Carstairs Considers....: TV Show Review: Reba

Friday, May 10, 2013

TV Show Review: Reba - Season 2

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Laughs aplenty as the characters are fleshed out.

Cons: A couple of episodes I don't exactly care for

The Bottom Line:

A family sitcom

With different family

That will make you laugh

"What Are You Doing?" "Checking for Flying Pigs."

Since I discovered the hilarity that is Reba late in its first season, I spent the summer of 2002 catching up on what I had missed via reruns. So when season two started, I was ready for the madness to continue. And I enjoyed almost every minute of it.

Season two picks up pretty much where season one left off. Reba Hart (Reba McEntire) is recently divorced from Brock (Christopher Rich). But Brock and his new wife Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman) are still around. In fact, much to Reba's dismay, Barbra Jean has decided that she and Reba are best friends. Then there are the kids. Eldest daughter Cheyenne (Joanna Garcia) and her husband Van (Steve Howey) are starting college. Did I mention these two teenagers have a baby? Middle daughter Kyra (Scarletta Pomers) is entering Jr. high, and youngest son Jake (Mitch Holleman) is trying not to get lost in the shuffle.

This season deals with many common issues in new divorce situations. Reba hits the roof when she discovers that Brock and Barbra Jean don't always follow the rules she has set down when the kids are over there visiting. Plus, Reba tries to restart her love life and find a job, even if the only job she can find is working in Brock's dental office. Kyra and Barbra Jean begin to grow close when Kyra discovers that Barbra Jean has an older sister as well. And Kyra hates the fact that Reba's new friend is the father of the boy she is trying to date. Meanwhile, Van uses an injury as an excuse to take a year off from football, and Brock and Barbra Jean move out of their condo into a house, right down the street from Reba.

This season has two episodes I don't really care for back to back. "Ring-a-Ding" concerns Reba potentially having sex with her new boyfriend. I know she's an adult, but really, it falls into the TMI category for me, especially when she is getting advice from Cheyenne. That one is followed by "Cookies for Santa," the most depressing Christmas episode ever as Reba finds herself alone on Christmas Eve as everyone tries to start new traditions.

On the other hand, this season contains some of the best laughs of the series as well. "A Moment in Time" finds the gang recording a video for Van and Cheyenne's daughter. The resulting family fight is hilarious. Likewise, the moment in "Seeing Red" where we see the results of Barbra Jean's makeover is sheer genius.

The writers this year really strove to round out the characters, and it worked. They toned Barbra Jean down some, making her more pleasant to have around. Plus they dropped the near constant references she made to church and God. They worked hard to include a few more serious moments along the way that allowed us to see motivations, hopes, and fears for these characters.

And the acting follows suit. Everyone in this cast is talented and never miss a beat. This includes the kids as well as the adults. I can't imagine a better cast bringing these characters to life.

Season two contained 24 episodes, and all of them are included in the set. That includes both parts of "Ring-a-Ding" which originally aired as one double length episode. The episodes are full frame and stereo sound, their original broadcast specifications. The set includes four audio commentaries by the executive producers as well as their thoughts on the season overall.

There are some serious themes in this show. But the show never forgets that it is a comedy first. If you want to laugh, look no further than the second season of Reba.

Season 2 Episodes:

1. House Rules

2. Skating Away

3. Proud Reba

4. Reba Works for Brock

5. It's Jake's Party, Cry If You Want to

6. Safe Dating

7. Mommy Nearest

8. Switch

9. Ring-a-Ding

10. Cookies for Santa

11. A Moment in Time