Monday, April 17, 2017

Forgive Me, Father (S2E18)

Synopsis: Dorothy begins dating a co-worker and is surprised to find out he's actually a priest; Sophia prepares for a bingo game.

80s Flashback
Rose, after realizing Frank is a priest: “I'm so sorry Hell Town was canceled...”

That’s What She Said
Rose, after Sophia makes offensive hand gestures: “Sophia, isn't that obscene?”
Sophia: “No. They mean, 'good health,' 'have a nice day,' and 'would you like to squeeze my concertina?'"

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Stanley
Sophia, looking for her lucky handkerchief: “I'm getting my kit together for a major bingo game and it's not here. There's no way I can play without it, it's like Kareem without his goggles.”

Lewd Ladies
Father Leahy: “She's just never seen me in cleric's clothing.”
Blanche: “I didn't know you priests could take your clothes off.”
Father Leahy: “We do a lot of things real people do.”
Blanche: “Except for one very important thing. Boy, is that gonna put a hitch in Dorothy's plans.”

Zbornak Zingers
Blanche, pretending to be Dorothy: “Why, Frank, you know I've been thinking, this is the third Saturday of our relationship and I don't even know what you like to eat. Why don't you come over for dinner this Saturday night and let me find out what... whets your appetite.”
Dorothy: “And what are you serving for dessert, Blanche, penicillin?”

Insult Watch
Rose: “Maybe he just doesn't like her.”
Dorothy: “Thank you, Rose. Incidentally, you look fat.”

Tales from the Old South
Blanche: “I was in a very similar situation once and he was a man of the cloth. Oh totally dedicated to his vocation or so he said, but his eyes told me he was dedicated to me. Now, we both knew it was wrong and we fought our feelings with every bone in our hot, longing, writhin' bodies. Finally, it was just too much for us and we gave up and checked into a Best Western.”
Dorothy: “You had an affair with a priest?!”
Blanche: “A priest? I didn't say he was a priest I said he was a man of the cloth, he was a fabric salesman. You know we never made love again after that, but he did cover my La-Z-Boy for free.”

Sassy Sophia
Sophia: “I got my lucky handkerchief. I can't lose.”
Rose: “Where did you find it?”
Sophia: “In my bra.”
Rose: “In your bra? What was your lucky handkerchief doing in there?”
Sophia: “I was blowing my breasts, Rose.”

Back in St. Olaf
Rose: “When Charlie and I started dating, I got the feeling that his folks didn't like me. That's when I decided to get to the bottom of things and I found out about the ancient feud between the Nylunds and the Gorkleknabygens. That was my mother's maiden name. Originally, it was Gorkleknabygen-Höffstädlerfrau. But they shortened it cause most of my mother's family were in show business. Anyway, when Charlie told them that we were gonna get married, they forbade it. They said they'd disown him if he married..”
Dorothy & Blanche: “...a Gorkleknabygen...”
Rose: “Right! And he'd lose his share of the family tile grout fortune. He didn't care. He told them he loved me more than grout.”
Blanche: “Must have been a tough choice for old Charlie.”

Best of B.E.D.
Dorothy: “How do I look?”
Blanche: “Go back and change. Oh honey, that outfit might be alright for a gay funeral in New Orleans, but it's too, much too subtle for this evening. Dorothy, put on something flashy. Flashy. Something colorful.”
Dorothy: “That's really not me, Blanche.”
Blanche: “I know, honey, but take a chance. Be a woman!”

Reel References
Dorothy: “I'll do it my own way.”
Sophia: “If you do it your way, you'd better use Jane Fonda's body, otherwise, it'll be just four of us for dinner.”

The Boob Tube
Dorothy: “My luck. The first really wonderful guy I've met in a long time and he turns out to have a more serious involvement.” 
Rose: “With whom?” 
Dorothy: “Pam Dawber!!”

Golden Quotes
Frank Leahy: “You look lovely tonight.”
Dorothy: “I look like the mother of a Solid Gold dancer.”

Critique: Forgive Me, Father” is a simply delightful episode that very much mirrors the season one episode “A Little Romance” except this time it's Dorothy who's dating someone the girls didn't expect. However, the writing here isn't quite as crisp but still funny nonetheless. The centerpiece scene is the exquisite dinner sequence in which every lady has a great standout moment... Blanche blabbering at the front door, “Now I'm lying to priest.” Rose's slow realization that Frank is a priest, “He's a priest isn't he!?” Dorothy, upon seeing Frank in his cleric clothes for the first time: “Please tell me that's a Nehru jacket.” And finally Sophia's entrance and simple “come here” to Dorothy is a testament to the greatness of Estelle Getty. There are other good moments, but yet again Sophia doesn't really get much to do and the subplot about her playing bingo is really just an excuse to have her out of the best segment of the episode. But like other great episodes there is definitely a lot to love here. If Father Leahy looks familiar, actor John McMartin was most recently seen in a season one episode of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” though he passed away in 2016. GRADE: B+

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