Chapo Trap House - Bonus: This is Sus 2 – Council of Dads feat. Lucy Biederman

Episode Date: April 14, 2020

Felix and his sister Lucy report on NBC's new dramatic television series Council of Dads. Check out Lucy's book, "The Walmart Book of the Dead" here: https://www.vineleavespress.com/the-walmart-book-of-the-dead-by-lucy-biederman.html%E2%80%9D

Hey everybody. Welcome back, as promised, another weekly episode, but this time a very special episode of This Is Sus. We have a very special guest today because we're doing a very special show. This week I began watching Council of Dads, which is a show I only caught wind of because my friend Michael added me with a clip that was on Twitter that the show account posted as if they were proud of it. It was the most insane fucking thing I have ever seen. So, you know, I still watch This Is Us this week and depending on how long this goes, I'll have the recap of that in the back end. But I might just save it for next week because Council of Dads was so fucking disconcerting and evil that I decided to bring

in an expert. I decided to bring in my sister Lucy. Hey, Lucy. Hi, Felix. So what did you think? I'm going to get into the recap of the episode, but what did you think of this awful thing I made you watch? You told me how bad it was like before I started watching it, but it was so, it was bad beyond my wildest imagination. Like I couldn't come up with an idea of something that bad. It was like the ways it was bad. I can't even wrap my head around. It's almost invented. Like it does follow the NBC procedure of unthinkable tragedies

and hating your audience, but it's worse than anything they've ever made. I can't imagine. I don't think I've ever taken in a worse piece of art. Like it made me feel so bad and it was like glossy. When you said it was really bad, I thought it was going to have like a low production value. It had a very high production value, but it was like, I mean, even like little things in the production of it were just like so off. Like they had those drone shots, but the drone was always like too high or too low. Really little things like that where I was like, this, this is just, and you know, it's like they hate us. Like they did that because they hate us. They're like, oh, the drone's too high. Who cares?

Just run it. It's fine. Like it was made for me to watch by someone who hates me. That's exactly it. That's exactly it. This is like, with this is us, there are some human dimensions to it where I think that like the writers and producers are very cynical, but they're also assholes. They're Hollywood assholes who are like, I'm making a good thing. I'm doing a good job on this shitty show for idiots. I'm a great writer, but no one who made this thought this. This is just like shoveling slop into people's mouths. Like what? Think of the actors. Like I just like there was it's like there was like so low effort into it, but like it wasn't the cut. Like they were like enthusiastic and

energetic, but like they didn't like their, their brains were intended or something. Like what would it be like to be an actor on that show? It's like humiliating. Yeah, it's could be the lowest thing that you could achieve as an actor. It could. This is what will bring actors back to like Byzantine times when actors were thought of as the lowest of society, like below some type of professional, professional pedophile would be an actor. Yeah, like I don't think I would take the part. Like it's like the parts that they're offering the lines that they had to read. It's not worth any amount of money. No, there it's the lines are, I guess I should explain the premise of this show. So council

of dads, it's about a guy who has a family, a non-conventional family that's made up of every demographic that Hollywood. Yes. Yeah. And for literally everyone that Hollywood sickos pretend to care about, but would have their organs harvested to extend their lives. The father, the guy, Scott, he's just like a non-specific upper middle class guy. There's stuff alluded to in the pilot of him, like giving up his dreams and working hard for his family, but he could just do anything. Like he could, he could be an executive from Monsanto, he could be a lawyer, who knows. Right. He lives in a big mansion too. Yeah. Yeah. It's, well, yeah, the writers and producers of this show are so evil. They're like, he's

just a regular average Joe and his house has like 50 bedrooms. It really does. Like it looks like a bed and breakfast. Yes. Yes. So he has a biracial daughter from his first marriage, whose mother is just like disappeared. It's never explained. Yeah. I hate that because he, they have like a really brief conversation about that. And he's like, your mother wasn't ready to raise a child, not in a racist way. She just wasn't ready to raise a child. You can tell that there was probably something written in by the 60 year old screenwriter at first. It was like, she went off to go smoke crack and then someone was like, you can't do that. And he was like, oh, she wasn't ready. Okay. So somewhere along the lines,

he met Charlotte, who's an OPGYN, because that's just like the only way characters can have worth. If they're just a complete overachiever, like strivers. Yes. Yeah. They had a son named Theo, another son named JJ Scott gets cancer. Like the second a character gets cancer at NBC show. The doctor is just like, you're fucking dead. Okay, you're a goner. And so in a moment of clarity, he goes, you know, who should raise my nonconventional family, my friends, if I die, a council of my friends will raise my kids. And so the show jumps around time. Like this is us. But this is us jumps forward and backwards and way forwards in time. It's very, it's very ambitious. It's like a bad story based video game. But this

is it just only moves super forward. Like you'll be watching and everything moves in a normal sort of family melodrama pace of few few days at a time, few weeks. And then it'll just be like two years later. Yeah, they can't write the scene. So they're like, um, it was next fall. Yeah. Yeah, they have to do that to fit all the tragedies I wanted. Yeah. And they like couldn't think of how to write the scene of like him died or something. So they just have they're like, next fall. Yeah, dad died this morning. All right. So I want to recap the plot. Lucy, you just like jump in with anything horrible that I missed. Okay, let's get through this piece of shit. So the show starts with JJ, the youngest son

of Scott's family. He's afraid to do a rope swing over their lakefront property that in real life would cost $3 million. While not even a real train song plays, it's like a fake train song. We get narration and it's from Lily, who's Scott's first daughter from the marriage where the mom was just like, I'm not feeling it. This kid has bad vibes and she explains their family dynamic. Um, she's also waiting on a phone call from the New Yorker. Oh, I hate that so much. Like what we don't even know what the communication with the New Yorker is. Like maybe she just called about her subscription or something. Like we don't know why this would be like something to talk about. Yeah, she's just

one of those people that complains about David Remnick, like not not talking about Michael Bennett enough. Yeah, he has been the editor for like way too long. And I was fucked up during the scene. I had no idea what the age of Lily was supposed to be like anywhere from like 15 to 28. No, I thought she was his wife. I thought she was his new wife and they had like a blended family or something. Yeah, just but like, I think that was in a better show. Like they would have explained that like it is explained later that she's waiting to divorce trait thing. She's waiting for an internship with the fucking New Yorker. But the way they explained it, like you're just supposed to accept like you're just supposed

to pick that up. Yeah, completely. Yes. Yes. So Charlotte, the OBGYN wife coaxes JJ into accepting it's okay to not do the rope swing today. But JJ gives this fucking insane anxiety spiel that's like, but but if I don't do the if I don't do the rope swing now, the school starts tomorrow and then I'll never do it and then I'll be nine and then I'll be dead. And it's like another case of Hollywood writers thinking literally everyone, including an eight year old boy thinks in the same like harried sort of false quirky tones that they do. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I like, I, you know, it's not very nice to say if it's about a child, but I fucking hate JJ. And then it's like you, you know, you go through it, you look at the

disgusting, like he's like smug, even though he's eight years old, it's like, you, I hate you. And then and he like, oh, he's, he's like condescending to his parents. He's like, ah, kindergarten was a shit show today. But then like, as I'm sure you'll get to, we find out that we're actually the asshole for hating JJ. It's like, oh, God damn it. Yeah. Yeah. I'll get into that part later when it's we get a very bad scene. That was astounding. Like I can't, I, I couldn't even believe what I was seeing. I was like, okay, yeah, we'll get through it though. So Scott, like to show that he's the good type of dad, like the carefree, but gives his kids lessons as he goes on the ropes with

JJ and it's a big moment that, you know, they swim back and he gets a call and he, you know, he's like, hello, New Yorker is my daughter, is my daughter going to, you know, work for Leon Weiseltier. But they're like, this is the cancer doctor. You have cancer. Completely. They really, they didn't waste time on this one. Like this is us. And this is us. It's just like sort of, sort of like soy dialogue for 30 minutes in the first episode. And then they're like, all right, now you can have cancer, but they, it's not even four minutes. And they're like, yeah, this guy's dying. Completely. Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Okay.

So Scott, next scene, he's in the hospital. He's waking up from surgery. Do you describe how they did the scene, the opening of the scene? We're just waking up from surgery for camp, for late, for late cancer. He walks through the door after his surgery and he looks like shit. Like it's obviously been a floor of all like horrendous, horrific surgery. And he walks in, he's like, um, hello? Anybody home? Yeah, yeah, that's, yeah. So the doctor, the doctor did the surgery is because everyone in these shows knows each other, even though Americans have just like zero community or friends. Yes. Just like every person, if you're a good person, you have 500 friends, including like the chief surgeon of the hospital. Yes.

He shows you pictures of your cancer leg on his iPad, which is what this guy does. Right. And he's like breaking the FERPA or whatever, or HIPAA. Yeah. It's like, he like tells the wife all about his diagnosis when he hasn't told the guy first. It's like, you should be disbarred. And he's like in the, like running between the cancer ward and the OB guy anymore. And it's like, sure, please. No doctor in the NBC world would last in a hospital, even during a doctor shortage. So they, you know, there's like the soy scene with the doctor. So they go, everyone goes home. And we see like the assortment of Scott and his family's world. There's the doctor. There's another guy who I forgot about. There's an old, like

an old surly guy who in the real world, he would just be like this QAnon guy that everyone in the family hated. He's like a kind of, like a cheap, like a kind of like low rent Craig T. Nelson. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Off brand. Yeah. He's very old, very off brand. Like in real life, he'd be like, did you hear that Obama was secretly executed today? And I'm going to be like, Larry, stop it. But they'd be friends with him because like they read, like they read a tweet store from Danny Zucker about how you should be friends with people you disagree with. Right. And we know that they're real. They're like super liberals because he chants RBG. That was sucked. That it was like literally my eyes watered during

that. So so he they have a party and it's supposed to be like, Hey, you know, everyone just we're just trying to figure out this thing called life. Some crazy things happen like the dog will eat our welcome home cake that wasn't done right in the first place. That's life. Like it just what an NBC producer thinks a normal person's life is in their fucking $3 million mansion. Yes. And all their friends are doctors. Yes. And they're always stringing lights from the garden or whatever. It's like no human being would ever do this kind of stuff. Oh, and the debt like Scott, the cancer dad, like the way he's looking around and that's he's like, I'm just relishing my family and they're beautiful. Good. Like

everything is like this kind of super sappy sentimental song sequence. Like there's no nothing is in scene. Like it's all like kind of glossy like like commercials sort of that they're that they're populating. That's a great way to put it. And I noticed this is a note I made about three quarters of the way through. I noticed I did the math on one five minute chunk. 75% of the audio had a song playing over it. Oh my God. Yeah. I mean, it's exactly like what you said. It's like, you stupid idiots. Here's what you're supposed to think. This is an exciting scene. The guy's learning how to drive. Thank you. Like it's so fucking it's like you would only do that if you hated every person watches, which people do. It's

like you fucking moron. It's sad. The guy has cancer. Yeah. So we'll play a sad song. Like don't you get it? It's supposed to be sad. It's like, well, maybe if it isn't sad, it's because the show is like horrendously written. Like there's no human being in this entire episode. No one has any human reaction to anyone else. Yeah. So what did you what did you think about the writing in this, you know, the families interplay between each other? Oh, like I think the worst was the wife. Like she is. I mean, I don't know. It's hard to say who's the worst because none of them are real at all. Like they're just kind of like cardboard cutouts going around each other. But the wife is like really, really bad. She's

like an avatar of like a like, you know, 40 year old woman, like serious 40 year old woman professional loves her family, you know, will do anything strong mom. Like and the way she's like, I don't know, like the way she interacts with the dad, that's when they come up with the council of dads, right on the porch overseeing their like beautiful family and all they have. And he's like, uh, yeah, I'm thinking of doing a council of dads. And she's like, uh, you're crazy. And he's like, he's like, uh, I think I just convinced you and she's like, oh my God, I think you did. Yeah, she's not. It's yeah, she has the least human qualities. Yeah, just like, it's the type of like woman character that a man like

an RBG Funko pop liberal man, right? When he just doesn't, he doesn't actually like like or no, like think about women. It's just like he's just everyone because he's been in Hollywood for so long that he can make an NBC show. At least like half the guys, you know, they're probably rapists, but yes, women. Amen. A tip from men, if you want to learn how to do something right, listen to a woman. So they're just like these like deep, personalized avatars of competence and not human beings. Exactly. Like she doesn't hurt exactly. Like it's like, like men, let's all think women, they can do it all. They're in charge. It's like, then why did you get three men to support her and like make her life? Like, yeah, what if one

of these strong women. All right. So after the really bad family scene, there's a scene where Lulee is in a cancer support group. And I hate this scene. This is really shit. This part's really shitty. And he's he's like a handsome young African American character. And he sort of does like the like, I guess you would call it like tech talk style flirting where it's like, hey, still thinking about me. I mean, the high school crush where it's just sort of harmless, but sort of teasing. And it does nothing for me to it doesn't solve the math of how old these characters are supposed to be for me at all. You're absolutely right. Like when was high school? Was it last year? Because she's like,

or he's like, ah, yeah, I was in the IP history class. And like, was that 10 years ago or was it like that last fall? No indication, because this scene, it's written like it's it may as well be like so many scenes in the show. It's like a commercial for Lexa Pro. That's the level of learning here. Yes. And that's what it looks like. Like visually, it looks like a commercial for Lexa Pro. Like this like the glossy outdoor scenes and stuff like the whole show looks like a commercial like a like it looked like the medication commercials that they were advertising in between the breaks.

Yeah, I noticed that I want to talk about that later. The ads that I saw for that, like because I watch it on YouTube TV and I assume the ads are the same for everyone who watches this show pretty much. But we'll talk about that three quarters of the way in. But so you know, that's that's Chekhov's gun. There's going to be there's going to be a cute romance that becomes very dramatic. Yes. Yes. And like because, you know, you're such a stupid idiot, it needs to be within the same like that needs to be like within the same episode. Like it couldn't like some it would never be like later, you know, it's yeah, that would never happen. Like your your

stupid brain can't hold something over the week. Like we'll just shoot the gun by the end of the episode. That's it. Yeah. That's so much happens in this episode. It's a product of how much the writers hate the audience. Yeah. Because in any good show, like the plot arcs in Dead Woods, some of them are like, we have to kill this guy. And some of them are like, we're trying to build a hardware store and they all take 10 episodes because the characters and writing are strong enough to carry this thing throughout or like a more less prestige show like justified.

It's like, yes, they have episodic serialized stories of like there's a different villain of the week, but they're long running things throughout because they think they're strong enough storylines. But this is like, yo, you fucking stupid idiot, like fine, we'll give you the romance, we'll give you the death, we'll give you everything right here. Yes. Yes. And there's like 20 big reveals. Like I'm thinking about JJ again. Like it's like anything that we would possibly need to know about these people, like we get like a huge stupid monologue, multiple huge stupid monologues about who they are and why that matters.

Like it's like another reveal, like the Craig team, like the penny painting else. It was like in AA with him. I don't know why that's presented as this huge reveal, but like there's like every scene is like that, like the gun shooting off. It's like, you thought he was just a neighborhood crank, but he actually is in AA. There are no cranks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, those, yeah, just completely exclusionary fields, but yeah, yeah. So Scott and Robin are in the backyard and they're talking about Charlotte, they're

adopted. Who's Robin? The OBGYN wife. Oh, okay. Oh, right. And Charlotte is the dot, right, right. Yeah. Charlotte's the daughter. Oh, did I fuck that up? Did I say Charlotte was the wife? I'm sorry. Scott and Robin, who's his wife. I'm mistakenly excited Charlotte. Charlotte is an adopted daughter that they have. They're talking about how Charlotte is too withdrawn, the daughter, because in the first scene we see, I don't know what the fuck this was

trying to imply, but when JJ was on the rope swing, she started talking about Anne Frank and how the Nazis will chase. Oh my God. I don't know what, like was it supposed to show that she's smart or that she's obsessed with death or what? That was so fucked up. I know it's like literally like maybe the second line of dialogue was like in the Holocaust and Frank was like, chased by Nazis. It's like, wait, what? Yeah, I think that they, because it's like, again, these are awful contemptuous people

that make the show, but they're also really stupid. And they think it's just literally just vomiting it out like a child does. So yes. And like that that's the book that they, because of course that book comes up later, like in a beautiful scene with one of the Council of Dads and Charlotte. So it's like, and they're the kind of people who are like, you know, okay, book, book, we'll have her read a book. What's a book? Catch her in the eye? No, no, to body. The Diary of Anne Frank. It's like, it's like when you Google book, the Diary of Anne Frank comes up. So, so yeah, they have a, they have a, that's just wrong laugh where Scott's like, yeah,

she's in her closet all day, like Anne Frank. And then Scott's like, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That's that is her. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um, Scott shows off his new leg. They like took off his leg for cancer reasons. Now he has a new one. There's just no reason for that to happen, by the way. I think it was just to like, to be like, look, you look at all this awful shit happening to this guy. And he still has like, he still has a good attitude. You fucking pieces of shit. Exactly. Right. Like, except your lot, this guy doesn't even have a leg. Yeah. Yeah. All right. So we're immediately as is a mansion in one leg. 20 person family. Yeah. More money than you could ever dream of. No, one of the

folks, oh wait, the wife works. Yeah, it doesn't seem to work. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So after this, we're immediately given a treat, you know, we had our veggies, it's time for dessert. We have a character we never see in a family melodrama comedy. We have the cool best friend slash uncle character, who's like a handsome, handsome swath man with a beard. But he's like a little wacky. He like, you know, he gets with the kids, he's like, let's go to the crab shack. Okay, I know, I know kind of this guy, this guy's got a wild side, but he's nice to kids. Look out for him, though, ladies. Yes. Yes. We're now given an awful scene at where the entire family and their friend go to the crab shack. And it's called crab shack. We have to learn that like several times,

like in the scene before, yeah, when the wacky guy shows up and he's like, you're preparing dinner and the dad's like, I cut and he's like, one, two, three, and then everybody yells crab shack. And then it cuts to a building that says in huge letters, crab shack on it. And then we see them sitting there and they're like, we're at the crab shack. He's like, is this a sponsored bit or something? Like, what is this? It's like, you know how like we always like, we were talking about American sniper once and how it could have been a cool movie if it was like, oh yeah, this is a guy who was really needy sealed that he lied all the time and he was a bad person. Like, yes, like if it was like, yeah, like if it was a comedy, yes, yeah, if this you made this show, but it was like, yeah, there's a curse on my family where we all behave like the myth busters would be brilliant. You're right. I have to get my family to stop behaving like the myth busters before I die. Yeah, exactly. Like these people suck shit. Like, you know, they're really like, it's like the way that they get along so

well is repulsive. Like, you know, the, the like, it's like when he does the RBG chant, which like, you know, we'll talk about obviously like, the, the Charlotte just smiles like, like warmly, like this is like a 13 year old girl and then his, the rude son is like, like all the, like everyone in the family is so like compliant and obedient, even when they're trappings or like, you know, this is a rude son, he's a rebel or like, this is like a Charlotte is like a girl on the edge of puberty, like it doesn't, and she's kind of, she's struggling with some Holocaust related issues. It doesn't like, none of those things like bear out in the way they like, react to any, anything anyone does, like they're all like their only personality trait, like when in their interactions is how like compliant they are. That's a great point. That's a great like even families where it's not like they're being ravaged by cancer, like kids are

shitty and don't listen to people and are just like, feel bad for seemingly no reason. Yes. People, people have insane, it's like, siblings will have like insane, like hatreds of each other when their kids that they grow out of. Yes. But like, it's like, there's a lot of friction. This is this show is all all these shows are tragedy without friction. It's so weird. Yes. Oh my God. Yes. It's like, they're just lying down and taking it. Like, yes. It's like they don't I mean, when the like the son is like, like the rude son is like crying maturely at the like at the dad's funeral. It's like, these aren't human. Like, and so are all the other like, you know, it's like, it doesn't they're right. I mean, the lack of friction. That's such a good way of putting it. Like, these are people who like, apparently are all in the same family together. And they're not relating to each other at all in any way. Like, they're not relating to each other in a way that anyone wouldn't just like, standardly relate to

anyone. Like they have, yeah. That's a great way to put it. Yeah, they have no special understanding of each other. Like, that's why family dynamics are right for drama, because it's the only way in which incredibly different people will can relate to each other past even what like a friend or like a romantic partner can't. And there's none of that here. They're like co workers who like each other. Oh, my God, exactly. Like me and Sam, we're talking about that. I was like, you know, you and Sam, like, like you, Felix and Sam have more like, you have like a Cuomo brothers dynamic. And like me and you have more like, like, we're like more similar, like we don't have like, I don't know, like, it's just like, each of us like relates very differently to each other, you know, and Sam and I are like similar because we like, you know, like, we're like similar and different to each other in such a like

wide and interesting variety of different ways. Like, wouldn't there be like, I mean, the first thing that the wait, what is what's the, um, oh, Lily, the first thing that Lily says to us, like, in her weird narration that never comes back until the very end, she's like, Charlotte's adopted. Like, is there tension? Like, why is she telling us that? Like, you know, like, so Charlotte's adopted and she's from another mother. Would they have some kind of like, wouldn't that influence their relationship in some way? I don't know how, but like, I don't, I never even see them interact in any way. No, no, never, never, because they're just, it's like, it's almost like they work in different divisions of the company that is the family. It is so much like a company. Like, that's exactly what it's like. You're right. Oh, God. Okay, yeah. So at the Crab Shack, we find out that Lily turned down a fancy internship in New York to take care of, of Scott.

And she actually works at the Crab Shack. Yeah, yeah. And she works at the, she, that's how we know she's a good, she took a low normal person's job instead of, you know, writing articles that are like, would Bernie Sanders have opposed World War Two? And we also learned, we learned like that the swag best friend is a restaurateur. That's what we learned. Wait a minute. Did the New Yorker, like, why is she, like, did she get the call from the New Yorker? Not like, how do we know? It's never, like, it's never explained. I almost think that like the time moving forward thing is a function of them. Like, they did like a bad print job of the script. There's missing pages. This should have been like 10 episodes. Yes. I mean, there is so much in your like, that didn't even cross my mind. Like, and that was like the same season or whatever. Like, you know, she's just going to move to New York without having heard from the New Yorker, like, oh, I'm sure I was accepted.

Yeah, yeah. Scott, Scott says to her, like, you need to chase your dreams of going to New York to become a writer. And I think that just that was very revealing, because it's like, that's what the children of the producers of the show are doing. Yes. Yes. They're like, oh, it's like a noble profession for the public. Right. Right. Thank you so much for like, writing blog posts for like, Refinery29. Like, that's beautiful. Yeah. This literally just made me realize, I think that the push for us to respect journalists, like we were supposed to respect troops in 2001, it's because it's because it's like the only job that the children of Hollywood Sickos can do. It's like they're too, they don't work hard enough to like become doctors or anything. And this is the only thing they can do. So Hollywood Sickos are like, yeah, actually, my children are heroes. That is so true. Like, you don't understand, they're going to work like four days a week. It's really hard and they have to like, go outside and talk to people. Like, it's amazing what they're doing. Like, yeah.

Yeah. So the daughter, like, in one of the most insane snap turnarounds, like the daughter's like, no, dad, I want to watch you die. Yes. But she gets five steps out and turns around 180 degrees and goes, do you feel like I sidetracked your life? Oh my God, yes. And the dad goes, no, I'm so glad I had you and that your mother left. And that I have my unconventional life. Yes. Like. I mean, and it's, you're right. That conversation is like, really weird. Like, she's like, for some reason, even though, like, she's like, like, she's like, presenting herself to us as like an outsider in the family. And then she presents herself like that to her dad.

And, but yet, you know, when we interpret her as an outsider in the family, that means that we're racist. Like, I don't know, there's something really gross going on there. Like, she is like, she's the narrator of it. And she's like, you know, how did I get to be a part of this family? I'll tell you. It's like, well, you know, why are you assuming I wouldn't think you're a part of this? Well, that, yeah, I think that's the key to this being written by like very old people. Because like, if you saw, like, you know, if they had, like, done better job with a wardrobe, we would have picked up immediately that this was the daughter and that, like, and Scott's her dad. We'd be like, oh, yeah, like the mom was black or she's adopted or something. But it's like, because like a 62 year old who the white guy writes this, who like thinks he's just at the forefront of progressive politics because he reads the root, he's like, all right, you're probably thinking this is just a

homeless woman who's tricking his family, right? You know what, in retrospect, like, my first thought when she was sitting on the steps, like, you know, smugly watching the family, I actually, before I thought that he was her new, like, that she was his new wife, I actually thought that she was their baby. And like, that was not my fault. It has nothing to do with the race, it's like, she's sitting 50 feet away from the family. And she's like, not old enough to be their mom or really his wife, but not young enough to be part of the family. Yeah, yeah, no, that was definitely what I first thought, like, and right, it's not my fault. Why did you pre, they presented, they visually presented her as the babysitter. Yeah, literally, yeah, you have no fucking idea. It's like, this is a show you have to read Wikipedia to figure out.

Yes, yes, yes, completely. Yeah, but, um, all right, so also it's Christmas. We know this because the QAnon family friend from the Christmas tree. And again, like, you know, if you wanted to make this a show about like actual human friction and how, like, people have very different things come together. Like, I'm sure there was a reason that he barges in with a Christmas tree. Like, there should have been something that's like, you know, oh, like, Trump made it okay for it to be Christmas again. Like, I don't, like, I don't give a shit if your family's Unitarian were celebrating it. But like, because this is a completely defanged, frictionless thing, it's just like this completely silent old man gives them a Christmas tree and that's the end of this.

He doesn't say a word. And in fact, they're like, who is that guy? Even though, like, it's so, like, shoddily done because the first time you see him ever, it's like, wait, who is that old man who barges in with a Christmas tree and runs out? Like, you think he's sort of like a Boo Radley figure or something. But then later you find out he's like integral in the family, like, in the family, like, fabric. And I like, you wouldn't have known that in the first scene because they're like, there's that weird old man again. And then you see him again and they're like, we love you. Yeah, in the plot that moves around, like, by years, what was like, was there a scene where he like, like, helped them fix a gun or something? Like, yes.

So the next part, this is why I think there was a thing that someone wrote that was like, you know, we're celebrating Christmas again. Because the next scene is this terrible thing where Scott's giving Charlotte some soy speech about not vaping and he goes, Ruth Bader Ginsburg wouldn't vape and he leaves the room chanting RBG. And it's like, first of all, they should allow you to apply for a Taliban membership. Yeah, that's what I wanted during this scene. I know. And that was like the compliance, like, docileity of the children was like so evident in that scene because he's like walking around like a fucking buffoon being like RBG, RBG. And the 13 year old daughter just like smiles. She doesn't even smile indulgently. Like, she just smiles. Like, that's not a human response to like this doofy father being like RBG. That's not like, no one would do that. Like, yeah, like, I'm like, I can't even imagine the viewer like any like person who is a fan of the show being like cool.

Like, that was repulsive. His behavior was repulsive. He's writing apologies. I think maybe the NBC people like RBG so much because she's been dying for like 15 years. Oh my God, you're right. She's like, I broke my rib. All right. So when he chanted that, that's probably when the cancer came back. All right. So at dinner, Scott continues to be incredibly fucking irritating and gives his kids like quick, quick, like shitty 30 second life lessons. And Charlotte very subtle like this is subtle writing and this is what a mom would do to a dad with health scares. He goes, Scott, you're going to be here for a very long time. Your daughters are going to need you. You know, you're not dying.

Oh, and he was like, oh, no, it's not Charlotte. It's not Charlotte Robbins. And Scott is like, and she's like, I'm pregnant with a girl. Okay. It's this is the scene that Michael Michael sent me. Wait, is this when they're standing in front of the mirror? Yeah. So we get the most insane fucking scene ever written here. This is the scene that got me to watch this show, the scene in front of the mirror. Oh, and it's like, again, like visual, it's like visually insulting.

Like how many times have I seen like a shitty thing of like the husband's holding the wife in front of the mirror and they're talking to each other in the mirror. Like no human being in real life has ever done that. Okay. Jada said you were throwing up. Are you sick? Um, well, do you remember all that life affirming sex we had when you were first diagnosed? Yeah. If it affirmed life, I'm pregnant. Things were just so crazy after you got diagnosed. I think I probably forgot a few pills. Sorry, love. I'm sorry that I didn't catch your cancer. I'm a doctor.

And you might have been limping and I just missed it. I hate that some stupid blood test that you took for insurance caught it and I didn't. I'm just sorry. Okay. Me getting cancer is in your fault, okay? It is in your fault at all. You being pregnant isn't good news. It's the best news. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, you are now married with the kid. Yes, right.

Brian have never done this. No. All right. So I'm just going to, I'm going to save the URL for the scene and I'm just going to put it because there's no way either of us could describe this. That doesn't justice. Absolutely. This is the worst scene ever recorded. She's like, I'm a doctor. First of all, he knows that. He's your fucking husband.

And she's like, I should have found your cancer. Like with what? Like our home cat scan stuff? It's so fucking stupid. Holy shit, it's so bad. It's so horrible. Oh my God. The part to that life-affirming sex, it was life-affirming. Oh, and then he's wearing like, he's in his house and he's wearing like a skull cap. He just like have his bald hair in that like bald head in the house. Everything about this is so fucking unnerving. It's like a Cthulhu thing where you lose sanity and can't play the game anymore.

Holy shit, I fucking hate it. But okay, thankfully, like after this is the most insane thing that's ever been on TV. But after that, they're in their backyard. And you know, why does the baby need a council of dads? But like, I mean, should the baby, the existence of the baby means that there needs to be a council of dads? What about the other kids? Yeah, well, oh, no, but they... Oh, the council of dads notion precedes the baby, does it?

Yeah, no, no, no, it's after the baby. It's like after, after like they have the like shitty dinner scene and RBG scene. He's like, that's what he comes at. Yes. Gentlemen, I use that term loosely, are gonna raise my kids. But I like it, but it was like a weird, it was like a mean-testing thing. It was like a trigger point. It's like, you're on your own with my family after I die.

But now that you have a new kid. And like, God forbid you get a fucking abortion. Like, you have so many kids and your husband's gonna die. Like, yeah, God forbid. Right, and you're a doctor. You're a doctor. Like, this is a fucking disaster. Yes.

Yes, yes. And right. And so then, wait, so what happened? Yeah, because like an abortion, even for the fucking limbs that are right at the shore, like, God forbid any... Like, an abortion is just a thing of last resort. No, like, good woman would do that. Yes, like, instead you need to like, like, jerry-rig this like system of three men to look after this girl. Like, this is a mess.

Like, you're completely right. Like, I don't like her life. Like, you know, she's the strong one. Like, her life is inconceivable. Okay, they have tons of kids. Like, I can't even know how many. I don't know what their names are. I don't know how they got them or like, what the fuck is going on.

They live in a gigantic mansion. They seem to have no, like, help with the house. They, she is a full-time, like, I guess, obstetrician. Like, this, wait, yeah, she is, right? Yeah, she's a... Is that right? Like, she delivers babies. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yes, yes. Okay, so she's a full-time obstetrician. It doesn't seem like any of her family lives in the area or anything. Like, this is a fucking nightmare. Yeah, yeah, it's just insane. Like, there, this is like, this is a family from, like, a New York Times trend piece of people who, like, the moment the economy turns out, they're like, yeah, whoops, we're $750,000 in debt.

Yes, yes, yes, completely. But so, Robin, like, similar to Mary Queen of Scots, like, you serve some, she becomes the head of the council of dads. But later, next scene, Lulee and the guy from Cancer Club are hanging out and... Also, there's a sign in the room that literally says Cancer Club. They don't want... It's so... The choices they make are so weird, because it's like, this is one of the actual things

you could infer, like, oh, this is a Cancer Support Group, because that's in the dialogue. But they beat you over the head with that. But with everything else, it's like, why is there just, like, multiple scenes with this surly, completely silent old man that isn't explained for, like, 40 minutes until it is? And just, like, what they think you deserve to know and don't is so illustrating. Yes. Yeah, it's like, okay, for some reason, they need to label this room. But yeah, it's like, like, kind of strange, haunting figure burst into their house in

the Christmas tree and runs out, like... So yeah, they're having another, they're having a terrible scene in their beachfront paradise, and he goes, I'm falling in love with you. And she goes, just stop talking to me. That's the end of the scene. That scene is so confusing, because her response is, she doesn't just say, like, no, you know, no thanks or something, whatever. She, like, I had no idea how to read her reaction, because she was like, uh, yeah.

Uh, no. Uh, yeah. Okay. Uh, no. Uh, yeah. I was like, so am I supposed to think that she's saying she loves him also, or is she breaking up with him? And then she was like, she had that, like, disgusting line that, like, it's like, there

were so many lines in here that were, like, the stock photo version of lines. Like, she was like, can we just be quiet together for a while? Like, it's something no one has ever said, you know, let's just not talk. And so then they just, like, I guess, like, snuggle up against each other. And, like, apparently she's just, like, horribly rejected him. But he's like, yeah. Like, really weird scene. It's like, if that, if it's that inconclusive, you might as well not just have it.

Yes. Like, there's no point. Yeah. Uh, so our next, we're finally. Oh my God, I thought of another thing. She's in the, she's again in the babysitter's position. The whole family is having, like, this party and she's, like, in the back. Yeah, she's never, like, inter, she never has any interaction with the family.

And again, like, if this was a better shitty show, it would have been, like, there would be, like, there's, like, some racial character to this where it's like, like, sometimes, like, I don't feel like part of the family. Like, that's the thing you could explore. They would explore it horribly because they can't do anything right. Right. But it would, like, at least be something. But instead, they just, like, they forget to write her lines.

They're like, oh, no, you're in this scene, but just, like, mill around. Blurry background. On the perimeter. Yeah. Like, don't approach the family that you love and are a huge part of. Yeah. But you love so much that you, it's your job to narrate them. Yes.

But you never seem to, you're just, like, out there. So our next awful scene, it's Larry, the old man in Theo. Yeah, and Theo's, like, the cool, the, like, rebel. Yeah, he's, like, he's the one who's pissed. Right. Even though he's completely compliant. Yes. And, like, nice and fine.

It's just, like, he just gets mad sometimes. But, like, again, if this was a better show, like, Larry would not really be teaching him how to drive. Like, not giving him good advice, but he'd be like, and you know, Chrissy Teigen posted the other day on Twitter about how her flight got redirected. You know what that is? She's, uh, federal marshal's got her for pedophilia. And JFK Jr. faked his own death with Donald Trump in 1999.

Donald Trump's been working against these people forever. And the pedophiles run the world, but their time's over. And Theo would be like, whoa, really? Yeah, or he might be, like, you know, like stealing, like, drugs from the guy's pocket or something. Is he stealing that? Yeah. Yeah.

He would be like, you know, the Chinese invented global warming and he'd just be ripping, just fucking ripping propanol out and thinking at some high. Yes. Uh, they, like, he's doing a bad job. Right. Larry's a very stern, like Larry's an asshole. And Larry, this is when we find out, like, after they have an argument where Theo's like, just stop it.

Uh, then Larry is two things. He's a nonspecific businessman. Oh my God, you're right. So now you know it's good to like him because he's successful. Right. He's contributing to society. He's not, right. Yeah.

He's not just like an old leech. Right. The Christmas tree wasn't the only thing he contributed to society. He also contributed a business. Yeah. He's like, I'm a businessman. I know it works and what doesn't. You're, you're sad because your dad has cancer.

And it's like, wow, I'm just really, you guys really lucked out with the family friends. Nothing eludes them. That's great. And he's also like, I'm an alcoholic synonymous with Scott. And, and the boy's like, what, that's wonderful. I had no idea. It's like a 15 year old would be like, oh my God, you're in recovery. Yeah.

Oh my God. It was so fucking stupid. Right. And it's like, why have the family like just compliantly accepted this weird man whose name they barely know for an untold period of years? Why can't the dad, right? Why couldn't the guy say your dad is my sponsor? Yeah.

Like the dad, like, wouldn't they notice their dad never drinks? Yes. It has like some, like once would be more alarming. Your dad being like, yeah, I used to have a problem with alcohol and I don't drink anymore and I'm part of this thing. This is my friend for it. Or just be like, oh yeah, no, this old, this fucking, this completely moribund old man is going to come by every day and not talk to you, but give us Christmas trees.

I know. Like, why was it, why would that have been a reveal? Like, I really don't understand it, especially if they're going to do this like funky patchwork family thing. Like, it's so insane to me. It's just like, maybe it should have been at the start of the show if they wanted to have this scene where Larry, so Larry's like, run laps around the parking lot, cause you're mad and Theo screams and it's like, okay, good, he's done with his grief.

Yes. That's right. He's fine. Yeah. The only time, the subtext here, the only time you should ever feel rage is when someone gives you permission. Yeah. Oh my God.

Yeah. Like the right, you're right. The boy is like, like he's so compliant. It actually, it seems like pathological or something and he's the rebel. And so in that scene, the, the guy's like teaching him how to drive, which again, like, wouldn't you be like, why, who is this man and why is he teaching me how to drive? Like, who, you know? And so he like, um, the thing that the boy does that's really bad is he hits on the brakes.

Yeah. That's insane. Yeah. That's like, that's the completely unacceptable thing. Right. It's like, no, you're supposed to go slowly around the parking lot and he like slams on the brakes. It's like, what a cool dude, like we really got a rebel on our hands.

Yeah. That part, that part's awful. Yeah. It's like Larry should be, there should be like a B-plot where Larry's training Theo, the cool son to murder David Hogg. Oh my God. That's what the real guy would be doing. You're absolutely right.

It's like, son, we got the ammunition in the back of this truck. Like we'll tell your family, we're teaching, we're teaching you how to drive. I know why you're, I know why you're angry, son. Yeah. Oh my God. The NWO in the deep state are trying to take away our rights. Oh my God. And we got all these crisis actors just about your age.

Oh my God. It would be like a kind of DC sniper situation where like the guy like, oh, I would love that. And like everybody's like, wait, how are these two like, how did they meet each other? Like, yeah, you would be exactly like that. Like, oh, that would have been so, what a missed opportunity. But like, because the people are at the show, just everyone's life is expendable to them. Yes.

And then like, oh, what, like, if they, if in this episode, they would have fitted in this episode somehow that they did a DC sniper string of spree killings. Scott would be like, um, what did you do with my car? You did what Theo, you're beyond grounded. They've killed like 12 people. Yeah. That's exactly, oh my God, that's exactly how they talk. Uh, yeah, I think it would be easier for you to count the number, the numbers of days

until college till you're not grounded. Just like there's just some fucking insane manifesto out there that they wrote completely. Yes. Okay. So we're like safely done with the bad truck scene, but we're, we're back, we're back in the hospital. Oh, where this show really comes alive. And so they gave Scott Ativan, which causes him to act even more annoying and he's like

telling everyone he loves them and he's like, right, he turns to the nurse and he's like, I don't know you, but I love you too. Oh God, I fucking hated this part so much. So Robin is there with Oliver, who's his cancer doctor and Robin's his best friend from middle school. It's like a really fucking weird line where Robin, she refers to when Oliver was straight in medical school and tried to kiss her that seemed like kind of fucked up to me. I completely agree.

Like that was incredible. And you know, another thing like Oliver talks about his husband and his family a few times and we never see them for some reason. Like I know that's supposed to make us feel like really heart, like, you know, oh, you know, even like he's gay and he has, you know, we think it's wonderful that he's gay and he has this family too. But he's somehow invited and compliantly enthusiastic to join this other family instead. The council of gods.

It's like, what about your own family? Like, yeah, yeah, it's literally like, all right, well, you have a gay family and that's like, yes, yes. Then they do that's right. It's like, and that's they lead us to think that and then punish us for it or like, you know, we're not as liberal as these RBG lovers. It's like, no, what you're presenting us with is inhumanizing to these characters. Yeah, no, everyone is just there are no human characters in this.

Everybody is just like a vector for tragedy and positivity and the message that you should never feel rage or anger. It's all dirty. Or they're just like a vector for you to feel good about yourself for accepting this character. There is no human qualities or frictions. Right. Exactly. Yes.

Yes. So that like wall, they're having this terrible conversation. Robin immediately starts giving birth. That was insane. Like, you know, I'm very sensitive to this because I gave birth seven weeks ago and like this isn't exclusive to this show, but the thing of like women be like, oh, my water broke. I'm giving birth.

It's like, that's not how it happens at all. Like, it's like, like your water breaks like somewhere along the line, like not like it's just like it really, really does. It like breaks somewhere along the line and then like 17 hours later, you give birth like it's not like that at all. I never knew that, but that shouldn't surprise me that they've just got this. Well, I guess like no screenwriter has ever been there when his wife gave birth. Yes.

They're hanging out with Brian Singer. Completely. They're not there. Yes. Completely. Yeah. I know. I know.

It's like the way, I mean, you know, like I'm really like, like the way the whole pregnancy was depicted and like, you know, there's, I don't think I've never seen like a filmic or even like literary depiction of like what it's actually like, but this stuff of like where you just like slyly dropped your husband that you're pregnant or like what sex the baby is. Like those are things that like you would have a conversation with the person who you're going to be raising this child about. Like why I don't like, I guess that's like the strong woman thing.

Like, you know, she's got it. But like this man isn't, he's also supposed to raise the child with you. Why are you like, uh, yeah, uh, we're having a baby girl. It's like how long are they going to be pregnant for like, what did you do? Like. Yeah. So the, we were not treated immediately to a birth scene. We've got to wait for that because we're, uh, we're back with Lulee and the grief guy.

And she's like, I can't be in love with you. I'm just doing a temporary thing while my dad has cancer. They use a disgusting phrase that I'd never heard before. I don't know if it's made just for the show or if that's something people say on Tik Tok. Do you remember? No, what is it? He's like, so I guess I'm just your brief buddy. Oh, fuck, that really sucks.

That really fucking sucks. I know when it comes up again later, he says it again or she said, I think she says it again. Yeah. No. No. Okay. Yeah.

I think yeah. Okay. So fucking horrible. Yeah. Yeah. They just give us that like little sprinkling of shit, but we're back in the hospital. Right. It's just very short.

Right. Yeah. Just a very short shit. Easy. Uh, so they had the baby. It's a girl. Scott probably is going to name her like RBG, the persister, orange man, slayer, chuckle fuck, assassin, wonder woman, uh, and Scott, he leaves for some reason.

Oh my God. Okay. Again. Like, and they're like, oh yeah, we're going to go weigh the baby. Like the baby, that's the, I mean, obviously like they're not going to do like any kind of realistic birth scene, but like why was he bringing the baby to be weighed? Like the baby. Like.

Yeah. Just a guy from outside who hasn't been sterilized or anything. Yes. Yeah. Like that's terrible. Like the baby like has no immune system. Um, so that leaves Scott or that leaves Oliver and, uh, Robin alone and Oliver's like, uh, yeah, don't get too attached to your husband, he's going to die.

She was like, and after he said that, she's like, Oliver, I know you really well, even though you're gay and black, like, I, um, you know, I can tell when something's wrong. And he's like, yeah, you're a husband, uh, it's curtains for him. Like again, huge chip of violation. Massive. Everyone in this show would be fired. Yes. Like all the, like Larry would be fired from his job is like what, like private equity

guy, because he literally, he can't say a word to anyone apparently until like a boy yells at him. Yeah. That's like his trigger. That's like, yes. Yeah. I can come alive. Uh, Scott is just like the most annoying fucking man ever.

I don't know any job he could work at. Uh, the restaurateur brother, like his thing is just like getting pussy and being cool. So I guess he could work at his job. Even though that's just implied, like, we don't, it just implied. Yeah. Like no one who's not in this family is in the show. The only people we see are people in the family. Like if you include the council of dads, like the hospital is completely staffed by the

family. The Crab Shack literally is staffed, is only staffed by the family. Like there is no one who appears at all in the show. Like these people have no friends. They don't know anyone. Like they're all, it's only the family. No. Yeah.

That's, yeah. I never thought about that. But they're literally the population of this entire town. It's amazing. Yes. Yes. It's like, when you have a dream, where you're like, oh, like I'm at Costco, but everyone who works there is like, you know, it's like my cousin.

Yes. My uncle. Yes. Oh my God. Those are the only faces that you can quite recall at that moment. Oh my God. Exactly. Yes.

Yes. Yes. That's right. It's like, I mean, it must be the same reason like you do it in the dream that they did it in the show, like your imagination can't come up with anything except for these like familiar people. And that's what they're doing. They can't like staff the show with enough people.

Like, but it's also like, well, that isn't for lack of money. Like the show has very high production values. It really does. They could have hired extras, but they were just like, no, this is just, this is the family company. We don't want to confuse the viewers. They might not have very good facial recognition. I actually didn't recognize the dad when he had cancer.

Like I thought he was a new character, so I guess I am their perfect viewer. Who's that? He's bald now. Oh my God. So after that, uh, Lulee and the guy, Lulee's like, all right, well, you're more than a grief buddy. Oh, is that what she said? Yeah.

Yeah. I expected both of them to be like, I'm dying at this point. Like, why not get both of them cancer? She runs into the fucking sea in a scene that's like, this is like if Terrence Malick was like, like dropped as an adult, it's like a really bad Terrence Malick. It's, yeah, it's like a fucking, you know, those like really fancy high schools that are film classes. If you were like, yeah, just have a 15 year old do a fucking Malick scene with full production

on. Oh my God. That's exactly what, wait, that, like I've been part of one of those, like I was taking a walk one day, like in Beachwood, which is this like really fancy summer of Cleveland and these two wonderful teens stopped me and they were like, and it was like a really snowy day and it was like down this like kind of like path that you'd see in like something like this. And they're like, could you, um, like, and they had these like really fancy cameras and

they're like, could you walk slowly away from us and I was like, okay, and I like, it was like a heartwarming scene. I was like, you know, good luck with your future guys. Like I'm sure everything will be great and they're like, thanks, ma'am. Like, yeah, like that, they could have shot, like if they were in Georgia or wherever this takes place, like they would have shot that like the woman running toward the water and you know, wonderfully freely jumping in and him chasing after her, like, yeah. Yeah, they probably would have done a better job.

But um, yeah, in the water, she's like, my dad died this morning and then the scene just ends. It's fucking awful. You're right. He, he doesn't say it like it's like these kinds of people have no friends and if someone was like, you know, my dad died this morning, they just like stare at them like, yeah, they lived in LA too long and are just used to the style of conversation where you stare at someone till they're done talking.

All right. Is it my turn? Is it my turn? Yeah. It's like, they respond by being like, my dad is still alive, like, they couldn't write, they couldn't think of anything to write for him to say, so the scene just ends. No. Yeah.

They're like, all right, we're out of the scene. So yeah, we're thankfully like, we're thankfully in the last quarter of this. So it just raps up to get worse as it ends up because, right. And as I would get like, as I told you, like that scene is like an, like, it's like a relief like that. I mean, the way that they've set this up, because you know, there's going to be a council of dads, you're like, rooting for his cancer to come back, then you're rooting for him to die.

Like it's so evil, like, but there it's like, well, you need this plot, you know, this council of dads needs to be set up like, like, you know, it's horrible. Like, like with every character, they put you in like a disgusting position. No. Yeah. Well, yeah. And it is the NBC theory that all, all tragedy, I mean, like, okay, you take like the misattributed Stalin quote, a million deaths is a statistic.

The NBC quote would be any, any tragedy is just a plot device. Yes. A tragedy is just something that happens, that you put into your character and like just annoying, supposedly funny lines come out. Yes. It's like, I can't think of anything else to do. So this guy died of cancer. Like I can't think of any way to make these people seem human, except for through, through

illness and sickness. Yeah. No, it's the only way they can characterize people. Yes. So he writes these, he writes like these awful letters thinking the council of dads, the future council of dads. And I thought it'd be funny if his letter to Oliver was like, well, good work, but I'm dying now.

Yeah. Yeah. You're the least useful of the council. You're the only one task of keeping me from dying from cancer and you screwed it up all over. Oh my God, you're right. Like, oh God, and it's so like, they can't think, they couldn't think of another character to be his doctor.

The doctor had to be his best friend and on the council of dads. This is like, this family wouldn't pass like an annulment clause investigation, way too many conflicts. You're right. You're right. So write to me, you wrote each dad a letter. Yeah. So they're supposed to look after the family for at least a year, which like, what, like

after a year, like a baby, you know, issues with baby, it's like, all right, they can pretty much take care of themselves after that. But yeah, we so we're treated to the baby is growing very fast. Another thing I noticed it like three months later, the baby was like, somehow was about the size of a one year old baby. Yeah. I mean, I mean, who knows, maybe they like microwaved it or something, but we get we're treated to individual scenes of the council meeting with their individual member of the

family. Like we get Oliver. He, he talks about Anne Frank with Charlotte in a horrible name. Larry keeps continued to groom Theo. He's like dressing him like just garbage shit like that. So all right, coming up, this is almost like, wait, that Larry and Theo thing is incredibly sinister. Like they are there.

Their scene is a re visual recreation of the worst scene, the scene that Michael shared with you of the wife and husband sitting standing in front of the mirror, like he's doing that with. Oh my God. I didn't think about that. Holy fuck. Like he has his like arms around him at his time, the time they're both facing the mirror. Oh my fucking God, I didn't even think about that.

Oh, they show so fucking dark. Ryan Singer probably produced it. Holy shit. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops. Yeah, it's just a teaser for the next scene. I never asked you to become a part of my life, Theo. I just liked you. All right.

So yeah, like blankly compliant. So after that, there are a lot of, there are like four scenes I could say contend for the worst scene in the show and this is the last of those scenes. So during the funeral scene, we find out that JJ is a trans boy and this isn't done with like just zero fucking care for trans people. It's not that they think like this is an interesting character. It's not that like, oh, we're going to like, we're going to talk about like how a family would would take on like, you know, the challenge and joy of this.

It's just like the grandma makes it, makes him wear a dress and then every character gives a speech about why she shouldn't have, but it's just like, it's just a way for the writers to show how good they are. This like every identity is just a fucking prop. It's so fucking insulting. It is. It's so goddamn fucking insulting. It is so fucking insulting.

And like, so then when we find out what their, their special identity is quote unquote, that's all they are and will ever be. Like that's the end of their trajectory as a character. It's like so gross. And that scene was especially offensive to me because that was the mom from freaks and geeks. I'm like, what, you don't have to do it. What a misuse.

What a fucking misuse of an amazing talent. Like, you, like she didn't have to do that. Like, right. So, and then, right. And JJ gives a, like, like a really gross speech to her. He's like, you know, it's okay, grandma. I know you're from a different generation and you just don't understand. Like, I mean, their reactions, it's like they have to be good to, for us to see, to want

to follow their plot line or something. Right. Exactly. And then on the show has that like your grandmother is like misgendering you and making you do like one of the most. At your own father's funeral, your father's funeral in front of your entire fucking family. Yes.

But because like the writers have to show that you're morally person would never display any rage because this is the dirtiest thing you can just, just any anger, fucking discomfort. You have to be Jesus Christ all the time. Yes. That's what every normal person, to them, that's like what every normal person has to be to have any rights. Yes. And do they angrily demand the human dignity to which they're entitled to?

Yes. Absolutely. Yeah. Right. It's like, right. The like generic Craig T. Nelson didn't give the, give JJ permission to scream in the parking lot. So instead he's just going to be politely compliant and go along with it.

And he looks terrible in that dress. It's like, I didn't even know what was happening. I thought it was like she was dressing him for like some kind of communion thing or something. Like. Yeah. Like, again, horribly done, horribly introduced, horribly fucking everything. Yes. Like, but this was just like, the other scenes are horrible because they're poorly written

and poorly executed. This is horrible because it's like insulting. Yes. So like a lot of people. Yes. And you know, JJ is a very unpleasant character. And then you, it like, and it has nothing to do with his identity because the writers are bad.

Yes. And he's always like, you know, in weird places in the house, like, you know, one of those kind of kids, like, and like, you know, like in a funky position on the landing or whatever, you know, like just yucky stuff. And then, and right. And then it's like, oh, you hated him. Well, he's a really wonderful kid who's, you know, dealing like in an extremely like perfect way with being trans.

Like, so you suck. It's like, I didn't know. Yeah. It's like. All right. So Lily in the awful end of this awful, awful pilot, Lily gets married to her cancer homey with the help of the Soy Illuminati. They like do their wedding.

I guess we flash forward like, what, like five years? No, it's a three months later and like, just like you, I was thinking she was like 15 because the dad said, you know, um, I, you know, I'm worried about this relationship. Oh my God. Wait. We didn't talk about the song that they sang together when they first met. Like, holy fuck. I literally had, I think I like, I blacked out during that part.

Describe it, please. Please describe it. Okay. There's, okay. And this is like, this is so racist. I don't even know. I mean, but it's like racist in a way that like you would have to have like, I don't even know what.

And it's like, okay, they're standing against a brick wall and he spontaneously begins and he's done a graffiti of a crab and I think it's like a corporate corporate graffiti that he voluntarily did for free on the, and then I don't, I can't even, it's like, my mind couldn't even make sense of what I was seeing. Like, I think this is supposed to be a realistic show. You know, they're trying to make it realistic. He just spontaneously begins to like kind of do a kid rock style rap, like, and then she joins in and finishes out the rap.

And I think that's when the dad becomes like concerned about her future because, you know, they're doing street stuff. Like, so he's like, you know, I'm worried about you. And like, it's like this weird, like, I mean, their song is like something that would be on Sesame Street. Like, that's like the kind of tone of it. Like they're in front of like this fake brick, what kind of suburban, yeah, street style brick wall.

And they're doing like a, I don't know what the rap is. I was too mortified to listen to the words of it. But I think it was something like, hey, girl, I'm into you, girl, are you into me? Like something a little bit like that, and she's like, hey, brother, happy to see that you are into me. Like it was that kind of thing. Yes. Yes.

It was that fucking shitty. It was, yeah, it was like 1983 style rap. Yes. And they were both doing like little moves, like, right. And I don't know, was that to show that I don't know that they're not maybe not from the community or something, but everyone like accepts them anyway. And that was right before the conversation that she had with the dad where she was like, did I ruin your life dad?

Like, you would have ruined anyone's life who saw what just happened. I, yeah, I can't believe I forgot about that. Actually, I can. No, some things you just like can't keep in your mind. No. Okay. So wait, the whole reason I brought up that scene was she said to the dad after that, you know, I kiss a guy and you flip, like, so it's like, to me that, you know, it's not

like she's sleeping with him. She's just doing like, you know, urban style, you know, things with him. And that was probably what was in the script. Like when they're blocking the scene out, they were like, you know, uh, uh, Lily and the guy doing urban styles, mating, recording ritual, hip hop style, romanticism. Yes. Yeah. That's exact.

Like the all white writers room did completely, you're right. It was like urban style, mating ritual completely. Yes. Oh God. That was so mortifying. Right. And the, and the dad walked in on them doing it. Yeah.

Like, yeah. Right. Oh God. Oh my God. I am really glad you remember that because that like adds so much subtext to like, did I ruin your life? Like, is it like, oh, you introduced an urban element to this family? Yeah.

Is that what we're supposed to read it? Like, what the fuck? Right. That's why you, we have you stand 500 feet back from the family and all social functions. Yeah. Jesus Christ. So when she was like, you know, I kissed a guy, well, what's the big deal? That made me think like, okay, this girl is, you know, 15 years old.

But yeah. But she gets married, I think about three months after that scene. So she's like 21. Yes. Yes. Fuck God. This sucks. Yeah.

That's a great idea for a marriage. You've just known this guy for like five months and you get married just out of grief. Right. Right. What a fucking great, that is like, there's a lot of contempt for normal people and the people who view the show. But that is probably the biggest. That's like, very subtly the biggest fuck you because it's like, if you, the message

of the show and the message of like all these shows and all this like kind of culture, this cult of positivity is that it's absolutely filthy and disgusting to feel any anger at the state of the world. Any ambient shittiness you feel, it's not that you live in a country where people fucking kill themselves because they, they can't afford healthcare. You murder suicides, husbands and wives. They're afraid there'll be burdens on their family that we, that we fund terrorist militias all over the world and destabilize anything good that happens.

Just this, that there's this constant baseline of unfairness and evil and that it seems to, like nothing really seems to get better on a macro scale. Like if you feel bad, it's that you haven't done enough self care is that you're not great. You're not grateful enough for your friends and family. And yes, that's right. You're not smiling like a, like sitting slightly back at family functions, just like taking it all in, smiling like a moron, like, right, you need to spend more time doing that. Like doing hashtag gratitude at your family functions.

Yeah. And it's literally like Scott, it's like, no, no, don't worry if you can't afford it. And like literally the mother leaves, you know, explain reason. Like just have a kid. Let's continue this empire, grow, keep growing the tax base, even though you can't afford to. You'll figure it out. What?

You love your family, right? You fucking piece of shit. Yes. That's right. We have to cobble together these, like the only people we know to help raise this. And you know what happens after a year? Like what's this poor woman supposed to do? Like, this is horrible.

It's one of the most catastrophic things that could happen to somebody if this were real. But because it's one of these shows, it's like, no, great, now you have more opportunity for gratitude. Like God fuck you. Yes. Fuck you. Like the people who fucking write this show don't raise their army with like a staff of 12.

Like fuck you. Yes. Yeah. I mean, who is cleaning that mansion? Like, you know, like I struggle very, very much to clean our apartment. And it has like two rooms in it. Like I don't, like, you know, who's doing that? Yeah.

This is, this was, I was happy to go back to this is us after this. I'm going to start, I'm going to be going back to recapping this is us next week. We ended up doing like a lot of time on this just because it's so fucking repelling. Yes. It's the worst one of these I've ever seen. I would doubt I, they would really have to like really grind to make something shittier than this. It really, really was bad.

Yeah. And the wedding scene was repulsive. Like that looked like a, some kind of medication commercial too. It was like a kind of anthropology, like setting thing really, really gross. Oh my God. Yeah. It was like a Pinterest fucking night wedding. Oh yeah.

The whole, like the aesthetic of this was like very Pinterest, the whole thing. Yeah. So yeah, the wedding ends, they get married, Lulee gives like a narration about how like her family is so great, but yeah, this is, you know, so, oh yeah, the thing I was going to say about the commercials that you noticed too, like, do you notice how every ad was either for a medication, only medications that are covered by Medicare plan D, like the only people in America who can afford medication, old people who have like the only socialized medicine in America and the army.

Oh my God. You're right. Yeah. The two things America makes, empire and fucking pills. Oh my God. The two things, while this fucking shitty slop made by free, like sex maniacs and freaks is plowed into our heads. Oh my God, you're right.

And like, I mean, those commercials do the same kind of like identity thing, like, you know, these are these people, you know, we look, they're diverse, thus, you know, you're a good person for like, what, accepting this on your TV or something? Yeah. Yeah. What a fucking, what an awful exercise. Oh, God, God, like, I felt really depressed after it was over. Like it's just like, it's like, serving up this like, like grievous narrative and offering

you only like this, like, like Pinterest boards and like to understand it with. Yeah. Yeah. No. Yeah. That's exactly it. This was, I have to, I don't even know what I did. I think I was just like hitting the random page on Wikipedia for like an hour after I

watched this. Yes. I was just, it was just like watching your eyes and mouth out after exposure to a chemical. Yes. Yes. I know. Oh my God. It was so bad.

It was so fucking bad. Oh, yeah. That was terrible. Well, I'm glad that, I'm glad that you were able to help God through this because yeah, holy shit, I'm probably going to do it again another week because it's, I mean, it's like unavoidable. I'm going to start thinking about it if I don't view it for like over two weeks. Oh my God.

So you're going to continue to watch it? I might, I might have to, because like it's going to be canceled. Like I don't feel like anyone watches this. This is like, it's like, if you already watched This Is Us, like why would you watch this? Like this is. This is way better. I don't want you to watch it because I love you. I'm serious.

Like I don't want you to see it. I think it's like, if I only do it every two weeks, I won't get like a talk of exposure. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen some pretty bad stuff in my life. So. Oh my God. There's some pretty bad media.

That's true. Like you have a higher tolerance for it. I think you're right. You can do it. You can do it. I know. Look, as long as this quarantine is going on, I'm watching these fucking terrible shows. You're doing like an amazing service like you are like, oh my God.

All right. Well, I'm really glad. I'm really glad you could be on this one. Thank you so much. I loved doing it. I know that you're, I know that you're super busy. Anytime you want to do another, we should do one. Okay.

I feel like it was so fun. I loved it. Thank you so much for having me. It was great. Thank you so much. Okay. Great. And we have our family zoom call tomorrow, right?

Okay. Yeah, that's right. All right. I'll see you all next week. For episode three of this is sucks. Thank you everyone. You