Almost Family Review: Related AF (Season 1 Episode 2)
There is hope for Almost Family Season 1 Episode 2, “Related AF,” for about five minutes of the episode.
Leon has gone to court to face the felony charges of sexual abuse and fraud and is placed under house arrest.
Forgiving the fact that Edie is acting as Leon’s lawyer (if there is not a conflict of interest with that because they are biologically related, there should be one because she is one of his victims, right?) the tone of the episode is fine. There’s even slow motion and sad music as everyone watches Leon make the walk to face the judge.
But after court, when Leon, Edie, Tim, and Roxy are in the elevator Roxy introduces herself as one of his daughters, presents him with a balloon, and goes in for a selfie.
It’s in character for Roxy, so she’s not to blame. But it’s the first indication that the show hasn’t actually decided to change and take Leon’s crimes more seriously.
Yet again, the episode wouldn’t have been bad at all if all of the Leon scenes were deleted — but they’re not.
In fact, it’s not Julia who is the center of this episode, but Leon and Roxy. So, it doesn’t matter that everyone else’s individual storylines are borderline interesting. Once the train comes off the track on this episode it crashes and then explodes.
Roxy goes to check on Leon for Julia and watching them bond as father and daughter is only cringeworthy. It’s not miserable to watch if you keep in mind that Roxy desperately wants to feel genuine love for a parent.
It’s whoever had the idea that Roxy knows a “hack” for the house arrest ankle bracelet who should be ashamed of themselves.
It doesn’t matter that the “hack” is stupid. At least someone had the good sense to have it fail. It still shows that Almost Family is totally disregarding the seriousness of Leon’s charges.
His privilege is what gets him bail and the house arrest charge. Perhaps his hubris is what makes him take the chance on Roxy’s idea. But then, Edie and Julia work together to help Leon avoid getting caught for tampering with the device.
That’s facepalm worthy.
But the worst aspect of this episode is Leon Bechley’s monologue when he’s at home with Roxy about how he only sexually abused patients (aka used his sperm in fertility treatments) because he knew it would work and he wanted the best for them.
He only followed the “special” patients like Roxy who became Olympic gymnasts. He only committed his crimes until technology made it unnecessary. He “only wanted to help” and for that, he is being “crucified.”
It’s possible to see this speech as an extension of the character’s ego. He’s justifying his crimes, for sure.
But the show Almost Family is also using this speech to try and excuse the angle they’ve taken with this story. They’re choosing to be sympathetic to Leon and are trying to convince viewers to share their reasoning.
Well, there are many angles through which to tell the story of the family a medical rapist has left behind. At least one (but actually more) involves leaving the criminal out of the show altogether.
So, no. I will never sympathize with Leon or give the show leeway where this is concerned.
But, we are seeing other perspectives besides Leon’s too, which is why the show’s rating is as high as it is.
Edie’s story is a little bit more realistic on “Related AF” than on Almost Family Season 1 Episode 1. At least being queer isn’t compared to a beef burger while being straight is lettuce. (Love is love but that’s not funny.)
A sexuality scale is mentioned, which this writer believes in. But most importantly, Edie’s confusion — or at least the fact that she’s on a journey — is clearer.
She has sex with Tim. Yes, the sex is fueled by Amanda completely. Edie is turned on by the fact that Tim noticed the tension between her and Edie. But, she goes back to the comfort of her marriage to satisfy that desire.
So, it’s not as if the metaphor of the burger flipped a switch in her mind and gave her all of the answers, as the pilot scenes seem to suggest.
Does Edie want Tim? I’d put money on no. But her sexuality is still undefinable at this point. I don’t like Amanda, so I’m not making predictions about Edie’s soulmate at this stage.
It’s such a sisterly move for Julia to cover for Edie with Tim in the courthouse when she sees them kissing, though.
Speaking of Julia, hers is surprisingly the strongest plot of the episode.
Firing her clearly makes sense for The Bechley Clinic. But so does having her own the clinic, in the end, thanks to the legal fine print.
The rest of Julia’s journey with Grace is something I want to see. Patients of The Bechley clinic and their stories are worth investing in.
Almost Family should take that angle and run with it, even though Timothy Hutton is a good actor.
But the show makes even that angle so hard to buy into, because Julia isn’t a doctor, and Isaac takes the limo ride with Leon at the end of the episode.
So, you’ll fire his daughter for sharing his name, Dr. Abadi, and then go listen to the criminal himself about his plan to keep the clinic going?
Not cool, Isaac, not cool at all.
I want Almost Family to get better, but for now, it’s exactly as bad as the pilot episode.
What did you think of this episode of Almost Family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Almost Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on FOX.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.