In preparation for Thanksgiving this year Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 9,” Thankful,” brought together family in every timeline. While meant to be a joyous celebration, instead caused strife and greater separation among prominent family members. Things are slowly starting to fall apart in every universe, making for a more exciting show.

Trying to find their footing after the scandalous announcement of Amy’s infidelity with Bobby, Joe and Amy can’t seem to find peace of mind. Their interactions remained minimal and strained.

Whereas things have started heating up between the two in the blue storyline. Not only is Amy living with the family, but she’s also invited to the big family Thanksgiving dinner. Where both Amy and Joe are in Uncle Frank’s line of fire for his indefinite suspension.

Celeste and Joe on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Eliza Morse/NBC)

This rigidity between the three guests is a bit tedious, and until living Bobby is disciplined for his wrongdoings, things won’t speed up. However, Joe’s confession of feelings using the three big words “I love you,” seems to be speeding up his relationship with Amy. Originally, it seemed as though things might fizzle out, but surprisingly they’ve made up for Amy’s past infidelities with Bobby.

I guess things are different for Joe as long as Amy sleeps with Bobby while not in a relationship herself. It’s hard to fault her when Bobby’s the one in the wrong in the blue storyline. We don’t get to see much of Jenny at all during this episode, but specifically, in this blue storyline, she’s left out almost entirely. Aside from the quick moments in the office.

Jenny’s stuck in Atlanta for the holidays, introducing Kinsley, a new character whose job is to help with Chris while Jenny’s away. Though Kinsley’s job is simply to assist, it looks like she might be there to help Joe’s loneliness as well. So, as Joe’s dealing with Amy’s cheating in the other stories, it looks like he might be dabbling in his own in the green timeline.

But, maybe it would be a one for one kind of deal because Jenny’s work bae is making a long pit stop in Atlanta to help with the pro bono case. I’m really hoping this is the writer’s way of leading us down a deceptive path because I’m still rooting for Jenny and Joe!

Kinsley and Joe on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Eliza Morse/NBC)

Once Jenny reveals to Joe that her son with Ray is in fact his, things will get a bit more interesting. The technicalities of all these political scandals are the show’s current focus, but the meat of the show lies more with the personal tribulations and struggles of the characters.

Speaking of personal struggles, we’re left with a huge cliffhanger. In an unsurprising turn of events, Amy’s pregnant with Bobby’s child. An extra bad omen for Joe and Amy as they were trying for so long to get pregnant. I can’t see this ending well. Joe’s definitely going to have mixed emotions about Amy’s pregnancy. He’s wanted a child for so long, and that’s all he wants, but to have Bobby’s child will only remind him of Amy’s lies.

What did you think about this episode? Please leave your comments down below!

Stray Musings:

• Gwen is such a mom. The entire family dynamic seemed so wholesome and American family perfection until Celeste came in and blew off the lid. She opened a can of worms that will certainly be difficult to put together. It was hinted at earlier that there was tension with Celeste, and now we’re finally clued in. I wonder if they’ll go more in-depth about Joe’s father.
• It’s nice to see Eric and Amy happy and in love in the green storyline. They are the sweetest couple.

Rating: 3.5/5

After the heightened finale with Bobby’s untimely death, we’re left behind with the broken pieces on Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 8, “Reset.” Amy’s still withholding her affair from Joe, but Bobby’s late wife wants to air out her grievances.

Now that the show has properly set up its characters and storylines, other characters beyond Joe are seeing their spotlight. This time, it’s Amy. The formula is pretty standard, share a flashback that will provide greater context for a major character trait. While they have the formula down, the depth is missing and that keeps the show lagging behind.

Amy’s history of activism goes back to her childhood and being raised by immigrants, but it’s a bit cheesy. This show seems to fall into its own trap of cheesiness, leaving no room for surprises. Yes, it’s important and wonderful that they shared this current issue of policing and racial profiling.

The struggle in balancing the three storylines is clear, particularly in this hour. With a heavy focus on Amy’s affair, it felt stagnant and many other characters were left out. Including Jenny.

Amy and Chris on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Eliza Morse/NBC)Her

Since Jenny’s in Atlanta taking classes, Joe is alone trying to help Uncle Frank back on his feet. It’s endearing seeing Uncle Frank and Chris interact, but until this storyline is given more depth, it felt a bit too shallow. I know it’s not this kind of show, but if it had brought more conflict with Uncle Frank’s return that would’ve been more exciting to see.

Uncle Frank’s alcoholism is explained as a coping mechanism after his brother’s death, and now it’s finally taking its toll. He begins coughing up blood, and Jenny’s father in an act of kindness takes Uncle Frank to get specially tested.

It’s the first time Jenny’s father is humanized, and it kind of came out of left field. Meanwhile, Jenny’s dealing with a rude and obnoxious personality on her own–her professor.

The relationship between her and her professor is tense and there is no backstory provided as to where it stems from, making it feel like a haphazard conflict.

Joe and Uncle Frank on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Eliza Morse/NBC)

In the blue storyline, Amy and Joe are continuing their relationship steadily, while their marriage is taking a hit after in the red storyline. At least they’re a happy couple in one of the alternate universes.

Although, Amy’s apprehension around police officers still stems from her childhood and she mentions this to Joe in an honest conversation. It’s a needed discussion and highlights the difference in their communication between both timelines.

Maybe I’m biased and not as invested in Amy’s storyline or future with Joe, but I just felt that this episode was weak. It didn’t really offer much to the overall plot development. However, I do wonder what will happen to Joe and Amy’s marriage. I can’t imagine anything major coming from it. I’m predicting a quick conversation and the two will find their footing yet again.

Perhaps, it’s that the show has set up Joe as the primary character, and any other storyline feels foreign and unnecessary. The way that This Is Us has been successful is by offering a main character in the initial stages, but then dissecting that through the use of many character storylines. By the end you’re left wondering who’s had the most screentime.

Eric and Sai on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Eliza Morse/NBC)

Even in these episodes that provide context to what makes the other characters tick, they’re dimmed by a quick jump to what’s happening in Joe’s life. The narrative is so heavily placed on Joe’s thinking, I mean it’s about how his life has shifted based on varying choices, that the writers act lost when trying to write for another character.

What did you think about this episode? Please don’t forget to leave your comments down below!

Stray Observations:

• Amy has to be the only person in the world who still uses Apple Music!
• Bobby’s wife confronting Amy mid-funeral is terrifying. That takes major guts, and I would literally be floored if I were Amy. I would never want to be seen again.

Rating: 3/5

Ordinary Joe Review: The Letter (1×07)

So many things climaxed on Ordinary Joe Season 1 Episode 6, “Always Do the Right Thing,” making it one of the more exciting episodes yet.

I wouldn’t say this show is a slow build-up, but it certainly keeps things at a steady pace. Things are finally coming together and leaving big revelations in their wake, specifically regarding Bobby Diaz.

Bobby has become the show’s biggest villain, and while things may have started under wraps, things are finally surfacing for him. The investigation against Bobby for his possible involvement with the death of his previous intern is seeing the light of day, even when Uncle Frank tried to brush it under the rug.

In not one but two of the storylines, Bobby is having an affair with Amy. Which, if you think about it, is definitely not ok on Amy’s part either, as it takes two to tango.

Joe and Bobby on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Fernando Decillis/NBC)

While Bobby is recovering from his spinal injury in the green storyline, he meets Chris and receives helpful advice and reminders to stay strong and not let his perceived disability take away what he loves most.

It’s sadly ironic that in the end, when Bobby’s announcing the continuation of his political career, he’s shot dead in the red storyline. I’m shocked they killed him rather than injuring him.

At least in this kind of show, Adam Rodriguez still has two other characters to play–maybe, unless Bobby’s handcuffs are staying on permanently.

Aside from new installments in Bobby’s story, Joe is also making significant strides in his character development.

Joe and Amy on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Fernando Decillis/NBC)

He can’t stay away from Zeke and begins meddling in his life by dueting him on Tik Tok. This is undoubtedly an endearing moment, but one that’s angering because Joe can’t just go around entering people’s lives like that just because he’s a rockstar.

It’s his ignorance for doing the right thing that makes it so hard because I understand that he wants to connect with Zeke so badly, but he’s going about it the wrong way.

Finally, he gets the courage to tell Amy about Zeke, and just as one big secret is revealed, another is buried deeper. It’s unsurprising that Amy wouldn’t tell Joe about her affair with Bobby, and now that he’s dead, there’s almost no point in telling him.

But, if she does, I can’t imagine how their marriage is going to continue smoothly.

Jenny on Ordinary Joe. (Photo by: Fernando Decillis/NBC)

Meanwhile, the biggest zinger of the green storyline isn’t that Joe lost the gerbil and is failing at single-parenting, but that Uncle Frank comes stumbling into his apartment!

I hadn’t even realized Uncle Frank hadn’t made an appearance in that storyline. Seeing his fate as an alcoholic who is probably homeless and struggling to survive was a very interesting turn of events from the blue storyline. In the blue storyline, we’re left with Uncle Frank drinking after finding out that Bobby’s been arrested and that Joe turned on him to submit the evidence.

However, in this green storyline, Joe was never a police officer and never turned on Uncle Frank, so it’ll be interesting to see what sent Uncle Frank over the edge. Maybe he never recovered from his brother’s death? But then, how is he functioning in the red storyline? Now, this is a huge mystery.

What did you think of this latest episode? Please leave your comments down below!

Stray Musings:

• Jenny’s twins look like literal toddlers. How do they have Tik Tok?
• Joe cannot talk to Jenny about the importance of truth when he still hasn’t even told Amy about Zeke!
• It’s so sweet to see Chris and his crush on the girl in his class. I’m impressed he’s so open to his dad about his crush. Not all kids are so generous with their feelings!

Rating: 4/5

Ordinary Joe Review: Mask On Mask Off (1×05)