TVSquad

(S02E19) You can watch the episode here if you missed it.

I've never really gambled, as that whole concept is a little too complex for me. My brain just isn't wired to keep track of money, statistics, and all those other things needed to gamble successfully.

In Chris' neighborhood, everyone gambles, whether it be on sports or on which kid happens to be your real son. Chris also gets sucked into helping his boss, Doc, bet on sports when it's discovered that Chris knows a lot about the sports teams, even if he himself is a terrible athlete.

Chris' mom loathes gambling, but while she yells at her family for betting on everything from sports to checker games, she becomes ecstatic when she believes Chris' finally gambling prediction may have actually paid off. It's much easier for her to look down on gambling when she's not playing and not winning, and I think it made her that much more human. One of my very minor pet peeves when it comes to Rochelle is that she's a bit too bitchy at times. I love that her character is feisty and unflappable, but I like those moments where she loses the tough outer shell and her vulnerability shows through.

I think the best lines in this episode went to Greg, who hates gambling because it was a gambling bet that both brought his parents together and broke them up. I also loved his suggestion that Chris pretend to be Dominican and move to the Bronx to avoid trouble.

The best part of the episode, though, was the snappy exchange between Pauly the bookie (Vincent Pastore) and Rochelle. Apparently not even a tough mobster can scare an angry mother from the Brooklyn ghetto.

I'm giving this episode 5 out of 7.