Not Dead Yet: Not Scattered Yet (2023)
Season 1, Episode 9
4/10
Annoying misdirection
14 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So I'll start with the B-story, I couldn't care less about the stereotypically written gay co-worker's (Dennis' character could be the same token gay character from almost any sitcom that allowed gay characters since the 1970's, he's been written that cartoonishly) egg donor nonsense. It COULD have been written as a friend asking friends for input on any of the insane hurdles gay couples face trying have children- doctors, agencies, choices, etc. Plenty of comedic material there in and of itself; instead it was some BS about time pressure and cartoonish indecision. Dennie isn't a character, he's an annoying caricature.

This whole B-plot tells you everything about how terrible these writers are that THIS is the best material they could come up with for the good actors involved in this b-story! Lauren Ash and Hannah Simone, especially, have proven themselves in other roles to be worthy of much better material than this.

The much more interesting A-story was just A TEASE- spoilers, Nell is written as a two-faced liar, and never reveals her power and writers slap on some BS that if Nell tells Cricket then somehow Cricket would have never got over her choice for Monty's final ash placement, blah, blah, blah! Again, BS! People that spread cremated ashes ROUTINELY pick multiple places to do partial disbursements. Could these writers at least do a rudimentary google search before writing...at least have a modicum of a frickin' clue about their chosen subject?!...EVER?!

Just like writing early on in the season that Nell's roommate has asperger's/autism spectrum issues yet now magically writing him as pretty normal without mention of new meds or therapies, just magically fixed because the lazy writers couldn't be bothered to write in changes, instead hoping the viewers have as short of attention spans as these writers have talent or attention to details. Anyone that has friends or family with this condition KNOW it doesn't just magically go away!

At least we got more screen time and dialogue between Nell and Monty. The best banter of this entire series, IMO, has been between these two characters.

Her time with the dead therapist that began the episode was over far too short. Should have been an entire episode unto themselves, IMO. But then I guess the writers/execs seem to feel smart conversations in sitcoms are too likely to tie up questions/plot points too soon. Better for characters to be dumb and drag things out...forever! Lazy, trope-y sitcom writing continues to let down this series. What was I thinking? This is an American network sitcom. Sophistication or intelligent characters not allowed, apparently, or maybe just on streaming services.
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