SMILF Season 1 Episode 5 Review: RUN, BRIDGETTE, RUN OR FORTY-EIGHT BURNT CUPCAKES & GRAVEYARD RUM
Paul Dailly
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Bridgette has a vivid imagination, and she took it to a whole other level on SMILF Season 1 Episode 5, and it resulted in the best episode of the show to date.
It was a typical Bridgette move to think about all of the possible scenarios that could play out following Rafi's betrayal, but the best part about all of it was having her sprinting like the woman from Run, Lola, Run.
Frankie Shaw is a flawless actress, and that was well on display during "Run, Bridgette, Run." Deep down, Bridgette was cut up about the betrayal, and while her mind went to crazy places, she knew she needed to forgive him for the sake of their son.
The moment Rafi stepped on to the road in the magic mushroom-fueled version of events, I thought to myself, "If this were not a comedy series, he would totally be getting knocked down."
And then, like magic, a truck appeared and took him down. Shows that play with expectations are some of the best, and SMILF is defying all of my expectations.
My jaw hit the floor when Ally asked Bridgette if she wanted to indulge in a threesome. That came out of nowhere, but it was Bridgette's reaction to all of it.
She's so innocent at the best of times, and my heart broke for her when she failed to realize what she was being asked. It was comical, shocking, and heartwarming all at the one time.
Ally is one of the more fun characters on the show, but she has yet to be given a meaty storyline that genuinely explores her life. We know that she's lesbian, so I dare say having Bridgette involved in a threesome with her husband would be more about her own benefit than his.
Bridgette is the Queen of bad decisions, but there's no way she would go there. Could you imagine Ally's reaction if she learned that Bridgette slept with her son?
I would love to be a fly on the wall for that one.
All of the stuff with Eliza was more serious than what we have seen in the past. It's really difficult to speculate when we don't know how much of her relationship with her father was fabricated by Bridgette's mind.
If he is as overbearing as Bridgette seems to think, he needs to take a step back and realize that his daughter has her own aspirations in life, and while her job may be somewhat unorthodox, she's happy.
Eliza: Bridge, I have to finish getting ready.
Bridgette: Well, you're wearing like four outfits. Why not just pick one of those?
Who wouldn't be happy having someone paying them to eat?
The scene with Bridgette and Eliza stripping down and breaking into a song made me feel like Bridgette wants to be the most confident woman in the room. She has struggled with self-worth, and that's likely down to the myriad of things she has been through in her life.
It made sense that she would follow that empowering moment up by cutting her mother out of her life. Tutu's detached approach to parenting is likely part of the reason Bridgette's emotions are all over the place.
Rosie O'Donnell's acting when Tutu realized she was not getting to see Larry was something else. This role is miles away from any other she has done in the past, and this is hands down her finest effort yet.
We need to peel the layers further back on the character. We need to know how she became the woman she is today. Did a significant life event give her the no-nonsense attitude, or has it always been that way?
"Run, Bridgette, Run" was essentially subversive look at narrative structure. "What If?" episodes of shows in general usually don't sit well with me, but I think the various ways it could have gone were all brilliant.
I may sound like a broken record by now, but this show really needs to be added to your watchlist if you're not already watching. It's one of the best shows around, and the timing of it arriving on the scene is impeccable.
It's great to know that the show is already renewed, and we will be spending more times in this world that's filled with excellent characters.
Over to you, SMILF Fanatics! What did you think of the episode?
Did you like all four outcomes? Were there any that were too much?
Hit the comments below!
Remember you can watch SMILF online right here via TV Fanatic. Get caught up on the latest laughs from the characters right now.
SMILF continues Sundays on Showtime.
Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.
