Christy's search for the perfect Secret Santa gift leads her to discover Adam has been hiding something from Bonnie. Tammy looks for a job in order to avoid being sent back to prison.
In 2018, it has become very difficult to keep up with every television show out there. It's even more difficult to provide adequate coverage on this site about the episodes that air every week. Not every show can get full coverage because of my busy and hectic viewing schedule. As such, some reviews will now be condensed to give only some summary thoughts. But it also affords a space for me to jot down my thoughts on the various episodes. And so, here are my thoughts on this week's episode of CBS' Mom.
"Foot Powder and the Barrelworks Pirate" was directed by James Widdoes with story by Marco Pennette, Alissa Neubauer & Britté Anchor and teleplay by Nick Bakay, Warren Bell & Susan McMartin
Are Bonnie and Adam ever actually going to get married? That's a pressing question by the conclusion of this episode. When they first got engaged, it was with the understanding that Bonnie could drag it out for as long as possible. She didn't have to settle on a date until she was more comfortable with it all. However, she has actively been planning the wedding this season. She has been making commitments for it. The audience also had the understanding that this season was building to that event. And now, Bonnie decides to postpone it once more because they need to invest the money into Adam's bar. The business isn't going as well as Adam had hoped. He's not drawing in a crowd. He's losing money every month. He didn't know that it would be this difficult. He feels defeated. He sees this as potentially the dumbest thing he has ever done. That's insane. But Bonnie is also supportive of him throughout this endeavor. She just asks him to be honest about it with her. All of this is only discovered because Christy has to borrow some cookie sheets from Adam's apartment and learns that he has been renting it out. It's not a secret that she can keep either. This season has shown her gaining confidence because of law school. She has built many opportunities for herself. But she is still intimidated by her mother and is more than open with information as soon as she starts asking the right questions. As such, this never has the potential to build up into some secret that is being kept from Bonnie. Adam and Christy first think that it's right to do so. It's a part of the holiday traditions for the family. But it's much more meaningful for Bonnie to continue to invest in her fiancé. She wants him to succeed. She reassures him that he won't lose her if he fails at everything else. She knows how to survive with nothing. She has do so many times before. She won't let that be the reason to break off this engagement. She will love him no matter what. That's a profound statement for her to make considering just how crazy she can still be a lot of the time. When she shows her heart though, it can really be meaningful. That continues to be an overwhelming theme of this season too. She supports Adam with the bar and she is fighting to give Tammy a better life outside of prison. Right now, there is a serious threat that her parole will be revoked. She has to find a job that comes with documentation. Otherwise, she will be thrown back into jail to complete the rest of her original sentence. That's the expectation from her now. It doesn't matter that she's been a handy presence for many of the characters at this moment in their lives. She has thrived as a repairwoman. She has helped Bonnie, Adam and Marjorie. As such, it always seemed likely that she would find some kind of legal employment in that particular field. But it also allows the show to have its grand moment of all of the women from the program stand up on Tammy's behavior to show her new parole officer that she has the determination to make this an actual business. It will prove that she is a responsible and contributing member of society. That too is a beautiful gift. This episode really puts a spotlight on the friendships of the characters and just how much they are willing to support each other. That's very nice and pleasant.
