Review: Ben and Kate ‘Reunion’ – Play While You Can, Little One

It’s that time of the year for holiday themed episodes, where families reunite with all their dysfunctions, and that damn turkey can’t seemed to get cooked properly. Smartly, Ben and Kate‘s Turkey Day material was contained to the opening and closing tabs, the latter of which was one of the best scenes in the series. In between those scenes, ‘Reunion’ wasn’t as strong all-around as last week’s amazing episode, but was still entertaining throughout, picking its big moments wisely in the final third, and absolutely killing it in the final scene, which is where I want to begin.

First of all, the idea Ben and BJ have been secretly married for the past seven years under Kate’s nose is a hilarious idea – but the reasons behind it are writing genius, and the reason why BJ is the most fun new character on TV this year. Most shows wouldn’t bother trying to develop BJ beyond ‘British girl who’s super confident and selfish’ (I’m looking at you, 2 Broke Girls), and the writers’ ability to balance BJ’s constant need for attention and self-gratification, with actual character evidence that she’s a person worth having around as a close friend. Shoehorned in as it might be, BJ’s explanation of her green card marriage to Ben to keep him from leaving Kate after she had a baby (even though BJ’s apparently from Texas) is gut-busting material, mainly because of how fucking good Lucy Punch is at delivering her dialogue.

Tonight’s episode was a little lighter on big character notes – Kate’s takedown of Anna outside the club was really nothing we haven’t seen before, both from Kate and elsewhere on film/television – but there’s one thing I want to talk about : men crying. There’s only been eight episodes of Ben and Kate, but the tear count between those two is probably already breaking some television records. It’s not something to be seen often on television, and often when it happens, its used as a sign of a character’s weakness in a critical moment, as a way to ridicule. In ‘Reunion’, Ben cries because Maddie writes a really nice book about him, and Tommy cries because he always cries during a mushy Thanksgiving toast. If there’s one show on TV that puts its characters on a level playing field, it’s Ben and Kate, where men and women can cry equally.

But that’s part of why I’m enjoying this show so much: the writers aren’t going out of their way to patronize and undermine characters for the sake of comedy – unlike for example, Friends, where in later seasons many of the jokes were cruel to the point where it begged why these people would even want to be friends with each other. And maybe that’s why the show isn’t so popular: Americans don’t necessarily want a show that inspires togetherness – not when we can make fun of other people to mask and ignore our own insecurities. Ben and Kate is about how unconventional life situations and honesty can inspire togetherness, not opportunities to expose each other’s flaws or refuse to face our biggest fears. And while that tone might be the death sentence for Ben and Kate, it’s the reason why I’m so smitten with the show. FOX, I’m begging you: please don’t rob us of this gem.

Grade: B+

Other thoughts/observations:

– I could watch a half-hour show of Lucy Punch saying ‘No’ to people. I may have said this in a previous review, but I fucking love it.

– Ben’s Line of the Night came in the first bar scene while discussing the impending reunion: “I’m going to hug so many people.”

– Tommy’s little plot in the background was briefly amusing, but kind of kept him out of the loop for most of it. It is clear that he’s a little uncomfortable with Kate and the new boyfriend, but at least he described someone’s fashion as “the Persian Andy Warhol.” Also, another character who cried in the episode, and was excited to do it!

– it has been awhile since I’ve heard a pop culture reference of Jesus Christ Superstar.

– It’s hilarious how messed up the timeline of this show is. Ben was in France in 1994, although he was in the same high school play as Kate eight or nine years ago – and knows all the people she graduated with. But who cares, I’d rather it be weird and foggy than have a ton of Fat Monica episodes.

What did you think of ‘Reunion’? feel free to leave your thoughts/comments below!