TVSquad

The sleepwalking episode was great, but it just wasn't so dramatic and dangerous as it was made out to be in the previews. Sure, it was terribly dangerous when Allison walked into traffic in the opening dream sequence. And it was messy when she tore the house apart looking for her money. But... that was the extent of the danger "to her family." (Well, except for financial danger, which is real but not life-altering.) The people who write the trailers really should be held to the same "truth in advertising" standards as the ones who are selling actual products. Dontcha think?

The crime drama was very good today - and the "gotcha" scene at the end was fabulous, but the most well-done, realistically-drawn plot was that between Ariel and the cute older boy at the convenience store. I can't think of another time that I watched a TV show that brought back what it's like to be a pre-teen so keenly. I could remember every agony, every heart-ripping crush, every blush in those scenes. They were fantastic, I almost wondered if the show's writers include a 12-year-old among them.

This episode was well done from stem-to-stern if you forget that you ever watched the previews. While the identity of the criminal was predictable (it's always the guy who calls the kidnapping in, isn't it?), the actor who played him did a great job of portraying the innocent, worried right-hand man. I kept thinking it must be him - but it wasn't obvious that it was until the end. Nicely done.

I love that Allison took out $15,000 in cash while she was sleeping. Sure, it's not really believable, but she plays it well. The scenes between Allison and Joe are priceless; the one where she's laughing about her escapades while Joe is panicking mirror so many less earth-shattering arguments between any married couple with kids. It's illuminating to my day-to-day issues; sometimes one partner's sense of humor can get in the way of communication. It's just not funny. And oh, God, the scene where Allison is caught, shoulder-deep in mustard, rifling through the fridge looking for her money - it was hilarious and evocative of just how screwed-up their lives were, all at once. I love how Joe takes her into the shower to wake her up. Funny and sensible. He's such a great husband to a psychic! If you ever discover you've got psychic powers, get a guy like that. Really.

But I wondered - who cleaned up that mess? It looked like it would have taken days to clean up from that. Did Joe do that while Allison was sleeping the next day? No fun.

Finally, Ariel. First of all, just a question... when do you let your kids walk to and from school by themselves? I was walking to kindergarten by myself (well, it was three blocks away, and in the late 70s, but still...). The way Joe and Allison debated whether or not she should be allowed to walk home was well-done, Allison saying "it's not negotiable!" and Joe talking her down reasonably - he's right, I think, you've got to let children have some latitude or they'll end up rebelling in a bigger way.

Her relationship with her girlfriend (who's a cutey, btw - if NBC had better websites for their shows, I might be able to tell you who played her) is adorable, and when they wander into the convenience store and see the dreamy older boy walk in - oh, that's great. I love how Ariel keeps popping up with the numbers, and he ignores her despite the fact that this is the biggest thing in her life. Remember when you were 11 or 12? All those exchanges, where every word and expression is burned on your psyche and analyzed for weeks - and your elders have no idea. And the kiss on the cheek when he finally wins $5 was great, I thought they were going to play the Hallelujah chorus for a minute.

What kind of idiot brings in his ditzy girlfriend the day he decides to take advantage of his admirer's psychic abilities? The same kind of idiot who voluntarily gives his money to the government through the lotto machines, I guess. Bad move, hunky idiot. I was so proud that Ariel decided to give him the wrong numbers. And the fallout from that was really good (and Allison is such a good mom the way she worked through it with her the next day after school). But I wonder... if she can just guess the right numbers, when is she going to start using that? Is she ever going to wish for bigger things? She doesn't seem the sort to use her powers for ill gain, but... if you knew you could win millions with your "luck" when you were 12, would you have? Hmm...

All in all, another great episode on what is the smartest depiction of family life anywhere on TV. Sure, your family isn't made up psychics and rocket scientists, but everything else is real, and really compelling.