Mr. Mayor Review: The Sac (Season 1 Episode 4)
Mr. Mayor continues to be mediocre, at best, even with the incredible talent in the cast on Season 1 Episode 4, “The Sac.”
I fear these reviews will become repetitive, but I really do have the same complaint every time. It is hard to get past it.
My review of Mr. Mayor Season 1 Episode 3, “Brentwood Trash,” had a very low rating, maybe the lowest I’ve ever given a review. It hurt my heart because I am a fan of many of those involved with the show. Mr. Mayor Season 1 Episode 4, “The Sac,” is a step above “Brentwood Trash,” but still a small step.
The episode diverges into two storylines—an okay storyline and a not great one.
Arpi and Jayden’s bonding trip to the state capitol is, by far, the better of the two. Holly Hunter and Bobby Moynihan have a good handle on their characters so some jokes land and some nice nuances shine through. The ice breaker questions part of the plot gets several genuine laughs from me and, by the end, I am charmed by their developing friendship.
Arpi’s random fear of holes is just weird enough to work, especially with Hunter behind it. Although, I could do without seeing Jayden inhale a gigantic blueberry pancake. It’s gross and unbelievable, and not even humanly possible to eat that much in under a minute (which is strangely specified).
However, I am here for these Lady Bird references! Jayden finding that movie scary oddly makes a lot of sense. These two characters are quirky and unique—thankfully, Hunter and Moynihan make the most of it.
The mayor’s storyline is prosaic and trite. It needs so much more than the novelty of Ted Danson trying out juvenile jargon and Instagram buzzwords.
I have yet to see the benefit of two central characters. Mikaela (Vella Lovell) and Tommy (Mike Cabellon) are written as stereotypical millennials so Lovell and Cabellon play them as such, which does the show a major disservice.
I am either cringing or rolling my eyes through most of their dialogue.
And what is with the hokey score? I think the show would be much improved if it did away with the cutesy, obnoxious background tunes, which sounds like glorified elevator music but perkier.
Mr. Mayor keeps serving up cookie-cutter, run-of-the-mill comedy fare. In this day and age, with so much good television at our fingertips, audiences need more and, frankly, deserve more.
Stray Observations:
- I’m loving Ms. Adams’ gray streak, and it’s made all the better with Rachel Dratch’s delivery of “Oh yes, I was touched by a ghost.”
- Jayden: If you could have a dinner party with anyone living or dead?
Arpi: Eleanor Roosevelt, her girlfriend Lorena Hickok, and Wayne Brady, ’cause he just cracks me up. - My son and I recently finished reading Holes by Louis Sachar. This would be a horror story for Arpi.
- I want to take the Lady Bird walking tour!
- “I was being cool AF, cool as Fonzie!”
What did you think of this episode of Mr. Mayor? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Mr. Mayor airs Thursdays at 8/7c on NBC.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.