A Sitcom That Tackles Real-Life Issues
One of the aspects I admire most about Last Man Standing is its courage to address realistic family dynamics and contemporary issues. The show doesn’t shy away from politics or religion, making the characters’ problems feel genuine and relatable. While it may not be the highest-rated sitcom on television, its portrayal of a real family is comforting. I particularly appreciated the exploration of Eve’s fears and apprehensions about rejection, as well as Kyle and Ryan’s differing views on religion. At first glance, you might not expect it, but this show boasts a diverse cast and intriguing characters.
This Week on Last Man Standing
In this week’s episode of Last Man Standing, Eve’s band starts practicing in Mike’s garage, much to his dismay. Although they don’t sound great, Mike decides to arrange a gig for them instead of telling them the truth. Eve ends up playing the gig solo and succeeds. Meanwhile, Kyle and Mandy babysit Boyd so Ryan and Kristin can enjoy a night out. Boyd, who had been lying to his parents, learns a valuable lesson from Kyle. The episode also features guest star Blake Clark.
I was genuinely impressed with the emotional weight this episode carried. Eve, still reeling from her West Point rejection, exudes emotion and apprehension about her music. The performance felt incredibly genuine and authentic. Kaitlyn Dever has always been excellent on this show, but as she has matured beyond the ‘snarky younger sister’ role, she has developed Eve into a strong character. While other parts of this episode were humorous, Dever’s portrayal of Eve showcased the emotional depth of a mature, adult actress – and I was thoroughly impressed!
Appreciating the Ryan/Kyle/Boyd Interaction
I really enjoyed the entire Ryan/Kyle/Boyd interaction in this episode. Although Ryan has always been anti-religion, and Boyd’s conversation with Kyle initially misled him, I appreciated the understanding they eventually reached. Kyle can often be an idiot and a man-child (perhaps that’s why he’s my favorite character), but when he’s involved in serious matters, I’m always surprised at how well everything unfolds. The episode didn’t paint either Christianity or Atheism in a negative light, and I have a lot of respect for that approach.
Impressive Direction by Jonathan Taylor Thomas
The episode’s direction seemed particularly good, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was different about it. The messages were clear and concise, and the episode didn’t lose the spirit of the show. Then, I noticed that this episode was directed by Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Not only was there a Home Improvement reunion between Tim Allen and Blake Clark (Harry from Harry’s Hardware), but also between them and the episode’s director. JTT appears to have a knack for sitcom directing, and I was really impressed with the outcome. Plus, I absolutely loved Home Improvement!
Favorite Quotes and Moments from the Episode
As always, here are some of my favorite quotes and moments from the episode:
- “What’s good, Mr. Baxter?” “Not this.”
- “I think the salad might be burning” – Vanessa isn’t particularly great at making excuses
- “I think they’ve done the impossible. I’d rather listen to Hillary.” – Mike
- “Can we go to the candy store later?” “Oh! Can we?!” – Boyd and Kyle share the same interests
- “I’m not a music critic, but I like to criticize other people. He’s an idiot!” – Mike
- “I think I know where the guy’s head’s at. Maybe I can pull it out of there.” – Mike
- “Oh no, my friend Tom. He’s got a kid that steals, too.” – Kyle is never talking about what you think he is
- Mike’s great at trolling, but giving Cammy the trombone idea was pure gold
This episode was as amusing as ever and carried a lot of emotional weight. I enjoy this show so much because I can relate to all the characters, which makes the jokes even funnier. This was the strongest episode in several weeks.
What did you guys think? Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know!
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I just watched the show and was amazed that I was in tears from the subjects of the show. Great job LMS! I love this show!
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great episode!
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Great review for one of the best episodes so far! Along with Eve singing (and yep, that song was really written and performed by Kaitlyn Dever which made it even better), my favorite part was the father to daughter talk Mike had with her about facing her fears and not sugar coating the reality of possible failure. Not often do you see an actual parenting lesson on TV but this was a good one!
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