So Help Me Todd made its highly anticipated return tonight and despite the lengthy hiatus, it seamlessly picked up right where it left off as if the show hadn’t missed a beat, instantly recapturing its charm and momentum. The series resumed with only a five day time jump, yet so much had changed in this brief time span. After finally being named partner of the firm at the end of last season, Margaret celebrated in the most un-Margaret way possible- by spending 5 days in bed with Gus at a seedy motel. Viewers will recall that following a season charged with sexual tension, Margaret and Gus ultimately came together proving that opposites really do attract. Gus is everything that Margaret isn’t. He grounds her and brings out the fun side of Margaret. A side that we hope to see more of this season.
Margaret wasn’t the only one showcasing a new side of herself. When we last saw Allison, she was sitting in the chair at a hair salon, as the stylist sold her on attending a shady-sounding retreat. Following her divorce, Allison is grappling with a sense of lost identity and she is clearly struggling with redefining herself outside of the confines of her mother’s expectations. As she embarks on a path to discover herself, the once successful doctor with a suburban life who never passed up an opportunity to cast judgment on her down and out brother, is now crashing on his couch. Yes, in another twist of fate, Todd has finally secured his own, albeit clearly budget friendly, place and has wasted no time getting his own Private Investigator firm off the ground. The Todd that was introduced in the pilot episode of the series underwent such tremendous growth in the first season that he is almost unrecognizable….almost.
Thankfully, Todd is still, well, Todd. Starting with the fact that he boldly set up his new Private Investigator firm in a tiny office at Crest, Folding and Wright, much to Margaret’s obvious horror. Luckily for Todd, his mothers protests do not hold much weight considering she has returned to work looking like she had come fresh off a bender. The mother and son banter between Todd and Margaret that viewers have come to love, is alive and well in this episode. As always it is sharp, witty and carries the episode as the two reluctantly end up working together on a case.
The case of the week is engaging and serves as a great backdrop for Todd and Margaret’s antics. Famed morning show host, Jennifer Giancola, played by ex- Real Housewife Lisa Rinna, has been charged with murdering her co-host, James. Margaret is quick to take on the case, driven by the fact that Beverly Crest, the firm’s main partner, has made it clear to her that in the wake of the embezzlement scandal involving ex-partner Alistair Song, the firm has suffered significant financial losses. Beverly has placed the burden of recouping those losses squarely on Margaret’s shoulders. The local news station that Giancola works for used to be a client, and Margaret uses her clever way with words to entice Giancola into hiring her as her attorney.
Giancola suspects that her co-hosts lover, Roy Dobbs, is the real murderer and as fate would have it, Roy shows up looking to hire Todd as his private investigator just as Margaret was hoping to have a word with him. Todd wastes no time seizing this opportunity by telling his mother he will only allow her to speak to Roy, if she agrees to let him work for all of the attorneys at the firm and take on external clients. Margaret reluctantly agrees.
As Todd and Margaret worked to find the identity of the real killer, the case took a dramatic turn, literally. The murderer ended up being a disgruntled lighting technician obsessed with the infamous Broadway musical, “Phantom of the Opera,” who was in love with James. As the theme song from the stage musical played, Todd managed to take down the technician and prevent him from hurting anyone else on the news set.
It took until halfway through the episode for the series to confront the elephant in the room- the shocking reappearance of Margaret’s estranged ex-husband, Harry, which had left viewers hanging at the end of the season one finale. While Margaret was on her five day adventure with Gus, Harry had taken it upon himself to make himself at home at her condo. He even got himself a cat. Margaret had kept Harry’s return a secret from everyone, until she forgot that she organized a 40th birthday party for Lawrence at her condo and arrived late to discover that Allison, Lawrence and Chet had already discovered Harry there, acting like he had never left. This led to another comedic Wright family dinner scene that delivered humor in spades as Allison attempted to mediate the situation and Todd lashed out at Harry donning greased up arms and a flamboyant outfit- part of an undercover get up for the case. Harry’s presence was enough to ruin the party, but Margaret was dealt with another blow when Gus showed up unannounced, forcing Margaret to have to explain the situation to him. A jaded Gus let Margaret know that he isn’t interested in taking on her mess, especially after going through his own mess with his ex.
For those wondering whether or not Susan eloped with Peter, the episode quickly cleared the air, revealing that she indeed went through with it and is now a married woman. When Todd bought her flowers and offered her congratulations, it initially led viewers to believe that perhaps he didn’t go to the airport to stop her after all. However, at the end of the episode, Todd revealed to Allison that he did in fact go to the airport but that he was too late. In season one, Todd would have allowed this devastation to take him down a dark path, but that is not what happened. Instead, he used it as a source of motivation, vowing to be the best private investigator that Portland has ever seen. He has seen what rock bottom looks like and he refuses to go down that path ever again. This shift is a powerful testament to Todd’s character growth throughout the series this far. What this turn of events means for Todd and Susan remains to be seen, but it is evident that unresolved feelings linger between them.
Margaret also showcased her growth by kicking Harry out and telling him that he has no power over her anymore. She has become independent, strong and successful without Harry and she no longer wants to tiptoe around his feelings. Marcia Gay Harden is an immense talent and this was on full display during her speech to Harry. It was a powerful moment of self-assertion and empowerment and surely had viewers cheering her on, filled with pride at how far she has come.
So Help Me Todd’s return was like reuniting with an old friend, reminding me of its warmth and charm and how this series embodies all of the things that make up great network television. Once again the writers delivered a solid hour of television, expertly balancing the heavier themes with the show’s inherent humor. The dialogue between characters remains sharp and the chemistry between the cast continues to be a highlight of the show. If the rest of the season is as good as the premiere, a season three renewal should be a safe bet. Over to you, SHMT fans, what are your thoughts on the premiere? Were you impressed with Todd’s character growth and ability to use his crushing defeat as a motivator? Will Gus take Margaret back? Or will she have to fight for him? Let me know your thoughts below and engage with me on “X” @Middle of Canada.