I can’t say enough about how smart it was for the writers of Ground Floor to move Brody from the top of the totem pole to the bottom; not only has it allowed the show to further develop the ground floor characters (including Jenny… in fact, particularly Jenny), but it has given Ground Floor’s second-most important story (Manfield and Brody’s relationship) some fresh pathos, turning a simple redemption story into a meaningful plot that examines the bond between them from both sides.
Plus, “Space Invaders” finally, finally brings back Threepeat’s awkwardness around women and turns it into a major plot of the episode. Rene Gube is always hilarious as the uptight, slightly feminine Threepeat, and there’s nothing funnier than watching his increasingly desperate attempts to break out of his “slump” (my favorite part of his ineptitude? When he screams “I’ll buy you a car!!!” to a woman walking by in the bar). The best part of it all is the resolution, of course, which doesn’t reward Threepeat for his sexual slumming; he ends up getting a “rusty shower”, which is most certainly not a reference to Jenny’s shower.
What the script does with Threepeat is funny, but it’s not necessarily anything that will blow your socks off; what really impresses in “Space Invaders” is how it integrates Brody into not one, but three different stories, and uses them all to give life to the people around him. His plan to “crash” at Jenny’s indefinitely lets some of her commitment anxiety come to the surface, a predictable arc brought to life (as it always is) by Briga Heelan’s performance, resisting some of the more slapstick-y ideas in the script (like her conversation with Brody about moving in, where her voice continuously rises as adrenaline stress kicks in), and grounding it in something character-based, like her realization she’s never been in a relationship this long. It turns the familiar beats of “overzealous partner scares away the love of their life” into something meaningful – and ultimately, cathartic; after Brody scrapes together enough money for a new place (“I can live off this every week… wait, I have to live of this every TWO weeks??!!”), Jenny thanks him and reminds him he’ll be staying at her place that night, tomorrow, and probably most of the other ones down the line.
Thankfully, Ground Floor is still doing the work to build the commitment in their relationship on Jenny’s end, bringing new depth to their relationship every week as she breaks down some of the emotional barriers she’s maintained for so long. And Brody’s other relationship continues to strengthen, as well: Mansfield really lets down his barrier in this episode, detailing an anecdote to Brody indirectly, pretending he’s telling Lindsay about what happens when someone feels cornered, quietly giving voice to Jenny’s feelings about Brody just pushing himself into her home, despite how much they love each other (and in the process, reminding us just how much Mansfield likes Jenny, and wants to see their relationship work).
From beginning to end, each of Ground Floor‘s interwoven plots give new depth to now-familiar relationships, all under the clever guise of easy comedy and a silly competition between Harvard and Brody (which ends up with Harvard “streaking” through the Remington Trust office). In turn, “Space Invaders” uses Brody to highlight everyone in the world of Ground Floor (except Derek, unfortunately), right down to Lindsay, the woman who replaced him (and makes terrible decisions about guys in armor, it turns out) at the desk next to Threepeat’s, the home of Mansfield’s protege. Not a terribly consequential episode, but one that strengthens the core friendships of the show in terrific, consistently endearing ways.
Photo via TBS
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