Extended Family – Season 1 Episode 11 “The Consequences of Writing Things Down” Recap & Review

The Consequences of Writing Things Down

Episode 11 of Extended Family focuses on Jim’s efforts – or lack thereof – to find a date. He notices that everyone around him is busy with their own stuff, creating an emotional vacuum. It is high time that Jim finds someone to prevent that condition of loneliness. However, he wants to meet someone who isn’t actively looking to date, as it would be a more permanent relationship that way.

Lo and behold, Jim runs into Kristen at the supermarket. They connect on the unlikeliest of things: Julia’s yoga pants that Jim had mistakenly worn.

Although he initially wants to tell her the truth, Jim’s mind changes once he realizes Kristen is genuinely interested in him due to his perceived interest in yoga. Somehow, he gets through the conversation without giving her any hint. She invites him to her yoga class a few days from now, sending Jim into a spiral to stretch out his hamstrings. Julia instantly catches on to Jim’s plan when she watches him trying out yoga at the house.

Julia produces a wish list she had made all those years ago when they were married, which had put down “doing yoga with her” on the list. Jim gets the idea to take Julia along with him so that he doesn’t come across as a total buffoon in front of Kristen. Later that night, Julia tells Trey her plans with Jim for the class. She also shows him the wish list but throws it into the trash since their relationship is more or less perfect. 

However, Trey retrieves the list later and decides to join the duo at the class. To their utter surprise on the day of, Kristen turns out to be the class instructor and not merely a participant. They try to leave but Kristen spots Jim at the door, thus leaving them trapped. Trey checks off most of the items on the list to ensure that the relationship lasts for a long time. Julia isn’t picking up on it yet but has a sense of what’s going on.

Jim suffers terribly through the class as Trey shines in the front row. Even Kristen seems impressed by his enthusiasm and form. The couple do not emerge cheerily from the class, mainly because of Trey. Julia is mad at him because she thought Trey and Kristen were apparently flirting. Jim is mad because he thinks he blew his chance with her with that dismal display.

Julia confronts Trey back at his apartment to come clean about her feelings. Trey clears the air about why he was showing off, impressing Julia with his efforts. Jim does the same with Kristen in her class, which impresses her and she agrees to go on a date with him.

The Episode Review

Episode 11 looked like it was about Jim finding love. But once again, Trey and Julia take precedence and overshadow him. Jon Cryer must be “crying” in a corner reflecting back on the role he has played thus far. I do not like his characterization at all in the show, one of the many fatal flaws that has ensured it doesn’t work. Other than that, the episode is alright. That is considering the low bar the show has set for its general performance. 

The kids have been a big disappointment whenever they have appeared on the screen for more than five minutes. Doing away with them in the first few minutes is a smart move. But once again, the whole setup becomes less interesting the moment Trey begins “showing off.” I hope that with just two episodes remaining, Jon Cryer finally gets an episode where everything is about him and it ends positively.