The Grinder Review: The Resurrection (Season 1 Episode 17)
Hello, hello. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve missed this. I’ve missed The Grinder. Seriously. You’re not supposed to miss TV when you’re on vacation, but there it is. I’ve missed this show. I was looking forward to catching up, to this episode, to this review. This says a lot about what The Grinder has managed to do in seventeen episodes.
It’s become essential.
TV is made up of three types of shows: The ones you watch mostly by obligation, or because you love some parts/characters, or because you just can’t let go; the ones you really and truly enjoy, but feel no emotional attachment to, and the shows you love. The ones you think about when you’re not watching them. The ones that stay with you.
Welcome to this cozy little spot in my I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU TV list, The Grinder. You’ve earned it.
The Resurrection is a very good example of why I love this show – it’s smart, family-centered comedy, that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Because, at its core, The Grinder is just, well, a bunch of people making fun of a stereotype (Dean), and then coming to depend on it, even love it. Stewart is the prime example of that. His attempts to sabotage Dean in this episode actually come from a good place. Before, Stewart couldn’t see The Grinder as a real person. Now, Stewart needs The Grinder, and maybe, he even misses him. That’s the person his brother has become, after all.
And Stewart loves his brother. He even looks up to him, just as Dean does. The Grinder might be a comedy, but it’s not a comedy that plays on family dysfunction to make its point, no. It’s a comedy that relies on the fact that these people love each other – and then builds conflict without compromising that basic fact. If The Grinder were a love story, it would be the perfect one. You can do drama without hate. You can have happy people and stakes.
Don’t believe me? The Grinder is here to teach you a lesson or two. And if I have to keep shouting from the rooftops to get people to listen, then I’ll just do that. This is a new way to make television – a new type of show. And it works. It really, really does.
Other things to note:
- There’s nothing more mortifying/entertaining as Dean in law school. Though, maybe because I actually WENT to law school, I’m leaning more towards mortifying. Yes.
- Fred Savage’s delivery of the line “But is there order IN the chaos?” ala Rob Lowe was basically the best thing in this episode, maybe this entire show. I love Fred Savage. Have I mentioned that before?
- Todd/Cliff can be my new OTP.
- Katherine McNamara and her hair are very, very distracting. I keep waiting for a demon to pop up every time she’s on screen.
- I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad Maya Rudolph’s arc is done. I like my Dean delusional, thank you very much. This whole in-touch-with-reality Dean is creepy
What did you think of this week’s episode of The Grinder? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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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