‘Extended Family’ Recap: ‘The Consequences of Helping People’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

EXTENDED FAMILY -- "The Consequences of Helping People" Episode 109 -- Pictured: (l-r) Charles Parnell as Governor Devon Monohan, Finn Sweeney as Jimmy Jr, Abigail Spencer as Julia, Jon Cryer as Jim, Donald Faison as Trey -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Extended Family’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

It’s rare for a sitcom to revisit certain concepts, simply because… the structure of this type of show doesn’t really allow for it. For sitcoms deal with their respective scenario and offer any lessons available in a comedic light and move on. For there is so much more to explore and so much more to joke about, and if by chance…they do follow up… it often involves the return of a particular character, or a brief follow up. But that is why Extended Family on NBC continues to impress. For this particular show continues to defy convention and rules to bring us a sitcom unlike any other and for its next episode, it opted to return to an important concept regarding parenthood.

Specifically… how our children perceive us at all times. Because kids are smart and kids are observant and they see what we do and emulate it, and if we go the wrong route… that’s bad news and more work is required to correct what they’ve learned, and earn back our credibility with them. Which was why Trey had to change his stance on fame in ‘The Consequences of Status’, and why Jim and Julia had to take some drastic measure in ‘The Consequences of Helping People’. For in this particular tale, Jim took Jimmy Jr. along for a meet and greet with some of his old friends, wherein they spoke Jim’s praises, especially when it came to helping out with getting one man’s daughter into the same fancy school that Grace currently attended.

But there was just one problem. In that, Jim forgot to take care of that, so in a hurried and panicked rush, in front of his son, he asked Julia to make it happen. With some lies no less, and she did, in front of a client. Who quickly called her to the carpet and that put both Jim and Julia in a tough place. Where they realized, they set an awful example for their son and did wrong in general by using privilege and status to get that young lady into the school. Which prompted them, to arrange a meeting with that client through Trey, so they could… set things right and apologize. Because they expected better of their son and themselves, and doing this would show Jimmy Jr. to not cut corners and do things like this. To be honest, always, and that… made for a great follow up and a great lesson.

One that really spoke to how important it is we carry ourselves at our absolute best around our kids, and if we cannot… we just need to set things right and explain why that’s important and that made for one amazing tale. One that also featured, another amazing moment. For while this was going on, Grace and Bobby were out thrifting, and an old memory came up for Bobby. Specifically, the one that got away. Which prompted him to reflect upon his life and speak to how while happy he was with the outcome of his life, because he loved his family, he always wondered what it would have been like to be with that crush. Who had such a profound impact upon his choices and well… Grace was kind enough… to reunite them and maybe give Bobby that chance.

Which was just a beautiful storyline to see play out, one that spoke to Grace’s maturity since she understood grandad’s angle and curiosity, and it also reminded us… that family should always go the extra mile to help family find peace and resolution. Because all we have is one another, so why not be better and go that route when it is available? All of which made, for another heartwarming story. One that truly did defy convention by bringing back an important lesson to remind us of how flawed we will forever be and how hard it is to walk the straight and narrow. But for our family… we will find a way, and you simply cannot go wrong with a show that offers that kind of humanity and honesty. Until next time.

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