While trying to stay out of Alice's business, Jimmy has to "Jimmy" an insecure Brian. Gaby leans on Paul for advice after her sister drops a bomb. Jimmy tries to give Alice the perfect 18th birthday. Paul helps Gaby with a huge decision.
"Full Grown Dude Face" was written by Bill Posley and directed by Anu Valia
At first, it feels like an episode has been skipped when this one starts. Sean was previously stressed about meeting his army friend Jorge. But suddenly, the two are working together on the food truck and playing games with Jimmy. It's a little jarring. Similarly, things are relatively back to normal with Liz and Derek. That's a little alarming. Liz is aware that she needs to do a better job uplifting Derek. However, she never strays too far from her personality. The humor comes from how intense she takes things. That's applied effectively as she helps Brian get ready for an interview. He and Charlie want to make a good impression to make sure they are picked as adoptive parents. The final result is charming. It highlights how Brian is invested in this journey. He is capable of being heartfelt and genuine when he simply takes a moment to breathe. That's his biggest obstacle. It's nice when he appreciates Jimmy as actually good at his job. It comes at the expense of Jimmy's other clients. However, the therapist enjoys focusing on one client and getting to the root of their problems. He spends the day with them. That's his pattern. That's how he conducts himself on the job. He still needs advice over how to handle every development happening with Alice. He's more than capable of doing so. He just needs the grace to respect her growing independence while allowing her the freedom to come back for his support. He masters that balance in this moment. That may not last considering Alice still wants to talk with Louis.
At first, it feels like an episode has been skipped when this one starts. Sean was previously stressed about meeting his army friend Jorge. But suddenly, the two are working together on the food truck and playing games with Jimmy. It's a little jarring. Similarly, things are relatively back to normal with Liz and Derek. That's a little alarming. Liz is aware that she needs to do a better job uplifting Derek. However, she never strays too far from her personality. The humor comes from how intense she takes things. That's applied effectively as she helps Brian get ready for an interview. He and Charlie want to make a good impression to make sure they are picked as adoptive parents. The final result is charming. It highlights how Brian is invested in this journey. He is capable of being heartfelt and genuine when he simply takes a moment to breathe. That's his biggest obstacle. It's nice when he appreciates Jimmy as actually good at his job. It comes at the expense of Jimmy's other clients. However, the therapist enjoys focusing on one client and getting to the root of their problems. He spends the day with them. That's his pattern. That's how he conducts himself on the job. He still needs advice over how to handle every development happening with Alice. He's more than capable of doing so. He just needs the grace to respect her growing independence while allowing her the freedom to come back for his support. He masters that balance in this moment. That may not last considering Alice still wants to talk with Louis.
Elsewhere, it's just fun to watch it slowly dawn on Paul when Gaby abducts him. He's at her complete mercy. He relies on her for rides. He didn't want to be a guest lecturer. Gaby had fun at his expense. It was playful while still nurturing. She delights in seeing the class raise Paul's book to cover their faces. Paul likes it too because it satisfies his ego. That's what he appreciates in any given situation. It doesn't take long for him to pivot to making things about him. He's a cranky old man. That works for him. Gaby can be summarized as a caretaker. That's the role she has had to fulfill many times. She has to step up again for her family after Courtney decides to join the army. It's a sudden development. Gaby hoped she would have more time to prepare. It's now expected of her to allow her mother to move in. She doesn't want that. She can't set an appropriate boundary. She has a solution ready to implement. She doesn't ultimately deliver. She wants Paul to provide support. She still has to be the one to vocalize her needs. Instead, she laments having her bed taken away from her. It's agony with a simple solution. It requires honest communication. Gaby knows all of this. It's just difficult to actually apply it to her own life. She has friends to remind her of what's right to do. It takes courage and self-reflection to actually put it into action. It's a meaningful story for Gaby that doesn't have anything to do with Jimmy. And yet, that connection still lingers especially as Gaby becomes involved in Alice's life once more.
Grade: B
"Changing Patterns" was written by Ashley Nicole Black and directed by James Ponsoldt
A How I Met Your Mother reunion occurs between Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders. That familiarity allows the dynamic between Jimmy and Sofi to feel relaxed and charming immediately. It teases the possibility of something more. It's uplifting to believe happiness awaits. This family was devastated. But now, they have found ways to forgive their worst behaviors. Alice no longer hates Louis. She has forgiven him. She even relies on him. She enjoys their friendship. She's devastated to learn her father told him to stop seeing her. She provided a positive change in his life too. It's communicated through the simple gesture of him having a friend at work. Moreover, he returns to the train station to engage in the same activity he once enjoyed with his fiancé. Life feels lighter even though he has plenty of problems. Alice feels that too. She believes she no longer needs therapy. Paul is proud of her. She recognizes the importance of reaching out for help when she needs it. However, she's no longer suffering like she was in the year after her mother's death. And yet, all of those emotions explode again upon learning her father's betrayal. He thought everything was going well. They survived the worst of it. Instead, his actions bring them back down once more. Alice declares that Jimmy has ruined yet another birthday. That's a low bar. Jimmy wanted to avert disaster. Sofi's presence offered the hope of something new. Instead, he wallows in the misery all over again. These characters may never ultimately move past that. It's a defining aspect of their lives. They will always feel that pain. From a storytelling perspective, it's not the best to continually revisit that trauma. It's still earned. The story works. The magnitude of it requires a release at some point though. That's obvious too. Jimmy is hopeful but still has work to address his underlying issues he has managed to avoid so far.
A How I Met Your Mother reunion occurs between Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders. That familiarity allows the dynamic between Jimmy and Sofi to feel relaxed and charming immediately. It teases the possibility of something more. It's uplifting to believe happiness awaits. This family was devastated. But now, they have found ways to forgive their worst behaviors. Alice no longer hates Louis. She has forgiven him. She even relies on him. She enjoys their friendship. She's devastated to learn her father told him to stop seeing her. She provided a positive change in his life too. It's communicated through the simple gesture of him having a friend at work. Moreover, he returns to the train station to engage in the same activity he once enjoyed with his fiancé. Life feels lighter even though he has plenty of problems. Alice feels that too. She believes she no longer needs therapy. Paul is proud of her. She recognizes the importance of reaching out for help when she needs it. However, she's no longer suffering like she was in the year after her mother's death. And yet, all of those emotions explode again upon learning her father's betrayal. He thought everything was going well. They survived the worst of it. Instead, his actions bring them back down once more. Alice declares that Jimmy has ruined yet another birthday. That's a low bar. Jimmy wanted to avert disaster. Sofi's presence offered the hope of something new. Instead, he wallows in the misery all over again. These characters may never ultimately move past that. It's a defining aspect of their lives. They will always feel that pain. From a storytelling perspective, it's not the best to continually revisit that trauma. It's still earned. The story works. The magnitude of it requires a release at some point though. That's obvious too. Jimmy is hopeful but still has work to address his underlying issues he has managed to avoid so far.
Change is possible. Paul and Gaby are perfect examples of that. Of course, they are helping each other more so than focusing on Jimmy. Julie's husband dies. Paul believes she has sold their house and is looking for somewhere new to live. She's actually already moved in with him. He needs a minute to make that realization and accept it. He wants control over what should be incredibly obvious. His life is the best it has ever been. He's afraid of the future. The present is incredibly good. He never should have hesitated about making this decision. Meanwhile, Gaby needs to tell her mother she can't move in with her. Phyllis expected that of Gaby. It wasn't even a conversation. She required her daughters to care for her. It's tragic that Gaby let her mother pack up her entire house before telling her how she truly feels. It makes Phyllis feel unwanted. Gaby promises to visit more often. She wants to support her mother remaining in the community she has always lived in. This action is seen as selfish though. Phyllis feels abandoned. She counted on her daughters to care for her. And now, that responsibility is being passed onto strangers. The situation remains tense. Gabi has to live in it. She can't escape it. This is the fallout of her decision. It was better for her to be honest even though it caused pain. It offers hope that these characters can break down their walls. They don't have to be confined to the patterns they've always engaged in. Of course, that stability works for Liz and Derek. Returning to it allows them to be happy once more. They don't have to change despite her mistake with Mac. That is acknowledged and accepted. It doesn't require an explosive argument or emotional fallout. That tension resides elsewhere as the season continues to build. Some of these developments were inevitable. Time is still remaining to arrive at a meaningful resolution that mends all involved in the drama.
Grade: B+
