Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 Review: Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 Episode 6 “Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden,” picks up right where the previous episode left off with a newly heartbroken Connor.

“Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden” puts Connor in the spotlight to excellent results; the episode is one of the tightest of the season so far. The previous episode left us with an emotional gut-punch when it ended with the reveal that Connor had been dumped by his girlfriend, Chloe, after a pregnancy scare.

Understandably, the heartbreak and blow to his self-esteem leave him more than a little depressed. While the focus of this episode is mostly on Connor, Georgie actually stands out almost just as much.

One of the more interesting aspects of Georgie’s character is his selective maturity. Georgie is someone who had to grow up quickly to take care of those around him, but every once in a while, he still shows his age.

The previous episode shows a bit more of Georgie’s immaturity, but here we see Georgie take charge in a more “adult” role for the ironically much older Connor. The episode contrasts the two of them by continuously showing how they are in vastly different places in life.

Connor’s struggle also brings the McCallister’s together in an entertaining, if not unfortunate, show of their family dynamic.

When Connor gets mopey while trying to put together a resume Mandy instead recommends day drinking. A move which eventually leads both parents to join in.

In a show where nobody seems to make correct decisions, this “solution” is unfortunately very fitting. In true 1990s fashion, nobody in this family is about to talk about their feelings without alcohol.

While this moment is not out of place, it’s hard to see how getting drunk with his family is what Connor needed to find the motivation to really get serious about his music.

Georgie is the one putting in the most effort to help, but these moments did not amount to much. While it’s nice to see Georgie support his brother-in-law, it’s a bit disappointing that the episode didn’t follow through on that.

But Connor nevertheless finds the motivation to work through his heartbreak through music, while also creating a track to send to the real Dr. Demento, who even makes a cameo in the episode.

It is nice to see a bit of Connor’s musical skill near the end of the episode. The sequence of Connor recording his “pump-up music” is a lot of fun to watch, and it also deceives you into thinking he’s going to write something normal.

Connor’s actual song, “Do the Axolotl,” indeed fits Dr. Demento’s niche of novelty music. It’s hard to tell whether he’s a genius ahead of his time who needs a couple more drafts of his demo, or if the song is actually just insane.

If you’ve ever heard any music within the “modern quirky indie music” genre, you’d know that “Do the Axolotl” resides somewhere within that ballpark. Either way, his parents don’t get it, which came as no surprise.

“Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden” is a good episode that is really done a disservice by the series’ tendency not to resolve its conflicts. While the lack of resolution works in episodes focused on building tension, here it feels a bit strange.

Fortunately, the character building makes up for the awkward midpoint. This episode clearly marks a turning point for Connor as a character.

---

What did you think of this episode of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

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