Council of Dads Review: The Best Laid Plans (Season 1 Episode 7)

We have always known that Scott’s “Council of Dads” was meant to be a stop-gap in the immediate days after his passing. Sure, he wants them to be around throughout his kids’ lives, but their constant presence has always been temporary. 

So why does it hurt so bad when Anthony announces he is leaving on Council of Dads Season 1 Episode 7, “The Best Laid Plans?” Well, because it is without warning and it is before his one-year contract is up. 

The beauty of the whole Perry family dynamic is that when one “dad” can’t step up, another is always at the ready to help smooth things over. Despite all of Anthony’s protestations, he’s been one of the quickest to step up in the past few months. 

Basically, he has become the dad that the kids seem to gravitate toward and rely on the most. And yet, he is the one dad who always has one foot out the door — he’s just been really good at hiding it from them.

That is what makes “The Best Laid Plans” such a special episode: the focus isn’t on the Perry clan at all. Instead, it’s on the two men on the council who always have been completely at odds with each other — Anthony and Larry.

All along, the viewers have seen the truth about Larry and Anthony even if those around them can’t quite see it. This episode is the watershed moment for everyone. The kids realize that Anthony isn’t one to stick around for the long haul and that Larry really is the one holding them all up.

To see Larry embrace Luly and Evan when they are struggling the most because of the stress of their house, his mom, and Luly’s unprocessed grief is groundbreaking. Larry is so afraid of failing yet another family that he sticks to the back most of the time while he is full-on emotionally and financially supporting Luly and Evan.

Meanwhile, Anthony is over here breaking our hearts with all his pent up pain, confusion, and regret. He has this huge secret about Luly and instead of talk about it, he decides to push everyone away and run from it.

Anthony: I’m Uncle Anthony. But I am no dad.

Clive Standen delivers the goods time and time again throughout this whole episode. He takes us all on a journey of Anthony’s fears and insecurities. 

Then he drives us home — in that shiny new car — with his heartbreaking confession to Robin about how he gets what it means to be a father now. We are crying along with him as he finally lets go of all his pent up emotions and confesses that he is Luly’s father.

If there is one thing Council of Dads has been able to really do right, it’s the flow of emotion and story together as one stream of consciousness. We always get caught up in the depth of every moment because we connect with each emotion and we feel it in our core. 

When Larry reads aloud his one prayer that he’s held onto for five years, we hold our breaths and smile as we realize he has started to succeed. He is someone others can depend on because the moment Scott passed away, he stepped up for Scott’s family.

Larry never once thinks of his own problems or grief — instead, he’s focused on making sure that each member of Scott’s family has somewhere safe they can land. 

Now that everyone else in the family realizes that, I hope the writers will pull Larry into focus a bit more. After all, it is what the man deserves. 

Larry is the father figure we never know we need until he is right there in front of us. Despite his mistakes and his flaws, Larry never gives up on that faint sliver of hope. 

These kids can rely on Larry because they have helped to heal him. What a message that is. 

This council is successful because it’s not just a one-way street — it’s a jumbled mess of highway going every which direction, looping forever with no end. Every member of the council and the Perry family mutually benefit from the presence of each other. 

Isn’t that what family is all about?

I have faith that this huge secret of Anthony’s isn’t going to be as earth-shattering as it would be for an average family. Sure, Luly is going to be upset, but The Council isn’t going to let her fall apart — and that is all that matters.

Council of Stray Thoughts:

• I am extremely proud of Evan for sticking up for Luly against his mom, but I am also proud of him for opening Luly’s eyes to just how selfish she’s been. 
• I’m curious to see what Oliver and Peter decide about the baby bomb they got handed at the end of the episode.
• YAY! Theo gets the role of Hamlet! It’s so great to see him thriving once again.

 

What did you think of this episode of Council of Dads? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Council of Dads airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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

What to Watch on TV: I May Destroy You, Artemis Fowl, The Bold Type