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Better Things

 This is for you if you watched the finale of "Better Things," and you found yourself becoming a trembling puddle of tears. You know who you are.


One of Pamela Adlon's many gifts is the ability to identify great peripheral characters and bring them to the center. I'm not sure Adlon ever dreamed of making Xander prominent (in early days) -- but Xander's difficulties became compelling, and Adlon wisely pursued Xander's story in the middle seasons. Lenny was a blip on our radar, for a while, and then she began to suffer through an especially painful divorce -- and so, for a year, she was given a chance to step down-stage.

This current season, the standout was Caroline. We hadn't seen much of her. You know Caroline; she exists in your own life. Maybe you *are* Caroline. Caroline is the person so fragile, when her crazy mother-in-law complains about a chandelier in earthquake-plagued L.A., she can't simply laugh it off. She must instead say, "Who told you to stand under that chandelier? No one told you you have to do that!"

When Beverly Cleary was writing about Henry Huggins, a little girl named Ramona kept popping up, and suddenly Ramona seemed to demand her own book. I think this happened with Caroline, as well. Again and again, we've seen this brittle person shining. She can't tolerate when her husband gets a case of the shits in the middle of a sidewalk -- it's inconvenient! Caroline is enraged when Sam Fox is injured right before a funeral; Caroline's eyes are on the funeral, not on the suffering of her close friend. Caroline will even purchase a business-class ticket for herself -- while the rest of the family flies coach on the same goddamn airplane.

People are mysterious, and Caroline gets a wonderful moment to redeem herself this week. She appears at Sam's party and says, "I know you're missing an ornament on your landing. I've found a replacement." Caroline goes on to tell her own life story -- and to explain, in the most gracious way, exactly how important Sam is (for a wide variety of people). This doesn't feel forced; I think, in life, the most awkward people sometimes surprise you with the most beautiful acts. I loved Caroline's speech this week.

I didn't get to the period, the tampon, the Gefilte discussion, the freshwater mishap. (You think you're acting wisely, but God is laughing at you.) I didn't talk about how these moments of chaos also seemed exactly right -- this is life. I didn't talk about the moment when Adlon winks at the camera. I didn't mention the fabulous wedding ceremony: "Do you promise to take loving photos of your wife when she isn't looking? Sunny, do you promise to make time to care for yourself? You two.....I now pronounce you....better for each other."

Some other time. Brava to Pamela Adlon!
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