United States of Al Season 2 Episode 5 Review

Fifth episode in this second season of USofAL and I've decided that the writers have jettisoned continuity for a bigger story - Al (Adhir Kalyan) is in love with Ariana (Azita Ghanizada). As a refresher, last season, Ariana, an Afghani restaurant owner's American-born daughter, was disgusted to find out that Al was an interpreter for U.S. forces. She delivered a torching speech blasting Al for supporting an invading army. She also said her brother was a puppeteer (he's now a DJ this season). Unrepentant, Al gets the last word by lecturing Ariana that he helped the Americans to help his country. The episode ends with Ariana giving Al a look of loathing.

United States of Al Season 2 Episode 4 Review

When Al (Adhir Kalyan) suddenly faints at a supermarket in front of Riley (Parker Young) and daughter Hazel (Farrah Mackenzie), he has to come to terms that he's under a lot of mental stress.

United States of Al Season 2 Episode 3 Review

The third episode of the season stumbles as Al (Adhir Kalyan) hunts for a husband to marry his sister who is stuck in a refugee camp in Turkey.

United States of Al Season 2, Episode 2 Review

The second episode of the new season finds the show back to sitcom territory. Ah, but something has changed in the air. Picking up from the end of Season 1, Riley (Parker Young) is addressing his demons. Even though the laugh track is back, Young gives a very good performance balancing comedy with pathos. To drive that point home, he is now seeing a therapist (Blake Clark) - a Vietnam vet who knows all too much about PTSD.  The fall of Vietnam is compared to the fall of Afghanistan in one touching exchange.

United States of Al, Season 2, Episode 1 Review

A mediocre freshman sitcom that was renewed by CBS largely based on the clout of its legendary producer, Chuck Lorre, finds the opportunity to redeem itself in the surprisingly serious and dramatic Season 2 premiere.