Reviews

Buffy's ability to have a halfway normal life are squelched at each pass. When the Watcher finds something in one of his books, anything she wants to do is put aside. Here she meets a guy named Owen, who is the strong silent type, who is taken with her, but whom she can't inform of her "gifts." There is another on of those things that are predicted, which will allow the master escape from his captivity. Two dates with Owen are ruined by the fact that Buffy is a vampire slayer. Things are prophesied, including the deaths of five people on a mini-bus. There is a long involved scene at a mortuary where Buffy must save the day.

My intention was to watch a couple episodes so I could speak intelligently about this show. I said previously that a dear friend and a professor wrote an entire book on Buffy. Vampires aren't really my cup of tea, but what sets this up, for now, is a group of interesting characters/friends who will need to work together whenever one of these supernatural creatures pops up. This second episode was quite delightful in that Buffy gets closer to her buddies (and the librarian) and saves the bacon of half the cool kids in the town. Of course, they go unappreciated, even though they watch friends get their blood sucked and escaped only because of Buffy. I did enjoy Willow doing the computer thing, erasing her adversaries' tedious work. I think I will watch episode three.

I should start out by saying I'm quite an old guy. I had a roommate in college who went on to be full professor in American Studies. One of his major interests was offbeat contemporary film. I was really surprised when he later became intrigued with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I have respected him more than anyone I know. He has since passed away. I have heard of this show for years but with streaming thought I would take a look. Of course, the title is so unlikely to draw people like me to it. I never saw the movie that led to this. Maybe, I should take a gander at it. The first episode after, apparently, an unreleased pilot, has some charm. The actors are such caricatures, but I enjoyed their tribal culture. I taught in the public schools for over forty years, so I was there during this era.

I was surprised too see that Buffy was already a vampire slayer (probably from the movie). I figured it was something a seemingly innocent girl found out about herself. We are introduced to a set of characters who are simply classmates and school people. They are a bit of the nerdy variety, of course. But we are also introduced to the fact that there are demons and vampires all over the place. A boy is killed by one within a minute or two of the episode. We are also made privy to a librarian who knows what Buffy is and knows what's out there. I'm certainly hooked for the second episode where Buffy is being assaulted by these monsters. My concern (if there is such a need for that word) is how they can sustain this premise through seven seasons without it being the same old same old. Just wondering.

It's the same old stuff episode after episode. This time his old man shows up. He is a totally immoral jerk who has no control. At least the tiresome plots of the last two episodes seem behind us. I'm not opposed to profanity when it serves some purpose, but Loudermilk and all the guys in his group are so sickeningly profane that just feels stupid. I wish I could stop writing here because this is my swan song. I thought this was a clever idea with a clever character, but everything is the lowest common denominator. I assumed at some point that there would be some decent development. It's just bullying. So long.

I'm growing tired of the business with Cutter and the advertising guy. He has invaded and won't leave. I hope they move on to something else soon. The show has dropped a point or two for me, but it is salvageable. We do find out a little about Loudermilk at the end. The business at the ad agency was too much for me. He is so angry and mean but he gets a chance to be a positive force. The people in the group force him to tell his weaknesses. They are his pawns and he avoid the obvious. I did enjoy the Kermit the Frog stuff at the conclusion. Take the most tragic even possible and turn it into a laugh.

There was so much in this episode, I don't know where to start. First of all, a trick was played on us. In the last episode, it closed with Kevin driving and a final shot of a car in the ditch on fire. You know what we thought. So we now see Kevin, panic stricken, after getting a call that Madison is in labor. He is a knee jerk guy and he leaves the set of his movie, leaving people high and dry, and starts driving carelessly, focusing on the phone instead of his driving. And, we know now, that there is a man in the car and Kevin pulls him out and gets him in his car. He is trying to get to the Seattle airport to catch a flight to LA. Of course, his wallet dropped out of his jacket when he used it to help the guy. His appearance at the airport has a sad conclusion. Even the Manny can't get the airport officials to let him on a plane. In other events we have a young Jack being mistreated by his drunken father. He is with Kevin, going to a quarterback camp, and doesn't realize how he is putting tremendous pressure on Kevin. It was interesting to see George Eads from CSI as his somewhat abusive football coach. Randall plays a small part in this one, but we can see the ice breaking between the brothers. Also, Madison is welcomed into the family as she awaits her delivery. Oh, I wondered where all the "one" ratings were this time.

I'm looking at this episode as a means for some unanswered questions to be answered. Yes Randall is continually conflicted and carrying around anger that has reached a peak. He had a link when William came into his life, and now he is suspicious of what he was told. The story is unravelled filling in decades of mystery. I do admit the business with the lake is too much and the supernatural element turned me off. But there were answers. I'm amazed at the naive responses to why this young woman didn't search for her son. The police brought her to a hospital. When she tried to tell her story, the nurses talked about her use of drugs when she had a baby. Then, she recovers and it thrown in prison for five years. Why should they help her. She is just a worthless doper who has no moral character. These sorts of things go on every day. Quit saying people would not have acted that way unless you have had personal experience.

We have several people with several personalities. I noticed none of the reviewers said that if only Jack's father would have been nice to him, he wouldn't have issues. He isn't nice to him because of who he is. Write about the episode and quit trying to tell whoever (some ethereal spirit) how to present characters. This episode has everything. Oh, that's right. Kate shouldn't be who she is. So instead they should have put a skinny, happy girl who has no problems in her place. Oh, and Randall shouldn't care about his past, right? But that's not the case. They are characters. They interact and their personalities are their own, and the big three are not above any conflict. I thought that Kate's interaction with that jerk was spot on. Yes, people do have pain that they carry with them. Especially a teenage girl who has an abortion. Oh that's right. You're not going to watch the show any more. Wow. That's going to have quite the impact.

While I've enjoyed discovering this show, some of it can be pretty harsh. This one bothered me. The poor guy who is victimized by his boss didn't seem funny. He needs his job and, obviously, the boss is a class A beast. I'm surprised that Loudermilk didn't get involved with him in some way. The poor sap, the New New Guy, attends meetings. It is a ruse to get his boss off the hook for a DUI requirement. While there he comes to realize he does have problems of a different sort. But he has been embraced by a sponsor, a huge man who could play defensive tackle in the NFL. He is a stickler for order and this complicates things. Loudermilk does some weird stuff, especially absconding with his neighbor's record collection because he doesn't like her choices. By the way, did the show Glee ever put out their music on vinyl?

Claire has a monumental snoring problem, no doubt from sleep apnea. As a former C-Pap user, I know the necessity of these things. Our guy realizes that Claire needs a prescription to order a C-Pap and so he gets his neighbor's boyfriend, a doctor, to get him one. But it isn't easy because the guy is self centered and won't budge, until..... I won't say what happened but it is pretty hilarious. The great thing about this show is that nothing ever seems to work out for the guy. Even when he does things for people, his history seems to get in the way. Anyway, there are several wonderful scenes here. The group sessions are absolutely hilarious.

One of the things I've enjoyed after three episodes is Loudermilk's propensity to create confrontations. In this one, two big men with red plaid shirts happen to be standing on the sidewalk. Our hero begins to belittle them. They have beards so he asks them about Civil War battles, assuming they are Civil War actors. He, amazingly, goes off scot free because of the gentlemen's confusion. I haven't learned all the names of the guys in his group meetings, but one of them tossed his daughter aside because she asked to go to a Hannah Montana concert when it was his day with her. He has not seen her in eight years. So Loudermilk sets things in motion. Of course, it doesn't work out. There are more caustic rejoinders and funny bits. We also get to see more of Claire's issues.

What we have here is an amazing actor dealing with a host of really well crafted scripts. As Eldon Chance Hugh Lauries nails the character. The show is filled with a host of confrontations, dark maneuverings, and secrets. I mostly want to talk about the star. When Laurie did House he nailed the character. He was dealing with a guy with amazing talents but issues with drugs. Here Chance is another sideways character. He is tense and astute and a pleasure to watch. He gets in with some really awful people. I was sorry to see that this show was cancelled after two seasons because he was just getting warmed up.

Most of the episode involves the formative years of Kevin and his mother's inability to not allow him to fail. As a baby, he cried every night and every night within ten seconds someone came to him. Jack tried to get Rebecca to wait him out a bit, but she was adamant that she would ruin him for life. In some ways, she did. He had issues of quitting all along. We see this when he has been touted as an excellent football player. As a quarterback, he needs to know all the plays and how each player will execute them. When his coach is down on him, he is ready to quit. We have seen numerous scenes in this show where he belittles Randall who is a stellar student and a hard worker. But it is Randall that saves his bacon.

Kate and Toby are involved in the ultrasound and Kate gives the child a name. She then begins to worry that it was offensive to the birth mother. After that she has a talk with Keven as each of them is driving. She points out what Randall told her. Kevin thinks that his parents spent no time with him, deferring to Randall. We know from watching the show that Kevin had star status from the beginning, especially as an athlete and the apple of his father's eye. Finally, no spoilers. Just that there are a couple of huge developments that are revealed that will take us into the future. There is also a great scene with Malik blowing it at Randall's office.

This episode was pretty good but in fits and jerks. There were some pretty good scenes. The discussion between Kevin and Madison was quite significant as they bear their souls to one another. Each admits to having significant issues in their past. She is bulimic and he has his alcoholism. He is a workout freak which is his method of coping with his desires. He is also very aware of his relationship with his brother.

Madison has constant fears she may be gaining weight but she is carrying twins. Toby and Kate are facing the fears of depending on a mother who has not given birth yet, pulling back and changing her mind. It sets up future episodes as we realize that try as we might, it isn't always to be. Randall is now Face Timing with a black psychologist whom he has chosen to guide him.

Fisolks--Randall is one character in the show. I can't believe the intense comments about his feelings and his issues. They are issues. No one says they are right or wrong. The writers aren't praising him--they are merely presenting a guy like him. His cruelty to Kate was hard to watch, but he has been back and forth throughout the show's run. He drove a wedge when he took over the care of Rebecca and drove her to accept the clinical trial. Covid got in the way and she didn't go, but the resentment is there. How do we react when we are under attack? We strike back. Others were justified in being furious at him, but he is what he is. This show is not here to make a saccharine imprint. It shows real people with real problems. Sometimes going for the throat. There reason for taking two points off is the ending with the paramedics. It seemed to cheapen things and set up a sort of ridiculous set of circumstances. I did enjoy the love and caring of Kevin. I thought the flashback of Jack at the hospital made him look like a bit of a nutcase. I'm sorry so many of you have decided to make this your last episode. Oh, by the way, it's only a show.

I have a suggestion. If all you want is a show without any substance, there are stations running old Gilligan's Island episodes. This show has been on the cutting edge of human interaction from the very start and continues. Randall and his family are BLACK. Do you really think that their lives are not affected by that fact? We have seen the poverty and despair of many of those characters, but mention what went on in Minneapolis and they're ruining "your" show. What Kevin said to Randall was way beyond what was appropriate, even in a rivalry. While I thought Randall's actions regarding his mother were not to her benefit, he was portraying an honest and believable character. As for religion and begging for God to intervene: That's fine but maybe if people started walking the walk when it comes to their "beliefs" we might have a better world.

Claire comes into the scene permanently as she tries to arrest her demons. Loudermilk and his roommate have an interesting chemistry and she drops right in. As this episode went along we can see that while it is mostly comedic, there are some harsh realities the our embattled hero must teach. Apparently, he was once a counselor to members of rock bands but got drunk and disorderly and lost his way. This episode is more entertaining than the first one as we learn more about the guy. The scene in the forest was quite good. Unfortunately, the roommate, who is his AA sponsor is drinking, making Loudermilk think it's the girl.

I only watched this because I've been shooting blanks when it comes to picking out something to watch for fun. I like the name Loudermilk because of John D. And Kirk of the old Minnesota Vikings. We are introduced to this outrageous, irreverent guy who has been off the sauce for four years and who runs counseling sessions for abusers and reprobates. It is really profane and ugly, but the writing is quite delightful. We are introduced to his apartment house mates and they play off him well. He is already taken with the new girl. This episode is about a twenty something young woman who is into bad substance abuse. He needs to help her to keep his place for holding his sessions.

Sometimes I feel I lecture too much in my reviews. I'll only say it once. Don't lower the score because you don't like the way a character is acting! This is an amazing episode. If anything, there may be too much crammed into it. First of all, we have the first birthday of little Jack. We have an exciting future move for Kate and Toby. We see events in the future when Jack, the musician, and his wife have a baby. There's more, but at the center is the clash of forces when Randall literally extorts his mother into going to the St. Louis clinic. He betrays his siblings. Of course, inis head, he believes that he was what saved the family. Of course, he was a solid force, but life isn't just about him. Kevin finds out what he did and they have an incredibly ugly final scene. Kevin also gets some pretty remarkable news and after all these years he needs to grow up. We are given a look at Rebecca's future and the futures of the others. Season Five is going to be quite amazing. Finally, am I dense. Who's the redhead with the horse?

I'm looking at "reviewers." There are some nice ones. But what I have trouble with is when people give low scores because they don't like a particular character. This time it's Randall. I also tire of his character, but that's the person he is. They are all characters and their interactions are what make the show. With Randall it doesn't matter if you like him or not. He is what he is in the development of the show. What do you want to do? Enter the screen and explain to him that he should change? This actor is amazing with all issues coming out; all his insecurities. And his smug self centeredness. I guess people just want everyone to be nice. The business with the counselor is about as it gets. And the reality of it, is he doesn't change overnight because there is so much ingrained in him. He has a savior complex but that's him being a good character.

Once again, superb. Rebecca is beginning to lose herself to this disorder. We see two time periods, both involving Kevin and a trip. Kevin goes with Rebecca on a necessary shopping trip. He is along so he can go to a baseball card store and look for a specific card, Toronto Blue Jay's John Candelaria. They have a lot of fun on the trip because they forget about their day to day problems. Rebecca gets into the process of opening card packs and seeing what is inside. When they strike treasure it is a delightful moment. Meanwhile, Kate is having doubts about Toby and his motives in trying to do something nice for her. She has to come to grips with what heppens when you are consumed by what ifs.