Now that Walden owns the house, Berta is rehired, and Alan is moving back in, it’s almost time to settle into the new flow of Two and a Half Men. The second part of the season premiere was closer to a regular episode than the first, but it will take a few more episodes until the transition from Charlie Harper to Walden Schmidt is complete. Until then, it’s difficult to say what a typical episode will look like this season.
The jabs at Charlie were reduced to one this episode, with a former gal pal becoming upset over Charlie’s death until she sees Walden in a towel. I think (hope) we’re close to the end of the Charlie jokes, which only serve to remind us of the summer drama. The towel jokes, on the other hand, are probably here to stay.
Berta, if anyone, is loving life now. Her internal fantasizing about Walden was the best, and now she gets to live with him while making more money! If this means we’ll see more of Berta, that’s great news. With the help of alcohol, she already managed to get Walden and Alan to go skinny dipping and wind up snuggled together on the deck. This is going to be fun for her.
Like any other time when Alan almost moved out, it didn’t last long. He is at his mom’s place long enough for her to warn him about her loud “dates” when Walden shows up. He returns some of Alan’s ineffective self-help books, but really just wants to hang out. He is pining over his ex-wife, because she knows about baby shampoo and cushioned toilet paper. Since Alan is the expert in divorce, they bond over ex-wife troubles and Alan desperately tries to stop Walden from going to his ex-wife’s house. “Criminal trespass usually ends with her dating the cop.” He can’t stop Walden, and they both end up on top of an electric security gate. It ends up being a bad hair day, but Walden’s old house is awesome! Walden might be childish, but he’s a good geek. Arcade games, a gigantic gumball machine, R2-D2 and C-3PO statues, foosball and more line the walls of the house. These are the things you buy when you’re a billionaire (not to mention the $100k car).
We meet Walden’s ex-wife, Bridget, who reiterates the reasons she no longer wants to be married to Walden: he has the emotional maturity of a 12-year-old, and she’s tired of being a mother more than a wife. At first, Walden’s attempt at reconciliation seems to fail, but she later shows up at the beach house just as Charlie’s former gal pal, Penelope, has decided she’s going after Walden. Alan saves Walden by pretending Penelope is his girlfriend, which gives Walden and Bridget a chance to talk about reconciling, which means Walden owes Alan a favor, and there you have it. Alan is moving back in.
I find it odd that Judy Greer was chosen to portray Bridget given that she also portrayed Myra, Herb’s sister and one of Charlie’s love interests, in two episodes in 2007. Maybe they think it’s been long enough that it doesn’t matter, but Two and a Half Men is everywhere in syndication and Myra stands out as a character that I distinctly remember. She was unique in that she was almost an equal to Charlie. It’s a bit weird to me that she’s now portraying a different character.
We didn’t learn much more about Walden this week. He’s childish (“she is a stupidhead”) and a bit crazy (he loves peepholes), but he seems to have a good heart and is hiding intelligence that made him a billionaire. The previews for next week show some interaction between Walden and Jake, and we should get a better idea of what we can expect in future episodes. With Alan, Jake and Berta back at the beach house, the pieces are now in place to move forward with the show.
Last week’s episode drew nearly 28 million viewers, which is a record for Two and a Half Men. Given the controversy and curiosity surrounding Charlie Sheen’s departure, the numbers will surely begin to drop, but how much and how quick–we will have to wait and see.
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It the producers wanted a new show they should have started a new show not try and re-invent this one.
This show's done unless Charlie comes back
a) he's not coming back
b) i found it way better than last episode so i reckon if people just stop comparing it to charlie they'll enjoy it a lot more
The show was on with Charlie Sheen as it's star for 8 seasons, has the EXACT same theme song, name and the ENTIRE season opener was dedicated to Charlie Harper's death. Exactly how are we NOT suppose to compare it? I found this newest episode loathsome. I barely cracked a smile. Kutcher's stupid act is getting old fast and lines like "she is a stupidhead" tell me just how seriously the writers are taking this. It's easy ratings, therefore it's money on the night it's on, so if you're Chuck Lore and you're this many season in, why bother? Which judging from this barely creative episode tonight is exactly what Lorre is saying to himself in the writers room anymore.
I think the writers are phoning it in, having cleaned out their desks and looked for new jobs.
They know this is the last season, since there is NO WAY IN HELL that this show is gonna be renewed for another.
The show is dead. Charlie should just walk in from a few weeks in Vegas – and his death etc. was a fake by Rose – but I guess we're past that now as Chuck Lorre destroyed it with his pettiness wanting to hurt Mr Sheen. Pathetic. Sad. Over and out – moving on…
Anybody ever wonder if Charlie Sheen had a very good point and Chuck Lorre didn't like him so all of this crap erupted because of Lorre? Such a shame. Sheen was so excellent in 2.5 men. All the actors seem so different now…I don't think the 'chemistry' is there anymore. Although Kutcher is a good man, it just isn't working. So sad…I will really miss Cryer/Sheen and what a fantastic job they did in this show.
R.I.P. Two and a half men….
All the characters have suddenly turned into heartless idiots. It's like Chuck Lorre's spitting on 8 years of building a story. It's disrespectful to the fans!!! The writing for season 9 sucks
It's like we are watching two different shows. Alan's character feels different and less funny. I miss the friendly sarcasm between him and Charlie which was necessary to their relationship. Ashton Kutcher's character will have to change considerably to make him interesting and exciting in the show. The nudity is no substitute for acting and genuine laughs.
It also looks like Alan is going to have to choose between sexual identities with all the nudity and inuendo in some scenes.
On the whole, the show was lackluster, disappointing and unfunny. I'm wondering where Rose is going to fit in (one of my favorite characters)?
The show sucks at this point although I'll continue to watch for awhile to see if it gets a lot better.
Sorry, but Kelso with a beard, is still Kelso.
It IS a different show, and I wouldn't watch it because I can think of things far less painful.
Losing!
More like LOST… and I don't mean the TV show, though I'd never watch that either.
Oh well 2.5Men, it was a great 8 seasons, but I have too much respect for you to put up with a cheap imitation…. die with dignity, already.
Dig a hole and bury this piece of crapola. Kutcher is playing the role that he plays with his bimbo wife/mother Demi Moore. I quit watching after 10 minutes and turned on the Cowboy/Redskins game. Forgetabutit.
I'll bet it was Demi who got him the role… it's prolly why he married her, just like EVERY no-talent bimbo-slut who marries a high-powered executive producer twice their age in order to get roles they couldn't get otherwise.
Ashton is a trash-ton.
If the writers were smart, they would have had Judith kick Herb out and have him move in with Allan. Those two guys seemed to have some great chemistry in past episodes. Not entirely sure they could carry the show by themselves but it sure would have been better than the garbage they've written so far.
And it's not that I don't like Ashton, it's just they story arc they've chosen for him is simply not funny with very little potential of becoming interesting.
Emily – I'm totally with you on the Judy Greer thing. Just too weird as in my mind she'll always be Herb's sister.
I thought Chuck Lorre was just going to try to humiliate
Charlie and try to give the impression that everyone
considered Charlie useless, selfish and sex & booze
crazed. So although I hated the first episode, I was
open minded enough to watch again this week to see
if the show was actually going to be funny. It was a
huge disappointment to me. Ashton is playing a rich
idiot and following his script exactly but instead of being
funny, his character is ridiculous and dumb. Alan's
character is now lost and just does not come off funny.
Ashton is a spoiled brat running around naked.
I will not watch next week. I just don't see this getting
any better and I surely would rather watch a show that
actually is funny. And yes, Charlie Won! I rate this show
poo poo kah kah!!!!!
Everyone DID consider Charlie useless, selfish and sex & booze
crazed– that's why he was FUNNY, particularly since that IS Charlie Sheen playing himself.
Apparently this is one thing that flew right over Chuck Lorre's head, if he thinks this CHANGE is funny.
i thought it was good, just need a little time to get used to Walden, hope it goes for 2 more years to end it on a perfect run, although its not perfect, lol, cuz charlies not in there, but for the show, make it go for 1 more years after this season.
just saying, make it look good on the dvd shelfs, haha
I am still happy with the ratings for eipsode 2 i wish people would just watch the show instead of worrying about Charlie Sheen it's still a great show.
hey Aidan Williams you should worry..the ratings will drop and drop and drop and drop again..Just watch.
we watched the show and it sucks that's why we are "worrying" as u put it about Sheen…… you can't change the lead roll in a series. And i as a fan is furious about Lorres decision on firing Sheen. Be a bigger man and not care what he say… The fans want Charlie Sheen… No one else
And by fans i mean those who have followed this series for 8 years or seen all the episodes. don't disappoint us like this
Of ALL the actresses in Hollywood they had to chose Herb's sister to play Walden's wife? Who's the casting agent on this show? Oh and the writing sucks now too. Will not be watching anymore…. GOODBYE Chuck Lorre I hope you're happy… your pettiness ruined your best show.
The show had Jumped the Shark anyway; Sheen was just smart enough to REALIZE it and bail– and he could afford it too, just like Seinfeld did.
That thing with Rose faking her marriage to a manakin, and Alan robbing the family, was pure stupidity and desperation– and Charlie Sheen clearly had the sense and experience to realize that it was time for him to fly.
Thanks for the memories, Sheen, see you on DVD.
This show has become almost unwatchable this season. And I'm not sure if it's savvy or corrupt, but did you see Ashton get the company's he has invested in onto the show? He had stickers all over his laptop.
Here's a screenshot of it: http://goo.gl/DbYrj
Season 9 EPIC FAIL!!!!!