Extended Family – Season 1 Episode 2 “The Consequences of Making Yourself at Home” Recap & Review

The Consequences of Making Yourself at Home

Episode 2 of Extended Family revolves around a conflict between Jim and Julia that involves Trey. The former is going on a fishing trip with Bobby. Julia is using this opportunity to invite Trey to stay over at the Nest. This, of course, is what the separated couple refers to their beloved home by. Although initially it seems like Jim is fine, on being prompted by Bobby, he realizes that he isn’t.

Jim cites the written constitution of the Nest that he drafted – with Julia’s consent – after they separated. It is an “official” document that dictates the behaviour of the parents in decision-making. All the rules guide the decisions that must be constructive to the children’s futures. Julia concedes that the relevant Article – number 9, Jim emphasizes – does not allow her to bring over Trey without the kids’ consent. But it doesn’t take much for the busy Jim Jr and Grace to acquiesce as they’re buried in their phones. 

Once the dust on this issue is settled, another one pops up. As Julia and Trey are going to bed – the same one she used to sleep in with Jim – the latter notices the deep mattress. He isn’t comfortable as is and his conscience is further affected when Julia tells him that Jim used to sleep in the exact spot, naked. This prompts Trey to instantly order a new, high-end mattress. But, as fate would have it, this also requires Jim to consent. Why? It is written in the Constitution!

The next morning, Julia presents the new issue to Jim, who agrees to the demand. Trey is ready with the mattress as soon as he gets the go-ahead, upsetting Jim. But all the tension vanishes from his shoulders when Jim feels the comfort of the mattress. He is quite happy with the new one. Jim helps Trey take out the headboard of the bed, exposing the wall. Trey is confused to see Jim and Julia burst into laughter seeing the red footprints.

Jim explains that he used to “go down” on Julia when they first moved into the apartment. And the footprints are due to that. Trey retracts into himself when he learns the anecdote. But he has a plan to get the horrible memory away from the bedroom – painting the room. Julia doesn’t see much harm in it. But Jim is crass when he returns from the trip and finds out. His beef is with Trey’s lack of “Respect” for the Constitution, which requires Jim’s consent for such a task.

However, his concern quickly shifts to another important issue. Trey’s workers not only painted over the footprints but also the height chart on the cupboard door. Jim and Julia used to calculate the kids’ height on it. And now when she finds out, Julia will be livid. The two quarrelling men are broken up by Bobby, who suggests that they repaint the chart. To their surprise, Julia doesn’t notice it and is distracted by the revelation that Jim and Trey painted the room together – another lie.

The Episode Review

Bear in mind readers, we have to get through eleven more episodes of this show together. Episode 2 is woefully bad – and that is an understatement given how terrible the pilot was. It lacks any sort of identity, motive, and direction. The word “plotless” comes to mind but not in the good Richard Linklater way. We saw very little of the kids, something that was not the expectation after the pilot. The focus remained on Jim and Trey getting to know each other.

That creative choice takes away the fundamental tagline of the show and just makes it another sappy love triangle sans the feelings. Jim’s “filibusters” are not a smart characterization. In fact, they’re quite the opposite. Jim Cryer has not lived up to his billing in the first two episodes, specifically due to his constant bickering which is annoying.

The writing is once again lazy, superficial, and completely lacking context. Like the joke with the phones, Jim clearly wants to hide his feelings behind the children’s expression of dissatisfaction. We can glean what the writers are trying to do here. But the way they arrive at the conclusion is so mechanical.