@avclub-6997a8bd0e1042b70b60c5c879a1780e:disqus Well, even if I were to agree with your premise that he just has changes thrust upon him by forces beyond his control, that would still be a reasonable metaphor for growing up.

@avclub-f1cabca05a9a64dd5900cf947a6792ca:disqus That's a great point about his school performance.

@avclub-f121d09285898f1c66d66f1e6f0455a6:disqus Right, that's always possible.  But it's less fun to talk about things in such a reductionist fashion.

In fairness, I think there's a way to read the character as a commentary on what happens when a child is defined by one thing, beyond his control.  Harry's whole childhood was tied to something that happened when he was a kid, that he obviously couldn't escape, and that obviously hung over him at all times (I mean,…

@avclub-f8665a36d5a911922da81a12443887ed:disqus I just watched Royal Tenenbaums again a week or so ago.  I too had always wondered why he stopped writing with Owen Wilson, but while watching it (and thoroughly enjoying) again, part of me wonders if they didn't just think that Tenenbaums was the best they were ever…

He was solid in The Dark Knight.

He actually is talented, and fairly likeable in interviews as well.

It's "Rae" Carruth.  Come on, I expect better of you.

@avclub-e129a878f7b0e5aa9ac09e0282f64ea6:disqus I'd put Craig Sager in that Don Cherry group as well.

Phillip seems to be auditioning for a Lifetime movie about Dave Matthews.

@avclub-69c765b770d7e1ef2d85da5214b4a689:disqus I agree that the other options were not necessarily fantastic, but Christina still picked her team, all the way through.  If she's now stuck picking between bad options, she has no one to blame but herself.

Todd VanDerWerff (think I got that right, if not, my apologies) has to be furious about this, as television is obviously supposed to be an episodic collection of short stories divulged at a slow pace so everyone can fully appreciate everything.  This is just crass.  (Again, in his eyes.  For me, it's freaking amazing.…

Yes, I'm aware of that, and I actually like their involvement and that element of the show a lot.

Yeah, that was great stuff from Christina.  I also thought it was weak that she crowded in on Ashley as Ashley tried to actually get her last words in before Carson rushed her off.  You kicked her off, Christina.  It's your fault she's going, stop acting like you wish it wasn't the case.

I agree that it makes sense, and I certainly loved that he was seemingly the only non-Cosgrove at the table that was interested.  But I don't think you could have expected him to be that interested, just because of how little he wanted to be there at first, and how that normally causes him to disengage completely…

I burst out laughing when they revealed his pen name.  Perfect fit for the character.  I also loved how Don seemed genuinely interested in the story, which was a nice callback to the first story Ken published that Don supposedly read and enjoyed.  It's always fun to see Don actually engage with people or events we…

Sigh.  Again with the Middle America.  Geographical stereotypes are sometimes effective, yes, but come on.  Not when it comes to television viewership.

Poor Errol.  Deserved better, especially since he didn't have to do what he did.

@avclub-adb4c903674d579c1a43dbf3ae93f077:disqus I'm confused as to how it's a hilariously childish fantasy that nothing in Washington can get done just by being idealistic and trying hard?  Obviously if The West Wing were filled with constant political victories and overwhelming, sweeping progressive reforms brought…

James Massone.  WTF.