Episode Report Card Niki: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Pressure Cooker
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 4 | Aired on 11.20.2000
Jessie, meanwhile, is giving Hip G a crash course in kicking the crap out of someone. Jeez, my grandmother would freak that one of us would get our eyes poked out and she would categorically refuse even to humor such an undertaking. Then again, she makes me yummy jam, so who am I to complain? Anyway, Jessie convinces Hip G to try to attack her and then proceeds to almost puncture granny's throat. Hip's a good sport, though, and laughingly sits on the bed, asking how Jessie's ability to kick some serious ass affects her relationship with boys. "What relationship?" Jessie asks sullenly. Hip's all over it, asking sagely, "How's life outside of Tae Kwon Do?" It's pretty evident that Jessie's not too happy about high school, but she's stoic about it, just like a little Rick. She insists that, even though it's hard, she doesn't need help. Granny steers the conversation to Lily, and Jessie says that she's okay and she's "really pretty." Hip the World-Wise Granny wants to know how important that is. Sprint's marketing department pricks up its ears. Jessie says that she guesses it's pretty important to Rick. Peg shifts the talk to Lily's kids, asking what Jessie thinks of them. Jessie is less than enthusiastic. Peg slips on her finger puppets and tries to draw Jessie out by admitting that she never imagined, when Rick and Karen divorced, that it would mean there'd be so many new people in her life. It's not like they even asked anybody! Jessie's not wise to the ploy, and admits that she's pissed off because she always has to change her life to suit Rick's plans with Lily. She's particularly upset that Lily will probably have canned cranberries at Thanksgiving instead of the good kind that Karen makes. As if she's going to eat anything, anyway. Peg suggests that they make their own cranberries to take to dinner, which seems to appease Jessie.
Cut to Rick and the gang sitting at the table eating take-out. He insists that he got the good stuff in honor of Peg. The phone rings, and Eli snides, "Miles Drentell." From the way Rick says "Hey you," it clearly is not, and the kids knowingly say, "The Mom." Lily is calling to see whether Jessie wants her to make anything special, or whether Jessie would like to bring something. It's actually pretty thoughtful of her. I like Lily much better when she's not around much. Jessie and Peg share a look, and Jessie says that they'll bring the cranberries. Eli asks whether Peg has dated anyone recently, and she says there was a guy back in Kansas City, but he was "just sex." Right. I'm all for ditching the hang-ups and everything, but dude, there's a time and a place, and discussing seniors' sex over chow mein just isn't it. Eli, however, is undisturbed and high-fives Peg across the table. Jessie feigns shock. Rick returns to the table and is all excited that Jessie's making the cranberries. He tells his mom that she's going to have a great time at Lily's: "She's really something, and her kids are great -- even if Jessie hates Grace." He says the last part teasingly, but Jessie is enraged. I guess she's embarrassed or something. Rick amends the statement: "Or you just think she hates you." Granny watches Jessie carefully. Rick blabs on, saying that Zoe is totally hung up on Jessie and can't stop asking about her. He glances at his mother, who's pursing her lips. She shakes her head at him. He shuts up and looks at Jessie, who's staring angrily at her plate. Rick changes the subject to touristy things, and in the corner of the screen, we see Jessie move some of her food onto Eli's plate. Eli and Rick don't notice, but Granny does. Rick jokes that if Jessie doesn't eat her dumpling, he's going to. She eagerly offers it up. He insists that he was kidding -- she hasn't eaten a thing. Granny casts an all-knowing eye between Jessie's face and her plate, chewing solemnly. Eli pipes up to ask whether he can get out of Thanksgiving dinner if he can get a date. (I think he said date, but it may have been "gig." Who cares.) Rick says, "Absolutely not," and Eli brats like Rick's being unreasonable or something. Granny watches. Jessie asks whether she may be excused to do her homework, and both kids tear upstairs. Peg insists on clearing the table, and she stops next to Rick's chair to kiss him on the side of the head and say, "You know, you have wonderful children." But..."I do think that Jessie is a little upset about going to Lily's on Thursday," Peg opines. Rick insists she's not. "Did you ask her?" Peg asks. Rick insists that Jessie is being "melodramatic." "Oh, is that what that is?" Peg asks smartly. Speaking of not cluing in to your kids, Peg goes on telling Rick what he's doing wrong: "I also noticed that you're on the phone an awful lot." Rick protests. "Listen, I know how hard it is to raise kids alone. I was there," Peg says. Oh, so that's what makes her the expert. I was wondering. Rick insists that if Jessie has a problem, she'll tell him -- they have that kind of relationship. "Oh, wonderful," Peg says, planting another kiss on his forehead. "It's the only kind to have." Right, so why don't you have it with your own kid? Why don't you take your own advice and try talking to him, instead of at him? I'm not saying Granny's off in her observations, mind you -- just the delivery. As she searches for fortune cookies in the kitchen, Rick fiddles with the food on his plate, looking troubled.