Almost Family Review: Fertile AF (Season 1 Episode 8)
Eh. Almost Family Season 1 Episode 8, “Fertile AF” is OK.
Donovan wins boyfriend of the year for coming to Julia’s fertility appointment even though we agree that it’s way too soon for him to make embryos with Julia. At least Julia agrees with everyone, or else this review might be completely different.
Also, I’m so happy Roxy is in rehab. But the story isn’t done well overall. This show has made an absolute mockery of the crime Leon has committed. How are viewers supposed to trust it with an issue as serious as addiction?
They’ve never mocked addiction. But it’s such a serious storyline that fans deserve to know more about what led Roxy where she is today.
The show leans more comedy than drama. It’s horrible at balance. But just because they haven’t mocked addiction doesn’t mean her addiction can just exist. Even if there isn’t context missing, there’s emotion missing.
Roxy has been mostly used for comedy. More annoying, though, is that time that could’ve been spent focusing more seriously on her addiction was given to making the audience feel bad for Leon.
I feel proud of Roxy for going to rehab. But there aren’t tears in my eyes or anything. It’s just something that happens with most addiction stories on TV. It’s not like Almost Family is going to kill her off.
This show is best when focusing on the sisters’ bonds alone. So, it is a warm fuzzy moment when Edie says she’s gained the courage to tell Tim the truth about Amanda and her sexuality.
Again, it’s a moment that Edie should be proud of. But it’s a long time coming, and the acting isn’t good enough to make Edie’s confession that emotional at all. It’s just a relief that Edie has taken that burden off of herself.
From what we’ve seen, is it believable that Edie loves Amanda? Absolutely not. Their relationship was strictly sex until a few episodes ago.
Can they grow in love? Sure. Does Edie want to be with Tim? That’s a no. But ships on TV shows earn respect and status over time.
I resent being told that they are in love.
Whether you saw it coming or not, the cliffhanger is the worst part of this episode. It’s absolutely ridiculous that Julia isn’t Leon’s biological child. It makes this show even worse, if that’s possible.
Julia is the core of the whole story. Sure, biology doesn’t make a family. Julia has been trying to argue that exact sentiment for most of the season, especially early on with Edie and Roxy. Just because they share her DNA, it doesn’t make them her sisters.
The show is twisting that around now. Just because Julia doesn’t have Bechley DNA, that doesn’t mean she can’t be Edie and Roxy’s family. It’s unnecessary more than it is shocking and won’t preoccupy my mind as the show goes on holiday break.
Any show has to earn the right to pull off a twist that big. Eight episodes is not enough time for any show to do that, even a good one. Almost Family just isn’t good.
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.
4 comments
The ending made me feel really bothered because what is the point of Julia being non-biologically related? as well as the lengths the show has gone to in continually bring up the connection of the ridiculous tooth tapping habit amongst all the Bechley babies, which they highlighted about Julia again and again. What the heck?!
The tooth-tapping. Great point! Ugh!!!!
Yess the tooth tapping is very confusing and annoying u can’t have it be a central focus of picking out bio kids then have a non bio kid constantly do it!!
I thought that they would say that Julia was PREGNANT and that was why she couldn’t freeze her eggs. The ending was a great twist, but begs the question of who is Julia’s dad…..and why isn’t Leon her biodad?
It was great that Roxie went to rehab, now begs the question, how did her life get to where it is?
Edie…oh Edie, I don’t mind the storyline of Tim/Edie/Amanda, but I feel like Edie and Amanda’s relationship will not last long. And that Tim will not be around next season.
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