Everybody Loves Raymond is the Korte Cocktailjurken kind of show either you love it, or you hate it. I loved it, it was so relatable and the actor were pro Ok, Ray wasn much of an actor but we didn care. When I decided to talk about Everybody Loves Raymond, I couldn come up with a single episode that was notably bad right off the top of my head. Unlike other shows, there wasn one show which jumped out at me as one I can stand to watch when it on.
The problem with this show wasn specific episodes which failed, because most of the episodes were consistent, but with recurring themes which were annoying. I could make a list of shows where Ray did something smart only to have it get turned around and have it be a stupid thing. Party Dress is a prime example. The whole show is about Ray not wanting to spend lots of money for a party dress for his daughter, which he finally does. This act of kindness is undone when they get to the party and find out that no one is wearing a party dress after all.
Or how about episodes where Ray has a feeling about something or someone but rather than support him the family ridicule him? In Ray expressed feelings about a mean lady and rather than support that the family accuses him of hating women. The worst thing is when the episode is over and it is revealed the woman is mean, he gets no apology. The same thing happens in Annoying Kid Ray thinks their friend child is annoying, and Debra accuses him of hating children this time. In the end it turns out he is annoying, and again no apology. Of course if Ray had a backbone and stood up for himself, there would have been no series because he would have thrown Debra out. Then there was "Homework" where Ray complained about the amound of homework is daughter got, and got stuck discussing with the education review board. Does Debra help? No she's a witch (oh I hate her, we'll get into that in a second) it's just easy to push Ray into it amd mock him for not wantting to do something he isn't even qualified to do!. And when Marie helps it just becomes another "Ray is an idiot" scene. Even when he gives the good speech at the end the creators had to un do it for one last laugh!
The worst frequent theme was what I call Debra episodes. Normally Debra was a rational person, frustrated and angry sure but within reason. Other times she is just mean, and then there are times when she is crazy. She is screaming like a lunatic and never takes responsibility for anything. I already talked about "Homework" where she makes Ray feel like a bad father for not wanting to speak up about the amount of homework their daughter gets, but does she help him or say anything herself? I like when Ray comes upstairs at the beginning after helping Ally and she in bed reading without a care. Then later when she doesn help she trots out the did laundry crap. How about Charity where she uses Robert to discourage Ray from volunteering at a hospital because it not convenient for her, even though she pushed him into it. There is one episode where Ray talking about how much he likes pickles and Debra starts baning her head in frustration at her idiot husband. Nice.
I know I am being hard on Debra but Marie could also get ridiculous. Marie had such a fragile ego that the slightest thing threatened it. What was worst, the family were petrified to do or say anything which could upset her. is a good example, Ally is finally old enough to babysit but don tell grandma! I mean, really? This happened so often I could be here all day. How about when Debra actually cooked something good, and Marie acted like her whole world was falling apart? Of course we had Robert's Wedding where interupts the freaking ceremondy so she can feel good that she aired her concerns before Robert got married. NEVER ONCE THINKING HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT ROBERT OR AMY!
Frank was the best character because he was a jerk, that was it. Sometimes they would pretend like he had en ego to bruise but that never really stuck. Robert was the mopy neglected brother, and we tolerated his mopiness because we could see that he did have a point. True he didn't have to use that to play the victim like he did, but it was still understandable.
This was a dysfunctional group, not helped by the fact there were no boundaries. However most of the time this craziness was balanced just enough to be tolerated and even funny. We could relate to the situation, well I could at least, and there was some good writing here. Of course, not all of them were and as I did some digging I realized there were a couple episodes which failed. They failed not because the characters were crazy, but for one reason or another the craziness was just over the top and it almost became uncomfortable. Here is a list of top 5 episodes which were just bad, not just because or the reasons I listed above.
#5. Christmas Picture This is a bad episode disguised as a good episode. Everyone has had the experience of trying to get a family photo done, and this episode does a good job of showing the aggravation involved. The problem is with the way the conflict comes about. Ray decides to do portrait as his present to his mother. When Marie shoots down Debra idea regarding Christmas morning, she gets revenge by inviting her parents to sabotage shoot. It bothers me that she would do something so mean, it downright evil. She is using her parents to get back at Ray and then throws a fit because just has to get her way as always While there is no question Marie is a nuisance, I think she deserves the sympathy here. The gift was for her, and why in the world would she want Debra parents in a picture of her family? And Debra doesn even mention it to Ray, and tries to make it seem like it was perfectly understandable. Debra is just way out of line, and of course it Ray who suffers for it.
#4. Date for Peter Sometimes it was Ray who would get carried away and this episode is a prime example. Finally, an episode where Ray is the one who is way out of line. Peter is Robert brother in law, and apparently in an attempt to bring some old characters back this episode brings a few recurring characters in as possible dates for Peter. One is Peggy, who Ray had the fight with in It hard to describe you really have to see it, but Ray goes out of his way to try and prevent Peter and Peggy from hooking up, even though they get along great and no one is talking commitment or anything. They throw out every series cliche like Ray accuding Debra of wanting a soldier in her battle with Marie (which just sounds ridiculous). Ray is just dumb in this episode, the one bright side is the end where Ray apologizes and we see Peter and Peggy hooked up anyway. Funny, we never saw Debra apologize for anything.
#3. with Marie This episode is a bad episode just because it's a bad episode, simple as that. In Season 3 Patricia Heaton had given birth and needed to be written out for a few episodes. We were stuck with a couple of episodes with Ray and his family, and little or no Debra. Most of them were ok, although without Debra it didn feel like the same show. I complain about Debra but she was an integral part of the show's dynamic. This episode was the worst, having no Debra, and we see Ray and Marie on a cruise where Marie is popular to Ray chagrin. At home Robert is forced to look after Frank who's hurt himself. This episode is just boring and it feels like each character is out of character for the whole half hour.
#2. Bigger Person. At the end of season six, they did a three episode arc about Debra getting into a fight with Marie and they wind up not even speaking to each other. This just seemed wrong, I know this isn The Brady Bunch but it still a sitcom and to not have the problem resolved was just unsettling. This episode is the worst of the three, as the husbands try to take advantage of their wives feud and Robert gets in the middle. Debra and Marie are both unlikable. Marie even tells Ray to shut up, which seems so out of character it's incredible! At the end of the episode Ray tries to sneak off to golf, and Debra acts like she is going to beat the crap out of him. Not funny, if I want anger and tension I will just visit my own parent thank you very much.
#1. You Notes. It amazing how an episode so Lange Cocktailjurken relatable can also be so aggravating. I know what it like to have a relative be irritatingly insistent you Lange Avondjurken get thank you notes out, but even though I relate to the situation I can forgive this episode for the way it goes. The first half isn so bad, but when Amy and Robert don seem to care about sending the note out to Marie friend, Marie does her guilt crap. Then Debra gets all excited about the chance to finally overthrow Marie and as she and Amy discuss strategy, Ray sneaks off to warn his mother. This episode is Marie at her worst, and Debra at her nuttiest. Actually I think that's why we buy Frank';s character, who wouldn't be like him if after being stuck with Marie for so long?
Well, that my list. As you can tell, Debra was the one character who annoyed me. When she was pleasant and nice I liked her, but when she acted all nuts I hated her. All in all, the show was funny and relatable. The writing was sharp and the performances well done. I do think the show went on a season or two to long, but that ok. Hope you enjoyed this, and feel free to disagree as always this is just my opinion..
No comments:
Post a Comment