What are you supposed to do when a television show you love has one episode that pisses you off so bad that you don’t want to talk shit, but you can’t resist, because you’re wondering where you missed the memo that the things that you are supposed to feel on and the things that you thought would kill you – well they won’t.
I know that as a viewer, I don’t know everything, and that the story could be unfolding in different ways. My expectations and wants don’t make them what is best for the story. However that being said, when it comes to anything with Joe and Jenny’s son, I expect much more.
Especially if we’re in Cop Joe or Musician Joe’s timeline. And yes, in this episode he was in each timeline.
But the title of this one fits – it definitely feels like you’re looking in, watching a snow globe be shaken – watching the pieces fall where they may. Relationships in any form are fragile, and when shaken, will they survive?
What I do love about Ordinary Joe is that every story has a through line – it gets you to the same place, but it’s how everyone gets there. And here – in this journey we’re getting to is celebrating Joe’s Mom and her choir. Gwen started the choir after 9/11 as a way to bring people together and 20 years later it is still changing lives.
COP JOE
I don’t know where I expected this episode to start, but if I am being honest, I am not pleased where it starts and I feel like we were cheated.
The last episode left off with a cliffhanger, Joe running into a burning building and all you could think was – OMG IS JOE OK? Spoiler alert – he’s fine and it’s three weeks later and we got none of it.
None of it.
He’s fine. He’s home from the hospital. But as shitty as it sounds I wanted to see him in the hospital. I wanted to see how his mom, his family, his friends acted. I wanted to see if Uncle Frank came around. I wanted to see his eyes open and who was there. I wanted the angst.
But what I do get is Joe on a couch. He’s apparently been wearing the same pair of sweats for three weeks, which I can totally get down with, but also I wanted to see what happened. I also want to know if and how Amy was there for him.
Lets face it, I don’t like her, but I also was hoping that there was some part of her that would be redeemable. And I have yet to find something about her that is redeemable. I can’t understand for the life of me what has made Joe fall for her. I can’t understand what it is that makes her okay.
I am fully aware that everyone makes mistakes in their lives and that’s something everyone should be allowed to redeem themselves from. But what I don’t understand is what work Amy has done to change. And maybe I have missed that.
But if I have please explain it to me.
It’s not to say that I don’t feel for Amy. I do. I think that she’s made a lot of mistakes and they are going to haunt her. And that sucks because you shouldn’t be defined by your past. Amy is still going through the latest batch of things to find her.
We see that when she’s on the podcast and the guy wants to define her by sleeping with Bobby. For the first time, I agree with Amy as she rips him a new one. For the first time I feel bad for her, because no one should have to suffer public scrutiny.
Yet, I still don’t like her. I don’t like her because I don’t feel like we’ve been given any reason to like her. Everything she’s done has been manipulative and for her own gain. So I don’t get why Joe loves her or why we’re supposed to.
Jenny and Ray find out that Lucas needs to have surgery sooner than they thought and will most likely need a blood transfusion. The best chance for him is a biological parent. This means they are going to have to tell Joe.
Now, I get that Cop Joe is a good man and that he’s not going to be a dick. But when someone tells you that they’ve kept your child from you for 10 years, that I would think he would have an issue with. Yet, he is still the man who puts others first and of course he will put his son first and save him.
Deal with the rest later.
I would have loved to have had more of the conversation about Lucas and seen more emotion. This is what I am missing from this episode – more emotion. And though I am not sure how that could have been fulfilled, it just felt like any iteration of Joe would b more concerned and emotional about his son.
And any iteration of Joe would have been more emotional about his son.
Joe tells Amy about his son and the first good thing she does is tell him that he needs to tell his Mom. I can finally respect her for saying something right. Gwen is stronger than he thinks.
And she’s right. Gwen has overcome so much. She has always put Joe first and yes, Joe has put her first, but putting someone first, also means being honest with her. He does tell her and we see a little bit of her reaction, but not a ton. And again, this was a time where I wanted more.
NURSE JOE
Strangely, Nurse Joe is the timeline that I like the most. And also dislike – because I am worried about what mistakes he is going to make,.
Joe and Jenny’s marriage has gone through a lot, but Jenny moving to Atlanta – when she left – their marriage wasn’t strong. These two have a deep love her Christopher, but I am not positive that they will survive, because I don’t feel like they are working on everything else.
And that is a problem. Because the two aren’t communicating, and Jenny is communicating with Barrett. And Joe, well he’s communicating with Kinsley.
Kinsley is a good nurse, but personally I feel like she oversteps a lot. She’s anxious, excited, and yes, full of life. But she also isn’t in charge and doesn’t think before she does things. But it’s based off of her wanting to do better for the world. And we can respect that.
She sells Joes pants that he made for Christopher – the zipper ones and so they have to make 30 pairs. Joe is excited, he feels good that someone wants things that he’s done.
One thing that I do have to say about Kinsley is that she knows how to relate to Christopher and put him at ease. That’s important. When she helps him with his anxiety, I couldn’t help but smile.
Christopher is a special kid. One that deserves the world and I love his support system. So adding one
Kinsley is bonding with Gwen, who gives her dating advice, and that is probably the best part of this timeline. Why? Because we get to see Gwen let her guard down and talk about for her – the one that got away.
James. He was the guy who was helping Joe get into the conservatory – but he had missed his audition. James and Gwen had been friends, but she ghosted him and hadn’t spoken to him in 20 years. But she invited him to the 20 year celebration of her choir and is hoping he shows up.
I really hope that James shows up, because Gwen deserves all of the love that she’s given everyone. And more.
MUSIC JOE
Amy, oh Amy. She’s still not telling Joe the truth and she’s still trying to figure out situations rather than being honest with them. Sorry, not sorry, I don’t like this character. There are so many issues that could be solved if she would not have done some really stupid shit.
Gwen has her celebration that night and stops by to check on Joe. Joe says he’s fine, that he can perform at her concert. But he’s not fine – he just doesn’t want to admit it. What he doesn’t know is in the next room – Amy is telling one of her people that she’s pregnant with Bobby’s baby.
What happens next shocked me. Zeek’s adoptive family has reached out to the adoption agency, and he wants to meet his biological parents. Jenny calls Joe to let him know and of course he is thrilled. He wants nothing more than to be a Dad.
And he loves his son, regardless of only seeing him from a distance or reaching out through social media.
They both agree that they want to meet their son, but they have to talk to their significant others first.
Amy supports Joe. She tells him of course, but the thing is, I don’t trust a word that is coming out of her mouth. I don’t think she’s telling Joe yes for the right reasons. She’s telling him what she thinks will win her points later.
And that’s the sad part.
Darren, Jenny’s husband, isn’t as open. He’s pissed. He’s so mad that he’s been lied to and he doesn’t feel that he knows his wife. He doesn’t get how she didn’t tell him but Joe knew and told Amy a lot sooner than Jenny told him.
They go and meet Zeek, who is excited and happy to meet his Mom and Dad. Here’s where I had the issue with this one. This meeting was so whatever, that it felt just like having a job interview. Even when they explained to Zeek why he was given up, I just didn’t feel like Jenny felt anything. And I felt like Joe was more excited seeing him from afar. It just felt whatever all around.
I don’t know how they managed in all three timelines to make it somehow feel less authentic than it has before. All of these characters are emotional people, driven by their love for each other and a love for family. But what I felt like in this episode was that no one really felt.
The just existed.
And that took me out of this entire episode.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Gwen’s celebration on all timelines is the best. She deserves to be celebrated.
- Love it when Christopher sings.
- I don’t trust Kingsley.
- Jenny and Barrett – if something happens between them, I will revolt.
- James showing up at the celebration – I smiled.
Ordinary Joe airs Monday nights on NBC.
another thing that annoyed me about this episode is that a blood transfusion is about blood type there was no guarantee that Joe is even the same blood type to assume he would be the best match unless they already knew he was not a match with his mom. It was a weird oversight talking about it like it was a bone marrow transplant.