‘Grand Crew’ Recap: ‘Wine & Traffic’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

GRAND CREW -- "Wine & Traffic" Episode 201 -- Pictured: Echo Kellum as Noah -- (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Grand Crew’.
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Something that each and every one of us collect in life, are friends. Because friends just make life better. For we share in memories with them, laughter, tears, and other highs and other lows. But what’s funny about friendships in this life, is how many of them come and go. And that’s funny and quirky because these are people we choose to have in our lives, so it seems strange now and again that they exit as quickly as they entered. But there is good reason for this. Because deep down, our souls are searching for more than just someone cool that we can have a beer or a glass of wine with and some chuckles now and again. We’re looking for extended family. For friends that mean something more.
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Which then begs the question, what is it that separates an everyday pal from a true friend? That person we can trust implicitly, and it just so happens that the season two premiere of Grand Crew on NBC, explores that question in great detail. A feat that ‘Wine & Traffic’ accomplished by sounding wedding bells. For Noah and Simone were absolutely ready to tie the knot and well… that put the crew to the test. Because everyone, had concerns that Noah was basically losing his mind here and committing to something this big way too early. Especially since he planned to get married on this day, in part to keep Simone in the country since her Visa was ready to expire. 

But once he pleaded his case to Wyatt, everyone quickly fell in line and made every effort to get him to the courthouse on time. Which of course, led to outright shenanigans. The kind that saw Sherm, who drove them, lose his new ride to an ugly collision that forced everyone to take the train to the courthouse. Which in turn brought about one amazing bachelor party, one where everyone on the train had a good time. But even that, went south when the train had issues. Leaving Noah to wonder if he was going to get what he wanted. Of course, his friends made it clear that maybe, this was a sign… but he wasn’t good with that. So, he asked and pleaded for help and understanding and with a family ambulance assist, they made it to the courthouse… only to learn that Simone married a friend. Just to get the visa… because she loved Noah above all.

Which was quite the happy ending to say the least since Noah’s love can live on, in a really… weird… way. But what mattered more here, is that the journey to get Noah to the courthouse, answered that question for us. Because the crew did everything that we want from real friends, those close ones we can call family. Which is… to stand beside us when we’re worried, and to be honest with us and call out concerns about our actions… but support us if we don’t follow their advice. Because that’s what real friends do, offer support and back and forth and love and understanding and that’s what we want, and need. Because that’s an extension of family, who can’t always do those things for us, and it was wonderful to see that lesson on display in a story that was both compelling, and hilarious. 

Because let’s be honest, the adventure to get to the courthouse, was filled to the brim with amazing comedy and those perfect moments that just leave you laughing out loud. And the jokes and the connective tissue here, including that budding romance between Nicky and Michael, made for one flawless premiere. One that properly plunged us back into this world in a seamless manner, as though it was but a few hours between the finale and this premiere. Because this is that rare series that perfectly echoes life and its wonder and it really is just wonderful to have this series back on the air and know we can just lose ourselves in the Grand Crew’s adventures through life in the weeks to come. Until next time.

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