Episode Report Card Maggie: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT And To All A Good Night
By Maggie | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.12.2000
Sean, Richard, and Ben arrive at a tree lot and discover that there are millions of trees to pick up. Ben suggests that they come back the next day, but Tree Guy tells them that he's expecting another shipment and he "need[s] all these twigs outta here." Ben complains that he has to go.
Felicity and her mother are waiting for Ben in a very swanky theatre lobby. Felicity wonders if she should call Ben, and her mother says that he still has a few minutes. Mrs. Porter is wearing a sparkly red twin set and is thankgodfully wearing her mop in a somewhat sophisticated up-do. She tells Felicity that when they get home, they're going to check into a hotel and spa. Felicity asks her if she received her letter in which she said that she was planning to spend the holidays with Ben in Florida. Mrs. Porter didn't get it and says she thought they were flying back together. Wuh? Felicity sent her mother a letter to outline her travel plans? If she couldn't tell her mother over the phone, then why wouldn't she send an email? And, wouldn't her mother have expected Felicity to ask for the return flight number if she thought they'd be flying together? The whole thing is dumb and contrived. And television dramedies are never dumb and contrived.
At the apartment, Molly is standing on the kitchen counter, fussing with Christmas lights and garland that is strung up. I bet she can't see herself in the countertop now that she's been tromping all over it. The phone rings and she answers it; it's James calling from a pay phone. She says that she doesn't want to talk to him, but he maintains that she does because he's "got Caller ID" and he's seen her number on it. Is the guy still living in a hotel? Do most hotel phones have Caller ID? I don't think so. My cellphone has Caller ID but I don't think James even has one or else why would he be calling from a pay phone? This plot twist doesn't really ring true, so to speak. Molly explains that she's in rehab and getting clean and she can't see him anymore, while "Silent Night" plays in the background. Well, she might be clean, but she's not very calm or bright. Why is she even talking to the guy? Hang up, already! James begs her to meet him and she says she's going to hang up and he warns, "Don't hang up on me!" She hesitates, then she puts the phone down and stares at it.
At the tree lot, Sean thanks Tree Dude for loaning them a truck to transport all the trees. Sean and Richard are in one truck, and Ben is in the other. Ben's truck, which was last seen being driven by John-Boy on The Waltons, won't start. That may have to do with the fact that it was manufactured before the last Ice Age, but I'm no car expert.