Tommy is turning 1. Stu and Didi want to throw the best party for him they possibly can, but run into several problems with the arrangements. Tommy himself has a very strange reason for wanting to get his hands on some dog food.
This episode just like the pilot is largely introductory, letting us get to know the characters and their dynamics. You can tell Chuckie hasn't been fully formed yet since his scaredy cat trait isn't very prominent, but he still manages to be an amusing and likable presence. Angelica is pretty firmly shown who she is, even if right now it's more subtle. Her controlling nature comes through pretty well, such as when she calls dibs on Tommy's presents despite it being his birthday, as well as tightly hugging him and Chuckie showcasing an evil smile while Didi takes a snapshot of them, letting us fear for a short blink what she's up to.
We don't get any Angelantics this time though, with her simply hopping onboard Tommy's quest to steal dog food for all of them to eat.
His reason for wanting dog food so badly is pretty funny. It turns out to be something else than disappointment over today's meal. He's somehow been bizarrely convinced that eating it will turn him into an actual dog. And the others turn out to be just as gullible, even mistaking Spike for Tommy successfully transforming when he comes out of the kitchen at a timely moment. You can get away with extreme naivety even more easily when you have characters who barely comprehend how the hell the world works 90% of the time.
They discover to their chagrin that the dog food has already been eaten by Spike. Until T. Looks up and sees a can left standing on the top of a shelf. Their attempts to get it down is reminiscent of the rollicking catastrophic escalation of events shown in White Thing. And it goes even further since you now have more babies involved. Phil and Lil's cockiness as Chuckie tries to steer his friend down with a drone makes me chuckle as they are shown to be just as clueless and incompetent themselves. I'm almost surprised Angelica didn't fly into a fit of rage when the machine knocks her over and she's covered with flour. The whole thing becomes a gloriously colossal mess.
The adults' antics are quieter, but that's not say there isn't tension cooking underneath. Didi is feeling stressed over the party not turning out how she wanted, and Stu starts quarreling with his brother. I love the tragicomic way the conflict between them is incorporated. A puppet show was ordered to be performed, but the delivery men only give them the supplies without the puppeteers. So Stu and Drew come up with something themselves, Little Red Riding Hood. Except Drew can't remember the lines. Him forgetting the most simplest dialogue and coming up with such generic replacements such as "I know" and "Yes" when the wolf is asked about her weird facial features is hysterical, as if them having a really long argument still talking through puppets. Grandpa Pickles stepping in trying to break up the fight through the Woodsman is just the icing on the cake.
Boris and Minka also have an amusing silly argument where they argue about something so petty as the kind of cake is being served.
While the ruckus is going, the babies finally have gotten their previous dog food and are waiting for the changes to kick in. They don't notice anything at first, but then seemingly show "symptoms" and get so caught up in their imagination they start crawling around on the floor, barking and howling. The adults stop whatever they are doing, observing with fascinated eyes at what their kids' play activities. Stu gathers the whole gang together to take a picture. There is something so wholesome about this ending. All the hurt and pointless squabble are washed away temporarily thanks to the adorable innocence from a couple of children being into their own adventure. It feels so real and honest, even creating a sense of nostalgia.
The voice acting is superb from start to finish. Every new actor already sounds confident in their performances (No first episode shakiness whatsoever), and the ones we've heard before don't miss a beat either. There is one major change to discuss. Tommy's voice actor Tami Holbrook is replaced with E. G. Daily. And while I was happy with Tami's interpretation, the casting of Daily is simply perfect. She adds more of a baby quality to the voice, further highlighting the curiosity and wonder of the character.
Michael Bell and Melanie Chartoff (voicing Drew and Didi as well) are also a joy to watch as the other grandparents.
The music once again is highly memorable. In particular I love the Jewish jingle that plays whenever Boris and Minka appear. There's something classic and old-timey about the use of a slow accordion in it.
A lot of promise to be gathered from this premiere.
This episode just like the pilot is largely introductory, letting us get to know the characters and their dynamics. You can tell Chuckie hasn't been fully formed yet since his scaredy cat trait isn't very prominent, but he still manages to be an amusing and likable presence. Angelica is pretty firmly shown who she is, even if right now it's more subtle. Her controlling nature comes through pretty well, such as when she calls dibs on Tommy's presents despite it being his birthday, as well as tightly hugging him and Chuckie showcasing an evil smile while Didi takes a snapshot of them, letting us fear for a short blink what she's up to.
We don't get any Angelantics this time though, with her simply hopping onboard Tommy's quest to steal dog food for all of them to eat.
His reason for wanting dog food so badly is pretty funny. It turns out to be something else than disappointment over today's meal. He's somehow been bizarrely convinced that eating it will turn him into an actual dog. And the others turn out to be just as gullible, even mistaking Spike for Tommy successfully transforming when he comes out of the kitchen at a timely moment. You can get away with extreme naivety even more easily when you have characters who barely comprehend how the hell the world works 90% of the time.
They discover to their chagrin that the dog food has already been eaten by Spike. Until T. Looks up and sees a can left standing on the top of a shelf. Their attempts to get it down is reminiscent of the rollicking catastrophic escalation of events shown in White Thing. And it goes even further since you now have more babies involved. Phil and Lil's cockiness as Chuckie tries to steer his friend down with a drone makes me chuckle as they are shown to be just as clueless and incompetent themselves. I'm almost surprised Angelica didn't fly into a fit of rage when the machine knocks her over and she's covered with flour. The whole thing becomes a gloriously colossal mess.
The adults' antics are quieter, but that's not say there isn't tension cooking underneath. Didi is feeling stressed over the party not turning out how she wanted, and Stu starts quarreling with his brother. I love the tragicomic way the conflict between them is incorporated. A puppet show was ordered to be performed, but the delivery men only give them the supplies without the puppeteers. So Stu and Drew come up with something themselves, Little Red Riding Hood. Except Drew can't remember the lines. Him forgetting the most simplest dialogue and coming up with such generic replacements such as "I know" and "Yes" when the wolf is asked about her weird facial features is hysterical, as if them having a really long argument still talking through puppets. Grandpa Pickles stepping in trying to break up the fight through the Woodsman is just the icing on the cake.
Boris and Minka also have an amusing silly argument where they argue about something so petty as the kind of cake is being served.
While the ruckus is going, the babies finally have gotten their previous dog food and are waiting for the changes to kick in. They don't notice anything at first, but then seemingly show "symptoms" and get so caught up in their imagination they start crawling around on the floor, barking and howling. The adults stop whatever they are doing, observing with fascinated eyes at what their kids' play activities. Stu gathers the whole gang together to take a picture. There is something so wholesome about this ending. All the hurt and pointless squabble are washed away temporarily thanks to the adorable innocence from a couple of children being into their own adventure. It feels so real and honest, even creating a sense of nostalgia.
The voice acting is superb from start to finish. Every new actor already sounds confident in their performances (No first episode shakiness whatsoever), and the ones we've heard before don't miss a beat either. There is one major change to discuss. Tommy's voice actor Tami Holbrook is replaced with E. G. Daily. And while I was happy with Tami's interpretation, the casting of Daily is simply perfect. She adds more of a baby quality to the voice, further highlighting the curiosity and wonder of the character.
Michael Bell and Melanie Chartoff (voicing Drew and Didi as well) are also a joy to watch as the other grandparents.
The music once again is highly memorable. In particular I love the Jewish jingle that plays whenever Boris and Minka appear. There's something classic and old-timey about the use of a slow accordion in it.
A lot of promise to be gathered from this premiere.