Isla takes on a brewing scandal without Ali by her side in Running Point Season 2, Episode 3, “Triangle of Badness.” Adding an extra wrinkle to Ali’s absence, the show is getting closer and closer to Isla’s wedding, and she has no Maid of Honor. This episode, written by David Phillips and directed by David Stassen, sees the chaos at the Waves spiral to a new level. It’s only that the paramount reason doesn’t really land. Maybe it would if it happened later in this season after more character development, but that isn’t the case.
Alternatively, Sandy being Channing Tatum’s neighbor and Charlie branching out into reality TV make total sense with Running Point’s energy. While it’s exciting to see more from them, it’s also becoming more and more obvious that Jackie’s arc this season hasn’t really presented itself yet. The subplot with Jackie and the Waves’ jumbotron will hopefully snowball into a larger story about his involvement at the organization. As for Jackie and his siblings, “Triangle of Badness” reiterates that Jackie and Isla have a sincere, trusting dynamic. Strangely, Isla seems to be the only sibling Jackie has any lasting relationship with in Running Point. Again, ideally, that will evolve with the show.
MORE: Running Point Season 1, Episode 1 Review: ‘Pilot’
The LA Waves (and Isla) Without Ali
The opening montage of “Triangle of Badness” plays out like New Girl, where the cast plays younger versions of themselves. Given Macaulay Culkin’s guest appearance on the show and the fact that he’s Brenda Song’s husband, Isla and Ali watching and quoting My Girl is incredible and meta. It’s also a benefit that Running Point doesn’t jump to Ali at her new job. Isla must see that her inaction is what causes Ali to leave. Ali’s exit from the Waves also adds to the episode’s chaotic frame. She has her finger on the pulse of the people and their gossip at the organization. Without her, there’s no one to put out the fires, and “A Triangle of Badness” finds one in the shape of an ill-timed love triangle.
Running Point puts a blue tint on Ali’s scenes in Canada. It complements the characters’ emotions while creating a visual difference to Los Angeles’ warmth. It’s also hilarious that “Triangle of Badness” leans into the most random Canadian stereotypes, like everyone is so nice that the organization’s CEO is bringing new employees hot cocoa. The small bear being at Magnus’s daughter’s school is also very silly in the best way.
It’s believable that Isla spends most of her time thinking about Ali and the team. The transition from Isla looking at Ali’s empty seat to Ali toasting the team’s win in Toronto. It strikes the perfect emotional chord because Running Point consistently invests in their friendship. Meanwhile, things are moving quickly for Charlie and his efforts in reality TV. That said, the Lissa Renna cameo is iconic and well-timed. Her appearance opens Running Point up to a sea of relevant pop culture references: the Rinnaissance, Andy Cohen, and The White Lotus.
MORE: Running Point Season 1, Episode 4 Review: ‘Doljanchi’
Norm’s Approach to Team Building
“Triangle of Badness” is full of fast-moving storylines. The love triangle between Dyson, Zoé, and Travis is only really introduced at the tail-end of the previous episode, yet it reaches a fever pitch in this one. This storyline truly goes from 0 to 100, so much so that it’s impacting how the players perform on the court. Dyson and Travis are also fist-fighting to practice, and Running Point just doesn’t support this escalation. The development doesn’t even get a chance to breathe before the episode introduces Brielle Mande.
At first, this new character seems like an entry point for Isla to show investment in women’s basketball, which would build off of her women in sports pitch from last season. Instead, Brielle practically spawns in the Waves’ gym, where Isla invites her to be, but they barely interact beyond that. Brielle’s presence matters more in how she relates to Travis and in resolving the team’s love triangle problem. Travis and Brielle don’t necessarily have chemistry yet, but it is hilarious to see how similar they are. Isla’s reaction to that being, “Stop it, you’re both white,” is too good.
It’s more constructive to watch Norm try to fix Dyson and Travis with his Golden Gate Bridge puzzle. Ray Ramano’s delivery of “And a lot of brave Italians lose their lives trying to build it” is a standout in this episode. So is Chet Hanks’ read of “I lie about everything except my sobriety because that requires rigorous honesty.” Of course, Norm’s efforts are less than effective or inspiring, but they do set up the environment where the players accidentally break Ness’s new jaw. Scott MacArthur is so good – he runs with any bit Running Point gives him. Conversely, hopefully, Running Point will stop speedrunning conflicts and resolutions because team building takes time.
MORE: Everything We Know About Running Point Season 2
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