Episode Report Card Deborah: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Jew Of Arcadia
By Deborah | Season 2 | Episode 10 | Aired on 11.25.2004
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.Finally, an episode that's a little lighter on the Kleenex. The plots, in reverse letter order: Kevin runs into Beth when she shows up to give her deposition in the matter of the lawsuit. The experience stirs emotions in both of them, and we certainly haven't seen the last of her. Will questions one of Judith's friends that was there the night she was killed, but he's completely uncooperative, due to his fear of getting busted for his part in the pursuit of Ecstasy. Lucyfer employs some highly unethical tactics in getting the kid to crack, and when Helen hears about them from a completely unbothered and rah-rah-Lucyfer Will, she wonders whom her husband is turning into. I fear we don't want to know, but we're going to find out anyway. Joan's still having trouble dealing with Judith's death, so at God's urging, she helps Grace with the latter's bat mitzvah. Grace has put it off many times, mostly due to her alcoholic mother, whom we finally meet in the form of Mary Mara, who's a pretty darn good choice for the role. When Joan discovers the truth about Grace's mom's alcoholism, Grace freaks and tries to cancel again, but Joan, armed with knowledge culled from Judaism For Dummies (no, really), tells Grace to stand up and declare herself. Grace relents. Her mom promises to behave at the ceremony, and perhaps against primetime odds, she keeps her word, so the whole thing goes off without a hitch. Grace gives a short but stirring speech about faith, and that, combined with another conversation with God, makes Joan realize she's got to accept Judith's death. She also kind of sort of hints that she may soon be telling Adam that she's still talking to God. In other news, Friedman utters the words "Kama Sutra," and I know we're liking him a lot more these days, but still? Ew. Also, Joan wears a really long scarf, Glynis trades in her chirpiness for bitterness, which, hee, we see Grace in the chair (in a DRESS!), like, aw, and Luke and Grace's bond grows deeper while watching a meteor shower, like, AW. Hey, I said it was lighter, not Kleenex-free. Oh, and Glynis gives Deborah an enormous shout-out, but I'll let her tell you about that. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Shout-out to OhTara.
Joan, Adam and Grace are reading a poster at school offering counselling (courtesy of Stuart Dingle, MSW) to students troubled by Judith's murder (or "tragic death," as they put it here). Some brain trust has seen fit to attach a little addendum, reminding students to wear school colours to support the Eagles on Spirit Day. Joan angrily snatches the poster down: "How lame is this?" Grace sneers: "Yeah. Like eagles are ever blue." Joan seems more upset about the grief counseling. Adam says the school has to do it. Grace: "They're covering their asses in a litigious society. Someone could freak out and sue the school." I'd like to interject a remark here about how ridiculous this suggestion is, but…you know. Joan: "Oh, and Dingle's going to calm them down? That comb-over alone could trigger a mass suicide." There's someone walking behind them in the halls wearing a very weird mask over his or her head, kind of a skeleton face with stiff freaky hair. I don't know what's with the weird masks on this show. Adam says that talking about it might help. Joan is impatient: "Hey, I'm the brainchild of Dr. Dan, remember? Sitting in a room and crying with Dingle is not going to help. You show me someone with the answers, I'm there, but this?" She crumples the poster up and tosses it. As they come down the stairs toward their lockers, Grace ventures, "So Saturday, uh…I have this thing on Saturday with uh, food and crap and you guys can come if you want to but you don't have to, I don't care." What a felicitous invitation. Living up to the graciousness implied by her name, as always. Joan: "Could you be any less specific?" Grace explains it's her bat mitzvah. Joan and Adam are speechless, then on the verge of sniggering. Grace warns them, "Do not start with me! The Jews have been making kids do this for thousands of years. You got problems, ask Maimonides." Joan and Adam struggle to suppress their smirking. Grace: "And wipe that smirk off your face, Rove!" Adam says, "You know, you've been putting it off for years. Are you really gonna go through with it this time?" Grace rummages in her bag as she replies, "Do I look like I wanna discuss this?" Adam: "No." She hands them two vandalized invitations, explaining she ripped off the baby pictures: "Parents are sadists." She gives them an uncomfortable grimace and wanders off.