The Republic of Sarah Review: Sons and Daughters (Season 1 Episode 9)

It’s Christmas on The Republic of Sarah Season 1 Episode 9, “Sons and Daughters,” — but Grover and AJ have the right idea by sipping on daiquiris and dreaming of beach vacations. 

I love seeing the holidays in Greylock, but it’s hard to get in the spirit when there is no chill in the air or snow on the ground. (I’m breaking a basic rule of writing by dating this review, but it matters!) 

The Republic of Sarah would make an epic Christmas episode in December, and it should one day. Cozy vibes are in its DNA. 

All things considered, it’s smart that the theme of the episode is children and their relationships with their parents instead of too much frivolous festive fun. 

Sarah is insufferable for the first time. She’s obsessed with giving Danny and Corinne bad advice about each other because she does not want them together.

It’s true that it would tear Corinne’s life apart if she left Adam, but that doesn’t mean that knowing who Josh’s biological father is isn’t important.

I think Sarah is lying about the results. I don’t trust that she would ever tell Corinne that Danny is Josh’s father even if biology said so. 

It’s all so unfair to Josh and Danny. They’re potentially being robbed of the chance to know each other. 

In all of the fallout from Danny and Corinne’s snowstorm sex, Danny breaking up with Piper makes the most sense. 

Sarah wants them to stay together because she wants things her way. But even though I think Danny and Corinne’s hookup comes too early in the story, Piper is such a superfluous character it makes no sense to keep dragging her along. 

The fact that Danny is single will force Corinne into feeling her true feelings for him whether she wants to or not. Sometimes we just have to follow our hearts even if it breaks up our family. Corinne does not have friends who are capable of giving her that advice. 

Speaking of Corinne’s friends, even though they’ve known each other their whole lives the “Anti-Christmas Christmas Club” still feels like a random group. 

Maybe it’s because they are keeping so many secrets from one another. Grover and Sarah are in a horrible place no matter what Sarah wants to believe.

And does anyone know about AJ’s dad except for Grover? Doesn’t Sarah think it’s weird that her friend has suddenly gone from “loving” Christmas to hating it? 

The kids are the only people in Greylock who really find Christmas spirit and grow — because they are facing hard truths. 

I’m glad Bella and Alexis are going to keep seeing each other. William is as compelling as a dirty dishrag and Bella deserves a cool parent she can vent to. But for the record — her boarding school storyline was a complete waste of time. 

One of the charms of “small town” shows is when an odd pairing somehow works. Paul Cooper playing a part in inspiring Maya to mail pictures to her mom is a great example of this. 

It’s also kind of Tyler to give Maya some of his photographs to mail to her mom. It’s okay if words are sometimes hard to say — and doesn’t the most popular idiom tell us that actions speak louder? 

She does it. She puts the pictures in the mail and that’s what matters. 

Bella, Tyler, and Maya are actually a bright spot on The Republic of Sarah for the first time. Perhaps because I’m getting tired of hearing adults whine about their crappy parents and hard lives.

Teenagers can at least blame immaturity, but they make some of the most mature decisions we see on the episode. As long as it doesn’t turn into a love triangle they can stay. Sadly, I fear there is still a chance one is taking shape. 

Even though she is annoying through most of the episode, we must give Sarah credit for finding enough holiday spirit to be cordial to her dad. She might be growing, too. 

It’s nice to have a break from The Republic of Sarah‘s country-building drama to focus on its heart. I just wish Sarah would pay attention to her own heart because she’s been really bad at giving friends advice, lately. 

Plus, we must admit that Grover has had little to do other than serve drinks for some time  — although I’d take any excuse to sip anything with an umbrella in it, especially if he is serving me. 

Notes 

• I love that Grover could tell that AJ actually hates Christmas because of her eyes. 
• Can The Republic of Sarah please stop writing such blatant excuses why Weston is not in the episode? He’s a recurring character. We know! 

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What did you think of this episode of The Republic of Sarah? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Republic of Sarah airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.

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