All of the friendships are experiencing challenges this week on Cougar Town. As the group becomes closer, so their insecurities and exasperations become more pronounced.
It had never dawned on Bobby that Travis might go to Grayson for fatherly advice, but once the idea takes hold and Travis goes there, Bobby sets out to remedy the situation by showing what great advice he can give. What’s cool about his vulnerability is he’s not afraid to share it with Grayson by asking him to back off. And Grayson doesn’t feel threatened by Bobby’s asking.
In what turns out to be a blatant cry for attention, Laurie spends the weekend at Jules place and is her normal, loud, crazy self. She apparently even took the took the opportunity to slip into the bathtub with Jules, but admitted that may have been too much. As grating as she can be, I think a couple days with her would be fun … especially since there is always so much wine involved. Seriously, is there anything wine can’t fix, especially when sized like Big Carl?
Ellie thinks she finds a kindred spirit in a new wine bar owner played by Mad TV star Michael McDonald (he has directed numerous Cougar Town episodes) and in feeling put out by Laurie spending so much time with Jules, finds herself enjoying a new friend with repartee trouncing the passersby as wicked as her own. Until he goes to far, and attacks Jules. The ultimate test of the connoisseur’s cool factor is whether or not he will fill up Big Carl. If Ellie was at your neck, would you do anything OTHER than fill up Big Carl?
As Jules finally tells Laurie to get a hotel room, their love for each other shines through. Laurie missed her friend, and Jules wishes she could be as comfortable in her own skin as Laurie seems to be in hers. To keep on the subject of my favorite, Big Carl, I don’t know of anyone who feels so comfortable in their own skin that carrying around a half gallon size wine glass to a wine bar would even be an option, so I think Jules doth protest too much.
The dissection of a plethora of past friendships tossed into the wind brings to light the commonality they all share. Every one of them have things they like and dislike about the others. Their honesty and ability to shrug off even the worst insults in the honor of friendship over deceit and hypocrisy will ensure their faces are never X-ed out of future photos. They are in it for life.
Extras:
Clacked by Carissa Pavlica 
on Jan 20, 2011 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
Just knowing that this is the episode Aryeh is watching for his “What’s this show called…?” column made me view it differently. Unless you understand the character dynamics, good God, these people can be annoying! ;-)
Wonderful! :)