The Grinder Review: The Retooling of Dean Sanderson (Season 1 Episode 14)
First, you have an idea. You write a good script, a funny script. Then you cast the right people. And finally, you make the show. If it works, like The Grinder has, then, well …then you get to the hard part. Then you have to continue doing it.
It’s not easy. Execution is, often, 98% more complicated than the actual idea. A TV show is a combination of a whole lot of moving pieces, and you need to have them all clicking on all cylinders to work. Acting can be good, but what about chemistry? The scripts can be on point, but are they current? Are your characters growing? Does the show have a future?
Yes, a bright one is the answer when it comes to The Grinder.
“The Retooling of Dean Sanderson” is the perfect example why. For the first thirteen episodes, real life Dean has operated as mostly a caricature of TV show Dean. He’s The Grinder, not just on TV, but on real life. The audience, like Stewart, understands that this is a façade. It’s not the real Dean. The man, himself, however, seems to have more problems picking up on that fact.
Enter Gillian, the until-now unmentioned therapist Stewart has been seeing to help him deal with the – well, with the Dean. Not that we can blame him for seeking a therapist. We probably would in his place. Especially if that therapist is Mayra Rudolph, and if she’s both hilarious and very good at pointing out not only Dean’s issues, but Stewart’s own.
Like all things (and people), however, Rudolph is only a prop for Rob Lowe and Fred Savage, and half the time, it seems like these two don’t even need them. I’ve never considered them stand-up comedy material, but if either of them announced a show tomorrow, I’d buy the tickets without a second thought. That’s how funny they are. That’s how good they are together. Yes, this show, in its first season, has already booked some pretty big names to guest-star. And, yes, that’s the talking point, that’s the draw. But the heart?
Dean and Stewart Sanderson are the heart of The Grinder. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Other things to note:
- Colton Haynes appeared only for a, blink-and-you’ll-miss it minute and a half. However, like Timothy Olyphant, he’ll surely be back. We just hope it’s soon.
- Maya Rudolph is slated to appear in more than just this episode, though the exact number of appearances has yet to be confirmed.
- Can you imagine what would happen if we could get Dean Sanderson Sr, Lizzie and Ethan into a therapy season with Stewart, Dean and Debbie?
- Just when you think maybe the drama is over, they pull you back in. Nice of the show to throw us somewhat of a cliffhanger at the end and make us wonder how the Sanderson brothers are going to react.
What did you think of this week’s episode of The Grinder? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer rating:
User rating:
The Grinder airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c 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