"You Wanna See Something?" Watch Bunheads

Grade: 88%
 
ABC Family's Gilmore Girls 2: Bunheads returns to complete its freshman season this week with "You Wanna See Something?" It's the end of the summer, many months after the Nutcracker disaster, and no one is having a good time. Michelle (Sutton Foster) is hiding out in Henderson, Nevada, dancing for a ridiculous magician (yet another Gilmore Girls alum, Michael De Luise). Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) is hiding out to avoid going home. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is caring for her pregnant, bed-ridden mother (Jennifer Hasty), while Melanie (Emma Dumont) cares for her very old, sick grandfather. Ginny (Bailey Butain) tries to sell a run down house, and Fanny (Kelly Bishop) lets her own home become rundown. It's a miserable way to start a (mid-)season.

What's more, this isn't a situation easily resolved. Things have been allowed to deteriorate to the point where they cannot be repaired in an early-episode montage. Instead, the suffering drags out for almost the entire hour, with each character forced to take stock in themselves. Well, some do, others just accept their depression, assuming they can do nothing about it. This is what sets the main players, like Boo and Fanny, apart from the supporting ones, like Melanie and Ginny.

The key to everyone's happiness is bringing Michelle back. She may have only lived in Paradise a short time, but she brings a brilliant, chaotic energy with her that enthuses everyone else. It may seem like she is rubbing them the wrong way, but keeps things interesting, and provides drive to move forward. Take away such a spark where it has already been burning, and it leaves a smoldering ruin behind.

Fanny is the first to realize this, but it is not something she comes to on her own. Annoyed with Truly (Stacey Oristano), whose attempts to cheer Fanny take "quirky" to the extreme (which is very amusing for television viewers), she turns to DVDs lying around. Some reveal Michelle at her best, teaching the young dancers in Fanny's school. One is Michelle's wedding, with Hubell (Alan Ruck) explaining to the camera exactly what he sees in his bride.

Bunheads benefits from as much Hubell as it can manage to realistically include. For a man who died in the very first episode, he has appeared quite a few times, and each number among the best moments of the show. This is one of those times. I don't know whether Fanny goes to get Michelle because she sees Michelle's worth, or out of affection for Hubell, or both (probably both), but the end result is the same: Fanny gives Michelle the kick in the pants she needs to get out of her funk.

And funk is the right word for what Michelle is in. Crashing at Talia's (Angelina McCoy), drinking her wine, eating her food, and generally getting in the way for Talia's senior citizen lover. Her job is the absolute worst, where they won't even give her the dignity of firing her. Instead, her attitude loses her the "perk" of holding a bird. This is probably the worst we have ever seen Michelle.

Yet, Michelle hesitates to go back. Why? Yes, the town might be an uncomfortable place to be after she maces a bunch of children, but surely putting up with some mutterings can't be any worse than where she is now. At least she has her own place in Paradise, and a job that she enjoys. Her hesitation is purely a pride thing. Thank goodness she manages to get over that.

I did not care for the viral video itself in this episode, but what a great way to use it, making light of a situation that needed to be made light of, and giving Fanny an outlet to show off her sense of humor!

"You Wanna See Something" is a good episode. It takes most of the main people far enough out of their comfort zone to be interesting, but gives enough teases of normalcy to not only show that life goes on, but reminds us of the Bunheads of last summer. On a series like this, it's hard to ever have a status quo, as the serialized story telling keeps people changing and moving. However, this will stand out as an episode apart, and a good way to bridge the disaster of the previous episode onto the future of the season.

Bunheads airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABCFamily.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Bunheads takes a bow

ABC Family's Bunheads completes its summer run with "A Nutcracker in Paradise." While things were looking up for most of the characters going into the week, this episode ends in disaster. Michelle (Sutton Foster) not only manages to run off Fanny's (Kelly Bishop) beau, but also mace the entire dance company in the middle of a performance of The Nutcracker. Not even a stunt straight out of Dead Poets Society can save her job now!

By the way, are we expected to believe a bunch of teenage girls, especially ones obsessed with dance who have little time for films, are familiar with that movie?

Michelle and Fanny's relationship is the best part of the show. Despite everything that has happened, there is no way that these ladies are done with each other. There might need to be a cooling off period, for sure. But Fanny likes having Michelle around, no matter how grumpy she may act towards the younger woman. And Michelle likes having purpose in the small town, and seems drawn to the dance studio. While she resists settling down, considering returning to performance, this is where she belongs. It won't be easy, but they will make up.

Bunheads does something extremely interesting near the end of "A Nutcracker in Paradise." Hubbell (Alan Ruck) appears to Michelle in a dream, and they talk about her life, and ruminate on if she would have stayed had he not died. Hubbell tells her that this is where she belongs. Michelle resists. It's an inner war that she's been struggling with all season, and while viewers already knew this, it's cool to see it brought to life in such a way. Plus, any return of Ruck is welcome.

Each of the teen dancers featured on Bunheads have come into their own as the season unfolds. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) gets over her shyness and insecurity and lands herself a boyfriend. Ginny (Bailey Buntain) breaks out of her own comfort zone with her long-time steady, realizing that she needs to experience life and try dating other boys. And Melanie (Emma Dumont) accepts her friends for who they are, even as they move on with their interests in guys, which she doesn't seem to quite share yet. These are all normal teenage things.

But Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) has the biggest journey. Frustrated with a terrible home life, she acts out in self-destructive ways. It isn't until Michelle sits her down and helps her get her head on straight that Sasha can return to her friends and the dancing she is so good at. Her life isn't solved now, and her problems won't get any easier. But she's in a good place as the season comes to an end.

It's understandable that Sasha stands up for Michelle in "A Nutcracker in Paradise," given how Michelle directly helps her, but why do the rest of the girls go along with it? Michelle has drifted into their scenes from time to time and solved a few problems. However, Bunheads has not shown her get too involved in the kids' lives, nor demonstrate a real passion for teaching them. Are they loyal to her because kids tend to be loyal to the adults that just happen to be around? Or should there have been more scenes with Michelle earning this kind of response? Or maybe they were all just following Sasha's lead? That is a debatable question, and the only semi-weak point in the episode.

Bunheads is charming, and with the music and dialogue, as well as the colorful townspeople and quirky jokes (like the unnamed 'ringer' in this episode), it really does feel like a somewhat continuation of Gilmore Girls. For this reason, it would be a crying shame to see it go away. A second half of the season has recently been picked up for winter, rumored to be about eight additional episodes. This isn't a terrible, but it's not a great sign, either, and the show probably needs more viewers if it's going to continue long-term. If you know a Gilmore Girls fan that isn't watching it, please let them know about Bunheads! I know it's on ABC Family, not a popular network among women past the age of eighteen, but they could expand the fan base enough to keep it running. It's very enjoyable, and it deserves to go on.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published on TheTVKing

"Better Luck Next Year!" Bunheads

ABC Family's Bunheads continues to delight this week with "Better Luck Next Year!" Fanny (Kelly Bishop) is devastated to learn that the Joffrey summer camp auditions have been moved to a different venue, away from her studio, with very little notice. Michelle (Sutton Foster), frustrated with her failed attempts to fix her own life, throws herself into Fanny's problem instead. In the end, it takes Fanny and Michelle working together to save the day, and they get the auditions back.

There is something heartwarming about every episode of this series, and "Better Luck Next Year!" is no different. Fanny and Michelle are both in bad places in their lives, feeling like they haven't accomplished what they set out to do, and barely hanging onto a fragile reputation. Losing the Joffrey event could kill Fanny's self-esteem the same way that Michelle's inability to hang a curtain rod does to her. But by helping each other, these two are going to find their way, and I mean that in the larger sense, not just in this particular instance. This can be seen as they sit and sip wine, watching over the studio with serenity. This is their place.

"Better Luck Next Year!" illustrates Michelle's uneasiness with moving vans full of stuff that may or may not be hers, a (literal) broken home, and a pair of dream sequences. While each of these work very well as metaphors, the latter also showcases Foster's singing and dancing ability, something I sincerely hope the show continues to do periodically. She is experienced on stage, and using that only enhances her character. Now if only we could see some of the same for Bishop...

Bunheads does very well in serving their side characters, which lend serious charm to the setting. This week, Rico (Gregg Henry, Hung, Gilmore Girls) is featured in a single scene to great effect, and Bob and Don, who run the local hardware store, are introduced.

The scene stealer is Stacey Oristano's Truly, who knows what everyone wants but herself. It's sad, knowing that Truly would love to be in Michelle's place in relation to Fanny, yet isn't a strong enough personality to do so. Truly does lend help, being there for Fanny, and hanging curtains for Michelle, while giving a bit of advice. It will be interesting to see how this character grows, if she will always be on the outside, or if Fanny and Michelle might include her a little more actively over time. If this happens, it will be because of Michelle's influence, as Fanny and Truly's relationship, or lack thereof, is already well established.

Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) and Nanette (Jennifer Hasty, True Blood, Horrible Bosses) are shaping up to be a pair to watch. Nanette is introduced as flaky, yet supportive. However, as Boo discovers in "Better Luck Next Year!," Nanette doesn't have as much faith in her daughter as she probably should. Nanette buys Boo a cake with the phrase that doubles as this episode's title before the auditions even taken place! It may be that Nanette just knows her daughter very well, but if so, she should realize that it's a terrible idea, bringing that cake into the house, where Boo can find it, ahead of time!

Gilmore Girls thrived on mother-daughter relationships, and as Bunheads is mostly a continuation of the themes and stories of that show, without actually using the same characters (at least not yet), one expects the same from them. Michelle and Fanny are obviously going to have that type of interaction, but not being related, they also flirt with friendship. It's Nanette and Boo viewers should look towards for the family stuff, though Nanette is not a main character.

There may be a second mother-daughter story building with Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles), though her mom sits out this week, which is appropriate. While Sasha's main story is making nice with Boo, which is great, because fans finally get to see her compassionate side, there is an undertone of the relationship Sasha has with her own mother, too. Boo's mom may screw up, but there is still affection present, while Sasha's parents are almost absentee. Maybe Nanette could serve as a surrogate to Sasha, thus saving her soul? If Boo and Sasha manage to deepen their friendship, this is a possibility, and would serve as a good spring board to bring Sasha's mom more to the forefront as well.

As many things as Bunheads has going for it, there definitely seems to be a lack of budget. This stands out most noticeably in "Better Luck Next Year!" because, with the Joffrey auditions occurring, only two of the four main ballerina girls are even in the episode. Granted, there is enough story with Michelle, Fanny, Boo, and Sasha, the four more developed girls, that the other two aren't missed. Except, this is a big deal for the dancing they are all so committed to. They should have at least been seen.

Ah, well. Minor flaws like that are easily overlooked because of the genuine joy Bunheads inspires with its complex relationships and feel-good stories. This week continues that tradition, and there is no end in sight, with dozens of stories already teed up to go forward. Check it out, as it airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com. If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Bunheads, a.k.a. Gilmore Girls 2

Did you ever have a really bad day, and then doing something reckless out of exhaustion, frustration, and possibly under the influence of alcohol? That is exactly the premise that Bunheads begins with. Michelle Simms (Broadway star Sutton Foster) is a Vegas showgirl who has given up on her more ambitious dreams. Failing yet another audition, she accepts the kindness of a dorky man who has long admired her (Alan Ruck, Spin City, Persons Unknown). Which leads to her marrying the guy, and moving in with him and his mother in a sleepy town. Yes, this sounds like the mistake to end all mistakes. But from the mind of Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls, it is simply the beginning of another quirky, fun series.

It's a bold move to kill off the husband at the end of episode one. It would have been nice to see Michelle with her groom for a bit, and Ruck is a wonderful actor. On the other hand, Michelle didn't love him, and even if they were both OK with that for now, that is a status quo that would not have lingered very long. If Ruck's character hadn't died, Michelle would be back on her way to Vegas soon, or would have had to fall in love with him, which didn't seem a likely scenario, especially not in the short term.

So, instead, Bunheads will be about two women brought together by their connection to a man, and how they move on without him, helping each other in unexpected ways. The second woman in this duo is Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop, Gilmore Girls), who is Michelle's mother-in-law. Michelle and Fanny quickly discover that, despite a rocky introduction, they have a lot in common. Their bickering is reminiscent of Bishop's previous character's mother-daughter relationship, and remembering that, it's hard not to see warmness present under the surface. These two gals will find their way, probably learning to rely more on each other than either would like to believe right now.

Michelle and Funny have a mission: to turn a young group of girls into fine dancers. This group is less developed in the first episode than the older women, but the basics are there, and surely they will be a large part of the show going forward. Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) has all of the talent, but none of the desire. Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) is the exact opposite, desperately wanting her dream, but lacking in coordination. Melanie (Emma Dumont) just wants to have fun, while Ginny (Bailey Buntain) worries she doesn't have the right build to be a ballerina. Surely, they will all grow and become fantastic. The fun isn't in knowing the outcome, but instead, enjoying their witty dialogue and slow growth. With a cast this good, it should be thoroughly entertaining.

Like Gilmore Girls, Bunheads is set in a sleepy little town, which will likely provide much of the show's charm, as well as a sizable supporting cast of oddballs. In the pilot, viewers are introduced to Truly Stone (Stacey Oristano, Friday Night Lights), a dressmaker and clothing store owner who is in love with Michelle's husband. If the other, soon to be introduced, players are half as interesting as she is, Bunheads has it made.

Yes, it does feel a little bit like Emily Gilmore took over Miss Patty's life on Gilmore Girls and gained a new, unwanted replacement for her daughter, who has the same smart mouth and lack of style. Fanny's dance studio even looks like Miss Patty's! When will Kurt wander in? But for fans of GG, what's so wrong with that? This will definitely fill a void for those missing the show, and it looks like Bunheads is made with the same high quality, and just as much warmth. For that, I am most grateful.

Plus, being on cable, it might get a little more love than network TV would show it. Watch Bunheads Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC Family.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!