Series 2 Episode 8: Ty’s happy day

Anders Johnson is back, people.

The family is once again reunited. And with his return, the show felt more solidly realized than it has since the start of the second series. Yes, we all knew we missed our dwarf-boy (especially you CJ — and no, he didn’t bring Mitchell back home with him. Sorry). How much Anders plays into the family dynamics really shows in his “triumphant” return.

From the moment the entire family sat in the bar to the well-deserved right hook that started the action for the week, everything felt tighter, more in-sync, and better focused. Anders as foil works in a way that Agnetha and Colin don’t. There’s more backstory, more loyalty, more dependence, and more frustration. The Almighty Johnsons needs Anders.

And so do we. And CJ. Even Dawn is more interesting with Anders in the mix.

With his godpowers on the blink, Anders heroically managed to overcome obstacles (sidestepping the care of his sick relatives and making end-runs around office workers who failed to respond to his charm) and retrieve his Yggdrasil branch (for “Stacey” values of “retrieve”). But somehow as much as one might cheer for such an ending, the stick completely avoided rectal insertion.

Surprising, that.

As for his condensed adventure sequence recap, I defy anyone to watch that while drinking soda. It was brilliant. Cheesy green screens for the win!

Still, Anders got to hit Mike back at the end, because what goes around comes around. Axl summarized it, “Family, eh? Can’t you just feel the warmth?” A bit of ice on the knuckles might help with the swelling, there. Now who could he go to for that?

Speaking of Mike, of course the man never loses his keys. How perfect was it, then, when he did? It was a sit up and take notice moment, following as it did the melty-Ty and strike-out-Anders reveals. It was the perfect lead into the Ty plot, as our man-of-ice finally thawed out and had a really good day. When the highlight of a person’s life is to finally taste Ingrid’s curry, it only emphasizes how deeply awful it is to be Ty.

Throughout the whole hour, his deep gratitude for the most tiny pleasures — basic warmth, bad wine, bad curry, and the smell of cheap perfume — highlighted the an utter pit of hell he lives in (cold hell in Norse legend, Hel notwithstanding). What  shame then, that Axl had to suffer in turn. There’s never going to be a happy life for Ty — his choices here were that Axl got better and he was booted back into hodhell or that Axl died, taking Ty, the rest of the family, and a goodly part of New Zealand with him.

So…yay! Back to the Ty misery status quo. And better yet, he gave Dawn the “let’s be friends” speech. YAY!

(So, yes, maybe I am a sadist about the Ty story.)

For you Starbug:

Olaf got a bit of extra time this week, aging ungracefully yet gaining wisdom — and shagging Stacey in the end. For those like me who worried that Stacey has been put into a number of nonconsentual situations this series, fear not. Word from above is that she’s more flexible than the first series might have led us to believe. Regard:

In a way that’s a pity because she’s become such a strong and capable character over the last few episodes, that it would have been groundbreaking TV-wise where they’re taking her.

Of all Agnetha’s potential heirs, of course, it’s Stacey who now has her eye on a future plan, who has thought seriously and capably about where she wants to go, and who masterminds the rescue of the Yggdrasil branch. More than that, she is also the one who shows compassion for Olaf, takes responsibility for his care, and begins the realization that being a “handmaiden” has its own strengths and dignity.

I really loved her standing up to Anders and remaining firm about her desires. Stacey’s really become a stand-out in this series. Kudos to both Gordon and to the writers.

Great ep!

• There wasn’t much for Axl to do this week, but Skilton does a mean fit. And I loved the bloody vicious croquet game.
• Loved Zeb’s end-of-the-world planning strategy.
• Whoever did the paint job in Anders’ bedroom needs to be fired.
• Did we get an explanation of Ingrid’s Near Death Experience collage?
• It can’t be easy to bike with an 8-foot staff on your back.
• Fetch, Anders, fetch! But speaking as a professional in these matters, the iPhone 4 (possibly S) wasn’t needed to illuminate the already well-lit container. I can, however, recommend any number of flashlight apps.
• No, I just didn’t quite get the whole Michelle has to struggle to remove the Yggdrasil branch then starts drawing on his forehead. Anyone able to explain? “It gives and takes from those who give life”? So Michelle being a doctor mattered? She’s not a very good doctor.
• Agnetha’s money is pretty much gone. YAY! So glad that was wrapped up quickly.
• I may be a wee bit excited about next week’s preview.