Bless This Mess Review: The Table (Season 2 Episode 18)

After a slightly off-kilter episode on Season 2 Episode 17, “After-Prom,” Bless This Mess returns with a somewhat more enjoyable episode that feels more than a little rushed. The laughs and morals are still here, but the plot seems to be done in a paint-by-numbers fashion. This gives the viewer less to think about and absorb.

Bless This Mess Season 2 Episode 18, “The Table,” centers around the false perfection created by secrets and lies. Mike’s visiting family has their entire facade crumble to the ground — revealing how beautifully broken they are. 

When Mike’s family shows up at the door smiling and demanding near-constant eye contact, it is clear that these people are a caricature of the modern American family. They are the family we all pretend to have, at least when talking to strangers.

Their constant affirmations and support stage a problem-free scenario in everything they face. The saccharine-sweetness of it all is quite funny as the actors seem to be hamming it up the entire time. Right off the bat, the viewer can see this is all going to tumble to the ground.

Let’s face it, every family has its fair amount of dirty little secrets. Stories that they want no one else to know about because it doesn’t flow with the image they are trying to create.

Even the artist Bob Ross did this when he turned his little mistakes into a pretty bird within his paintings.

To use the hot term for the current era, we want to make sure everything fits into our brand. If we want to show the world we are a caring and loving individual, we must avoid bringing up the time we acted completely selfish in front of the entire neighborhood. Everyone else might remember it clearly, but we will do everything in our power to erase it from their memories.

This involves ignoring the fact it ever happened, or possibly skewing the truth to show yourself in a better light. We all do it — that includes me too. 

Since Mike’s family brand is love and affection, they aren’t going to talk about the time when his mother slept with Rudy. An affair doesn’t speak unconditional love and acceptance. An affair screams unhappiness and disloyalty. 

No one can fault Mike’s parents for covering this up. Aside from awkward social media posts made in the heat of the moment, affairs are the ugly stepchild no one wants to talk about. We hide it in the bedroom closet — depriving it of any sunlight. 

The problem with hiding these hideous facts is that they never actually go away. We can bury them six feet under with piles of ashes and dirt, camouflaging it from onlookers the best we can. Eventually, someone trips over the huge mess, causing new pain and dragging it into the spotlight.

Now everyone is hit in the face with the facts, often causing more hurt by tearing open the scar. 

The person who does this in the episode just so happens to be Mike. Being the loving son that he is, Mike tries to continue ignoring it all. He doesn’t want to stir the pot, assuming he is the only one who knows about the situation.

Rio tries to convince him to open up to his family, talking it through instead of shaking it off. Mike appreciates her sentiment but prefers to keep everything on the down-low. 

What I love about Rio is her constant search for open communication. She is consistent in sharing her truth and having others share their truth as well. 

Mike: I’m not Rudy’s son!

At the beginning of the season, it appeared that these lines of communication were the fix-all for every situation or argument that Mike and Rio ran into, but over the last few episodes, it appears that they are starting to stray from this idea. 

Even though Rio still suggests talking it out, Mike strikes out on his own facing the problem differently. This includes the destruction of a shed.

While I don’t normally endorse destruction as a means to solve a problem, Mike’s ability to take out his frustration in a way that supports his passion for the future is a positive in my book. Seeing his family as imperfect for the first time enables Mike to move forward with his plans — leaving fear behind.

Mike’s apprehension at coming up short in front of his entire family held him in place for too long. Viewing his family as they truly are, frees him to do the same. 

This is an unintended by-product of living a costumed life. If we can convince others that our lives are perfect, it forces them to want to live similarly. 

It is clear that lies breed lies, but we usually only see it acted out in our own lives. Rarely do we think about how our mistruths affect others. 

Like it or not, we all learn from each other. We learn to walk by watching others walk, we learn to talk by hearing others talk, and we learn to lie by believing other’s lies. 

We need to break free from this cycle!

Lies are nothing less than damaging, but honesty can be the thing that brings healing. This is shown through Mike moving forward with his renovation of the farm. 

The lies of his “perfect” family kept him in place, knowing that he is far from perfect and can only let the family down. When faced with the truth that his family is far from who they claim to be, Mike takes that knowledge and runs with it. 

Without the unintended pressure given to him by his family, Mike can put aside fear and put his best foot forward. While everything is not one hundred percent solved in the end, there is genuine healing in the family’s relationship with each other. 

Together they see each other for who they are — possibly for the first time.

Unlike the agenda promoted by Season 2 Episode 17, “After-Prom,” I can get behind the morals advertised here. The only major issue I have with this episode is the pacing.

On most episodes of Bless This Mess, there is a fair amount of downtime and discussion, enabling the viewer to gather their thoughts on the situation alongside their favorite characters. 

Mike, Rio, or even Rudy dissect their problems verbally, taking us along for the ride and helping us to put it all into perspective. 

This does not happen in the episode, at least not in a real and tangible way, and it is sorely missed.

Honestly, I’m reminded of the pilot episode. Technically, the pilot was a good episode — especially as pilots go. It is just that everything felt so rushed. 

That is the same problem here. This happens, then this happens, and finally, this happens. The only buffer is when Brandon pops up onscreen with his ever-present dating issues.

Brandon’s goofy side story doesn’t do much to let us absorb the rest of the plot, as it is too far removed from the main storyline and done just for laughs. 

Alas, this is a step up from the botched episode before this and seems generally a move in the right direction. Not every episode can be top-notch, and this one still serves its purpose.

What did you think of this episode of Bless This Mess? Have the last couple of episodes seemed a little lackluster to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Bless This Mess airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

JT Neal on ABC’s ‘Bless This Mess’ [Exclusive Interview]