Loveday Writing

Now that the premiere has come and gone, the season can really get underway.

The episode kicks off with Roz talking to George and convincing him to try out working with her in mediation, as she believes he is being wasted on reception, Viktor recommended him as his replacement (he quit to help Tony promote his soon-to-be-published book), and she believes that he has more to give. Despite the fact that he disagrees with her, due to the many roles he has already (reception, assisting everyone, and being the office webmaster), George agrees to try working with Roz for a week.

Meanwhile, Helen finds herself having to refer clients to Stefan Bogdanovic, one of the networking group members, as he keeps referring clients to her for legal advice, although they don’t really need her advice. She tries to even the score by sending clients back to Stefan for financial advice, including Tony, Viktor, and herself. Along the way, she realises that Tony needs to re-do his will and asks Ray to help him out.

Meanwhile, as George is working with Roz, he has his grandmother, Lily, replace him at the front desk. He sits in on a mediation and eventually discovers it’s not for him as it’s an overwhelming and exhausting field.

Towards the end of the episode, Viktor ends up adopting Helen, as it’s Tony’s solution to redo his will to make sure that any inheritance they’d receive from him, if he were to die first, is fair. Meanwhile, George and Lily pitch a new app to Helen for her to invest $5,000 into, as she rejected Stefan’s proposals of investing in a genetically modified food and erectile dysfunction medication companies. 

The episode ends with Lily going to work for Roz, and Viktor and Tony investing in the genetically modified food company, Food for Drummies, with their prices skyrocketing because apparently “everyone loves a drummy (chicken drumstick)” at the end of the episode.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode, in particular, the character development between Roz and George, with Roz noticing George’s potential and them working together, as we’ve never seen them work together, and in turn, George’s strong sense of self when he clearly realises that mediation is not for him and quickly returns to his usual role, rather than force himself to “tough it out.” I also appreciate that both Ray and Helen know mediation is stressful and not right for George, but support him trying it out anyway; showing a natural, relatable, and believable chemistry between the cast and each other’s characters.

I also appreciated the appearance of Stefan Bogdanovic, which provided great running gags and extended the networking group story arc set up in the previous episode. I hope he makes more appearances throughout the season.

Stray Observations:

Episode title – Roz writing and singing her own song, “Burning Up,” which is about climate change from Earth’s perspective.

Running gags:

• Stefan Bogdanovic constantly being referred to as and called ‘baby face’ to the point that Stefan becomes aware of it and starts using it as a nickname himself.
• No-one being able to figure out how old Stefan is due to his “baby face.”
• Roz writing her own songs, with everyone suggesting that it includes bongo, including a record producer she goes to, to have the song produced.

–Apparently Geroge has his own business ventures outside of work.

–Apparently Fridays are Ray’s diet cheat days.

–Roz doesn’t think soup is a proper meal.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “You look like you’re on some silly morning show, Dad, why have you got a whisk in your hand? Who talked you into that?” (Helen to Tony on one of his proposed book covers)
• “I think you’re wasted on reception.” “I promise you I’m not, I don’t even drink.” (Roz-George)
• “That’s a landline, finger guns, 1970s sexism, how old is that guy?” “Hard to say, definitely older than George, probably younger than you, so 56.” “Do you want to guess again?” “58.” (Helen-Ray on Stefan Bogdanovic)
• “I pitched this to your dad and that bald woman.” “Her name is Viktor.” (Stefan-Helen on the idea of investing in a genetically modified food company, Food for Drummies)