Reviews

Great episode. The way they show us how different cultures insist that individuals in families must behave -- like it or not -- makes you get it that we're all voluntarily putting ourselves in prisons trying to abide with rules ancient civilizations dreamed up for reasons that have nothing to do with what's going on today.

Bravo.

Possibly one of the best written, funniest television episodes I've ever seen. Gonna watch this one a bunch. And, Chuck Lorre et al. Are doing a lot of good in the world. They make you believe we really can get along. (Sorry, Chuck, about all those things I said about you during 2 1/2 Men. You seem quite different now.)

Just found out The Unicorn has been canceled. That's nuts. They were crushing it.

Oh well.

But it was fun to notice that the reviewer who criticized "liberals" -- whatever that has to do with this show -- had typos throughout the review. There's a cause-and-effect relationship there. Stupid is as ....

Been following this series regularly since season three, ready for the series finale, but after about ten minutes of enduring the harshness that was coming from the Bonnie character in this episode, my husband told me he couldn't watch anymore and I told him I was just about to say the same thing. It was so grating. I felt if I watched one more minute I might start drinking.

Would love to see another reviewer tell me there was a payoff at the end that made it worth getting through the episode, and then I might -- might -- give it another chance, and change my rating, but yuck. Really. Yuck.

Tune into this series, America, unless you prefer to stay sound asleep.

I'm so grateful to have this very important subject revealed -- somewhat -- to me after all these years. I'm an avid news follower, and after watching these first few episodes of The US of Al, I'm realizing that the news has not covered the war in Afghanistan in a way that informed me about what was actually going on there. Afghanistan has been a buried headline. It's with this series I'm finally getting my first glimpse of this war.

This is a beautifully written and acted episode. It takes us step by step through the two main characters' story arcs, one finally revealing a moment of compassion in a relationship, the other masterfully flipping a deeply moving intensity -- a startling truth about a US promise to our helpers in Afghanistan was described -- seamlessly to a delightful frivolity. It was a high-wire act done with breathtaking perfection.

And loved seeing Jimmy Walker. Also, bravo on the Grenada joke. Grenada was the first time the press was not allowed in, so no one still really knows what happened. Hmmm. Kinda like Afghanistan.

It took me a few viewings to realize what they'd done here, and it's so fun. Now these are great comedy writers. This show is inexplicably underrated. They bring the funny. And in this episode, they structured one of the coolest sitcom jokes I've ever seen.

Don't worry. There are no spoilers here. You'll have to find it on your own. I'm just raising your awareness to watch for it. It works like this --

There's "something" that Melanie does. It's a character trait. They show us that trait in the very beginning of the episode. Later in the story, she goes the opposite of her character trait -- and it's done with hilarious sound effects. And then, immediately after that moment, we see her return to her original way.

It's hilarious. And brilliant.

This episode is a master class on how to write 1) keeping true to the characters, 2) expertly crafting a plot that keeps the viewer engaged, 3) funny, funny dialog and situations, and 4) giving the audience a level of thoughtful profundity that is rare.

I'll sign up for Sheldon's religion -- Mathology, where the only sin is stupidity!

I noticed that the reviewer that gave this episode a 4 out of 10 did so because their religion didn't come out on top in the show. Get used to it. After all the rampant hypocrisy we see in politicians and their base today -- it's going to become increasingly difficult for backward social positions to keep posing as religion.

How can anything be so exquisitely written and perfectly performed? It's gotta be other-worldly.

One of my all-time favorite lines from this series (which means one of my favorite lines ever on television) is in this episode.

Jason and Pillboi are planning to rob the restaurant using a big safe. (Of course the safe costs more than what they'll get in the robbery by a pretty big multiple, but we don't think about that.) And Pillboi asks what they'll do if they get caught, and Jason says, "We'll get married and then no one can testify against us."

This season three finale is about as big a "wow" moment as has ever been on television, but the entire series so far has been about as big a "wow" moment as well.

Whose is the predominant mind behind this show? Is it Jim Parsons? Chuck? Someone else? A combination? Because whoever it is, this is the secret sauce.

And the genius applies to the entire production. Writers. Actors. Really. Academy Awards have been given out for lesser screenplays and performances.

And then there's the sets (welcome to East Texas), the costumes (ditto), and the hair and makeup (Annie Potts' wigs and eyeliner -- get out!), and the attention to detail when pop songs are played, and ... somebody stop me!

Loved this series. Adopted a cat during it we named Eleanor. But was disappointed in the lack of vision at the end.

To the writers -- so, the only possible form of good is what the human mind can conjure up, and once that's done, you just get absorbed back into the universe? Nah. There's a goodness, an unfathomable goodness, that extends infinitely beyond what the human mind could ever conceive in its wildest imagination.

But we are so afraid to believe in it.

First of all, whenever Nicole Sullivan does a guest appearance, it'll be worth it. (Go watch her on Mom. OMG.) And the story arc she's in here sets up one funny scene after the next. Watching our friends -- the characters -- running through the hospital is truly hilarious.

And if the interactions in a subplot between Kofo and Christina don't make you feel happy all over, seek help.

Future episodes are really looking good. The plot thickens.

Delightful episode. So happy for Forrest. And Grace. And Michelle's upcoming new life. But where this episode really crushes it is that it has what might just possibly be the best meet-cute scene ever. That's what you'll be thinking as you watch it. Soooo obviously the next big thing in Wade's life, but you'll be like, "I ain't never scene (get it?) a guy and a gal start off quite like this." Take that, Hepburn and Tracy!

The morning after this episode aired, it's rating was 5.8. Now, the next day, the rating is 7.7. Apparently this series is being hit by trolls.

This is a great episode. It thoughtfully and comically explores different ways of looking at certain subjects, the subject of religion in particular. Of course, when it comes to that subject, everyone believes their viewpoint is correct, and even with the characters all feeling this way, it left us liking them all even more than we already did.

Makes you see that when someone asks if you believe in God, what they're saying is, "Do you believe in God the way I've defined it? If not, you're an atheist."

And there's a big shout out to mothers to let their adult sons go. Go, Kemi!

I love this show!

I'm not much of a comedy person. I started this because I didn't want to get off the couch, but it was really really good. I laughed a whole lot. I really liked it. A whole lot. I can't wait for the next episode. And the guy who's playing the main guy is AMAZING!