‘Extended Family’ Recap: ‘The Consequences of Sleepovers’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Add to Cart EXTENDED FAMILY -- "The Consequences of Sleepovers" Episode 107 -- Pictured: Donald Faison as Trey, Jon Cryer as Jim -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven of ‘Extended Family’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about the revolutionary nature of the hit NBC series, Extended Family. For it truly is going places that few other sitcoms have ever gone, by exploring the new family dynamic in America and how it is possible to navigate it in a healthy and dynamic manner. So that the new blended family that makes up the American landscape, can be healthy and wondrous, and filled with love for the people that need it the most, the kids. Because that helps them to grow and helps them to have peace and the show has done such a phenomenal job with its foundational lessons… that it opted to explore some other fascinating lessons.

For ‘The Consequences of Sleepovers’ took the time to explore… how blended family life can prompt a parent… to be the best parent they can be. Because sometimes… they don’t have the backup of their former partner or new partner, who might not be ready to handle the big stuff. Which means… it falls to one to step up and lead and inspire and that is never an easy task since a parent will always want to have the right answer. But there is a way to achieve that, and for Jim, that came about via a surprise sleepover at the Kearney home. Because in between the weekly hand off, Jim came to realize he needed to stay just a little longer. For Grace was having a sleepover and there was boy drama to be had. 

The kind that Jim just knew, he would need to offer advice upon because Julia, was out on a work emergency, and Trey certainly wasn’t ready to handle that drama. For while he was making progress at being a dad, he was in that infancy stage. So, Jim did the thing. He hung around, listened as needed and worried about saying the right things. But when the moment arrived, he came to learn, that speaking from the heart, and being honest with his kids, was a great way to give them the guidance they needed and the leadership they craved from their father. And in doing so, Jim grew before our eyes. Since he became that perfect dad in that moment, and really reached his daughter like never before.

Which spoke to how a parent steps up and becomes the hero, a lesson that many a parent are eager to learn sometimes since all will struggle with the chaos that is parenthood, and it was lovely to see that play out here, and to see Julia remind us… of the ties that bind us when we have laid down a healthy foundation. Because her emergency, was spending time with Jim’s dad, Bobby. Simply because Bobby was hurting from some kidney stones and needed an assist without freaking Jim out. So, Julia agreed, because… family. Because we do love them, care about them, and go the extra mile for them, and this was just a touching storyline, one that was further enhanced by Bobby calling Julia his daughter.

All of which brought forth, one beautiful story through and through. For it showcased the best parts of being a parent, and how important it is to be that hero that kids look up to. Plus, it spoke to how family is forever and that made for one touching tale. One that still found ways to make us laugh, primarily through Jim and Trey’s attempts to figure out how best to handle Grace’s little romantic conundrum and how Trey knew when to sit such matters out. And through Julia’s epic push to get Bobby to quit acting like a giant baby, and well… in the end, this is the kind of feel-good television we crave and television needs more of. Because you can never go wrong with celebrating the purity of family, and what it truly means to all of us. Until next time.

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