The Grinder - A Hero Has Fallen - Advanced Preview

The Grinder, “A Hero Has Fallen,” avoids a second episode slump, so if you liked the first episode, you should like this one too. If you missed the first episode, you can still jump in to this show. According to IMDb, the episode was written by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel.

I’m still loving the single camera, high production values on this show. What I also love is that the show also takes digs at the television landscape too. I was totally charmed by the first scene in this episode. I heard some comments on Rob Lowe’s (Dean) performance on the show, but he’s a bit over the top because that’s the nature of the character, and he’s clearly not concerned about making fun of himself or the business.

Once again, the show opens with a Grinder episode, and there is a case at the center of the episode. And once again, I thought the show was going to ridicule the law, but we have another character who stands up for the real world and actual legal procedure. It’s a really nice balance to ground the humor. Look for the introduction of series regular Natalie Morales as Claire. A potential nemesis for Dean!

Fred Savage (Stewart) continues to delight in this episode. He’s clearly the everyman that we are meant to identify with. He’s got to deal with Dean being a continuing presence both at home and the office, and once again, Stewart will learn something about himself.

Mary Elizabeth Ellis (Debbie), William Devane (Dean Sr), and Hana Hayes (Lizzie) don’t have a lot to do in the episode, but Connor Kalopsis (Ethan) has a couple of pretty funny scenes. Dean continues to disrupt the routine of the family’s life, leading Stewart to try a new parenting approach.

I liked this second episode just as well as the first, for many of the same reasons. One of the things that really hurts comedy is when all the funny happens in the Pilot, and that’s not the case here. Don’t miss the second episode to find out how that hero falls! The Grinder airs tonight on Fox at 8:30/7:30c.

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.

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