Cougar Town is a series that I didn’t watch regularly but always enjoyed when I did last season. Anytime I catch it, the series seems much more willing to explore new beats for its characters, unlike its ABC comedy partner Modern Family. While absolutely nothing has changed on Modern Family, Cougar Town (which completed a nice transition in focus last season) is at least willing to introduce some minor complications for its characters.
‘All Mixed Up’sees the characters in the cul-de-sac facing life outside their cozy little set-up. Jules attempts to survive a day without Grayson attached to her hip. Ellie doesn’t like it that Jules is telling all her problems to her kooky shrink Glenn (played by the guesting Jennifer Aniston). Travis gets prepared for his journey to college by having a no-sleeping contest with Laurie. And Andy tries to protect a sign of Jules that keeps getting vandalized.
Just like Modern Family, none of it really goes as planned. But because the cast of Cougar Town has such tremendous chemistry, it feels less gimmicky. These people all feel like real friends, all with a ridiculous codependency on one another and goofy games. It’s not that the families on Modern Family don’t feel natural, but the situations they find themselves can sometimes seem contrived. Here, things are played with less of an obnoxious winking feeling and despite all the drinking, there are some real issues being explored.
When the last five minutes of the episode really hammer home the emotion, it’s less ‘Look at how we can come together’and more ‘This is what happens in real life, with people who can really relate with one another.’It’s a very fine line of distinction, but it makes all the difference when it comes to overall impact. I know that both Modern Family and Cougar Town want me to feel something for their characters, but while Modern Family basically tries to force you to feel that way, those emotions exist naturally with Cougar Town.
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