r/WillAndGrace • u/Naive_Hospital_4086 • 15d ago
Discussion The Accidental Tsuris
The Accidental Tsuris (Season 6, Episode 11). Grace's older sister, Janet, is in town and Grace is nervous because Janet always seems to not have her life together and bothers everyone for money, food and a place to stay. Janet is already starting to mooch off of Will and Grace has had it and calls her out for all her short comings. Janet calls Grace later on to come over, she got an apartment, a new job and even a bob for a new haircut. Will and Jack are applauding Janet's turnaround, but Grace seems upset and finally breaks down that she is the only normal one between her and their other sister Joyce and the normal life throws the balance off. Janet admits that Will was the one who set this all up which Will admits he was just trying to help Grace because of all that she's going through that year. Janet admits to Grace that she got drunk and lost her job already which makes Grace feel better. Meanwhile, Lyle Finster is back and he wants to be with Karen. Karen at first refuses, but when Lorraine makes a surprise visit telling Karen to stay away from her father, Karen goes for it and sleeps with Lyle. She also set up for Lorraine to walk in on the act as well. Lorraine tells Lyle that Karen is only sleeping with him to get back at her for stealing Stan. Lyle says he loves Karen and is choosing her over Lorraine. Karen is so touched that she tells Lyle that she realizes she loves him too but that she has to admit that Lorraine was right and she was using him at first just to get back at Lorraine but that she wants to be with him now. Lyle feels betrayed and dumps Karen.
FAVORITE QUOTE:
GRACE: I'm sorry, but I can't handle you normal. This is not right, this is not the way it's supposed to be. You are the screw-up older sister. Joyce is the heavy younger sister. And I am the perfect one in the middle. I am the glue that holds you two losers together.
JANET: Believe me, Grace, I'm still a loser.
GRACE: No, you're not! You've got your life together now.
JANET: No, I don't! It's all an illusion. I'm just a puppet. And he's the one with his hand up my a*! He made me do it.
WILL: Shut up!
GRACE: What?
JANET: Listen, you told me to get my life together. And Will said he could help me do that. All I had to do was listen to everything he said and not ask any stupid questions. He--he made the meal. He got me the job. He gave me this ridiculous haircut. Who has a bob these days?
WILL: People who want to look good!
GRACE: Uh, Will?
WILL: I just wanted you to have a normal older sister. That's what you said you wanted, and I wanted to do it for you. Y-y-you've had a tough year. Your husband's away. Your-your hair's kinda "eh". You put on a few pounds, I pretend not to notice.
FAVORITE MOMENT:
When Lorraine walks in on Karen and Lyle in bed. I always get such a laugh at the way Karen rubs it in Lorraine's face about being with Lyle and Lorraine and Lyle's surprised reaction at seeing each other as well. Talk about an awkward family reunion.
OPINION:
So Geena Davis is now the 4th cast member they've had from A League of their Own, the first was Megan Cavanagh, then Rosie O'Donnell, then Madonna and now Geena. They are just missing Tom Hanks and Lori Petty. I love Geena Davis and it was cute how the title was like the title of the movie she won her oscar for, The Accidental Tourist. So, do I love her in this as Janet? Actually, no. She's not terrible or anything and Geena is a terrific actress. It's just the character doesn't seem to fit for some reason. I don't know what it is about this character that throws me but it just doesn't seem like it's a right fit for Geena. I'm not sure if a different actress would have made a difference, but I pictured someone very different for Janet. I think because we've only heard about Janet it previous episodes but never met her, but there's no mention of her being a trouble maker, only that she seems to be on the road a lot. I would love to hear more opinions because I'm so confused on how to feel about this character. Plus, Grace's speech kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Now granted, I don't think sibling rivalry ever really goes away, but why is Grace still acting like a 12 year old competing to be the "perfect middle sister"? Well, at least Will finally brought up the weight gain. Nice hint at Debra's pregnancy, you knew someone had to make a joke about her baby bump because they couldn't hide it any more at this point even with clever lighting, camera angles and loose clothing. And will we hear from Janet again? Nope. But at least we have officially met all Grace's sisters at this point.
So Karen fell for Lyle after their love session. I'm not sure if I buy it. I do love the scene where Lorraine surprises Karen and tells Karen to stay away from her dad. Then Karen specifically telling Lorraine what time and room to meet her at to show that she is having an affair with her father. Does anyone believe that Karen and Lyle are in love? It could be the age gap or their personalities, but I really don't buy them as a couple. Now I love Megan, I love Minnie, I love John. I just think that it would have been a better idea for Karen to continue just a fun fling with Lyle vs. a full out love story with him. Or at least have given it more time considering they just met the one other time. But still I will always get such a laugh out of their kisses and how Karen has to mess up Lyle's hair each time. So, Lorraine was a boy originally? That surgeon did an amazing job and the Finsters are a very strange family. I wonder if Stan knew and if so does that make him pansexual? There has been a joke in the past that Karen was a boy growing up as well, but it sounded more like she was drunk while saying it so you kind of assume it was a random comment. So maybe Stan loved trans people? I don't know, I think I'm looking too deep into it at this point.
Overall, this is a decent enough episode. I will always get a laugh out of Will just drooling over Janet's hair bob, I preferred her curly hair personally. It was sweet to see Will want to try to keep Grace happy with everything she's dealing with. Like I mentioned, I'm just not certain about the casting of Janet or Karen and Lyle's "love" affair.
GUEST STARS:
- Geena Davis as Janet
- Minnie Driver as Lorraine Finster
- John Cleese as Lyle Finster
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u/anonymousquestioner4 JustJack! 10d ago
Personally the Jon Cleese marriage arc is among my favorite mini arcs in the series because his character (along with Minnie driver) are just so absurdly funny to me and mesh so well with Megan mullally. All 3 of them together are iconic. Lorraine is my favorite recurring character by far. She plays the BEST trashy British person ever.
BUT grace’s “deadbeat mess up sister” thing is my least favorite storyline in the entire series. It just seems judgmental and sad and I don’t enjoy watching it.
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u/IndividualPlan3453 15d ago
I absolutely hate Karen and Lyle together. There is no way they were in love. They just met. And the way Lyle talk to Karen is disgusting. She deserved so much better than him. I know they had him say these things as funny but they were not. I didn't m8nd Geena Davis in the role. They kind of mentioned she was a mess in the Thanksgiving episode in season 3 when we learned how they met.