'Life of Ryan' Episode Eight - Season Two
Mar 05 2008 / Los Angeles, CA
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Gretchen, Ryan's mom-manager, is getting into the holiday spirit, getting out decorations and putting them on the house. Ryan tentatively asks if everything is chill between his mom and dad. She says it clear as day: it's over.
Later at a lunch with his girlfriend Kayla and friends Mitch and Tony, Ryan lets them know he wants hold a Christmas party that would include his family and friends. To make sure no one will get bent out of shape, Ryan wants to do the party at a neutral site. But as soon as he suggests a party to his mom she perks up and is happy to host it. Before he knows it, the party is set and mom is buying supplies and planning out the details.
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Ryan talks with Kayla that he's concerned about inviting his dad and what it would do to his mom. He decides to talk to his dad directly instead of even bringing it up her but since Christmas has always been a special time for the family, Ryan's worried about the reaction he'll get.
The next stop for Ryan is his Dad's office. He tells Randy abotu the party and without saying it directly, he lets it be known that Randy isn't going to be invited. Randy is little surprised and when Ryan promises that he, along with Kane and Shane, will do something special for the holiday, it doesn't seem to make up for it.
Ryan later talks with Shane about the situation as Kane watches on. It's a no-win situation and no matter what, Shane and Kane still seem to be the ones with a better relationship with Randy. Ryan is still trying, though. He returns back to Randy's office for a workout alongside his dad and the subject moves to the divorce.
It doesn't seem Ryan wants to talk about it but maybe he does and Randy shares the result of the last court date. He lost the lawsuit, he says, with the judge telling him, "you made a huge mistake."
Randy gets emotional and quiets. Ryan tries to back out and Randy explains that he's tried to get along with Gretchen but she won't have anything with it. Randy broaches the subject of "crashing the party" but before Ryan can say no Randy says he wouldn't do it.
Later with his mom Ryan brings up that Randy wants to come to the party. He sees her reaction and assures her that Randy isn't coming, but he goes on to say he wants to spend more time with his dad.
Then he and his mom get in a heavy conversation about the final fight his mom and dad had before he left. It turns out Ryan has a lot of guilt because it was a fight he had with Randy that led to the fight between his parents. Gretchen tries to explain that if it didn't happen then, it would have happened sometime later.
He and Gretchen go back and forth before Ryan has to leave. But it's clear that this conversation was one that needed to happen after more than a year of pent-up emotion.
The following morning (the morning of the party) Ryan and Gretchen have a little download and agree the conversation from the day before had to happen. But Ryan uses the situation to bring up the subject of getting his own place again -- a place he can be with either partent with no concerns. His mom is not completely buying into that yet, but is getting there.
It's time for the party and it's a full house. The whole crew is there, along with mom's boyfriend, Bruce, agent Steve and of course, Kayla. Ryan thanks his mom after the party and she reminds him that time like that are important, and that the people there are the ones that matter.
But Ryan knows that there's someone missing who also matters. His dad. He goes golfing at a driving range with his dad and they discuss what new Christmas tradition to set up together and he looks ahead to next year when he will have his own place...
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Random Notes from Episode Eight - Season Two
- After a slow episode last week, the show came back with an emotionally-heavy but strong episode. This one answered a lot of questions and should put any divorce questions to rest.
- Randy may hate me (I can show you the emails to prove it) but I certainly sympathize with the guy and felt for him this week. Yes, he may have a temper and yes, he may sometimes seem like a jerk, but this guy has lost everything he loved and no doubt blames himself at times. It would be a tough situation for anyone.
- According to Ryan's after-show blog, Tony showed up to the Christmas party with a girlfriend -- his first in awhile. Wonder if we're ever going to see her...
- You know by now that I am not a huge fan of the old home movie footage. But as is occasionally the case, this week's use of the footage was on topic and contributed to the show. Seeing how his dad used to be with the kids during the holidays was definitely helpful to the story.
- Gotta love that pic of Shane that was making the rounds at the Christmas party. Very funny to see the prim and proper Shane compared to the punk-loving shaved head Shane.
- Next week should be interesting. The man himself turns 18 and girlfriend issues are on the horizon. Oh boy.
- Totally off topic, but be sure to read our Quick Hits news story on Ryan's Valentine Day massacre. I mean fiasco.
See you all next week.
- Greg Baerg
