This review summed up how I felt about the intro of Babe's plot, I was indeed convinced in the end and glad to have watched this episode, but on paper and in the first moments she was leading to the favor, I could only think it sounds all a bit too contrived and fast. I agree Estelle Parsons was worth having on…

Talk surrounding yourself with great actors - Shelly Winters, Estelle Parsons, not to mention Laurie Metcalf's career arc afterwards.

I also believe there are many cases where actors were gay and still had chemistry with their on-screen straight partner, and yes, Tomlin is a great example. Of course, an argument can be that gay actors have been more accustomed to disguise their inclinations for a general public, taking on the straight relationship.…

So true about Tomlin. Brianna has a good character so her presence on screen is welcome, but with her boyfriend I feel little chemistry. She and her gay office assistant on the other hand, I could watch working together all the time.

I enjoyed to see both episodes as part of affirming Steven's growth - finally, he's no longer the early character, the kid whose basic setting was really quite shouty. For someone who has fused with Connie (also I would have been curious to see her reaction with Steven in the second of the two eps ) he seemed fated to…

Sol and Grace together was a very appreciated extra, especially the way Waterston was able to quickly shift from sad, whiny, exiting Sol to truly inquisitive, interest-piqued, expression when Grace started to explain her friend-like predicament. It added something to Sol's character and he seemed content to be there,…

Brianna and Frankie is one of the good pairings in G&F, especially now that there is a product to tangle with. But that makes sense, because the unnerving almost sedated calm of Brianna versus Frankie's reactions that build into confrontational performance responses following tangents too far into a cul-de-sac, just…

I've enjoyed this seasons's use of guest stars (I didn't recognize until reading that was Marsha Mason, but she was so familiar) even if just single episodes, as it's interesting the way it mixes highly current television (especially sitcom) with others of stage/screen.

This second season, first moments in fact, really sets up an interesting focus that goes past relations and directly to the heart, central to the plots and literally in Robert's case. The more open and exposed it (the heart) appears, the more methods develop to shield it, quickly, and use a "bypass" to keep it going.…

And yet the ever-popular reality shows stretch time by literally repeating everything in an episode at least twice: the original event - a conversation or action - is shown in situation the first time, then in their side-discussion, one or both of the stars are asked to recap stating almost exactly what was said, even…

I thought it was an interesting way to structure the story, although It suffers from rosy new-wife-is-saint and semi-center of the story, and she is an author I think and exec producing it. Younger Brian was a great match as actor, but older Brian was hardly a match.

Makes sense and who knows, potential spin-off, the offices of Robert and Sol, divorce lawyers, looking into the eye (and pocket) of damaged marriages.

I know, that whole insurance set-up… It's like by the way, you are a lawyer, with ex-wife and grown children, don't you know how this whole insurance thing in hospital is working and going to go down? But yeah, he can be a sweet character and I like the way he plays that, but it seems so odd he got so far as a lawyer.

Grace and Frankie are the title characters for good reason. I enjoy seeing them figure out their lives this season (looking ahead) but am quickly tiring of the whiny, needy Sol, which fuels the more sitcom feely eps. How could he be a lawyer? Of course, thanks to Waterston, there's more to the character. Still, lots…

Great recap. I agree completely on being ready to now see Grace and Frankie front and center, on their own without the two. There are nice touches of Robert/Sol in the hospital, a loving lets-have-the-marriage-right-now trope (plus his death before they are legally married would not let him leave an estate or benefits…

Yeah, I was thinking after the Louis CK epic on Maron WTF, where he really told that story in more detail, this was about some update as well. But then again, I can't imagine Pesci listening to WTF, let alone watching Conan.

Yes I agree, I think those unexpected and complex points make it stand out, and that the main actors can pull it off. I think comparison with UKS happens with the themes around changing dynamics of modern families, inclusive of a LGBT perspective (obviously here) and through women in the title roles. But the pacing…

There was a great documentary on Crawford as an actress (I think from Turner Movies or some such) that points to her confronting how she wants to take on the mature years. She worked on redefining "Joan Crawford" for the next phase of life (at that moment it would be married to Pepsi Exec and in business) She decides…

And related, it always amazes me how goddamn beautiful Dunaway was in her (fewer) films until she tried to confront that same maturing process of time.

Nick Robinson's ability to shift over to movies from one of the dumbest of sitcoms ("Melissa and Joey") seems like a good reason to support the movie as well. That said, I'd be fine with seeing it on tv screen though, netflix or some such. I listened to the Maron interview with Reiner, and I can't imagine what…