About a Boy - About a Manniversary & About a Boy Becoming a Man - Review

Sorry for the delay, folks -- I was travelling for a few weeks, but I’m back now. So let’s jump right in!

The first episode back after the winter hiatus was “About a Manniversary,” naturally referring to Marcus and Will’s one year manniversary. An event which Marcus is a bit shocked to find out is not actually a real thing -- poor Hallmark employee, I think he really got an earful over the lack of occasion-specific cards. Regardless of the widespread recognition of the “manniversary” as a holiday, Will recognizes immediately the importance of the date to Marcus.

When Marcus assumes Will got them tickets to Fem Fest, Will fakes it til he makes it and pretends he does until he can find a way in. A problem that’s resolved off-screen, Will gets some tickets without much trouble from a friend. And since Marcus also assumed that Will got them VIP tickets, with access to Lisa Loeb, Will confirms that part as well -- a problem he resolves by paying off the security guard to the VIP section (and father of seven). Of course, due to shenanigans/obsession, Will and Marcus get in trouble, and thrown out, but they get to see Lisa Loeb anyway! And she calls them perverts! Hooray for serendipity! The manniversary story is a cute one, but it does seem a bit fortuitous; they got pretty far without much trouble. Anyway, a big congratulations to the happy neighbor duo on one year (minus a stint in NYC), together as neighbors, and best friends.

Although the title refers to the celebration of a year of friendship between the two “men,” this episode focuses much more on Fiona’s story. Her relationship with Mr. Chris is going well, so well, in fact, that she wants to break her (12-year?) celibacy streak, and once again do the deed. But unfortunately a decade out of practice makes Fiona very nervous about the whole thing, and so she turns to sexy-best-friend Dakota for help. Why is the sitcom female best friend always sexually experienced and relatively promiscuous? I don’t know. Why is the sitcom male best friends always unlikable and nerdy? Why are sitcom wives just controlling nags?! Seriously, enough with all of that. About a Boy has really picked it up in many ways this season (especially fixing some of my problems with Laurie -- see: further down in this review), but sometimes it seems to slide into the easy options. Like Dakota, the sexual guru.

Moving on. Even though Dakota tries her best to help Fiona get to a place where she feels comfortable having sex with her new beau, her well-intentioned guidance seems to do nothing more than trip her up. Sometime literally, like when Fiona tries to jam her feet into Dakota’s “sexy boots,” which happen to be several sizes too small. Dakota’s most helpful advice comes when she mentions her own Gold Shalger/Orange is the New Black routine, and tells Fiona, “you have to find what works for you.” For Fiona, it’s being honest and open, because that’s just the kind of person she is. She can’t put on a new personality (or lingerie, apparently), she doesn’t do pretense, and she’s anything but casual. It’s only after she gives Mr. Chris a concussion with the heel of Dakota’s borrowed leather boot that she admits her nervousness to her understanding boyfriend. Luckily he knew what he was getting into when he starting dating Fiona -- she doesn’t really do casual, and he’s okay with that. With that out of the way they get it on. Twice. Which Fiona loudly tells Will in the morning, because she doesn’t do secrets. And probably because it really annoys him. Finally, Will, a little taste of your own medicine.

Just a side note: I wish we could have seen more of Fem Fest Laurie. I’m with Andy on this one -- she seems like a pretty fun person.

In the second episode, “About a Boy Becoming a Man,” Will invites himself as Andy’s plus one to the Bar Mitzvah of the son of a music producer, whose wife is in Toddler Time with Andy. And if that weren’t convoluted enough, Will pretends to be Andy’s partner after the music producer, Johnny Idalis, misinterprets the friends’ relationship. Although Will’s false relationship is Classic Will, in terms of his willingness to manipulate people through lies to get what he wants (see: “Pilot”), this is the first time in the series that I can remember when Will’s taken action toward his music career at all. Maybe it’s not a thing of the past, drifting away on royalty checks from “Runaway Sleigh,” maybe he’ll actually get involved again. Of course, this is what we’ve all been waiting for since the beginning of this season (at least), but it’s finally started happening! Naturally Will’s first attempt at getting back into the music scene involves subterfuge and Bar Mitzvah crashing, but hey -- to each his own?

In classic sitcom fashion, everyone ends up at the Bar Mitzvah in one big clump of confusion, although Andy is the only one with an invite. Marcus shows up as party crasher with Shea, after he convinces his mom to leave him home alone for the first time since the whole knife-in-the-foot incident last year. “Bad Girl Shea” convinces him to not only allow her over to his house (against the rules), but to sneak out with him to the Bar Miztvah. They seem to have a fun time at the party, probably due to the fact that Bar Mitzvahs are very much geared to 12-year-olds. Then Fiona and Mr. Chris end up at the Bar Mitzvah thanks to the Find My Kids app, and everything falls to pieces because Fiona still hasn’t told Marcus about her relationship with his teacher. And much like those before him, Marcus is not happy about the arrangement.

The celebratory dinner where Mr. Chris doesn’t let Fiona get in a word edgewise about the fact she didn't tell Marcus about them yet is annoying and a typical sitcom setup for last act confusion, but luckily Mr. Chris doesn’t get very upset with Fiona when he finds out. I mean, she honestly kept trying to tell him and he wouldn’t let her. Her lack of honesty with Marcus, though, that might take a little while to smooth over. He feels betrayed and upset -- not only because his mom’s dating his teacher, but probably just because his mom is dating, period. Just a year ago he sabotaged one of his mother’s only dates, and it’s clear that he’s not really interested in anyone potentially stepping on the close bond between him and his mom. (Except perhaps Will, though I think Marcus has mostly let that dream go at this point.) Since Fiona and Marcus have such a tight relationship, it will be really interesting to see the strain on both sides after their respective betrayals. Because while Fiona didn’t disclose her new relationship to Marcus, Marcus lied to Fiona and abused her trust when he left the house after he promised to be responsible. There will definitely be some rebuilding on both sides of that relationship in the upcoming episodes. A hint of the process can be seen in the beautiful end scene, where Fiona sings Marcus to sleep outside his door. On a somewhat related note, can we get another musical collab with Fiona and Will? Thanks a heap in advance, About a Boy!

Both of these episodes deal with people trying to get their groove back in a way. Fiona figures out how to be in a relationship again, specifically, balancing an important romantic relationship and a strong mother-son bond. Will is once again seeking out the music world. They both stumble on these journeys; Fiona by not discussing her new relationship with her son, and Will by trying to weasel his way back into the biz through a web of lies. But that’s okay, because this is television! And stumbling just means more story, and more growth, and more exploration.

Although the show is titled About a Boy, the most interesting stories consistently come from the two adults in the Boy’s life. Not that the personal and romantic trials of a unique 12-year-old boy aren’t interesting, but Will and Fiona are just a lot more interesting. Will has changed a lot since a year ago when his odd new neighbors moved in, and it looks like while he’s still got some growing to do, he’s on the right track to find some more purpose in his life. And Fiona’s new adult relationship gives her a chance to exist in the world of grown-ups, instead of just the World of Marcus. I’m excited to see where these stories go in the rest of About a Boy’s (slightly shortened) season 2.

Finally, props to the brilliant opening of "...Becoming a Man," which features perhaps the most creative use of the dumbwaiter yet -- as Fiona shoos a rather less-than-clothed Mr. Chris out of the house...and right into Will's poker game.

What did you think of the episodes? Are Fiona and Mr. Chris going to be able to withstand Marcus’ resistance? Will Marcus ever make a friend that’s nice to him? Do you think Will can get back into music? And do YOU consider Lisa Loeb a pioneer of spectacle-wearing?

About the Author - Kimberly

Kimberly is a big TV nerd - willing to talk any show, any time. Her tastes are various and sundry, but she’s got a soft spot for comedy. She currently writes the SpoilerTV reviews for Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and About a Boy.

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