Dr. Ken, Season 1, Episode 6: “Ken Teaches Molly a Lesson”
Original airdate November 6, 2015.
Symptoms: Molly admits to having half a beer at a party. Ken’s response is to teach her a lesson by demonstrating for her the effects of alcohol on the body, but things quickly go awry. Allison takes Dave to a reading by the author of the book he’s reading (a biography of German chancellor Angela Merkel) in an effort to show Dave that she’s still a fun parent. Julie expresses disappointment that her colleagues at Welltopia are uninterested in her personal life.
Diagnosis: I need to disclose here that I’m pretty sure this episode was shot before the most recent few, and I’m trying to avoid letting that influence my review, but that’s still possible. I’m doing my best to receive it the way any other viewer would.
You could probably just skip this episode and not miss anything, but there are a few strong moments. For once, scenes in Welltopia work better than scenes at home, where everyone’s timing seems completely off. Ken and Damona have a funny guessing-game scene with Pat and Clark, and Julie has entertaining interactions with everyone. Clark is less cartoony, giving his character a chance (again) to be the voice of sympathy. Meanwhile, at home, Krista Marie Yu as Molly, who’s usually a bright spot, overacts in every scene where she has lines. She comes across as a thinking actress, which I always appreciate, but it looks here like she’s still looking for her character, something I haven’t noticed beyond the show’s first two episodes. Dave also seems to take a step back to an earlier persona that he’s since adjusted out of. Based on some positive development in the previous two episodes, I’m going to suggest that this is just a one-episode relapse: a largely forgettable episode with no real character development and a few laughs.
Prognosis: I was really concerned that I was now incapable of liking the Welltopia shenanigans, but I responded with genuine fondness for the characters there this week. Despite this being a weak episode, it gives me hope for this show’s finding a decent groove.
RX: The writing for the Welltopia scenes is interesting and sharp, and the acting is pretty good too, with blocking kind of like a stage play and the actors using the space thoughtfully. Julie’s Grey’s Anatomy monologue looks like the best-rehearsed scene in the entire episode, and it stands out as one of its few highlights. More like this, please!
Microsynopsis: The hosts of Good Morning Orlando invite Louis to appear on their program, to talk about his business and do a few of his impressions. Jessica encourages him to make the appearance, but she is horrified by the way Louis represents himself as an Asian American on television. Eddie and his friends are pleasantly surprised to learn that they all have girlfriends, but they are at a loss to figure out what that means and how they should proceed.
Bad: Evan has been great all season, but he’s the weak link in this episode. His issue with Louis stealing his material feels forced, and the duck impression by both characters goes beyond absurdity and into stupidity. Tiny criticisms because I feel I have to put something in this section of the review.
Symptoms: Ken and Allison tell their kids about the Halloween, twenty years ago, when Allison messed up Ken’s proposal. Realizing that this Halloween is a perfect chance for a do-over, Ken makes plans for an attempt to get it right. Julie accidentally dopes up Pat, and Molly gets into a little bit of trouble over a skeleton.
Prognosis: I wouldn’t have predicted this, but of the office staff, Julie is emerging as the gentle heart, the one who holds the subplots together and gets the best laughs. Kate Simses communicates a wide-eyed sincerity in the role, and if Julie is still more caricature than character, Simses at least has found a way to bring her along with some sense of realness. That’s quite an accomplishment considering some of the stupid things she’s made to say and do. And despite what surely sounds like my gushing over her, this is really about the show as a whole: we’re only five episodes in, and each episode finds a little bit of room to grow. I’m encouraged.
Microsynopsis: Louis and the boys are excited about their first Halloween in the suburbs, but Jessica doesn’t share their enthusiasm. Instead, she takes up arms in defense of the investment house she and Honey have renovated, as a group of teenaged boys have sworn to attack it with eggs on Halloween night.
Bad: Just the usual going too far off the edge with some of the gags. The A-Team themes are pretty funny, but they get a little wacky. The teen boys are way over the edge.
Symptoms: The new Welltopia head of plastic surgery is Allison’s ex-boyfriend (Will Yun Lee, as Dr. Kevin O’Connell), and he turns out to be hotter than she ever let on. Ken, feeling deceived, turns what’s supposed to be a comedic routine at a banquet honoring Kevin into a personal roast.
Prognosis: This is an episode that rewards repeat viewings. Ken Jeong’s physicality, perhaps his greatest comedic strength, gets a few (appropriate, which hasn’t always been the case) chances to shine, especially during Dr. Ken’s performance at the banquet. While much of the physical humor is exaggerated, the really good stuff is in the transitions. There’s a thinking actor there, and it’s easy to miss it because he distracts you with cartoony stuff. But look at the way he responds to his audience in moments between gags: this character is experiencing this awkwardness in real time, not merely reciting a script and moving from one blocking direction to another. Some of this bodes well for the overall quality of the show, especially since ABC this week ordered the full season. 
