‘Grand Crew’ Recap: ‘Wine & Honors’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

GRAND CREW -- "Wine & Honors" Episode 207 -- Pictured: Aaron Jennings as Anthony -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 207 of ‘Grand Crew’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Stories that tend to focus on the ups and down of life, rarely offer balance. For the ups are just that, joyous and wondrous and illuminating and the downs… suck. Which is a problematic way to explore life because that’s not really how life works. Because life in and of itself, is a supremely bittersweet experience. One where the highs are sometimes intermixed with lows, thanks to anxiety and worry and concerns that we don’t deserve that high, and there is beauty to be found in the lows. Because without them we learn nothing in life, nor do we appreciate what we have or had and that’s why it is always refreshing to find a story that understands the reality of the ups and downs of life.
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Because that means we are immersed within a tale that truly teaches us about life’s true beauty and wonder and that’s why we continue to celebrate Grand Crew on NBC. For this is a series that does just that. Because it really knows how to look at every angle of every moment, and it accomplished that particular feat once again in ‘Wine & Honors’ through two key storylines. One of which, involved Anthony. Who was being honored by his Alma Mater for his accomplishments in recent years and well, that would definitely be a high, a wondrous moment to be celebrated. But Anthony was terrified. For he compared himself to others at the event and fretted over being perfect when he already was.

After all, he won a freakin’ award. But thankfully, his friends were there to help him see that and embrace his many accomplishments, and since he was worried about delivering the perfect speech as well, they even inspired him to speak from his heart and not about his non-existent bosom. Which helped him to embrace this award and find peace and in turn, this helped to remind us… that anxiety and imposter’s syndrome often surrounds the good moments in our lives. Because we’re taught to never savor and always hustle when we should in fact… just embrace the magic and it was wonderful to see the show present this in an honest light. 

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GRAND CREW -- "Wine & Honors" Episode 207 -- Pictured: (l-r) Grasie Mercedes as Fay, Nicole Byer as Nicky -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC)

As for the bittersweet low in the story, well that came via Nicky and Fay. Because Fay was trying hard to have a successful yard sale, to uh… to clean our junk. Which prompted Nicky to help her and thanks to Nicky’s ability to confidently sell with a dash of white lies, Fay made some amazing money. But alas, they did too good a job with the sale and something of critical importance for Fay was sold in the madness of making great money, specifically… a rare bottle of wine. One that Fay cherished and was hoping to open for a forthcoming special and very important occasion, and that prompted Nicky to help her try and get it back. With mixed results.
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Since the original buyer handed it off to his brother, a dive bar owner, and to get it from him… Nicky had to try and outdrink that owner, and his disgusting liquor, all because she wanted her friend to be whole and well… it took the truth as to why Fay was having a garage sale to get that bottle back and bring forth some sadness. Since she revealed, she was moving to New York City to run a new wine bar for Amir and that was why she needed the money and that wine. To pay for the move and to cherish her friendship with Nicky one more time, with a toast. A journey that reminded us that while there is sadness to be found in life, especially when someone we love is leaving us for a new adventure, there’s beauty to be found in those moments as well. Since Nicky came to learn how much Fay valued their friendship and because… Fay was starting a wonderful new chapter in life.

All of which was the perfect way to remind us… that life is indeed imperfect, even at its worst or its best and that made a for a wholesome and powerful story. One that also featured a bombshell ending, when Anthony asked Fay to be with him only to learn about the move, and it was host to some great comedy as well. Since the search for the wine was epic, Anthony’s panic brought levity, and Sherm’s meeting with a genius, billionaire, jerk-of-a-recluse named Zeb Jenkins… was the stuff of legend. In part because TV legend Mike O’Malley came in and just wowed with his performance as Zeb. But also, because, it was just full of wild and hilarious and quirky moments, the kind that eventually led to a potential new path in life for Sherm. Either way, this was just… another great episode from an amazing series and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this chapter, we are eagerly awaiting the next one. To see what lessons and laughs await us, and to see what comes out of that powerhouse romantic revelation. Until next time.

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GRAND CREW -- "Wine & Honors" Episode 207 -- Pictured: Mike O'Malley as Zeb Jenkins -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC)

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