Forks

I don't say unexpected because I thought it wouldn't be good. I say unexpected because this episode made me think about aspects of life and professionalism that this show hadn't touched on yet for me.

Being in a service industry myself it was magical to see the pride in giving an extraordinary experience to people and Ritchie catching the satisfaction of a job very well done.

The exploration of why Ritchie's lack of self confidence has made him the way he is and his choice to change should win him more fans including me.

After the craziness of the last episode I really needed this. So far my favorite of the second season.

This may be one of the most satisfying and well written and acted episodes of television I have ever watched. Richie's transformation was such a a beautiful journey and I don't know how it could have been handled better.

As meticulously crafted as one of Marcus's gourmet pastry creations it was sublime in every way. The icing on the cake, Olivia Coleman in a short, quietly powerful and surprisingly touching scene as a notorious chef. Each one of the season two episodes have been little jewels (except for the Christmas Dinner episode that was longer, and a truly uncomfortable to watch absolute master class in acting, directing and editing).

Overall, the best thing on television in many years.

I've always loved Richie, so to watch an entire episode devoted to him was easy. I've heard a lot of people praise this episode because it made them see the character in a new light, but I feel as though Richie's vulnerabilities have always been one of the strongest aspects of the show in regards to its emotional core. Even if they've never been addressed as explicitly as within this episode.

The episode is great because of the setting, too. The restaurant is so much fun to watch in action; you can't help but share the radical excitement of Richie as he and you realise just how much the service industry can make people's days, if the workers are willing to go that extra mile.

And in many ways, maybe this is something that Richie has never been fully willing to do before. He tries to take on tasks that don't fit him, and he doesn't want to stand around and take the time to learn before he dives right in. His heart is in the right place, he wants to go the extra mile, but he's never truly receptive to the exact course of action it would take for him to get there. It was great to see this episode change that, and I think Ebon Moss-Bachrach could have a career-altering awards season, if the Emmys and Golden Globes know what's right for them.

Fun, hilarious, thought-provoking and a deeply emotional look into one of this show's best characters.

I implore more shows to take this episode as an example of how to grow a character. Towards this point in the season, Richie has been a backdrop for a majority of the episodes.

Although it may seem like a critique considering the fact that he is one of the main characters it actually quite suits him because we know that Richie doesn't necessarily have any skills to benefit the crew, that's why he's always been in the background trying to make himself apart of the team.

That part of Richie is what made this episode one of the best in the show. It's a great character study looking into a person that wants to find purpose and this episode captures that idea perfectly well.

I was hoping for something like this for Richie, but never expected it to be delivered in such an exquisite story. I always thought Richie was good with people and wondered why they didn't make better use of his relationships with the customers... and then this happens. I actually sobbed this episode because I feel this way about hospitality and creating beautiful and welcoming food and experiences.

My father said to me once at a Taco Bell drive thru how wonderful it would be to have that job and I said "why?!?" His reply was how great it would be to make people happy bringing them food. It changed the way I thought about the service industry in all it's forms and gave me an appreciation I never lost.

I sobbed because I've been in a car accident that took my ability away to create those experiences and so to have the characters in this episode explain it and embody it so well and give Richie a sense of purpose and pride and competence was so beautiful.

And I won't spoil it, but the ending message... Yes! What a freaking reveal!!