No Good Deed Recap: Fathers & Sons & Uncles & Nephews

As a longtime fan of dark comedies, I must say that this episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The way the writers managed to weave complex human relationships with humor and poignancy is truly commendable.

As a movie enthusiast, I was longing for episodes like “Full Disclosure” when I expressed my desire for external characters who had prior connections with Lydia and Paul before Jacob’s demise. This installment, featuring Paul bonding with his nephew Nate in an attempt to locate Mikey, not only enriches Paul’s character but also serves as a remarkable platform for Romano’s performance.

Upon Nate’s arrival at his aunt and uncle’s house, they warmly receive him, offering comforting hot cocoa – Aunt Lydia’s special recipe – while subtly concealing the truth about Nate’s father’s whereabouts. Their initial plan to hastily send him on his way is quickly forgotten when Nate receives a notification that Mikey’s phone has been located in Elysian Park, the same place Paul discarded it earlier. With few options remaining, Paul feels compelled to accompany his nephew, ensuring he doesn’t stumble upon any incriminating evidence.

As a cinephile delving into this narrative, I’ve come to realize that the inquiry isn’t unearthing much that should trouble Paul – the phone is submerged and inoperable, and when he compels Nate to visit Mikey’s residence, there’s nothing incriminating him or Lydia. However, this pursuit has made me scrutinize some of the fallout from my actions. I harbor legitimate resentment towards Mikey, but it seems a portion of the ire I’ve been venting on my brother is actually unresolved anger towards Jacob. As the situation stands, it’s clear that Mikey bears some scars, but the blameless Nate is getting caught in the crossfire as well. The anguish etched across my nephew’s face when he fears that the cryptic “love you” text I sent, disguised as Mikey, and my subsequent disappearance suggest his father may have attempted suicide, is a sight I can scarcely bear.

After confirming to Nate that his father is alive, showing him a partially eaten banana in the kitchen as evidence that Mikey had been there recently, which might sound unusual, let me tell you it does the job, Nate starts to open up about his complicated relationship with his dad. He explains that when his father was released from prison, he promised to give him $80,000 to help pay for a house, but since then, they haven’t seen each other. “Why do I always trust him?” he questions his uncle. Now, Paul understands where the $80,000 request originated, or at least the initial intention, and it definitely gives him insight into Mikey and undoubtedly makes him ponder about his relationship with Jacob.

In Paul’s presence, Nate invariably triggers memories of his own son. Up until now, Paul has kept himself guarded, but around Nate, he seems to be unable to conceal his vulnerability. He repeatedly affirms Nate’s father because he is his dad and harbors a desire to believe in him and hope for change. This mirrors Paul’s relationship with his own father. When speaking with Nate, Paul acknowledges their lack of good role models.

Instead of wishing Lydia could see Paul now, it might be better for her if she doesn’t, as she would likely react angrily due to the situation. You see, when Paul goes out with Nate, Lydia is left to confront Mikey about revealing the location of his hidden evidence. On surveillance footage, Lydia can see that Mikey seems distressed, and she genuinely cares for him. However, she also recognizes that he poses a threat to her and her husband due to the blackmail. Consequently, Lydia breaks down the wall to confront Mikey, who tells her he’s in withdrawal and needs his medication. She retrieves the pills but holds them as leverage until he divulges the hiding spot of the evidence. (It turns out to be a toolbox in his apartment.) Lydia is taking charge! And here’s the kicker: she has no intention of giving those drugs back to Mikey, and she claims to have already flushed them down the toilet. She suggests he could clean up and get a second chance with Nate. Why not try, right?

Lydia assists Mikey in his detox process, which is quite kind-hearted. And when he confesses that he had stayed sober until the night Jacob passed away, it underscores the destructive impact of the lies that have been spun. One wonders if Lydia and Paul’s marriage will also suffer as a result of these deceits. When she lays blame on herself and Paul for not being there enough for their children, such that they were unaware Jacob was pilfering from homes, Mikey offers an intriguing comment: Paul was aware of Jacob’s stealing problem a year before his death, as they had once caught the boy red-handed in a house they were remodeling. Paul chose not to share this information with Lydia. Oh, Lydia is boiling with anger.

As Paul hunts down the box of evidence and makes his way home, he discovers an empty house and a large hole in Jacob’s room instead. However, something unexpected takes place – not the kind of funny you might expect (although this is a COMEDY, just in case you forgot!). What Paul sees is the light in Jacob’s room flickering, but it’s more than just observing it; he feels it. He’s granting Jacob access again, and with that, all the emotions attached to it flood back in, and for the first time, he truly understands.

Closing Costs

Poor JD finds himself in a shocking predicament as he learns that his wife, whom he thought was named Margo, has been deceiving him all along. In her backstory about the house fire and her supposed dead brother Bobby, it turns out that not only is Bobby alive, but he’s living on JD’s boat! To make matters worse, Luann is actually her real name. One can only wonder what other secrets she’s hiding.

It seems like JD’s tales about starring in the Marvel series “Captain World Universe Man” aren’t looking quite as exaggerated anymore, right? (Cleverly using his improvisation skills again!)

Frankly, Dennis’s narrative doesn’t seem to captivate me much. Maybe there’s a hidden connection with other family tales, but overall, it seems unrelated to the primary storyline. I wonder why this detail is included. In the meantime, Dennis experiences a turning point in his novel during a CT scan, while Carla goes into labor at breakfast trying to reconcile with Denise. At the hospital, when Carla reveals Dennis’s location and her belief that he’s about to meet the same fate as his father, Denise drops a bombshell: The man who was thought to be Dennis’s father biologically is not so.

• Carla keeps ignoring calls from her dad. Tell me more about this!

• Carla spitting some truths as Dennis whines about dying before he has even gotten the proper tests: “As a Black woman giving birth in this country, it’s way more likely I’ll die than you.” Dennis’s response: “You’re just trying to make me feel better!”

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2024-12-13 03:54