Forks

Probably one of the best episodes of the series. I didn't think they could top the Christmas episode but they did.

I love the show because I worked at a high-end restaurant at one point in my life and it's refreshing for a show to appeal to an "insider" along with people just looking for a compelling well-written drama. This is as true to the industry as anything I've seen.

Some might not know the actor playing Fak has run a number of restaurants, done a number of food shows and was an executive chef in Toronto. He's also an executive producer on the show. This along with some great cameos shows Hulu's commitment to excellence and really exceed my expectations. The scene with Olivia Colman and Richie was amazing.

Richie is a complex character that has been demonized to the point that he's difficult to watch most of the time. How the writers chose to humanize him in this episode is truly genius. I went from hatred for the character to empathy. Now that's a neat trick.

I can't exaggerate how this episode is perfection. In such a short time, this episode pulls at your heart stings and leaves you in a puddle. It's an empowering episode about second chances and allowing yourself to take them.

Forks changes the perspective of an entire character and, with this, the experience as a viewer. I went from hating this character to cheering him on and excited to see what comes next for him.

This seriously might be one of the best episodes of television I've ever watched. The writers and acting all come together to punch you straight in the heart. I audibly said "this episode is art" and would stand by this statement to anyone who questions it.

I'm writing this comment while watching Richie sing along with Taylor Swift, what a moment and what an episode. Might be the best I watched this year, all the emotions are there. We all knew Richie had more in him than what we saw in season 1 and early season 2, he can be annoying sometimes with all his yelling, but man he truly showed in this one that he's definitely in Van Halen for a reason. From the moment he heard those heartbraking news and hung up the phone, i knew my guy was gonna drop a masterclass. Can't wait to see how this new Tuxedo Guy develops in this 3-stars restaurant panoply.

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!!

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.