Single Parents Review: Graham Fought the Bones and the Bones Won (Season 2 Episode 2)
The battle to fix the terrible injustice that happened with the room parent situation is underway on Single Parents Season 2 Episode 2, “Graham Fought the Bones and the Bones Won.” The setting? The dinosaur exhibit at the natural history museum.
Let the shennanigans begin!
Douglas and Will are one of my favorite pairings. They are polar opposites, and it’s always entertaining to see what the two of them get up to. This time around, they are scheming together, and they develop a plan with lines and everything.
The drama that surrounds the room parent decision, and the battle between Graham and the bones, is absolutely hilarious. It’s over the top but in the best way possible.
There’s the drawn out suspense of Graham going to touch the bones, and then there’s the chaos with all the bones falling while everyone runs — absolute perfection.
The only, tiny, downside is that we don’t get to see what Emma and Amy said to encourage Graham to take on the bones. You know that had to be a great, and probably quick, conversation.
Scenes like this are what makes Single Parents so much fun. There are some wacky situations that somehow fit into this world, and they’re actually funny. Nothing feels forced.
Because of course at Lance Bass Space Camp there’s a dramatic simulation — during orientation — featuring Sophie in full astronaut gear and Graham impeccably dressed as a NASA employee, complete with a headset, coffee, and a bottle of tums.
It all works. Because these out of this world (sorry, had to) scenes lead to some beautiful character moments.
Will: Sophie is trying to pull away, so obviously I need to be around her more, not less.
When Sophie is faced with an impending collision, she looks over her shoulder expecting to find her dad there with encouragement, giving her the boost she needs to make the call.
That moment hits you right in the heart. The flashbacks of Will always being there for her followed by the one time he isn’t is devastating.
Yes, the setting is a bit crazy, but the revelation that Sophie has is relatable and heartbreaking. She needs to learn how to stand on her own two feet in life, simulated child astronauts are counting on her.
For Douglas, the battle of the bones is a victory, just not the one he expected. He’s stuck as room parent, but he gets closer to his girls because of it.
It’s hard to describe Douglas’ relationship with Emma and Amy. They are nowhere near a normal father-daughter relationship, but it works for them. Douglas gives them the support and freedom they need to express themselves however they want.
After the battle, they unexpectedly grow closer, and it’s a good thing. They are now all in on the joke and are able to more easily make fun of people together.
Amy and Emma giving him the stolen room parent button is such a sweet gesture. Then, Douglas goes and puts it on. Talk about an “awww!” worthy moment.
It’s endearing. Douglas is not the type of guy to wear giant buttons, advertising his status as a dad who goes above and beyond in his kids’ lives (that’s much more of a Will thing), but he does it for Emma and Amy. I don’t think I’ll ever be over it.
Stray Thoughts:
- That seminar is so awful and yet extremely realistic.
- “Small talk is the busy work of conversation” is so true.
- People checking out at 5:00 on the dot no matter what else is going on is so accurate it hurts.
- Please give Angie something else to do other than being doom and gloom. It’s getting old.
What did you think of this episode of Single Parents? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Single Parents airs Wednesday at 9:30/8:30c on ABC.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Allison Nichols
Allison is in a love affair with television that doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Slightly damaged fictional characters are her weakness. She loves to spend her free time curled up with a cat and a show to binge-watch. Allison is a Tomatometer-approved critic (Rotten Tomatoes).