Loveday Writing

The job of a season premiere is to establish new story arcs for the season, and revisit any arcs set up in the previous season’s finale. This premiere did its job pretty well.

This episode kicks off with Helen arriving at work to inform everyone that she is making a major announcement at 10am (and it’s not mud cake). It’s revealed that she has bought the office a barista-level coffee machine.

Later, Ray reveals to Roz (and the audience) that he is dating someone within their networking group, Mel, which is against the rules, which means either he or Mel will have to leave the networking group. He calls Mel to ask her to leave, only to reveal to Roz later that he will be leaving the group. This means that a new member will need to be found, which involves the group coming together to give a speech and cast votes. Ray asks Helen to put herself up as a candidate, as the networking group helps bring in new business for the firm.

Meanwhile, Helen now has her own house, with a next-door neighbour, Murray, who mows her lawn for her and tells her that his father passed away. She gives him her business card and offers a free, general probate advice session to talk about his father’s estate. Whilst he declines her offer at first, he changes his mind and shows up at her office, revealing that his late father paid his gardener in IOUs. It’s later revealed that the gardener is a 12-year-old boy, when he and his mother show up at the firm. After an initial fight when it’s revealed Murray misquoted Helen, Helen agrees to represent the boy pro-bono.

The speeches for the networking group “election” go as expected, especially with Helen not being able to provide hers in full. After Bob Stanley wins, but quits when Roz informs him that the breakfast part of the networking group is no longer on, and the candidate who came in second storms out after losing, Helen is elected as the new networking group member.

The episode ends with the reveal that Murray has stopped mowing Helen’s lawn as she has hired the 12-year-old boy to do it.

Overall, I felt that this was a good way to start the season as Helen’s repetitive bragging of being a partner would inform the viewer of how the previous season ended, and the networking group and Ray’s new love interest provide opportunities for new and future characters to appear, as well as possible running gags and story arcs. However, I did find Helen’s repetitive bragging to be a little annoying and the outcome of the networking group election to be predictable.

I’m looking forward to reviewing the rest of the season and seeing where it takes us.

Stray Observations:

Episode title – Helen repeatedly talking about bees and the role of female bees in the hive.

Running gag: The use of the phrase “porque no los dos”/why don’t we have both.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “She’s a fashion psychologist.” “What is that exactly?” “She helps you reveal your true self, look what she’s uncovered here!” “A 1970s maths teacher that can’t afford socks anymore?” (Ray-Roz going back and forth on Ray’s new girlfriend and suit)