[7.0/10] This is a weird episode, but I think it balances out to a solid one. Not every story works, and not every jokes works, but they eventually even out to something in the middle.
I think I enjoyed George MIchael’s story the best. The concept of mild-mannered George Micael trying to be the bad boy to put off Rebel’s family is a funny concept. His attempt to dye his hair pink, resulting in it being “Howard red” is a funny bit, and I appreciate his inability to not play the nice guy. Plus, him using Rebel’s money as a “stake” in Fakeblock to bail Buster out makes for a promising development.
My least favorite is the bit with Tobias and Murphy Brown. It’s more “Tobias is gay and a failed actor” jokes without any new angle on them, and Kyle Mooney adds nothing. I’m sure there’s something plot-relevant to him pretending to be George and signing that paper, but it’s a meh road to get there.
I also liked Maeby’s storyline here. There’s a theme to the episode of people realizing what they’re looking for in parent-child relationships. Maeby trying to put Stan off, only to realize that he’s the surrogate father she never had, only to then see that no, he has the hots for her, is an amusing series of turns.
GOB’s material is really hit or miss. His gag about George Sr. using the phrase “G-O-B” to mean screw-up is a laugher. But the shtick with Kitty is more awkward than amusing. Still, the Tony Wonder material continues to be just weird and earnest enough to be funny and compelling.
Michael’s story was the biggest mixed bag, though. I don’t even know what the show’s trying to do with him. There’s a few amusing moments as he tries to cozy up to the Howard family in order to convince them not to go forward with the Bluth movie, only to accidentally be talked into a true crime docu-series project. (Bryce Dallas Howard has a fun cameo in particular.) But a lot of it just feels random and aimless.
That said, as tired as I am of George Sr.’s running suicide jokes, I did get a laugh out of his advice to Buster about threatening skinheads to show dominance turning into a clockwork gag of him attacking Ron Howard.
Overall, this is the sort of episode that feels several drafts away from matching the humor of the show’s original run. In particular, the pacing is all over the place, but it has its moments.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-07-21T00:47:09Z
[7.0/10] This is a weird episode, but I think it balances out to a solid one. Not every story works, and not every jokes works, but they eventually even out to something in the middle.
I think I enjoyed George MIchael’s story the best. The concept of mild-mannered George Micael trying to be the bad boy to put off Rebel’s family is a funny concept. His attempt to dye his hair pink, resulting in it being “Howard red” is a funny bit, and I appreciate his inability to not play the nice guy. Plus, him using Rebel’s money as a “stake” in Fakeblock to bail Buster out makes for a promising development.
My least favorite is the bit with Tobias and Murphy Brown. It’s more “Tobias is gay and a failed actor” jokes without any new angle on them, and Kyle Mooney adds nothing. I’m sure there’s something plot-relevant to him pretending to be George and signing that paper, but it’s a meh road to get there.
I also liked Maeby’s storyline here. There’s a theme to the episode of people realizing what they’re looking for in parent-child relationships. Maeby trying to put Stan off, only to realize that he’s the surrogate father she never had, only to then see that no, he has the hots for her, is an amusing series of turns.
GOB’s material is really hit or miss. His gag about George Sr. using the phrase “G-O-B” to mean screw-up is a laugher. But the shtick with Kitty is more awkward than amusing. Still, the Tony Wonder material continues to be just weird and earnest enough to be funny and compelling.
Michael’s story was the biggest mixed bag, though. I don’t even know what the show’s trying to do with him. There’s a few amusing moments as he tries to cozy up to the Howard family in order to convince them not to go forward with the Bluth movie, only to accidentally be talked into a true crime docu-series project. (Bryce Dallas Howard has a fun cameo in particular.) But a lot of it just feels random and aimless.
That said, as tired as I am of George Sr.’s running suicide jokes, I did get a laugh out of his advice to Buster about threatening skinheads to show dominance turning into a clockwork gag of him attacking Ron Howard.
Overall, this is the sort of episode that feels several drafts away from matching the humor of the show’s original run. In particular, the pacing is all over the place, but it has its moments.