Season 2, Episode 9
Air Date: Friday, December 2, 2016, 8:30/7:30c on ABC
Rating:
“See, I’m not a bad parent, just a bad liar.” – Pat
Father and son talk.
Ken’s father D.K. (Dana Lee) decides to move in with his new girlfriend Linda (Cheryl Bricker) after overhearing a heated discussion between Ken (Ken Jeong) and Allison (Suzy Nakamura) about the length of his stay with them. With D.K. gone, will Ken and Allison regret the things they said about D.K. or did he truly overstay his welcome?
The addition of Lee as a series regular has been one of the best things to happen on Dr. Ken this season. Lee’s scenes with Jeong and Nakamura add a layer of adult interaction to the show that wasn’t seen last year. The chemistry between Lee and Jeong feels sincere, making it difficult not to get teary-eyed during their scenes. In “D.K.’s New Girlfriend,” it is especially tough when Ken struggles to understand D.K.’s recent behavior. Lee’s addition to the cast has created deeper layers to the Parks’ storylines, as well as allowing the show to further embrace the Parks’ heritage. Not to mention, the scenes with D.K. and his grandkids Molly (Krista Marie Yu) and Dave (Albert Tsai) are always entertaining.
Crashing spa day.
Meanwhile, Ken’s co-workers Clark (Jonathan Slavin) and Damona (Tisha Campbell-Martin) crash Allison and Molly’s day at the spa. I couldn’t help but laugh as the tranquil mother/daughter afternoon keeps getting upended by Clark and Damona’s antics. The chemistry between Nakamura and Yu is exquisite and at times, it feels like you are watching a real life mother and daughter having a heart-to-heart rather than actresses reciting lines of dialogue. It’s wonderful how this seasons’ writers have transitioned Molly away from teen subject matter to more young adult storylines.
While the Park women enjoy their day at the spa, Ken takes Dave to the Glendale Jazz Festival where they share a table with Pat (Dave Foley). Hilariousness ensues when Ken persuades Pat to watch Dave so he can leave. I couldn’t stop laughing as Pat uses Dave as his wingman in order to impress Megan (Gillian Vigman), a single mom attending the festival. Pat’s plan seems flawless as he confesses to Dave, “It’s not every day that a pretty woman at a jazz festival likes me for having an adopted Asian child.” What could possibly go wrong?
Pat and his wing boy.
One of my favorite aspects of the “Dave Goes on Shark Tank” episode was the interaction between Pat and Molly. Given Foley’s comedic talent, I enjoyed seeing Pat in a crazy uncle type role and wanted to see more opportunities for the Park kids to interact with him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long as Dave’s scenes with Pat are absolutely priceless. Their conversation is one of my favorites this season. Tsai seems to thrive as an actor when he is given the opportunity to interact with adults. I love how both Tsai and his character act beyond in their years on the show.
Tonally, Dr. Ken has shifted from a sitcom focusing on jokes involving the Parks and working at the hospital to essentially a drama that happens to be very funny. While the difference doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, it’s noticeable on screen. The change became perceptible with last season’s heartwarming episode, “Dicky Wexler’s Last Show.” Tackling issues like divorce and aging parents, the creative team behind Dr. Ken has really focused on telling a strong family story, and this week’s installation, “D.K.’s New Girlfriend,” is no exception.
Directed by Jude Weng, “D.K.’s New Girlfriend” comes at a difficult time personally as just hours before screening the episode, I was laid off from my day job for the second time in under a year. I couldn’t help but tear up when D.K talks about feeling like he’s lost his identity and concerns about where he was in life. Lee’s performance is heartbreaking as he lends a rawness to D.K.’s story not found on many comedies. It’s a powerful scene that many, like me, can relate to at some point in their life. With shows like Black-ish, Fresh off the Boat, and Dr. Ken, it’s often easy to associate shows based on character ethnicity. While honoring heritage is important, what sets the good shows apart, like the ones mentioned above, is how they connect with viewers of all backgrounds. Thankfully, despite the seriousness of the storylines, the humor on Dr. Ken is not diminished in any way; the writers simply shift how the comedy is used.
Tweet me @Staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “D.K.’s New Girlfriend.”
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All photos © 2016 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Greg Staffa
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