Council of Dads, Season 1, Episode 10
Air Date: July 2, 2020, 8/7c on NBC
Reviewer Rating:
“ He’s not our kid.” — Peter
“Fight or Flight” picks up where things left off in “Stormy Weather.” As the hurricane finally passes, the Perry family is once again forced to rally the troops and face their latest setback in life. With Anthony’s (Clive Standen) unexpected return, I couldn’t help wondering whether the council still existed.
As a TV critic, you come to expect the various series cancelations every season. Yet the news that NBC had canceled Council of Dads came as a shock. As a fan, my initial reaction was to create an online petition to keep the series on the air. Having never done one, it didn’t go as well as I had hoped but I needed to feel like I was doing something.
Despite the negative tone in my review of the pilot, I noted the series had lots of potential. Looking back I can unequivocally say the show exceeded my expectations. Aspects I wasn’t initially fond of finally began to win me over. The biggest being Evan (Steven Silver), who I wasn’t initially sold on, was finally coming around. I enjoyed his growth and maturity over the second half of the season. Peter (Kevin Daniels) is another character that was lacking substance but finally makes a name for himself in “Fight or Flight” with some heartfelt moments. I wish we could have seen more from both had the series been allowed to progress.
One of the things I enjoy about Council of Dads is despite the weekly bombshell, the episodes never felt over the top. The writing by Joan Rater, Tony Phelan, Imogen Binnie, Heather Robb, and others has been top-notch. Moments like Luly (Michele Weaver) learning about her biological father, Charlotte’s (Thalia Tran) medical issues, and the latest with the hurricane feel like a natural storytelling progression rather than the writers finding ways to keep the audience coming back. “Fight or Flight” is another one of those episodes where Robin (Sarah Wayne Callies) has to deal with another setback.
Callies doesn’t get enough credit for what a talented actress she is. What makes her performance in the finale so powerful isn’t the lines she speaks, but the nonverbal communication that takes place. Two moments that stand out in particular are a powerful glance Robin gives Larry (Michael O’Neill), as well as a two-minute scene with Robin where no dialogue is spoken. While the momentary look might go unnoticed by some, it blew me away. So much is conveyed in these two scenes they both brought me to the brink of tears.
Council of Dads will always hold a special place in my heart. Shortly after screening the pilot episode, I crossed paths with someone who looked like Standen at LAX on my way home to Minnesota. Not wanting to bother him, I tweeted about the possible sighting and was surprised when Standen replied confirming it was him. In fact, almost the entire cast is on social media connecting with fans. I love the level of engagement and wish more shows took a page from Council of Dads.
Later, I was extremely disappointed when a Council of Dads set visit fell through while traveling to Savannah. My work trip still took me past one of the filming locations. Thinking nothing of it I snapped a few photos assuming the spot was a staging area for the cast and crew. It wasn’t until screening the finale that I realized it was the actual set. I tweeted with Callies and O’Neill that I was looking forward to a second season and a chance to return and interview the cast. Perhaps for their next show.
On paper, Council of Dads isn’t a show that would appeal to me. Some could argue that as a critic, I lack the life experience to review such a diverse show. I haven’t had to deal with much death in my life, and I can’t appreciate the struggles of what it’s like to be gay, transgender, or adopted. Heck, I don’t even drink. In the beginning, the cynical part of me wondered if this was another show trying to use diversity for the sake of being diverse and checking all the boxes to show how ‘woke’ they are. Thankfully, Council of Dads isn’t one of those shows.
Too often we label groups as if it solely defines them. Characters like Oliver (J August Richards) and Peter aren’t just gay dads; they’re professionals, loving fathers, kindhearted friends, as well as a loving couple. As with life, we’re not defined by a single term and as I reflect on the season, I’m reminded of the publicity photo of the cast posing on steps. I imagine the photo as a giant puzzle. Everything impacting our life is like a puzzle piece. When combined, the pieces make up who we are. These pieces intertwine and connect with the other character forming the final picture. So while I can’t fully grasp aspects of certain pieces, I can appreciate the picture as a whole. That’s where I draw my love of the series from.
As the news about the show’s demise settles in, I find myself thankful to have one final episode to say goodbye to the Perry family. If I could sum up the finale in one word it would be ‘hugs.’ While I didn’t need my usual amount of tissues, I found myself wanting to give both Robin and Larry a warm embrace given where their journey takes them. Hopefully, when the episode airs this Thursday the entire cast and crew will feel a collective social media hug from the fans.
With canceled shows occasionally finding a second life on other networks and streaming services, one can only hope this isn’t the last of the Perrys.
COUNCIL OF DADS – Season Finale “Fight or Flight” Photos
Council of Dads official site – watch episodes on https://www.nbc.com/council-of-dads
Follow the some of the cast on Social Media
Twitter: @CliveStanden, @Thalia_Tran, @SarahWCallies, @JAugustRichards, @ThisMicONeill, @EleWeaver, @KevinDaniels, @JoanRater, @TonyPhelan, @IAmBlueChapman, @HilarieBurton
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Photos © 2020 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Greg Staffa
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