Season 2 is a great follow up to season 1. It addressed all of the loose ends. And the way the grandfather reappeared, caused more friction between the Salinger siblings. Happily Ever After, is the peak point of the season. True there was the Charlie/Kristen « cold feet », and Sarah's search for her biological mother, earlier. But this storyline involves the Salinger family as a whole, and how complex their story can be. And it even made you sympathize with that flake of a man, they call grandpa. I also love Justin's analogy to describe his couple with Julia, after all the ordeals they went through. But still flat out hate how badly she treated him there, with her stupid crush for Griffin. With whom she'll have the shortest marriage in History... I guess she got it from her grandfather, which is ironic considering how resentful she is towards him at first. And find excuses only she can validate, to explain her « mood change » regarding this as well. It's safe to say she's the worst character this season. Then there's the Charlie and Kathleen fling, that ended badly, yet in a satisfying way. As Charlie got what was he deserved, for all the bad he did to women over his ten or so years of dating and hookups. I think her name was Karma... Obviously holier than thou Bailey got on my nerves too, but it was before he became a drunk, and could own up to his mistakes. The scene between Claudia and her grandpa at the park, was sweet. Perfect Po5 « tissue moment ». And the soundtrack was great on both the TV and DVD version.
3 Reviews
The Damage Caused
tomasmmc-7719819 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Julia's miscarriage caused a big hole in her relationship with Justin, but only he tries to fix the damage. She is insecure and upset so he tries to ease the pain by buying new stuff for her bedroom, changing the ceiling of her room with plastic stars and moons, even writing a story. Nothing works. He shows her that he loves her despite all but she can't get through it, not even hold his hand. At some point, he can't take this anymore so he demands a response. He tells her that since the "thing they can't talk about" (the miscarriage) happened, he has been trying, but they don't laugh, they don't kiss, they don't even hold hands. He says he let go the trip she took, he never asked, but he thinks she never returned. So he asks her to go to a school dance, but if she can't say yes, it means they have to break up. She says ok, so they go. They wait aside during the pop songs, and he suggests to dance a slow tune. They dance, hugging each other, but when she sees the rest of the couples, she realizes that she can't. Julia tells that she wants to feel ok, to dance with him, but she doesn't feel ok. She can't, and leaves. It's sad for both of them, he's not asking too much, he doesn't want to move on like nothing happened, he just want to feel that somehow she still loves him, with a simple gesture. Anyway, I understand Julia's position, she has to look around to everyone, see them happy and laughing, and she just can't feel it. He's hurt but for obvious reasons, but she feels worst.
As for Jake's story, as Julia managed the situation hurting Claudia and then apologizing in Comings and Goings, now it's Bailey's turn. After a happy moment between Claudia, Owen, Charlie, Bailey and Jacob, planting and spraying water in the backyard, Bailey finds out, checking messages on the phone, that their grandfather has another daughter, Lauren. He follows them and then talks to his half-aunt, she says that somehow she knew Jake had another daughter. She explains that he was a real dad, but that he could take off for a year or two, and suddenly return with presents and hugs. When Bailey asks her why she wants Jake to be at her wedding, she tells that he is who he is and that she still waits for him because is all she has (she can't choose the father she wants). Later, while Claudia and Jake are reading a magazine, Bailey arrives and sends her to give Owen a bath. She's reluctant, but she goes. So Bailey confronts Jake about Lauren, and he adamantly answers that she has nothing to do with them, it's completely separated. Bailey doesn't want to believe him because he lied, and, afraid that he could take off, makes the wrong choice in kicking him out. When he tells the rest about it, Julia recalls the two wedding rings, and sides with Bailey. Charlie is surprised, but he still wants Jake around because what he did is in the past, now he feels real, and gives him a break by running the house. Claudia is the most hurted, she knows Jake loves them, and thinks he won't take off. Then, while watering the plants in the backyard, she is really saddened and tells Bailey that he is the one who's taking Jake away now. So finally, in a very good scene, he visits his grandfather at the hotel, and tells that losing people is a soft spot for them, so he demands an explanation for his track record. Jake explains to him that when he was married to his grandmother those years, he felt trapped. He says that many times he would drive for a few hours, and then return home. But the last time, he couldn't. That's what happened, and what happens with him. They both say sorry, and Bailey tells him not to disappear and to come to the house anytime he can, because they need him (they lost many people so far). He also asks him to let them know when something happens, if he dies. Then, while they take Owen to the park, Claudia and Jake agree in sharing their memories of Diana, because she knows things from her that he doesn't (when she was big), and so he does (when she was little). He promises that he'll be back here and there, before he leaves in one of his trips. This storyline was excellent. Carroll O'Connor again was outstanding. The last scenes were really emotional, and gives a lot to think about. How many children with separated parents are in the world, how many with a father who ran away? What's the right thing to do? It's not easy, it is what it is. It's unfair, It's wrong, but that's what happens. At the end, the important thing is if the person really loves the family. Here, Jake was lost many years, he wasn't present, but for what he said, he never forgot. He cared and he loves his family. He loved Diana, and in some ways, he wanted to stay with her, but his wishes to escape were stronger. He had regrets, and for what he'll say one day, he'd take back that mistake if he could. That's why Claudia again was the voice of reason, the moral compass, she knew which was the right thing to do. For some reason, she always does.
In the last storyline, Charlie is feeling miserable after Kathleen tells that she loves him on TV, so before she asks him to meet her mother, he invents the reverse story of what's gonna happen: he tells her that he's not a very good liar (this line just makes me laugh), that he missed the speech because Kirsten came by the restaurant because she wants him back. He says that he's sorry for doing this (really?) but he will prioritize her because they were 2 seconds from getting married. He dumps Kathleen this way because telling the truth in last episode didn't work. In the house Charlie explains this to Owen after taking him from daycare, that he had no choice. He says that he could have handled it better, but he did it for her sake. He also tells that maybe he'd want to invent a story to get away from a girl who offers milk and cookies, for example, that he's lactose intolerant. Owen doesn't say a word, he just opens his hands as gesture. This was a really funny scene. Obviously Owen didn't understand what Charlie said, but I think he got something, what is a big fat lie. Anyway, as Charlie is still under the Salinger's curse, Kathleen finds Kirsten's phone number, calls and realizes she's out of town until the 22 (obviously march 22). So acting as a wealthy vengative TV producer, when he visits to take back the stuff he had there, and to return the keys, she tells him that she found out his lie, so now she will buy the restaurant given the money she invested there. This story was great overall, the only parts I didn't like were the first scene with them talking at her place, and that Julia and Claudia were happy about Kathleen thanking Charlie on TV. At least now, the only one who thinks about Kirsten is Charlie. Then, there's something I couldn't write before, but now is relevant: in 2x17, why Charlie accepted such a big investment for the restaurant from a woman whom he had a casual relationship?? If he couldn't take a loan of 7000 $ from Kirsten in 1x16, what the hell was he thinking? I still can't believe how the writers made Charlie so naïve, so immature. Totally against the real Charlie, shown in season 1.
As for Jake's story, as Julia managed the situation hurting Claudia and then apologizing in Comings and Goings, now it's Bailey's turn. After a happy moment between Claudia, Owen, Charlie, Bailey and Jacob, planting and spraying water in the backyard, Bailey finds out, checking messages on the phone, that their grandfather has another daughter, Lauren. He follows them and then talks to his half-aunt, she says that somehow she knew Jake had another daughter. She explains that he was a real dad, but that he could take off for a year or two, and suddenly return with presents and hugs. When Bailey asks her why she wants Jake to be at her wedding, she tells that he is who he is and that she still waits for him because is all she has (she can't choose the father she wants). Later, while Claudia and Jake are reading a magazine, Bailey arrives and sends her to give Owen a bath. She's reluctant, but she goes. So Bailey confronts Jake about Lauren, and he adamantly answers that she has nothing to do with them, it's completely separated. Bailey doesn't want to believe him because he lied, and, afraid that he could take off, makes the wrong choice in kicking him out. When he tells the rest about it, Julia recalls the two wedding rings, and sides with Bailey. Charlie is surprised, but he still wants Jake around because what he did is in the past, now he feels real, and gives him a break by running the house. Claudia is the most hurted, she knows Jake loves them, and thinks he won't take off. Then, while watering the plants in the backyard, she is really saddened and tells Bailey that he is the one who's taking Jake away now. So finally, in a very good scene, he visits his grandfather at the hotel, and tells that losing people is a soft spot for them, so he demands an explanation for his track record. Jake explains to him that when he was married to his grandmother those years, he felt trapped. He says that many times he would drive for a few hours, and then return home. But the last time, he couldn't. That's what happened, and what happens with him. They both say sorry, and Bailey tells him not to disappear and to come to the house anytime he can, because they need him (they lost many people so far). He also asks him to let them know when something happens, if he dies. Then, while they take Owen to the park, Claudia and Jake agree in sharing their memories of Diana, because she knows things from her that he doesn't (when she was big), and so he does (when she was little). He promises that he'll be back here and there, before he leaves in one of his trips. This storyline was excellent. Carroll O'Connor again was outstanding. The last scenes were really emotional, and gives a lot to think about. How many children with separated parents are in the world, how many with a father who ran away? What's the right thing to do? It's not easy, it is what it is. It's unfair, It's wrong, but that's what happens. At the end, the important thing is if the person really loves the family. Here, Jake was lost many years, he wasn't present, but for what he said, he never forgot. He cared and he loves his family. He loved Diana, and in some ways, he wanted to stay with her, but his wishes to escape were stronger. He had regrets, and for what he'll say one day, he'd take back that mistake if he could. That's why Claudia again was the voice of reason, the moral compass, she knew which was the right thing to do. For some reason, she always does.
In the last storyline, Charlie is feeling miserable after Kathleen tells that she loves him on TV, so before she asks him to meet her mother, he invents the reverse story of what's gonna happen: he tells her that he's not a very good liar (this line just makes me laugh), that he missed the speech because Kirsten came by the restaurant because she wants him back. He says that he's sorry for doing this (really?) but he will prioritize her because they were 2 seconds from getting married. He dumps Kathleen this way because telling the truth in last episode didn't work. In the house Charlie explains this to Owen after taking him from daycare, that he had no choice. He says that he could have handled it better, but he did it for her sake. He also tells that maybe he'd want to invent a story to get away from a girl who offers milk and cookies, for example, that he's lactose intolerant. Owen doesn't say a word, he just opens his hands as gesture. This was a really funny scene. Obviously Owen didn't understand what Charlie said, but I think he got something, what is a big fat lie. Anyway, as Charlie is still under the Salinger's curse, Kathleen finds Kirsten's phone number, calls and realizes she's out of town until the 22 (obviously march 22). So acting as a wealthy vengative TV producer, when he visits to take back the stuff he had there, and to return the keys, she tells him that she found out his lie, so now she will buy the restaurant given the money she invested there. This story was great overall, the only parts I didn't like were the first scene with them talking at her place, and that Julia and Claudia were happy about Kathleen thanking Charlie on TV. At least now, the only one who thinks about Kirsten is Charlie. Then, there's something I couldn't write before, but now is relevant: in 2x17, why Charlie accepted such a big investment for the restaurant from a woman whom he had a casual relationship?? If he couldn't take a loan of 7000 $ from Kirsten in 1x16, what the hell was he thinking? I still can't believe how the writers made Charlie so naïve, so immature. Totally against the real Charlie, shown in season 1.
Happily Ever After (#2.20)
ComedyFan20106 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Bailey finds out Jacob Gordon has another family and asks him to leave. Charlie wants to break up with Kathleen by lying to her that he is getting back with Kirsten, she finds out about the lie and in return wants to buy out the building of his restaurant and not to renew the lease. Things are bad between Justin and Julia, Justin tries hard but it doesn't work out.
I feel so horrible for Justin. Julia makes me so mad. Her pregnancy issues don't excuse her treatment of him for me. He really doesn't deserve that.
The story about the grandpa was also good. I am glad how they ended it. Reasonably and without much hate. Claudia can still have her grandpa even though he doesn't live with her.
And I like the Charlie and Kathleen story the most. Not that I want Charlie to lose his restaurant, but I like Kathleen's character more as a ruthless business woman than some desperate woman in love without getting it in return.
I feel so horrible for Justin. Julia makes me so mad. Her pregnancy issues don't excuse her treatment of him for me. He really doesn't deserve that.
The story about the grandpa was also good. I am glad how they ended it. Reasonably and without much hate. Claudia can still have her grandpa even though he doesn't live with her.
And I like the Charlie and Kathleen story the most. Not that I want Charlie to lose his restaurant, but I like Kathleen's character more as a ruthless business woman than some desperate woman in love without getting it in return.
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