The Grinder Review: The Olyphant in the Room (Season 1 Episode 10)
How many more ways are there for me to say I love The Grinderr? How many?
I’ve been wondering that for a couple of months now. When the name pops up on my TV screen, I tell myself, you will not gush. No gushing allowed. And then I sit down to write the review, and I’m here, gushing. I can’t help it. That’s just what comes out of me. Even when I start out the episode thinking, okay, nice show, funny, but it really is just another comedy, The Grinder always, always makes me eat those words.
Because it’s not good, it’s extraordinary.
See, “The Olyphant in the Room” is, presumably, about Timothy Olyphant, but in truth, like every episode of The Grinder, it really is about family. It’s about Dean and the fact that he never, ever goes full Hollywood star on his brother. It’s about Stewart and the fact that, for all his complains, he’s very, very protective of Dean. It’s about the story behind the laughs. It’s about a comedy that plays on stereotypes but makes it because it has soul.
It’s not about the stars. Even if they’re wonderful. Even if this episode features Jimmy Kimmel. Because, did I forget to mention this episode features Jimmy Kimmel? It does. And I’m sorry, Tim Olyphant, you’re handsome and kind of funny, but you’re not Kimmel. No one is.
But it’s not about him, either. It’s not about Claire and Dean Wannabe, or about Todd getting funnier and funnier with each episode, it’s not even about Debbie finally getting to be more involved in the dynamic, no. It’s about how a newspaper article that was supposed to be a good peace on Stewart and ended up being a good piece on Stewart was just a plot device to make clear, in case anyone still doesn’t get it, that for all the drama and the obliviousness and the Hollywood sheen, there’s no one Dean loves more than his little brother. That’s why he came back home, that’s why he’s pretending to be a lawyer.
Family.
What do you mean comedies are not supposed to make you tear up a bit? Are you sure?
Other things to note:
- Claire always looks annoyed. Can we give Natalie Morales some, like, happy storylines, please?
- At first I wasn’t sold on Todd, but now I’m in. I love Todd. He’s hilarious with Dean, and just as hilarious with Stewart.
- Still want more stories for the kids, especially for criminally underused Hana Hayes, but I love that Debbie is getting more screen time.
- Yes, Fred Savage is still my favorite.
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What did you think of this week’s episode of The Grinder? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The Grinder airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on Fox.
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
Lawyer. Writer. Columnist. Geek. Falls in madly in love with fictional characters. Hates the color yellow, misogyny, and people who are late. Can always be found with a book. Watches an absurd amount of TV every week, often, while eating coffee ice cream. She has no regrets. You can check out her blog here: Absurday. Lissete is a senior writer for Tell-Tale TV. Follow @lizziethat