Review
“William Tell/Grant A Wish/Row Boat”
Season 2, Episode 6
What do I do? I’ll cuddle you!
Forrest MacNeil is about as outdated as the clothing he wears. He’s clueless to the point of not seeing that his wife lost love for him years ago. He’s focused but on something completely unimportant; his show has taken over his life. MacNeil has lost everything save for the one thing he shouldn’t be worried about. The end of this episode indicates his family will be alright but MacNeil has undergone a metamorphosis of sick proportions. Spending time at sea alone for nearly three months hasn’t changed him outwardly like we’d want. He’s become more determined and somewhat scarier due to his further decreasing people skills.
This episode starts out like any other. Forrest is set to review the William Tell maneuver where he shoots an apple off of his son’s head. Afraid he’ll kill his son, naturally, Forrest begins to practice. Days past and yet Forrest is unable to do anything but kill his son. He finds he’s an idiot savant when it comes to using a bow and arrow as he shoots several into his practice dummy’s torso. It’s here that Forrest has his most terrible idea: to get an orphan and shoot at him. Even he realizes it’s a bad concept – only after getting to the adoption agency – and decides to have his father shoot him. But then his father shoots him, repeatedly, causing Forrest and his executive assistant Lucille to go to the hospital.
Forrest’s pain continues to grow as he arrives at his son’s birthday party to find his ex-wife Suzanne and baseball player Joe Dale Jr. dating. The show continues to have remarkable continuity as Forrest has contention with the new beau/fake Forrest. Joe Dale is still living part of the lie as he has to fake his love of Agatha Christy, an aspect of the fake Forrest character Suzanne loved. Forrest is still at work, however, as he finds out his son’s wish to move in with Joe Dale back in L.A. Forrest, content on fulfilling the wish and review, tries to persuade the already hesitant baseball player on the deal.
When it finally does happen, Forrest loses the ones closest to him. His ex-wife and son are now at home with another man and his father moves in with them ultimately leaving the host alone. Forrest, happy to find a review that best suits him for the moment, goes off to sea and ends up lost for 96 days. If that’s not enough, even the more affectionate moments are ruined as the camera Forrest uses cuts off at his possible dying words.
But that’s what this show is. It truncates the happy stuff for the cringe inducing, teeth grinding moments of irritation. Forrest knows not what to do with his life. Reviewing has hindered everything he’s ever done. He’s driven away women, family, friends and created future enemies. Forrest is no longer redeemable. For all intents and purposes, he’s a life reviewer. Who’s to blame here? He’s living but at a cost that causes him to lose his previous life.
Should you watch “William Tell/Grant A Wish/Row Boat?”
This season has been one of the toughest but engaging seasons in TV comedy history. Having seen a character fall from grace, I can say that Review is definitely one of my favorite shows in recent years. The escalating story, behind the scenes, desperation and many other aspects make not only this episode but the entire series a wonderful change of pace for comedy. Give this and the rest of the show your time. And in the spirit of Forrest MacNeil and Review, I give this show five stars out of five.