Pivoting Review: The Giving Tree (Season 1 Episode 3)
Jodie, Sarah, any Amy, played by three talented actresses, are great on their own. They really are. But they’re at their best together, and that makes Pivoting Season 1 Episode 3, “The Giving Tree,” the best episode yet.
After being called out for leaving her wife early in the pilot, Sarah’s ex has gone largely unmentioned in the last episode and a half. From what we do know about her, though, her appearance at Sarah’s grocery store goes exactly as expected.
It’s that, combined with Sarah and Amy’s continued struggles with a non-relationship with Matt and attempts at motherhood respectively, that spurs them first to commiserate with each other and then to prove their worth via an act of revenge.
Two important points: first, the tree they decide to “steal” technically belongs to Sarah, as does the home Diana lives in and so much more. Second, the ladies decide to indulge in some of the medical marijuana Collen left behind before starting their mission.
So they head out—with a sober driver, thankfully- and engage in their most hilarious antics to date, which, from Jodie proving her strength by unearthing the tree single-handedly to Amy finding a dead wasp in a fig (ew), also help them find some of the self-worth they’ve been seeking.
There’s plenty of farce here, too, and while the bit with the anthropomorphic fig gets a bit too weird, most of it is over-the-top but amazing. We’ve never really seen any of them let loose and here they do so here, if a bit too much.
As they “sneak away before Diana can see them” while Diana stands just feet in front of them, they are at the highest point we’ve seen them (pun intended) since the series started. I hope that, even when the drugs wear off, that part of the influence lingers.
Along the way, though, we confirm that Jodie and Dan are still married. Even as we see his shortcomings as a husband on screen, it’s troubling how close we are to a cheating storyline. It’s one thing for a character to have flaws, but they should be more than comic fodder.
That said, while I’m not sure whether I actively ship Jodie and Matt, I hope her storyline focuses on her deserving better. Maybe Dan shapes up. Maybe she leaves him the right way and does wind up with Matt or another man. Just let the poor woman be happy.
Colleen’s lingering influence remains another strength of the show, and this time we get some more tangible representation by seeing her widow, Brian, and their young daughter. It doesn’t hurt at all that Brian is played by Colton Dunn (Garrett from Superstore.)
Brian doesn’t get a lot to do here besides act as a chauffeur for our heroes’ antics, but I’m hopeful we’ll see at least a little of his growth, too—with plenty of input from his departed wife’s friends, no matter how much of it is actually welcome.
Other Notes
- Amy’s nanny is great for her comments on mothering skills alone. Make her a main character!
- Related: when do we see the cooking show Amy supposedly hosts?
- PSA: Know your limits when it comes to the consumption of cannabis. And please don’t eat gummies you find randomly hitching a ride on your body.
What did you think of this episode of Pivoting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Pivoting airs Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c on Fox.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.