Part of the reason that I like to watch one episode at a time (even when I have all episodes available to me) and write the review before I move onto the next episode is because I like to judge what happened in the episode and not be influenced by what happens in the next one.
Sitting down to watch Country Comfort – I knew it would either be a hot mess that I detest or a hot mess that is so bad that you can’t help but love it. I’ve been a fan of Katherine McPhee’s forever and so that was an obvious draw.
And then as a fan of NKOTB, knowing that Joey McIntyre’s son Griffin is in the show, I wanted to support, also.
I want to be kind, but I also want to be truthful. This shit was a hot mess. Like a train wreck that you can’t look away from, but you want to know who was at fault for the mess, because they seriously need help. Judging by this first episode, Country Comfort was just BAD.
It’s a storm on a ranch and there’s a knock at the door. Now personally, I wouldn’t answer it – because rain and thunder, my ass is under the covers. But Levi answers the door, thinking that the lady at the door is the nanny.
But she’s not. She’s a woman whose car has broken down. Bailey has no cell service and needs to use their phone to call for help. The kids let her in without thinking twice about it, even though she repeatedly says that she’s not the nanny.
And Brody, well he’s lying and saying that she is one.The littlest girl – which if she has a name, I didn’t catch it – is terrified and grabs onto her.
The boys are all for her being the nanny. The little girl is adorable and is hanging onto her, feeling protected by her. The little girl won’t let go.
They mention that she’d be nanny #10. Ummm, RED LIGHT. That means run! And the reason for ten nannies in two years comes walking down the stairs, filled with attitude bigger than the state of Texas.
She takes one look at Bailey and then looks at her brothers. She tells them that they are not hiring her just because they all think that she’s hot. She asks them if they think that and they all say she’s smoking. She tells them that it means so much to her that they think she’s hot.
At this point, we’re like 5 minutes into the show, and all I am thinking is that I need an edible to get through this bullshit. Everyone has a twang, levis, and flannels. Lets not even forget to mention the fringe on clothing. It’s playing into every redneck stereotype of someone living on a ranch or being into country music, and it’s kind of appalling.
Back to the episode.
The smart ass little girl, Cassidy, is filled with a ton of anger, and you realize that she may be the most interesting person in this family. There is something behind her tough exterior, something that we need to crack. And part of me thought that it would be something that unfolds over all of the episodes of the season. And it may, but in my opinion – too much of it comes out at once.
But I digress.
Cassidy asks for Bailey’s resume, but she says that she doesn’t have one. Cassidy makes a few comments – that well, kids shouldn’t be making – but I am guessing that’s why this is nanny #10. Bailey breaks down and tells her that she’s not equipped for anything.
Suddenly the Dad, whose name is Beau (but I swear he said Poe), walks through the door. He’s followed by his peroxide blonde girlfriend who looks like she’s trying to be the girlfriend in the parent trap. Her name is Summer and just the sound of her voice is utter annoyance.
Cassidy doesn’t like Summer and that’s kind of one of the reasons I like this little girl, because Summer is just annoying. She immediately shows that she’s jealous and basically wants to sent Bailey back out into the storm.
How did Bailey get there? Well, she was in a band and they were performing for some record exec. She thought that they were crushing it, but the record executive didn’t think so (I am calling it now – this record exec will try to sign her later). Anyhow, the band blamed it on her and so they told her boyfriend, who is also in the band to fire her and replace her with a younger blonde version. So she left them and went driving, but where was she going?
That’s the part I don’t get. She’s saying she had nowhere to go.
Enter the drama of a tornado warning – which hey – I am so utterly impressed that they can hear the sirens of a tornado warning from town out on a ranch. That must be some powerful speakers. The kids go running into the basement (which 5 seconds earlier they were getting ready to leave for school and I am just wondering why wasn’t school cancelled if the storm was this bad). The Dad follows and the door closes, leaving Summer.
Now do I want anyone hurt in a tornado? No. But did I laugh when Summer was locked out? Yes. Bailey made it into the basement – that’s what matters.
Summer is so jealous over Bailey, and I am just wondering why? Like you’ve known the girl for five seconds. But whatever. This show isn’t meant to be deep, maybe? Maybe I am overthinking it? Sure. But it just seems so rushed and it’s fucking annoying.
So, in the basement and all of the sudden a pole comes through the window and the boys rush to cover the window. Not sure how a tarp will help in a tornado that is this bad, but what do I know? But Bailey, she grabs a guitar – cause I guess music heals all – and starts singing.
Now, I can’t say anything bad about Katherine McPhee’s singing cause there is nothing bad to say about it. Everyone starts grabbing instruments and singing along. Well, Summer doesn’t grab an instrument, but she does start singing along.
And you see Cassidy about to break. Tears are swelling up in her eyes and she runs up to Bailey and grabs the guitar from her hands, running into an interior room slamming the door behind her.
Maybe this is a dumb question, but why wasn’t the family in this interior room, away from windows with a tornado outside?
Everyone’s trying to get Cassidy to come out, she won’t. Her brother, Brody, freaks out after Beau is like how can I help her (just keep being a Dad)? She won’t talk to anyone. Brody’s pissed because they can’t play music around Cassidy. See their Mom died two years prior and they all sung with her. For Cassidy, she’s not dealing with it well. He doesn’t understand why everyone has to live by Cassidy’s rules.
Ummm, cause she’s a kid not processing trauma? And you’re an older brother who should have a heart?
Cassidy takes off running up the stairs and out into the tornado. Everyone’s fighting but Bailey takes off after her. The Dad follows a few seconds later, making it upstairs after Bailey has closed the door behind her. I won’t get mad at him for not heading outside and instead going up the stairs, cause he didn’t know.
Bailey is outside looking for her and heads into the barn. She knows that she has to be in there, cause it’s the only place with a cover. Of course, Bailey is wrapped up in herself, talking about Boone and all that.
Probably the only time that I laughed is when Bailey said that God was sending her signals via Kelly Clarkson lyrics. Maybe I only laughed, cause I’ve felt the same way. Hey, Kelly Clarkson has amazing music.
Cassidy comes out and starts screaming about how it was her Mama’s guitar and she doesn’t have anything else from her. We have the reason that this girl has a tude bigger than Texas, and being as I have lost a parent, I will cut her some slack.
Bailey is like your Mama wants you to be happy. Cassidy is like you don’t know what my mama would want and how do you know i’m not happy? Well Cassidy, for what I am assuming is the age of 9, cause that’s what you look like to me, you rock a really good bitchy resting face. Bailey is like it’s a guess and I don’t know about anyone else, but I am applauding this comeback.
Cassidy is like everyone is telling me what to do and how to feel, but she doesn’t want to hear it. Bailey is trying to listen and is terrified of the tornado, so is like walk and talk.
And then in the only time that I may agree with Cassidy, she admits that she hates Summer and wants to know how her Dad could be with her. We all want to know that. She is like doesn’t her Dad love her Mama anymore? Bailey says of course her Dad loves mama.
Bailey says she knows how painful it is and starts dragging Cassidy in. Dad finally comes running out and is like, I found her. Sure, just like a man to try and take all the credit.
Do we know how that night wraps up? No. We do know that the next morning Bailey comes down the stairs in a pajama top, sans pants (which I am not hating on, cause pants suck) and is looking for her clothes. Poe has washed her clothes and looking at the pile of clothes he’s folded, I think it’s only the jacket and her pants. But who knows.
Poe offers her the job when Summer shows up. She’s ready to send Bailey on her way, but Poe has made the case for Bailey staying. The kids are excited. And even Bailey’s come around to the fact that she may be needing a change of pace and being a nanny couldn’t be that bad. But Summer, well, what she see’s is a threat.
Maybe the peroxide has gotten to her head.
The kids leave it up to Cassidy to decide if Bailey can stay. Cassidy of course goes with it, after putting Bailey in her place kinda and also letting Summer know she’s doing it out of spite. There’s also some story about a chicken, but I legitimately think I tuned it out, because I just didn’t care. Cassidy is a little shit and is like if we don’t take her who will?
Wow. For a kid, you’ve got a mouth.
Look, I know Country Comfort isn’t meant to be all deep, but it doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be good. But what we have is a show trying to do too much while doing nothing but being annoying and playing into stereotypes versus carving a path.
And all I want to know is who is responsible for the train wreck?
You’re confusing the characters of Brody and Tuck. It’s Tuck, the oldest brother, who answers the door and says Bailey is the new nanny and gets upset about the kids not being able to play music.