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TV Review: “The Ranch” (Season Four)

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(WARNING: Many Season four spoilers are included here, so if you haven’t yet watched the latest batch of The Ranch episodes and/or plan to do so anytime soon, you definitely want to skip this post and follow my scintillating countdown of the Favorite 100 Albums of the 80s or another topic from my stable of masterpieces instead.)

Because my existence isn’t exactly what I’ll call exhilarating, I just binge-watched Season four of The Ranch, an adult sitcom on Netflix I’ve enjoyed apparently more than most, as reviews I’ve read over the past few years have ranged from lukewarm to downright shitty.

While I don’t think this latest batch of 10 episodes as a whole was quite as good as the first 30 I’m intrigued enough to probably continue watching, seeing the show’s already been renewed for two more seasons worth as of this posting.

First and foremost I’ll start by stating my shock to see Danny Masterson (Rooster on the show) still appearing, as he’s in the middle of rape allegations accused by an ex-girlfriend and was fired from the show as a result. However, he was fired on December 5th and the latest episodes were released on December 15th. Because he plays such an integral role Masterson was still featured in all 10 episodes.

While it certainly wouldn’t have been fair to cancel airing the season and penalizing the work of many others because one actor is allegedly a piece of shit, the problem schematically is the latest season ends with no obvious write-off of his character; leaving the writers a conundrum on how to incorporate a potentially unexplainable sudden disappearance when the next season picks up (more on that in a few).

Here’s a few random thoughts about Season four:

♦ Whether it’s family oriented networks like CBS or adult minded Netflix, most sitcoms tend to be predictable and this latest season of The Ranch was annoyingly no exception. From the second Abby interviewed for a teaching job in Denver I never a doubt the season would end with her getting the gig “against all odds” with ensuing conflict between her and Colt.  Ditto for the gas pipeline deal and their desperately needed payday falling through at the last minute after the brothers essentially already spent it (which may end up helping explain no Rooster going forward).  While I knew Abby’s teaching gig and pipeline deal implosion were locks, I was hoping for at least one noteworthy surprise and nothing stimulating came about. It was revealed that Colt’s ex-girlfriend Heather lost the baby but all that did was explain the previous season’s cliffhanger and Heather wasn’t heard from again after her one-time, five minute scene. I figured maybe she’d emerge as a love interest for Colt again, with Abby bolting but nope—at least not now that’s all she wrote for Heather.  Literally nothing about this season had me thinking to myself, “holy shit I never saw that coming.”  Sad!

♦ Beau (Sam Elliott) was hands down the MVP of season four. He didn’t have nearly the amount of focal plot points as previous seasons but did suffer a heart attack near the end, realizes he loves Joanne while he’s seeing someone else (Mary), and shows he still has deeply rooted feelings for his ex-wife Maggie when she helps care for him (along with Joanne) following his health setback.  Hell, Beau even shows a (very) rare tender moment by hugging his sons before going in for a cardiology procedure.  Elliott was as funny and pricky as ever, and his scenes often stole episodes. I’m not even sure this show would be watchable if he weren’t around.

♦ I tried to focus on Rooster’s character but honestly spent most the season wondering when Masterson was getting written off already knowing he was fired.  It wasn’t until the final scene of the last episode I learned his firing couldn’t go into effect until next season. For what it’s worth I thought his character was typical of the first three seasons. If you already liked him you still would and vice-versa.

It’s a shame to see his role on the show and quite possibly his career end but if he’s guilty of what he’s accused of then fuck him, it’s well deserved.

♦ Abby wasn’t very likable in season four. I mean, Colt’s doing everything he can to provide for and make life easier after your school closes down and you lose your job. He’s balls deep, all-in on purchasing another ranch—with money you helped fund.  For me, it’s kind of a twatty move to go accepting the job in Denver six hours away without so much telling him before his mother—yes he learns of this from his mother at the bar.  I can get over not telling Colt immediately, but then they predictably get into a fight and she ultimately leaves for Denver in the finale without even saying goodbye!  Oh, I should probably mention they got engaged early in this season yet Abby’s father still hates him.  I’m starting to think your boy Colt should’ve chosen Heather.  Abby’s a bitch, yo.

♦ Speaking of Colt, my Twitter mentions take a beating when saying this but I’ll yell it to the roof top — Ashton Kutcher has far better acting chops than given credit for. We all know he’s relatively funny but his dramatic side can be captivating to.  For me the best scene of the entire season is when a shaken and hostile Colt blames his mother for his father’s heart attack during a heated argument. I found it intense and got me having all the feels.

♦ Sticking with his mother Maggie, she returns in episode seven. Yeah, I don’t really care either.

♦ While on a whole I thought the season was consistently funny with a sneaky amount of drama mixed in, I hated the finale—fuckin’ hated it.   After spending the bulk of nine episodes wavering over buying the neighboring ranch, which would take risking all their money and perhaps the future of their own ranch, Colt convinces his brother and dad to pull the trigger.  However, Beau’s heart attack see him change his mind, at least temporarily and he refuses to sign off without seeing the land first. Up against a deadline to get the deal done and his father in the hospital, Colt learns through the mushroom-loving town lawyer that Rooster holds power of attorney of his dad’s finances (even though he’s not dead?).  Colt convinces Rooster to go behind Beau’s back and sign the papers on his behalf, giving them ownership of the ranch without Beau’s knowledge.  They agree to purchase the land with the understanding that the big pipeline pay day is soon coming, but of course that falls through at the last second because of protests and the Bennett Boys are essentially fucked. There’s not a single solitary second in the first 39 seconds that leads anyone to believe Beau wouldn’t lose his shit and disown his sons if not outright kill them for going behind his back like they did, yet they do it anyway.  Couple that with Abby skipping town and I’m left semi-pissed off for spending roughly nine and half episodes of watching a quality show end with a tiresomely stupid cliffhanger.

♦ Lastly, if there’s one silver lining in what for me was a thoughtless finale is that it probably paves the way for Masterson’s complete exit.  I suspect the angle will be either Rooster being scared shitless at what his father will do when he finds about the power of attorney and subsequently bolts town before Beau returns, or they time forward enough for Beau to return home and completely exile Rooster because he used said power or attorney without asking. I think the latter would be an insult to the knowledge of viewers, as Rooster was exiled from his father’s ranch business before but still didn’t leave town.  I think the former happens and maybe they learn he somehow dies after leaving.  Regardless, Masterson’s exit is clearly permanent and I can’t imagine they’d even think about replacing Rooster’s character with another actor.

Then again, this is the world of sitcom and not exactly the most thought provoking one at that.

♦♦♦♦♦

Conclusion: I’m probably doing an awful lot of bitching for someone that actually likes the show and mostly appreciated this latest season.  Had the final 15 minutes not been so utterly predictable I’d be raving to anyone who’d listen.  I enjoyed Season four enough to stick around for five when it rolls around but was left wanting more this time around—and also  thinking Abby’s a bitch who doesn’t deserve Colt. If she’s supposed to come off as likable they’re dropping the ball.  MORAN-ALYTICS GRADE: C+

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VEEP Recap: Meyer Fund For Adult Literacy… And Aids

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If citizens of the United States thought they’d seen the last of Selina Meyer in office, they have another thing coming—at least in her falsified mind.

Time-hopped one year ahead of this past season five finale that saw Meyer defeated by Laura Montez in the Presidential vote by the House of Representatives, Meyer proclaims (solely to her inner circle) her intent to run again for President, of which draws the wholehearted  support of—absolutely nobody.

More on that in a minute.   Season six begins with Selina interviewed on the CBS morning show by her former Deputy Director of Communications Dan Egan, who’s slanting for a permanent gig as co-host on the show.  Pressed (calculatedly) by Egan on some of Selina’s Presidential pardons before leaving office last year, she changes the narrative by declaring her “Meyer Fund for Adult Literacy (and also Aids) charitable foundation.  She also discloses a half-truth that she’s been working, feverishly on a memoir from her time as the first FPOTUS (of which she literally hasn’t written a sentence yet and received a mere miniscule in publishing advances compared to other former Presidents).

To the surprise of no one, Gary has remained loyal to Meyer while Richard is her official assistant.

As for the others:

Jonah Ryan got testicular cancer, beat it and despite being in remission secretly continues to shave his head because “people liked it, and he even got four and a half handies out of it.”

The aforementioned Dan, who wants the co-hosting gig until he finds out the main anchor has a reputation for destroying thriving careers.  Dan then intentionally attempts to sabotages his interview with Jonah, but after a string of masked insults that sees the congressmen walks off the set, CBS producer (played by Andre from “The League”) says it’s great TV and people love it.

Ben has a job working in the executive offices at Uber but a run of unbeknownst (to him) racially insensitive remarks sees him get fired.

“Bunch of dumb-ass millennials, too lazy to learn how to drive drunk” – Ben on Uber.

Kent’s now working for Jonah, seriously.  He’s insulted by Ohio congressmen Ralph Furlong, who says “How the mighty have fallen. You want me to call a Japanese porn shoot see if I can get you a real job sponging up from cock parties, although you might have to lie about working for Meyer.”

Amy’s living in Nevada and running the gubernatorial campaign for Buddy Calhoun, of whom she’s also engaged to and apparently has a fetish for getting off in bed to political pillow talk.

Mike, the former Director of Communications for Meyer is a stay-at-home dad to three children, including an adopted Chinese girlwho doesn’t acknowledge him as her dad.  He’s wanted for a job by Selina solely because he’s in possession of a diary he kept while she was President, but the terms are that he won’t get paid until her book is eventually (if ever) published.

Back to the action…

After calling a family meeting, Selina announces her intention to run, which sees her daughter (Catherine) burst into tears…and not in a reassuringly good way.   She thinks it’s a bad idea, as does her now-wife/entruster of her finances after Grandma left everything to her upon her passing last season (Marjorie), her sketchy former Vice President Andrew and even Gary, who says nothing but his face communicates that it’s a terrible idea.

At the conclusion of the premiere, Ben is able to knock some sense (tho probably ultimately not not) into Selina by letting her know she won’t have the party or donor support for any Presidential run and that he’s going to take a job with Kent.  Selina says she’s only talking hypotheticals (lies) and offers him a role on her charitable board for Adult Literacy (and Aids), one he accepts.

BEST QUOTE
“I didn’t think it was possible to look more like a giant cock, but I guess it’s true what they say—you are what you eat.” – Dan to Jonah

MoranAlytics Grade:  A solid 9 out of 10.  Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is not only back, but better than ever.  This is arguably the show’s best season premiere yet.

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The Office: Power Ranking Every Episode (120-91)

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This is the third of a six- part series Power Ranking all 185 episodes of The Office.  Part four (90-61) will be posted tomorrow. See links at the bottom for previous entries (185-151 and 150-121).

I’d also like to take this opportunity to announce these power rankings re just the start of things when it comes to The Office here.  After this I’ll be soon launching a semi-recurring segment on my Moran-Alytics Podcast called “The Finer Things Club.”  I’ll have a rotating panel of segment guests— sports media folk, athletes and other personalities who are fans of the show to talk about specific seasons, episodes, moments, characters, plot lines and much more.

I’m over the moon excited about starting that project soon.  If you’re a fan of The Office or know people who are, trust me now’s the time to subscribe to the Moran-Alytics Podcast  on Apple Podcast/iTunes, for free of course.

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5 Takeaways From Smackdown Live (1/9/18): Boringggggggg

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Here’s my five primary takeaways from Smackdown Live last night in Birmingham, Alabama.  If you want match-by-match results or expert full commentary you’re barking up the wrong tree.  These are simply five takeaways of mine based on the show:

♦ In general I’ve liked Smackdown Live more than Raw for some time but must admit I’m starting to tire of the former’s direction of late. It feels like Smackdown’s spinning its wheels in mud.  I’m just about over Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan taking turns making unfair matches involving Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and the rising dissention between GM and commissioner. Unlike the slow burn of a Jason Jordan full heel turn I’m simply not into Shane vs. Daniel pissing contests. Wake me up when/if Bryan’s ever cleared to wrestle and they can settle their beef in the ring.  Until then, let’s get on the same page, boys—your shit’s getting old.

♦ I also, and this stretches to Raw as well have a problem with the Royal Rumble build.  Look, the Rumble is one of the elite PPV’s and doesn’t need to spend much time structuring other programs, especially when you add a Women’s rumble match.  Yet both shows and particularly Smackdown are spending an awful lot of time advancing storylines that don’t involve the rumble match(s).  This is literally the one time of year where none of that is necessary.  Make me believe Randy Orton or Shinsuke Nakamura can win the Rumble because for one PPV per year I don’t care about the Uso’s vs. Gable and Benjamin.

♦ I can’t make sense of or find a single benefit of having Breezango go over on Rusev Day.  Breezango literally never has to actually win a match while Rusev (and Aiden English) need victories to show they’re more than gimmicky advancement talent.  Then again, maybe that’s all they’re supposed to be.

♦ Heel Chad Gable is the best Chad Gable.

♦ Becky Lynch tapped out Riott Squad leader Ruby Riott. It’s pretty apparent the shine is gone from that faction.  Good, because I didn’t like the way they came on the scene in the first place.

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