FiftyTwoReviews

Ep 8 "Kahn-scious Uncoupling" is one of Season 14's stronger outings, striking a balance between comedy and uneasy family drama. The setup at the Souphanousinphones' party works well as a stage for awkward conversations, simmering tensions, and subtle power shifts.

Kahn, voiced this season by Ronny Chieng, is as prickly and self-absorbed as ever. Even with the new performance, the character retains the same sharp bite, and his scenes carry plenty of weight. Bobby is once again the quiet anchor - trying to help Connie while also handling his own responsibilities - and Pamela Adlon gives him warmth without tipping into sentimentality. Peggy's reactions to the social chaos are written with sharpness and just enough bite to make her memorable without overplaying the moment.

The episode also benefits from the full ensemble: Hank trying to manage what he knows, Dale and Bill adding their own flavor, and Connie caught in the middle. It's an episode about appearances, hidden truths, and the bonds people hold onto even when things fall apart.

8.5/10: Solid, layered storytelling.

Ep 8 "Any Given Hill-Day" scores big... as a heartfelt standout in the revival with its perfect blend of humor, tradition, and the unexpected. 8.5/10

Bobby surprises Hank with tickets to a Dallas Cowboys fantasy camp... but when his free-spirited girlfriend Willow steals the show on the field, family dynamics get beautifully and hilariously complicated. Meanwhile, Peggy quietly steals the spotlight by trying to knit the neighborhood together with a lending library - until reality (and a few bedbugs) derail her plans.

Mike Judge effortlessly anchors the episode with Hank's nostalgic pride and patriarchal stubbornness, while Pamela Adlon's Bobby navigates growing adulthood with heart. Kathy Najimy's Peggy sparkles in her own small way, making a statement about human connection in a screen-obsessed world. Willow brings fresh chaos and charm to the mix.

It's funny, bittersweet, and quietly profound - all at once. The episode balances absurd moments with emotional weight, and even handles tributes to Johnny Hardwick with tasteful reverence. Consider this one a high note: warm, witty, and unpretentiously human.

Ep 6 "Peggy's Fadeout" puts Peggy front and center, and while it doesn't fully soar, it gives her a welcome moment in the spotlight.

The story tackles her shaken sense of self after a professional setback, forcing her to reckon with who she is beyond the roles she's long leaned on. It's a quieter episode, less about big laughs and more about the insecurities that creep in as life changes. That choice makes it feel smaller than the revival's standouts - but also more personal.

Kathy Najimy delivers a strong performance, keeping Peggy sympathetic even at her most delusional. Bill, meanwhile, steals scenes with his mix of misguided loyalty and sad-sack charm, adding both comedy and unexpected heart. Connie's subplot reflects the same theme... figuring out who you are when relationships and expectations shift.

The humor is subtler here, sometimes even bittersweet, but the emotional beats land. At 7/10, this isn't a highlight of the season, yet it earns points for slowing down, taking Peggy seriously, and reminding us why Arlen still feels like a lived-in, human place.