In all honesty, I really had my doubts in regard to "The Kominsky Method." I like some of Chuck Lorre's work, but a lot of his sitcoms fall into the same tropes and have characters that seem like they're all cut from the same cloth. And in many ways, that's exactly what this show is. The great thing about it is that these characters have something, which is a likability beyond many other sitcom characters, despite their somber view of the world. This season finale of the show's first season gave me everything that I wanted and even a lot more on top of it.
At first, it's worth it to acknowledge that this show wouldn't be nearly as much as it is without the great performances from Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. Throughout the season, they've constantly been the source of the most laughs. There's nothing quite like grumpy old men coming to terms with getting old. This episode had some of the most heartfelt scenes between them and tried to get away from a lot of comedy and rely on dramatic tension. There were some great moments of pure acting from the two legends, with Douglas truly shining out as the thing he is, which is one of the best actors in the entire world. And to be honest, it is very funny to grow old, which these guys show. The show is all about friendship and to see them endure throughout has been one of the highlights. I think that they've achieved something through the two that I didn't really know they'd be able to when the show first began. They've created a scenario where it's impossible to imagine any two actors having better chemistry than these two, which is obviously ridiculous. However, they've incorporated themselves so well into their roles, that it sorta becomes impossible. They are also helped by the great writing, which is really showing that Lorre can do when he's at his best. In this episode in particular, there is a lot of strong scenes that are all writing, and the few nitpicks I had are all small in comparison to the highlights.
"Chapter 8. A Widow Approaches" is the perfect capper for this season. It truly builds to a climax that I didn't know would be as emotionally satisfying as it was. It's all about the characters and the writing, as well as Douglas and Arkin's great performances, have made them truly engaged and worth the time.
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