Almost Family Review: Thankful AF (Season 1 Episode 7)

In case you needed a break from your own Thanksgiving festivities Almost Family Season 1 Episode 7, “Thankful AF,” is a clusterf*ck, for lack of a better word. 

The episode itself is OK. At its best, this show is only about 2.5 stars. It’s the drama that’s bananas. 

It was only a matter of time before someone faked being a Bechley baby — and Roxy is the easiest person to fool. 

Hannah isn’t really worth talking about beyond saying that it’s frustrating that Leon is the person that uncovers her con and the fact that he stalks his offspring is to thank for that. 

But can we talk about the tooth-tapping? Hannah may have read about that in an article. It’s not surprising that she fakes the tapping or that she’s not a sibling from the first scene. 

I’m just not sure that particular behavior is a realistic tell. If someone doesn’t tap their teeth are they definitely not a Bechley? 

Either way, my heart keeps breaking for Roxy. The past couple of episodes have done a little bit better chronicling her addiction. It definitely makes sense that embarrassment from being tricked would trigger her. 

Only time will tell if Isaac is good for her or if the fact that he’s a doctor makes her insecure and makes it harder to get healthy. 

But speaking of time: Hopefully we learn something more about Julia and Tim’s past relationship soon. Their parents making slight digs about who broke each other’s hearts means very little to viewers at this point. 

We can guess it was a serious relationship and a messy breakup. We’ve even seen the comfort and almost respect they have for each other when they’re alone in the present. But soon, we need to see more about what happened in their past. 

Tim deserves happiness. I’m at least glad that he knows something is up with Edie and Amanda and even almost confronted Amanda about it. 

I support Edie loving whoever she wants to. But her evasion of the issue is ridiculous at this point. The truth is always the best option. But Edie and Tim don’t have kids right now. That means fewer people will be hurt by their split. Now is the time to get out of the marriage, not start trying to have kids. 

Or, probably more accurately, now is not the time to pretend to start trying to have kids. 

She’s thinking about Amanda and Lorenzo so much she has to leave Julia’s Thanksgiving to go and have pie with them. That should give her the answer. Game over. 

Tim needs the time to move on, but right now we don’t know him enough to know if Julia is really an option for him to move on to. 

I like Donovan. It’s just so early in the series it’s hard to tell if he’ll stick if the show survives. 

Logic says no because wanting kids is a huge issue to disagree on. But there is also the fact that Julia acts like a teenager herself sometimes. She definitely can’t be a parent figure to anyone’s kids. 

I owe Julia an apology for thinking she’d invite the very new guy she’s seeing and her dad to Thanksgiving on purpose. That is just an unfortunate series of events. 

Simply because the writers soak Leon with so much unwarranted pity and desperation it’s always hard to see him on screen. But since he’s not in prison — at least it makes sense for him to be at Julia’s house for Thanksgiving. 

Still, there are zero people in the world who would envy anyone hosting three new sisters that are a result of their father’s assault, their father, their ex who is also their brother-in-law, his parents, a co-worker, a con woman, and their new boyfriend at the same table. That is a lot, and we left out Genevieve. 

Then again, Julia’s night ended with sex, so she’s probably not complaining. 

Notes:

• Meeting Bechley babies in the first scene is a great way to start episodes. 
• Leon definitely should not just waltz into the clinic, it’s maddening. But at least he’s literally paying for his mistakes. 
• When did Leon’s house arrest get lifted? 
• We are seven episodes in, and I’m baffled as to why we haven’t met at least one more Bechley baby who is furious at Leon and the clinic and vengeful for more than an episode. 
• I miss Rivka. 
• The past two episodes aren’t special events, they’re two episodes. It’s all just fancy wording.

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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