Jennifer Falls is an American sitcom created by Matthew Carlson, and starring Jaime Pressly in the title role. The series premiered on TV Land on June 4, 2014, and is the first single-camera comedy series for the network. It was cancelled on October 3, 2014, after ten episodes.
The series follows Jennifer Doyle (Jaime Pressly), a single mother who, after losing her high salary job, has to move back in with her mother, Maggie (Jessica Walter). From there, Jennifer must reassess her life and figure out how to rebuild.
Jennifer Falls Episode 2 Written Update & Review
Aha, we are back.
So, the glamorous life of Jennifer Doyle takes an unexpected turn in the pilot episode of “Jennifer Falls.” Fired from her high-powered job for her infamous anger issues, Jennifer finds herself with an entire year left on her posh health club membership. Instead of gracefully accepting her fate, she sets out on a mission to make the most of this unexpected perk.
Her first order of business? Trying to get a partial refund for the unused portion of her membership. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well. Undeterred, Jennifer decides to indulge in a day of pampering at the spa, because why not? But her relaxation is short-lived when she runs into two familiar faces from her old office.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. These two ladies are all about appearances, and Jennifer, ever the master of keeping up appearances, agrees to join them for dinner. The catch? She had already made plans for a casual bowling and dinner night with her friend Dina. Talk about a scheduling nightmare!
In a hilarious attempt to juggle her social commitments, Jennifer tries to make it work by canceling on Dina. But fear not, she has a plan to make it up to her friend. She surprises Dina with tickets to a concert by her favorite group, The Black Keys. Cue the excitement!
But wait, there’s a twist. Just when Jennifer thinks she’s redeemed herself, she discovers that her workmates are not only at the same concert but are also enjoying it from a luxury box. And to top it off, her former client is there too! Talk about awkward encounters.
In classic Jennifer fashion, she decides to ditch poor Dina once again in a desperate attempt to salvage her professional image. It’s a rollercoaster of a day filled with hilarious mishaps, awkward encounters, and a reminder that sometimes, trying to keep up appearances can lead to more trouble than it’s worth.
And thus begins Jennifer’s journey of navigating the ups and downs of life after a major setback, all while trying to find her footing in a world that’s constantly throwing curveballs. Will she be able to balance her personal life with her desire to climb back up the career ladder? Tune in to find out!
Review
The pilot episode of “Jennifer Falls” left me with mixed feelings, primarily due to the portrayal of the titular character and some questionable storylines. As the central figure of the series, I expected Jennifer Doyle to be a stronger and more assertive character, especially considering the challenges she faces. However, I found her initial portrayal to be somewhat weak and lacking the resilience I was hoping for. Her hesitation to confront her issues, particularly in her strained friendship with Dina, felt out of character for someone in her position. While her eventual decision to take a leap and address the situation is a step in the right direction, it felt like a long time coming and the comedic effect was somewhat diminished by the delay.
Also, Maggie’s track stuck out as a sore thumb when she tried to convince Wayne and Stephanie that they are running out of time to give her a grandchild. It felt forced and out of place and came across as clichéd and exaggerated, detracting from the overall tone of the episode.
This subplot seemed out of sync with the rest of the narrative and made me roll my eyes at its lack of subtlety. I mean, it is hard to watch desi mother-in-law doing that in desi dramas. Watching a white mother do that too much to handle. Are we saying that the society that us asians are trying to mimic is no different than ours? What’s the difference between a saasu maa wrapped in a sari and wearing tacky jewellery (Indian soaps) or Amma wearing a graceful salwar suit and pastel dupatta around her head (Pakistani dramas) and Maggie? Except for the language they speak?
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While “Jennifer Falls” may have been short-lived, it was a nice binge for a Wednesday night. More is coming. Watch this space.
Until we meet again, check out my books on Amazon. You can subscribe for Kindle Unlimited for free for the first month, just saying 🙂
Shabana Mukhtar