The First Time

Everybody Loves Raymond is a hit or miss show. It hits when it uses the entire ensemble and it misses when it focuses on any one character or only on Ray and Debra. But it really misses in the flashbacks, which always seem like a better idea than they are in execution.

This episode is such a case. Ray is shown in a wig to be playing himself in his 20s and one is willing to play along but then they show his friends in this episode and they look as middle aged as ever. There's not even the slightest attempt to make them look younger. That's part of the problems with this show. It can be very lazy.

The eggs. Lasagna. Father Hubley.

Marie being meddling early on, a shadow of things to come.

Frank with the best one-liners as always.

"With all due respect Father, I saw what you did to that cheesecake at the church bake sale." 😂

It also sets up the dynamic between Marie and Debra that leads up to themm not taking in the current episodes.