Episode Report Card Couch Baron: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT One Small Step For Kevin
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 17 | Aired on 02.24.2005
…where Will tells Ericalice that she's under arrest for the kidnapping of "Bridget Verken." Charlie thinks there must be a mistake until he sees the expression on his wife's face. Ericalice says Charlie didn't know what she did, but Chewy says they have to bring him in as a possible accessory. That's the second time we've seen him not eating in this episode. Isn't there some sort of cart food with your name on it right about now, Chewy? Joan and Stevie bust in. Joan asks what's going on, and Stevie can't believe Will's Joan's dad. If she wasn't aware of that, she really doesn't know enough about the group to be in their little hallway club. Stevie gets more and more upset as the adults work out the logistics of the arrest, and then Ericalice leaves, telling Stevie she loves her. Stevie runs after them into the hall, but her mom tells her again that it'll be okay, and the female cop tries to lead Stevie off for a chat. Before she can, however, Stevie sees Joan standing with Helen, and snarls, "You did this! Why did you do this?" As Stevie is led away, Joan gapes in shock and horror. I wonder how many flies have met their ends in Joan's mouth since God showed up in her life.
Chez Girardi. Joan and Helen are watching It Happened One Night. I happened to see that only a few months ago, so that's a funny pick for me, because it's one of the very few old movies I'd be able to identify without help from the forums. Yay for coincidences that obviate research! Will enters and explains what happened: Ericalice kidnapped Stevie from her mother fourteen years earlier. Helen disbelievingly says that Ericalice is the perfect mom. Joan reprovingly asks why Will had to arrest Ericalice in front of the whole school, but Will gently tells her that Ericalice had recently withdrawn a lot of cash and was planning to leave the country. Joan, near tears, asks what's going to happen to Stevie. Will tells her they're looking for her biological parents, but Stevie will be in foster care until they're found. Will suggests Joan go see her, but Joan says she already ruined Stevie's life. I give you a total pass on that, Joan. Helen supportively tells Joan that she was just trying to help Stevie, but Joan says she won't be doing that again. She leaves, and her parents look at each other, out of ideas.
School. Luke, Grace, Joan, and Glynis are our Hallway Brigade today. Luke says Stevie's situation is "Dickensian," and Grace chimes in that at least she knows who her mom is. Glynis tells Joan she did the right thing. I guess she wasn't a big fan of that sweater either. Joan barks that she didn't mean to do anything, and stomps off over to Adam. She asks why he wasn't in physics, and Adam tells her that his employer gave him some cash to give to Stevie. Joan asks how she's doing, and Adam says she's freaked, and "they sent her a shrink to make sure she's not gonna hurt herself." I hope they didn't send her to Dr. Dan, because that would be nine kinds of counterproductive. Adam takes a painting out of his locker, saying Stevie wanted his help with it for class. A closeup reveals that the painting is of Ericalice, although it's interesting that Stevie would want Adam's help now with artwork she clearly made in the fourth grade. This is all too much for Joan, who stomps away in tears, but Adam catches her and gives her a long, comforting hug. No matter what problems these two have, they always manage to elicit at least one "Aw" from me each episode. Which is nice in a season where such moments in general are slowly growing fewer and farther between. After they break apart, Joan says she thought Adam was still mad at her. Adam carefully says that doesn't matter right now. They touch foreheads, and then return to a tight clinch. Aw. Hold on, kids. I'll happily lose that pool money I kicked in earlier in the recap.