Almost Family Review: Courageous AF (Season 1 Episode 10)
No matter the quality of the show, it’s going to have peak moments. Almost Family Season 1 Episode 10, “Courageous AF,” is a bumpy ride at times, but it’s the best the show has been so far.
The team should be proud. If they had just been following a similar formula all along, the season might be salvageable.
Roxy coming out against Nick is done better than most viewers probably expect after previous episodes.
In real life, even if a news program told two women’s stories with different points of view about a potential sexual abuser, they wouldn’t put them at the same table and allow one to discredit the other. It’s an unsafe situation to put a victim in and, potentially, unethical journalism.
The argument with Nina on Game Zone is done mostly for drama — but there is a point to it, and it’s important to note the show’s growth there.
Nina shouldn’t have been allowed to attack and discredit Roxy to her face, but denial and anger isn’t an uncommon reaction when you are afraid. Eventually, she does the right thing by telling her own story. That’s what matters.
I’m happy Roxy has support from her sisters and gymnasts and that the avatars on social media are joining #TeamRoxy. As the sisters say all episode, stranger or not negativity on social media is emotionally draining yet hard to ignore.
It’s smart for Julia to keep Roxy’s phone until the negativity stops. It’s even genuinely funny that Julia throws Roxy’s phone in the toilet to keep her away from it.
Speaking of Julia, it’s sad that her relationship with Donovan ends. It was nice to see Julia in an adult, committed relationship. Before Donovan, watching her move from hookup to hookup feels forced.
She even breaks up with him for a mature reason. There is no way that Julia is ever going to win his daughter Olivia’s favor, and she’s too young for that not to matter. Frankly, kids’ opinions on their parents’ romantic relationships are always important. It never turns out well when the kids and significant other don’t get along.
From the pilot episode, it looked like the show would potentially set up a love triangle with Julia, Isaac, and Tim. They haven’t taken the “triangle” approach (which is very refreshing, for the record) but as healthy as Julia and Donovan are, their breakup is inevitable.
The show is hinting at Julia and Tim being a couple. It would be the most interesting pairing of any current options because of the history they have that we only have clues about. I support it.
If Tim has to take time to heal, that’s understandable. But I don’t think quickly getting back into the dating world is a bad idea.
Edie definitely isn’t mourning her marriage. No judgment, I’m happy for her.
But I think it’s also a good choice that she ends the episode happily with Amanda instead of “exploring” other women and earning lesbian cred or whatever she’s doing the whole hour.
Amanda says herself at the end of the show that she was projecting her insecurities about someone leaving her onto Edie. That’s not Edie’s fault.
There’s no one way to be a lesbian. Some people are with one partner their whole lives. That’s OK. Sexually exploring early in a relationship doesn’t mean someone is going to be less likely to cheat later on.
Coming out later in life is hard for Edie and I don’t think she should be ashamed about her lack of experience.
Notes
- Even though Leon has a story with Miles, it’s separate enough from all of the other arcs that he is less bothersome than usual.
- Edie telling Leon that he doesn’t get to take credit for helping Miles is a “scream at your TV in celebration” kind of moment.
- Should Edie represent Miles, though? They’re blood siblings.
What did you think of this episode of Almost Family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Almost Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on FOX.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.