Ben And Kate review: 1×04 ’21st Birthday’

Ben And Kate’ s pacing is still it’s most defining attribute to me, and the show itself was summed up with a button in the middle of this episode. Maddie, in the back of the car, grabs a balloon and rubs it against Lucy’s hair. It’s not the funniest thing ever, but it quite possibly is the most adorable. It doesn’t cut quick. It lingers, and ends on Maddie smiling. A lot of that happened in this episode — a step up from “The Fox Hunt” last week.

It’s Kate’s 26th Birthday, but she doesn’t want a party. So obviously, Ben, Tommy and sort of but not really Lucy (she doesn’t want to pay, hilariously) throw her a party. A 21st. She never got one. Ben invites Kate’s old friend to the party, and they get on like wildfire… For five minutes. Then Kate realises this is what what her life is. Her life is eating ice cream with her daughter on her Birthday. And now, her daughter, Ben, Lucy and Tommy too.

Meanwhile, Ben continues to be obsessed with Darcy. I’m unsure why the show persists, but I think this may be the end for a while. Darcy is moving into her and Ben’s dream house with her new husband. After Lucy making contact with Darcy inside the house (by subtly smashing the window) she tells Ben that it was never her dream to be with him longterm. That was his dream. And Lucy, standing up for her friend, tries to show her what a great person Ben is.

This is something else I’m curious about — I don’t quite know why the show needs to have romantic entanglements. I’m sure we could bring in guest stars much like New Girl does successfully. We don’t need to see Ben and Lucy (ick!) or Kate and Tommy (less ick, but urgh) for this to be a great family romp.

Still, I’m looking forward to seeing where we go. It’s a real enjoyable half hour every week.