When Bob, Louise and Tina go out for the soccer team, Linda and Gene decide turn the restaurant into a piano bar. I had high hopes and expectations for this, as oh yes, I am very familiar with the dynamic that Linda and Gene have in the whole show (which I do like to some extent), but sadly it turned out to be EXTREMELY disappointing to the point of which I can't put into comprehensible words how much that sub-plot shot down my expectations.
The main person who ruined it was indeed Matilda Merkin, who was a very huge showstopper to the piano bar (and probably the worst example of a «showstopper» I think I've ever came across in any show I think I've ever seen in my life). There was just so much nonsense bickering regarding her removal from the musical she was a part of.
I was coming to this episode hoping that Linda and Gene's piano bar was going to be grand and a great experience, as showcased in the dream (where they sang Give My Regards to Broadway). The way that the focus of that plot was shifted over to Matilda Merkin really angered me. Dude, stop being so selfish and making everything about yourself (and causing a «stage fight»), because it comes off as really douchey.
The way the episode ended only rubs salt in the wound, as that fire caused any remaining hope for the piano bar to be destroyed. The closing credits are just that: closing credits. They don't account for much (in terms of redemption). Besides, what ever happened to Bob and Louise? Wouldn't it have been dangerous upstairs due to the fire? Now there's that sort of cliffhanger I just can't stand in any shows in general.
I don't really have much to say about the A-plot, but it seemed like it had been overdone in other shows (The Simpsons in particular, with episodes like Bart Star and Marge Gamer). I wasn't really interested in the plot regarding the soccer game so I skimmed through it.
All in all, a very bad episode. I came to this episode hoping there would be a good story to Linda and Gene's dynamic, but what I ended up with was some sob story regarding how Matilda Merkin was fired from some random musical I couldn't care less about. I made a huge mistake dialing up my expectations, which ultimately killed the credibility of this episode.
The main person who ruined it was indeed Matilda Merkin, who was a very huge showstopper to the piano bar (and probably the worst example of a «showstopper» I think I've ever came across in any show I think I've ever seen in my life). There was just so much nonsense bickering regarding her removal from the musical she was a part of.
I was coming to this episode hoping that Linda and Gene's piano bar was going to be grand and a great experience, as showcased in the dream (where they sang Give My Regards to Broadway). The way that the focus of that plot was shifted over to Matilda Merkin really angered me. Dude, stop being so selfish and making everything about yourself (and causing a «stage fight»), because it comes off as really douchey.
The way the episode ended only rubs salt in the wound, as that fire caused any remaining hope for the piano bar to be destroyed. The closing credits are just that: closing credits. They don't account for much (in terms of redemption). Besides, what ever happened to Bob and Louise? Wouldn't it have been dangerous upstairs due to the fire? Now there's that sort of cliffhanger I just can't stand in any shows in general.
I don't really have much to say about the A-plot, but it seemed like it had been overdone in other shows (The Simpsons in particular, with episodes like Bart Star and Marge Gamer). I wasn't really interested in the plot regarding the soccer game so I skimmed through it.
All in all, a very bad episode. I came to this episode hoping there would be a good story to Linda and Gene's dynamic, but what I ended up with was some sob story regarding how Matilda Merkin was fired from some random musical I couldn't care less about. I made a huge mistake dialing up my expectations, which ultimately killed the credibility of this episode.
