Younger airs Tuesdays on TV Land at 10/9 C.
This episode of Younger is all about 2 things: second chances and sex. Lots of sex. Bed-breaking, nirvana-ascending, "seeing yourself outside your body" type sex if the characters are to be believed. That's not typically my thing, but Younger does it well especially since it's all in the first 5 minutes. For anyone missing out on this show so far, Younger is about Liza, a 40-something woman pretending to be 26 in order to get a job in the publishing world. Liza's world fell apart when she found out her husband is a degenerate gambler and an adulterer. With no money to keep her home or even be able to officially divorce, Liza moves in with her best friend Maggie while her daughter Caitlin sojourns in India. Having been out of the workplace since Caitlin's birth, she finds that New York has no place for someone her age so Maggie persuades her to fudge on her résumé. Armed with some new highlights, sexy wardrobe, and a whole new vocabulary, Liza attempts to navigate a 20-something world and have some fun along the way. One such fun is Josh, her new boy toy who also thinks she's in her 20's. Mostly it's a take on the generation gap from a unique perspective and that makes it a whole lot of fun. It's also a bit edgier (read raunchier) than your typical TV Land show.
This episode makes me smile throughout since they mix in laughs and heart well. I especially love how real Liza keeps breaking through 20-something Liza as Kelsey's celebration gets progressively boozier and more out-of-control. By the time Liza gets a rude awakening, she's in full MOM mode. Good thing because Kelsey is about 2 tequila shots away from making a permanently bad mistake. Not that she hasn't made plenty before then, both personally and professionally. Thad needs to go. Now. I would have been happier if Lauren had stuck around instead of him. Surely Kelsey and she would have gotten into a spirited conversation about whether 'Nsync or Backstreet Boys was better, while Liza looked on like they were insane. I would have died laughing. Instead we get a great moment about taking responsibility for your own actions and an even better one about second chances. All in all, this episode was a good representation of Younger's charms. Check it out Tuesdays on TV Land. It's one of only 3 comedies this season that I actually anticipate watching each week.
Check out Younger on Tuesdays at 10 / 9 C on TV Land and watch past episodes online at TVLand.com or Hulu.
Grade: B+
Best Reason to Watch - an increasingly frustrated Liza has enough
Best Speech - Liza
Most Energetic - Josh
Biggest Brat - Kelsey, who whines like a tween and blames her own idiocy on Liza
Biggest Douche - Thad
Most in Need of a Guest Star credit - Josh's abs
Worst Back Tracking - Nirvana reunion concert?
Worst Plan - drunk texting
Best Aim - Kelsey
The "I Feel Old" Award - I had to look up Andrew Keegan to figure out who he was. Thankfully I already knew who JT-Squared was although I never referred to him that way. To me he was that kid from Home Improvement.
Best Reference - Lohan / Gilmore Girls
Best Quotes -
"Alright, see. I told you. It's closed." "How is this even possible?" "Because it's after midnight on a weekday and he's not a coke dealer."
"Babe, you know I don't do Brooklyn. No offense." "Lots taken."
"Doesn't his penis need a break?" "Welcome to 26."
"Monks?" "Well monks who have dedicated their lives to lots of sex." "Just stay in the present and have lots of sex…hmm, I could probably be persuaded."
"We all get one mistake."
"What are you, the White House press secretary?"
"Wow that is some heavy stuff for a college relationship." "Well it was an Ivy League school."
"You and all the tequila you drank need to get in that cab this Instafare."
Scrrencaps by
NY Post and
TV Land
About the Author - Dahne
One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for
SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and creates polls for The 100, Grimm, Teen Wolf, and others. She's addicted to
Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts the
Sleepy Hollow "Headless" and
Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a
Last Week in TV column for
her blog and SpoilerTV.
~ "I speak TV."
Thanks for getting this posted at short notice :)
ReplyDeleteThis show would have more longevity if it was just a story about a 40 year old woman who returns to the world of work and she has to take a starter role just to get a foot on the ladder. Then her issues with new technology and social situations could be explored in a more interesting way. It just makes everyone seem stupid who doesn't realise that she is 40 not 26. And I know this is just a show but the main actress has already been in 1 cancelled show.
ReplyDeleteApart from my above problem I do like several aspects of this show, not least of which is the fact that the Hillary Duff character isn't just a bitch. But is an inclusive, driven and passionate young career woman.
No problem. This is actually one of my favorite new comedies thi year. It's been slim pickings.
ReplyDeleteI'm really loving this show it and The Royals are becoming my new must-see TV. Hopefully it will have a long life on TV Land!
ReplyDeleteI think the show you would prefer would be fun as well, but this format works for me too. While the lead character doesn't look 26, she definitely does not look even close to 40 either to me. I think they did a great job with the casting and if you hold a cancelled show against every actress, there wouldn't be many left.
ReplyDeleteFor me this works because it shows the generation gap from a different angle, which makes it feel fresh, less cliched for me. Plenty of 40-somethings understand and use social media so that is not as appealing as trying to inhabit the 20-something life, to get into their brain and culture per se. For instance, I use Twitter all the time but the idea of Topless Tuesday just floors me. It isn't the technology but the changing attitude about privacy and modesty that would trip me up. It is this aspect of the generation gap that I feel Younger does exceedingly well.
I too love how they have characterized Hilary Duff's Kelsey. She could be this stereotypical, only about her, step on everyone to get to the top, character but she is far more sympathetic than that. In fact the only character that does not come off well at all in Thad. Even Diana has been easier to relate to than I expected becaus they humanized her too.
I am encouraged by news that the ratings are increasing for Younger. TV Land doesn't have high rating standards so hopefully this one will continue to grow as people are made aware of it. The Royals is definitely getting a following too.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Liza and Josh
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with you about Sutton Foster's appearance, she looks amazing! While I don't see how anyone could possibly think she's 26, I have no problem suspending belief and just allowing the writers to take me on a great 22-ish minute mental vacation.
ReplyDeleteI think the Thad character is supposed to be the hideous human of the show, although I do hope he goes away, he's just annoying. I however LOVE the Diana character and hope they don't make her too human. Miriam Shor played my favorite character in GCB and she continues to shine in this show as well!
I hope they do let it find its audience, there are just so many stories they can tell!
ReplyDeleteThen you'll be happy tomorrow night. They get quite hot and heavy in the opener.
ReplyDeleteDiana is actually my favorite character right now. I love her snarky asides and I too don't want her to lose that edge. Her response to Topless Tuesday was much like my own - civilization is dying right in front of us. Still her online dating episode kept her from coming off too witchy and I think that balance is good. Lots of delicious snark and every once and awhile a human moment.
ReplyDeleteOh,and I have been actively rooting for Kelsey to dump Thad's butt since his first appearance. They are doing a great job of making him detestable because I sure do. It will likely be #1 on the show wish list for me at the end of this season.
Yes! I've been looking forward to that as well. They have good chemistry.. and he's pretty funny too. Its weird to see him go from The Following a few years ago to this. But its working.
ReplyDeleteI barely recognized him from The Following. I knew I had seen him before but had to look him up on IMDb to place him.
ReplyDeleteThe Gilmore Girls was one fo my favorite shows for awhile. Lots of great actors came from there.
I loved Gilmore Girls.. have every season on dvd. Great actors were a part of that show, I miss it. This reminds me a little of it becaude Sutton Foster talks so fast and she's got that great comedy timing.
ReplyDeleteI like that fast-talking comedy thing too...well, except when I'm pulling quoes because I can't type as fast as she can talk. :-P I'm pretty sure I eventually wanted Jacob to die on The Following. I felt that way about most characters there. Here he is so sweet. A definite improvement. I understand your search for good shows. Comedies have been particularly bad this season so it's nice to have such a good late starter.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered this show, and I love it. I binge watched the first 4 episodes. I am close to Liza's age , so this show is right up my alley. Just hilarious. I wondered who will realized her true age first...I hope at least it will be Josh and he is not that much upset. I mean I don't think he will mind that she is older, but my guess is that he will be angry about the lying about it.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked the first 4, you'll love Tuesday's episode. I am around Liza's age too and I am finding the generation gap hilarious. I'm not sure if anyone will find out her true age in season 1. That might be a season 2 thing, but I agree that Josh seems like he would be cool with the age diference but not the lying. It seems a little juvenile to be lying abouther age to the man she's in a relationship with....or whatever they are calling it.
ReplyDelete