I think that in life you don’t always remember your firsts, but you do remember firsts that were a big part of shaping you into the person that you are. This episode of Punky Brewster was all about firsts.
And firsts are sometimes more complicated than you think that they will be.
Hannah is a teenager, who is experiencing all sorts of firsts. She’s got her first sister and her sister has ratted her out to her Mom. Izzy told Punky that Hannah has her first date. And there is part of me that feels bad for Punky, because she didn’t know what her daughter was going through.
And as a parent, I am sure that you want to know what you child is doing. You want to know the ups and downs of your childs life. And knowing that your child is keeping something from you? How does that feel? I can only imagine that it is devastating.
Hannah had made it clear that the last person that she wants to talk to about anything is her Mom.
Punky had Henry and Henry was great. Hell, Henry was the Dad figure that we all wish that we would have had. But Punky always wished for a Mom, and at Hannah’s age she would have killed to have had a Mom to talk to. She is talking to Cherie about it, who as a good best friend, is there for her and trying to talk her through it. But also, Cherie seems more of a social worker hat on than a best friend hat. Like I kind of wished that her advice felt more personal versus clinical.
Travis shows up and I am thankful. It’s not that Cherie and Punky aren’t a great team – they always have been. But the thing is they don’t have the same friendship chemistry/sparks that they had as kids. Yes, you’re glad that they are still friends, but I feel like I am waiting for the best friendship that they used to have.
Travis knew about Hannah’s first date and that’s like a stab to the heart for Punky. She wants to be that person for her daughter. And so it makes her react and she tells Travis that she has a date.
Punky’s been on a dating app, and she’s been talking to some guy on there. The guy she’s been talking to – EvanLovesDogs77 – seems like a winner, but ummm, he is too much. Me, personally, I would run with someone by that name. But that’s just me. She tells Travis that she has a date, before she’s made one.
But hey, Evan was ready to go and responds quickly and tells her that he’s good to hang out the next night.
Travis is kind of jealous and I can appreciate that they are showing this part of him. Divorce isn’t easy and I think that it’s important to see the different sides of it. Travis doesn’t look like he is over Punky – even though he has to get used to Punky moving on.
What I am loving is the relationship that is growing between Izzy and Travis. I feel like she needs to know that she isn’t any different than the other kids in the household. It’s important. It also makes me like Travis more because he notices that. He knows that Izzy needs to be loved and accepted.
And Izzy wants to relate to him and helps him with writing songs. I have to say I can’t wait to watch it all unfold and see the way that they interact with each other.
Hannah doesn’t know what to wear on her first date. Which, watching her go through it, I get it. First dates are hard. Izzy is her fashion advisor and I am loving seeing it. I think it is important that we see the evolution of their relationship. Hannah is doing her big sister duty and tells Izzy protip when dealing with Punky is not blurting shit out without knowing what Punky knows. I feel like that’s important advice for any kid – never give your parent more information than they have.
Hannah didn’t want her to know her mom to know her plans. Which hey, I get too. Because parents can be a lot during the first in your life. Izzy apologizes – rookie mistake. She’s getting used to whole sister stuff. Izzy tries to give Hannah advice and pep talk.
While Hannah is wrapped up in her own life, Diego is wrapped up in who his Mom is dating. He’s doing everything that he can to find out everything that he can about Evan. Personally, Punky should listen to the kid – when he finds a picture of Evan in a wizard costume, that’s a sign to run.
But Punky is trying to move on with her life and do things that she normally doesn’t do. And I can respect that. Travis shows up for duty, and Punky has to remind him that it’s not babysitting – he’s a father. He’s taken aback by how beautiful Punky looks and leave it to Izzy to remind him that he should have never let that smoke show go.
Travis letting kids have ice cream for dinner, though punky told him not to. Do I think kids should be having a carton of ice cream? No. But do I appreciate that he’s trying to keep his connection with his kids? Yes.
Travis found his lyric book and he’s just blocked. He can’t figure out the song he’s supposed to write. Izzy says he’s distracted thinking about Punky being on a date with another man, which is true. You can tell that Travis still loves Punky and the way that their family is now, wasn’t his choice. Izzy tries to help him and says he should write a song about ice cream. They start singing, creating, and Izzy tells him that Punky is his Rocky Road (his favorite ice cream flavor).
On her date Punky is preoccupied with what is going on with Hannah. Evan’s a girl dad, so he kinda gets it, but in all fairness – Evan is a bore. He wouldn’t be able to keep my attention. The most important thing that he says is that he has a YouTube channel and that his daughter makes fun of his clothes on it. Oh and he explains that his username EvanLovesDogs77 is because he loves dogs, but is allergic to them. Oh and the 77? That’s the number of times he’s had to use an epi-pen.
Hannah and Shawn’s date. It’s going good. Their conversation is centered around Punky a lot – because she keeps texting and when Hannah won’t answer, she texts Shawn. He is a good kid and wants to message her back, but Hannah squashes that really quick. She doesn’t want to deal with her Mom and wants to just enjoy the night.
But Punky goes way far when she calls the coffee shop and has the barista take a picture of them as proof of life.
Barista comes over and takes picture of them for proof of life.
But what makes me laugh is when the four of them end up in an escape room together. They didn’t expect it to happen, but it did. And it’s kinda funny how it happens. But the two of them – Punky and Hannah – need the awkwardness in order to grow. They need the awkwardness in order to find each other. Punky says she’s doing her best. Punky doesn’t want to be there either. Hannah says that Sean and her are having the best time. Evan overhears punky say that their time together is a bust and she tells Evan that she has a dog and he sheds way too much.
I think that it would be one of the worst things in the world to end up on a date with your parent, but these two make the best of it. And sometimes that is what you need.
Izzy and Travis have bonded over songwriting. Travis says she’s his mini muse and I think that is a big thing for Izzy. She leaves him be, which opens up a chance for Travis and Diego to talk. Diego’s been stalking Evan online, trying to learn about him. But what he’s learning is that he doesn’t want his Mom dating. He’s always thought his parents would get back together.
He’s always wanted things the way they are.
Travis gets it. Divorce is tough, but they are still a family. And hey, that’s the beauty of family – you always stay family.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Diego and Daniel are great, but I want to learn more about them. I feel like we’re missing that.
- Hannah seems really spoiled, but I wonder if it’s that she had to grow up to fast?
- I don’t like Evan, but I do see that they did play into rebound dates are always the worst ones.
- Ice cream songs will always be life now.
