lip’s assailant. It just goes to show how this family can support each other when they really need it.

But more than anything, this storyline did a phenomenal job of highlighting some of the emotional issues at stake for these characters. First they showed Fiona’s insecurities about letting people into her life. Her refusal to let Steve help her despite her desperate need for it was perfectly called out by Steve in their revealing scene towards the end of the episode. And while Fiona definately realized he was right she’s too proud a character to ever just let him have one, which made her response to his observation all the better.

FIONA: How come every time I want to fool around you can’t shut up?

Probably even more brilliant though was the way the writers used Carl’s troubles to take a deeper look at Frank. Frank actually did a really nice thing for Karen and Sheila this week, and even though he agreed to it under a great deal of duress you could tell he enjoyed how happy it made them. But it’s the way they sharply contrast his success with his new family to his failures with his old that made the storyline so smart. You couldn’t help but feel for Fiona and company when he walked into that school with Karen. The writers managed to simultaneously give us hope for his character, while revealing some of his deepest flaws.

I also thought Lip’s story this week showed a lot of promise. We knew he was smart, but up until this point we didn’t know he was perfect SATs smart. I thought all of his scenes with the investigator from the education board (or whatever it was) were particularly good. When the guy said he was from the University of Chicago I envisioned a Good Will Hunting type scenario in my head, but even if they don’t go that route I hope they hang on to the storyline – Lip working at a University would be fun to watch.

House – “You Must Remember This” (B-)

This episode lost some points from me for not following up on some of the lingering issues left from last week’s episode. Masters, who in the last episode was tricked and blackmailed by House came back this week as if nothing had changed in their relationship. Cuddy, who was really at the forefront of the previous episode, was barely shown in this one. I understand the show is somewhat of a procedural, but you can’t ignore changes like that.

The episode itself though, despite not tying up its predecessors loose ends, was still alright on its own. Not perfect, but not without its moments either. The main patient story, a woman who could remember every moment of her life, was interesting enough, if not a tad over done. I liked that, because of her memory, she couldn’t forgive people for anything. It was a well thought out side effect of the condition that played out nicely with patient’s sister. Yet, as is often the case on this show, the ending diagnosis came down to take the treatment or lose the gift, a dilemma this show has used just a little too often. It may have been nice to see the show break the mould here, if only for one episode.

I had mixed feelings about Taub and Foreman’s storyline this week as well. Just a week ago I was talking about how Taub was starting to become a more sympathetic character. Well following that up with him cheating on an exam wasn’t necessarily the best way to maintain that momentum. Still, I really liked the chemistry between Taub and Foreman, and I am unbelievably excited to see what storylines the writers come up with now that they are living together.

House and Wilson also provided a nice side story, adding some much needed comic relief to the episode. The plotline itself was a nice little reminder of how much his character, despite his gruff exterior, has changed over the past couple of seasons. It was clear he was only antagonizing Wilson out of concern for him, and the House of old would have never given Wilson the ten days he asked for at the end of episode.

Bob's Burgers – “Sexy Dance Fighting” (B+)

I laughed out loud many times during this episode.  It was very well done from a jokes perspective.  The plot was a little weak this week though.

Bobs is really settling into the same routine as many cartoon comedies.  Each character has their role, and as a show develops these characters settle into their roles and consistently play them for laughs.  Family Guy has Meg as the character to make fun of and Quagmire as the sex crazed loony.  The Simpsons have Lisa as the level-headed family member and Marge as the worrier etc. etc.  There are tons of examples out there and Bobs is starting to develop their own routine.  Louise and Gene continue to be a great source of one line drops and this week we got a closer look at Tina.

This episode starts with Tina depressed about a boy she has a crush on.  To get over it her siblings blindfold her, make her walk down the street (they don't lead her so she runs into everything) and they take her to what they think is the most hilarious thing in the world.  Capuera.  Brazilian dance fighting.

 Tina immediately wants to join the class because of the good looking instructor.  Louise and Gene can't understand because the place smells awful due to the bare feet of the participants.  But Tina buys the $14.95 DVD and much to Bob’s Chagrin starts to take the classes.  This prompts Bob to go down to the Capuera studio to get his daughter to come home because she has to work the grill.  The only problem is that it is 4:30 and time for Bob's daily "board meeting" (aka bowel movement).  Bob offends the class instructor who decides to dance fight him and after being whipped in the face by the man's ponytail and then sweep kicked to the floor, Bob promptly shits his pants.  

To make a long story short, Tina continues to take the classes and when she has a test to get her next level the instructor fails her.  This prompts a second fight between Bob and the instructor.  Bob gets knocked on his ass 20 or 30 times, but gets his daughter back.

The plot of the show makes relatively little sense, but Louise and Gene seem to be good for 3-4 solid laughs an episode and Bob is always good for a couple himself.  What more can you ask for?  That’s like 6 LOLs in 20 minutes.  I'm not looking for too much more.  I stopped watching family guy 5 years ago after I had to sit through the "Shipoopee" song or whatever that was in the Peter plays for the Patriots episode.  I haven't ventured back to Sunday night cartoons since.  I enjoyed this episode for the laughs but I need more plot points to feel really good about an episode.