Let me tell you the story of a couple, one of the greats. Andrew Lofland and Zelda Vasco will date for eight months, three weeks, five days, and one hour. This television program is the comprehensive account of their relationship, from A to Z.
A to Z 1x12 ‘L is for Likeability’ Review: Let’s just hope the final episode does way better
We are now down to the penultimate episode of A to Z, and still, we have no news of possible pick-ups, so it’s now a good time to start letting it go. In this episode, The Wonder Years’ Dan Lauria guest stars as Pete Lofland, Andrew’s (Ben Feldman) father. This episode fell a little flat in terms of humor, and I know we’re basing this review on what’s left of its three-month run, but it’s just sad to see it go off in that streak.
Spoilers are included in this review.
PLOT: Papa Pete surprise-visits Andrew because he wants to meet Zelda, having heard of her last Christmas. Knowing his father’s bad impression on his ex-girlfriends, Andrew lies and tells him that Zelda (Cristin Milioti) is out of town. Pete immediately finds out about the truth. They all have dinner together and Pete and Zelda bond well. All is well until Andrew finds out that his father is only pretending to like Zelda, saying that he could do better. Andrew exhausts the truth from Pete and he learns that his dad’s partner left him. Truth is: Pete likes Andrew and Zelda’s bond but he wants them to break up so he can spend time with his son. This maddens Andrew but Zelda convinces them to make up and go play at the batting cages, just like they did when Andrew was younger. Pete bails at the last minute, saying that his girlfriend wants to get back together; Zelda reprimands him for breaking his son’s heart. Pete shows up and explains to Andrew that he broke up with his girlfriend for good, now knowing that she brings out the worst in him. They help Pete set up a Wallflower profile and find the perfect woman.
The B-plot includes Lydia (Christina Kirk) coming up with a new policy and flirting with Dane (Wayne Wilderson) from corporate. Stephie (Lenora Crichlow) advises Lydia regarding her secret relationship in exchange for her Wallflower membership cancellation since she’s in a relationship now.
OPINION: Overall, this episode is still okay. But “okay” is not how we want to remember this show. The episode included a guest star that I didn’t bother knowing because his appearance was useless. I remember his face, though. I saw him once on 2 Broke Girls, he’s the hospital guy that Max met and then gave a candy heart to on Valentine’s Day. He was funny in that episode; he had a purpose in that episode. And now, seeing him literally do nothing here begs an answer to “What the hell was that?”
The humor fell flat, too, but thankfully, Stu (Henry Zebrowski) saved the day. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but his presence and bouncy, jolly self is automatically funny for me. Papa Pete calls him Stu-by Doo, he runs and screams, and I’m sold.
The other scene I loved: Zelda lecturing Papa Pete on the phone. The way Cristin delivered her line had me laughing. It was cold, hard, and downright hilarious. “Old people sex.”
The blur here comes from Papa Pete’s backstory. We have not invested in that path yet, and now the bomb is dropped on us. He’s a selfish person. Or maybe he isn’t. Nevertheless, we don’t know him enough, but now we’re inclined to dislike him because of his intentions. Andrew is such a sweet person, and how are we supposed to take it if a father is to manipulate that?
Lastly, I love Ben Falcone and his character Howard. One question: why isn’t he in the last few episodes? He’s perfect with Lydia, and now we’re forced to watch her with the corporate guy, which, to say the least, has the worst chemistry with her. I love Howard and Lydia’s banter, what happened to that? If Ben is occupied with some other projects, I hope they had replaced him with a close second. Corporate Guy has nothing on Howard. He just appeared and then bam, he gets Lydia. Why? Why?
All in all, it’s okay. But we don’t want okay. We don’t want to see it leave with just “okay.” They have one more chance to leave a good mark, and let’s all hope for it.
RATINGS:
Acting: 6/10 – I hate to give this to a show I like, but I am not amused by that guy’s addition.
Continuity: 6/10 – This I’m not going to regret giving. Pete’s backstory is all a blur.
Entertainment: 7/10 – Thank you and your cute self, Henry Zebrowski.
Humour: 6/10 – I don’t know what to say.
Writing: 6/10 – One more chance, writers. One more chance.
OVERALL: 6.2/10
A to Z’s thirteenth and final episode premieres on Thursday at 9:30/8:30c on NBC!
A to Z 1x06 ‘F is for Fight, Fight, Fight!’ Review: Compromise is key + roofing sandals
A to Z may be semi-cancelled, but it still continues to amaze me. It’s not the joke-after-joke type of sitcom, if you aren't already in too deep, you know. But, but… the development and the unraveling of the story is just admirable-believable. This week we see ultra realistic dilemmas for guys who are not the alpha type. Save the show while you still can!
Spoilers are included in this review.
PLOT: Zelda (Cristin Milioti) and Andrew (Ben Feldman) encounter a guy who calls Zelda a hoe, and Andrew wanted to smack him down but was hesitant, because he doesn’t know if Zelda would like it. Before he can do anything, Zelda roofs the guy’s sandals. This bothers Andrew, and Stu (Henry Zebrowski) tells him to use his Spider Monkey move from when he was a little kid doing jujitsu. After much battle with himself, Andrew attacks someone in an Abraham Lincoln costume, and Zelda calls him out on it. They argue about what happened, and Zelda reiterates that it wasn’t the reason why she was mad. It’s because Andrew was not listening to what she has been saying about having to work more hours at home for the new case she’s handling. He was too caught up in the idea of physically fighting someone to defend Zelda, but he also tells her that he wanted to do it so she would see that he can be another person than sweet, sensitive Andrew. Spoiler alert: they make up. In a cute way.
Back at the Whalen and Kurtz law firm, Stephie Bennett (Yes, we finally got a surname for Lenora Crichlow’s character.) is unusually excited in handling a case, and as it turns out, the client is a hot farmer named Frank (One Life to Live’s Josh Casaubon). Zelda catches them making out, and Stephie convinces her to take the case alone so she won’t be fired for affiliating herself with the guy.
At the Wallflower office, Howard (Ben Falcone) and Lydia (Christina Kirk) devises new ways to get the employees to take them seriously and listen. Also, Stu is randomly Kato-ing (basically scaring) Andrew so his jujitsu self would come out. Again, spoiler: Stu is hilarious. As always.
OPINION: This is my favorite episode in terms of the development on Andrew and Zelda’s relationship. It’s so realistic to battle with yourself on whether you’d do something or not because of what your partner may want. It is admirable of Andrew to speak his mind even if he did something unusual. Sometimes we have to look beyond what was done and see the reasons why it was done. I wouldn’t say Andrew was wrong for attacking that person. Lawfully, yeah, it was wrong. But as the viewer, you just get him. You understand where he’s coming from. He’s the type of guy whose shoulders are always ready for you to cry on, but sometimes, he’s tired of being only that kind of guy, so he has to take actions so people would see that he can be more than what he is.
You may see his actions as mere validations for being the guy in the relationship, but I genuinely think he did it for Zelda as he still is the sweet, sensitive guy that we know and love, even if we’d seen what he called “darkness” in him. And the fact that he would consider Zelda’s feelings before acting on something makes him way, way more likable on my book. Zelda, don’t ever let that man go, I’m telling you.
As for Zelda, it’s not a secret that I really envy her frankness. Voicing your little requests helps, to be honest. And it truly hits home when she said that maybe Andrew could take the burden off her by making little decisions. (I loved their argument, by the way. They are both wonderful actors who can speak volumes just by doing facial expressions. I admire actors who utilize their face the most.) That is so hard to admit, because you’ll never know if it’s offensive to your partner. But I guess that was just a testament to how well she knows him even after only over a month of dating, you know? It’s a testament to how she trusts how Andrew would understand the problem and take it well.
Zelda pretending to be scared of the spider so Andrew would take it out was just so sweet, I must say. She knew she’s been really hard on him so she gives him his moment of glory. They really are a perfect imperfect couple. Compromise is key, you guys.
I didn’t like Stephie’s plot this week. There’s only so much you can take from a girl chasing around a guy and taking after his characteristics so you’d “feel compatible.” This is the one thing I don’t like about her, you know, the mindset she has on dating guys. I really hope this is the last time she’s going to do that, because I will strangle her the next time it happens. Girls, never go gaga for a guy. It’s not pretty.
Stu takes a step back in terms of plot this week but continues to steal every scene he’s in. He is one crazy individual and always a delight to watch.
RATINGS:
Acting: 9/10 – I loved Cristin and Ben’s acting this week. That fight was so realistic. And Lydia is one awesome chameleon! She can do monumentally different versions of herself.
Continuity: 8/10 – Loved the tidbits from the past, as usual. The young versions of Andrew and Stu are what you would exactly imagine in terms of their friendship in the present.
Entertainment: 6/10 – I liked all plots this week except Stephie’s, which took a good amount of screen time and it pissed me because Zelda had to take all the work. Hehe.
Humour: 8/10 – This is how I’d define a classic A to Z: humor from the Wallflower gang, romance and drama from the leads. I love it.
Writing: 9/10 – The leads’ plot this week was just incredibly realistic. I can’t stress enough how the A to Z team nailed the casting on this show. Good chemistry, good writing.
OVERALL: 8/10
The ratings upped this week! What did you think of Zeldrew’s argument? And weren’t you pissed at Stephie for always doing what she does with guys? I mean, get a grip, right? Let us know what you think on the comments section below! Keep watching and help #SaveAtoZ!
A to Z premieres every Thursday at 9:30/8:30c on NBC!
Like I am actually very upset about NBC cancelling A to Z...it was a show that definitely had a lot of potential, and it gave me some hope for new TV shows, since most of them nowadays are garbage, which is why I don't really watch TV anymore. So sad....soooooo sad.
