Re: Back To You
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Originally Posted by DaveF
It was enjoyable and has potential. And I liked the daughter sub-story; it gave the show some needed emotional depth. I'll give it a few episodes and see how it goes.
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I liked the daughter angle too. I worked as a supervisor at my hometown's Parks and Recreation office the last six summers making and updating resident IDs. Most of the faces blend together, but each year there were a dozen or so that stood out for whatever reason. One was the daughter of a columnist for the regional daily. She was always an incredibly articulate child, but full of energy and enthusiasm. The kid playing the daughter in this show reminded me a lot of her — more nuanced and forceful than the usual sitcom offspring.
One of the big mistakes in most of the multi-camera sitcoms launched the last several years is the lack of an emotional hook. Bland characters saying mildly amusing things doesn't work without an underlying reason to care about the characters. The final beat on the phone in the hotel room provided that for me. I'll be tuning in, and Wednesday's not an easy night for me.
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Originally Posted by Keith Paynter
The 'daughter' angle does appear polarizing. I wouldn't want to see the offspring of "pity sex" turn an antagonistic relationship into a sexual tension that changes things between them. That's so predictable that the show could JTS on its debut.
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One thing that the pilot was careful to do was to establish their dynamic before the kid was introduced. I think it's going to remain an antagonistic relationship for a while now, with that shared knowledge floating in the background. Having the daughter in the mix if anything heightens the antagonism because the stakes for both are so much higher. The same reason they spark sexually is the same reason they're at each other's throats. If ever there was a case for the leads not to get together until the series finale, this is it.
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Originally Posted by DaveF
While the "daughter" subplot may not be the best choice, the show needed some emotional gravitas as it entered the second half. Almost every sitcom has good character development or emotional drama happening on which to build the humor. Back to You was feeling too lightweight entering its second half; there was no depth to the host of snarky characters. The daughter thing brings in a serious note to round out the show and characters.
That's why I liked it.
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Well said. It forces one note characters to become more complicated.
I also loved Fred Willard as the sportscaster. He's basically playing a more insightful and subdued take on his Buck Laughlin character from
Best in Show. And Buck Laughlin was my favorite thing about
Best in Show.
