Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Review: Zoey’s Extraordinary Outburst (Season 1 Episode 10)
SPRQ Point’s fourth floor has traded Max for an oatmeal bar on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 1 Episode 10, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Outburst,” which is the most equal trade they could make.
Max needs space from Zoey and if that means he’s off of our screens for a future episode, we’re fine with that.
Zoey’s accessing some real emotions and as misplaced as her anger is, it’s easier to endure than watching two women fight over an employee via Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine.”
The song is great, and so is the ladies’ performance of it, but viewers can smell it coming as soon as the “bake-off” is announced.
The time would be better spent on Zoey and Simon. But not on a date and definitely not having to watch her shame him for his grief. (Sigh.) A facepalm emoji is definitely all that’s needed to explain what’s wrong with that.
Simon may not be ready for a relationship with Zoey in part because he’s still grieving but there’s also the fact that he’s just had an emotional affair with her.
Plus, Zoey has a love triangle of her own to recover from. I support Zoey and Simon, but not right now.
Neither of them is ready for anything serious. He just got out of a relationship with someone he was going to spend the rest of his life with. That’s reason enough to back away from another woman for a bit.
It’s worth saying again. Zoey isn’t ready for a relationship either, plus she is completely out of line to criticize how long Simon has been grieving.
Who does she think she is? Grief cannot be turned on and off like a light switch because she wants some sex, or whatever she wants.
The scene between them after their dinner date is completely baffling for this reason. Zoey meets Simon in the pilot when we meet him. She absolutely does not know him long enough to judge the length of his grieving at all. Plus, grief for loved ones lasts a lifetime sometimes. She’s got nerve.
Zoey is also pretty rude for leaving the dinner date early because she hears Simon’s heart song. Whether she knows how he’s feeling or not, who leaves a dinner by explaining someone’s innermost feelings to them when they’ve asked for no such intrusion? It’s quite baffling.
Simon’s reprise of “Mad World” is a highlight of the hour and we’re so glad that at least Mo knows it.
For the first time of the series, the choreography of the number is incredibly distracting.
The first reprise of the series is a big deal. Fans are learning that Simon is still unhappy. He doesn’t need to be going around hugging everything in his kitchen as he sings and climbing walls. Standing there and sadly cooking pasta would’ve been quite impactful.
Zoey should’ve stayed at least for dinner no matter what because ready or not, he invited her and sometimes when we’re sad, the last thing we want to do is eat alone.
But I’ve been hard on her so let me be clear. Zoey is definitely grieving too, and diving into those feelings, whether she likes it or not, is the strength of the episode.
The best scene between Simon and Zoey is at the end of the hour when he’s explaining that she will get through her anger stage. It’s definitely quite annoying that she turns it back on him, but she has every right to feel it.
Watching a sick parent deteriorate cannot be easy and she’s getting through it all things considered.
Shame on the restaurant for not being wheelchair accessible but the backyard service Zoey sets up for Mitch and Maggie is perfect. Take the pun because of the song if you want it to be there.
Music And Miscellaneous Notes
- Leif is annoying but Michael Thomas Grant has an unexpectedly gritty tone in his voice. “Let’s Stay Together” is surprisingly good.
- The less SPRQ Point on an episode the better. But the issue only exists because the workplace storylines often fall flat.
- Joan is more interesting than a workplace affair is allowing us to see and it’s maddening.
- “Here I Go Again” as a duet is also great. The boys should stay on their own for awhile.
- The “Mad World” reprise is better if you close your eyes.
- “The Boy Is Mine” should be replaced with “No Scrubs”.
- Mo is me listening to these people whine. I just want to hug him.
- Max’s feelings are valid but he really hasn’t been a good enough friend to Zoey to win me over. He doesn’t get to be mad at Zoey because he has a crush on her.
- “Perfect” is the best moment on the episode. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist needs to lean into the strength of Mitch and Maggie more.
What did you think of this episode of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Sundays at 9/8c on NBC.
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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.
One thought on “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Review: Zoey’s Extraordinary Outburst (Season 1 Episode 10)”
This is the episode that’s making me reconsider watching through the rest of this show. Zoey just came off like a terrible person here. Not just terrible but possibly someone with borderline personality disorder. I have known people who act the way she did in this episode and they are toxic. The fact that everyone just brushes it off is baffling to me and it’s hard watching a show when the lead character is this unlikeable.
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