If we’re being truly honest Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2×04 “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee” is a filler episode. Thankfully, with a short run, this show doesn’t have to ever go full filler, but this is basically a setup episode for many things that will end up coming to a head in future hours. And yet, despite that, this is a en entertaining, often endearing hour that delivers plenty of emotional moments.
You know, the Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist way.
Shows don’t usually get to this point, and that Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is here in season 2 is nothing short of amazing. Not just because the show has arguably improved on itself with every hour, but because it has managed to basically convince us that, no matter what, we can expect consistent entertainment from it.
And, though “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee” might not be the most replayed episode of this show ever, it does prove that this show is, even in its slower episodes, still one of the best on TV.
So let’s go into Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2×04 “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee” as we discuss choice, moving on and what true love looks like.
CHOICE?
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2×04 “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee” starts with Mo sharing some of his personal life hacks with Zoey. You see, Mo is a big believer in that happiness is a choice you make. You can get up every day and choose happiness. So Zoey, who, as we know, is not every good at choosing how to feel – good or bad, things just happen to her – accepts the wisdom and tries to apply it to her life.
It might seem silly, but I like this idea a lot, in general. There’s a lot to be said about trying to look on the bright side of life, attempting to focus on the good. The problem, of course, it’s not it’s not a cure-all, and that sometimes, making this choice can come at the expense of just …ignoring issues that should be dealt with.
With alcohol. As you flirt with your sort of ex-boyfriend who you clearly still want to have sex with, but are supposed to be adult about, because you also love him and you don’t want to ruin the relationship.
The show, however, doesn’t leave this idea there, it brings it back full circle in a very good conversation between Zoey and Simon, where Simon ends up articulating something I think everyone who’s feeling down in the dumps would appreciate hearing: that you don’t have to choose.
You don’t have to be one thing, or feel one feeling. Not at any given time. You can feel them all, and that’s okay. It’s …normal, even. When you let yourself feel them, that’s when you can start working on them. And for Zoey, in particular, who’s lived such a compartmentalized life, just feeling will probably be a good thing.
Just …don’t do too much feeling with the random neighbor, okay Zoey? Not too much.
JUICY
Simon’s feeling good about himself (something crucial and big and neccesary), and it’s all because of a woman …who isn’t Zoey! I admit I expected the show to go here, but I somehow didn’t expect them to go here this fast? But, all in all, this is pretty much what they promised us and what we’re not using to shows actually delivering.
Love triangle? What love triangle?
Don’t believe me? Just look at the scene of Zoey and Simon discussing his, ahem, very obvious crush on Tatiana and how that makes Simon feels, as if were not a thing that upsets either of them. In a way, I feel like maybe we needed a conversation between to two of them, but I also feel like maybe they both recognize it wasn’t a big enough deal for one? I’m always partial to over-talking, and Zoey and Max, for example, still need about 346 conversations, but in this particular case, I’m kinda fine with no relationship talk.
It was just a crush, after all. You can let a crush go. And then, another might come in. And you might go back to feeling like you’re the King of the World, like Simon clearly does this episode.
DIFFERENT WAYS
Mo and Max are very different people, and I expected the clash since they decided they were going to work together on this idea. Considering we’d already had one as they got the business running I kinda figured the show wouldn’t go there right away again, but boy, am I glad to be proven wrong. Because what happened in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2×04 “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee” is not only normal, it’s just the type of interactions you get when two very different people attempt to find a common ground without truly communicating.
We’ve focused a lot on Zoey’s issues, and how bad she is with emotions, how good at compartmentalizing she is. And yes, Max is much better than Zoey at all of those things, but that doesn’t mean he’s actually, you know …all that good at it? Better than Zoey isn’t exactly a high bar to clear.
The first thing he needed to do was not assume he understood why Mo was doing things. The second thing he needed to do was just …talk to Mo about his assumptions. He would have saved himself a lot of heartburn if he’s just communicated, and a part of me is really glad that Max will get to learn these lessons on screen but away from his relationship with Zoey, because right now Zoey has other lessons to learn, separate from Max.
As for Mo, some structure in his life would not go amiss. He can also learn from Max that, sometimes, you can’t just wing everything. That hasn’t worked well for him in the past, either. Their personalities are so wildly different, but in this case, the two of them might complement each other perfectly. All they need is to be willing to find that elusive middle ground.
I’LL STAND BY YOU
The increased focus on David and Emily has been one of my favorite things of the first few episodes of season 2, because I truly love these two. Not because they’re perfect, no, but because they aren’t, and yet in finding ways to disagree, reevaluate and continue on together, they represent the standard Zoey – and everyone else, should strive for.
Maggie and Mitch were that standard before, for everyone, including Emily and David, and that’s why Maggie finds it so hard to even consider …not a date, but flirting with someone else. And I get it, it’s too soon. But maybe, at some point, it won’t be. Because there’s one thing I know about love …if someone truly loves you, they won’t want you to spend the rest of your life miserable, or alone.
But back to David and Emily, as Zoey looked on at Emily singing “I’ll Stand by You,” there was something in her face that seemed to understand that what she was seeing, what they had, warts and all, was what she wanted for her brother, and even for herself, in the future. Not perfection, no. But a partnership that gives and takes and means facing the future, whatever it might bring …together.
“I’ll Stand by You” indeed.
Things I think I think:
- Emily, stop it with the Team Simon. There is no team Simon. Also, your husband doesn’t like it.
- I love Mo’s attitude. And hair. And just ..Mo.
- Nervous Simon is super sweet.
- Leif …how did you know?
- It’s been like two months, so like …that guy flirting so openly with Maggie is kinda weird.
- Yes, Max, talk about you and Zoey! Talking is GOOD.
- I’m very, very surprised to be saying this …but I think I kind of love Andrew Leeds.
- Yes, Simon, I get it, I’m in love with Tatiana too.
- David and Emily’s convo could have gone better, but I kinda like that it wasn’t just an easy decision for Emily. It’s …big.
- I also really like that David called Zoey to talk about it. We need more siblings bonding moments.
- Simon HAS A CRUSH.
- Firing George felt like kicking a puppy.
- Yes, Zoey, of course it’s awkward. If it wasn’t, that would be weird. But no need to get drunk!
- Unless you’re gonna sing karaoke. Which you aren’t.
- Max and Mo are.
- Is that …Simon on a date?
- Mo just accepting that Zoey wants to flirt, and probably do more with Max, but she should do that when she’s sober, is friendship.
- The way Simon looks back at Max after Zoey tells Tatiana “thank you for coming, you’re a very handsome person” is A+. It’s literally like, IT’S YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN, MAXWELL.
- She meant to call Max, right?
- Yeah, she meant to call Max.
- We’ll always have George singing “Stronger.”
- “Eventually that hole will scar over. You can wear that scar like a badge of honor. And it won’t define you, it will deepen you. And you’ll learn how to draw strength from it. Because scars are tough. They remind us of all the battles we’ve fought, and how we survived to tell the story.”
- Emily and David. EMILY AND DAVID.
- Whatever you’re thinking of doing, Zoey …don’t.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2×04 “Zoey’s Extraordinary Employee”? Share with us in the comments below!
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.
