Splitting Up Together Season 1 Episode 3 Review

Splitting Up Together has been one of my favorite new shows this season, with two strong episodes so far. Hopefully, the show delivers another strong episode tonight, when both Lena and Martin have romance on the brain. In very different ways.

It's Lena's week with the kids, and for the kids, that's a very good thing. But Lena has some non-parenting things to worry about. She really likes Wes, the guy from the bar, and tells Maya about him. Maya doesn't even think he's real, and when she learns that he is, she still isn't convinced. Meanwhile,  Martin is stil lgetting dance lessons and he's definitely getting better. But he's also realized that he's realyl doing it all for Lena. His instructor Charlotte tells him that it wouldn't really change anything, but he doesn't agree. Meanwhile, Lena and her girlfriends are talking about Martin and Charlotte  who they think is his girlfriend. They tell Lena to start dating and to make sure she has sex, but she wants to ease into it. Back to Martin, he's showing Arthur his new dance moves, and also tells him he wants to fix things with Lena. We'll see abotu that.

Mason is getting harrassed at school, and a girl names Hazel tells him that she'll let him French kiss her. He agrees, but that's not a thing he's proud of. He asks Maya for advice, and she tells him not to do anything he's uncomfortable with. He then goes off to meet Hazel for their "sexcapade", as Mae would put it. At the same time, Lena is on her date with Wes, and things are going pretty well so far.

Martin is worrying about dancing, and Charlotte comes to help him out. She tells him he doesn't need lessons anymore, and it's very clear why. She clearly likes him in a way he doesn't, so they end things. Meanwhile, Lena is having more luck than Martin is, and she gets intimate with Wes. And Martin witnesses it all.

Wrap-Up:
This was definitely the weakest episode of Splitting Up Together yet, and by a lot. I didn't really find it all that funny and I only really cared about Martin's story. Don't get me wrong, there were some funny lines (most courtesy of Lena and Mae), but it just wasn't on the same level as the previous episodes. Mason's story didn't really have any content in it, but it did allow for Mae to actually appear, which was nice. Other than that though, it was very boring and it barely made an impression on me at all. Lena's story was a bit better, but still wasn't anything all that special. I hope that she breaking things off with Wes soon, because he is boring. Like, really boring. Martin's plot was my favorite this week, and even that one wasn't great, just good. Also, #LenaAndMartinForever.
Score: 7.5/10
Grade: B-

Splitting Up Together Season 1 Episode 2 Review

I've been excited for episode two of Splitting Up Together all week, and now it's finally here! I'm very excited for more, as the pilot was one of my favorites this season. I had a few issues with the pilot, however, so I'm hoping for some of those issues to be addressed this week.

It's nearly Martin's week in the house with the kids. And Lena's having trouble saying goodbye. Not to her kids, to the blanket on the bed. Later that day, Mae isn't pleased with Martin's "sexism." To prove he isn't sexist, he wrestles with Mae. And knocks her right no the ground. She doesn't fight back, and the boys are very unhappy. Meanwhile, Camille is disgusted with the garage Lena's living in, but Lena insists that everything is a-okay, and declares that a man will finally see her naked again. Back in the house, Mae isn't too happy with Martin's new rules, and she's gonna make his week in the house as painful as possible.

Mae goes to talk to Mae in the garage, and asks to stay there with her. Lena doesn't want her to stay there, telling Mae how much Martin would miss her. Then, Martin stops by to complain about Mae. This is a problem. This leads to Lena and Martin getting in a fight over their parenting styles. Lena tells Camille about the doctor she's going to see, but Camille just wants things to go back to the way they used to be. At the same time, Martin is trying to win Mae over. He fails. He's not happy that Mae doesn't seem to like him very much, but things are made even worse fo him when he sees that Lena is dating already.

On her date with the doctor, Lena starts bossing him around when he goes in for a kiss. Then he gets a message about a patient, and he has to leave. He darts out of the bar, but all hope is not lost for Lena. Another guy at the bar notices her, but that doesn't work out either. At the house, Martin makes dinner for the family, and surprisingly, it's actually pretty good. Mae is glad that her dad actually tried this time, and they seem to bond a little. Lena then gets home, and she discovers that the blanket is on the bed.

Wrap-Up:
I absolutely loved this episode, even more than I loved the pilot. One character that I wish we saw more of in the pilot was Mae, and that was rectified this week. That was certainly the stronger of the plots this week, and I'm glad that Mae actually seems to not hate her dad now! That's fun! I also enjoyed seeing Lena at least try to date, though I'm still kinda hoping that she and Martin get back together. All in all, a funny, sweet, delightful episode that has secured the show as my favorite new show of the season already. What a great way for Jenna Fischer to return to TV.
Score: 10/10
Grade: A+

Splitting Up Together Series Premiere Review

While most people have been exciting for this big night for ABC comedy due to Roseanne's triumphant return to TV, I've also been excited about it due to the premiere of Splitting Up Together. I'm a huge fan of the Office, and I'm very excited for Jenna Fischer to return to TV in this series, my most anticipated new series of the 2017-18 season.

Lena and Martin are having some marital issues, as their marriage has evolved from a passionate one to one that is the opposite of that. Because of this, they decide to divorce, though they'll still keep living together. They tell their friends this, and they're all pretty shocked by this revelation. Lena and Martin have a plan for how they'll manage this change. They've made a chart, and will switch off parental duties. And also, one of them will be living in the garage, which sounds like a real blast. Martin shows the garage space to the couple's friend Arthur, and he's not too impressed. Meanwhile, Lena finds out from their kids that Martin never makes breakfast for the kids. Or lunch. She goes to talk to him, and the garage is super damp. He's not listening to anything, and I'm honestly scared for these poor children.

Lena is complaining to her dad about Martin when she gets a text from an unknown person relating to a private matter. It's from Mason, and his testicles are in pain. Just what she needs right now! Meanwhile, Arthur tells Martin to look at things from Lena's side, and he tries. Back to Lena, she's still dealing with Mason's issue, trying to handle it without Martin's help. She talks with her friends about her issues, both romantic and family-wise. She tells them that he never wanted to have sex. And then a woman comes looking for Martin. Lena is less than thrilled.

Lena takes Mason to a specialist, who tells her he's going through puberty. He tells her that Mason should masturbate, which is not the most comfortable thing for Lena. But don't worry, the doctor hits on Lena and she's loving it. Meanwhile, the woman from earlier turns out to have been a dance instructor, who Martin hired because

It's now Martin's week with the kids, and he finds Lena in Mason's "masturbation lair." He's not happy that she didn't ask for his help, but at least he makes a helpful suggestion about the lair! Later on, Lena is texting the doctor, all while the rest of the family plays inside.

Wrap-Up:
This was a really solid pilot, though it did have some issues. My favorite part was that, despite having a family aspect, it really is a relationship sitcom. That's something you don't really see on ABC and I appreciate that, especially since they actually executed it really well. Jenna Fisher's Lena is an intriguing protagonist, and I'm excited to go on her "journey" with her. I think it'll be really interesting to see how she deals with her divorce, and it will make this show even better. My only real issue with this pilot was the plot with Mason, which was both very uncomfortable to watch and pretty uninteresting in general. At least it seems to have introduced an important plot that may influence how the rest of this sitcom will unfold.
Score: 9/10
Grade: A-