Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
If you’ve been watching Life in Pieces for the past two seasons then you not only know how roaringly funny it is but how poignant it can be when it comes to family and relationships. While the series does a really good job with poking fun at how awkward family interactions can be sometimes, it also reminds us how challenging it is to navigate life’s obstacles with or without their help. Each episode of the CBS original comedy series, which returned this Thursday for a third overall season, consists of four different parts that center on a new obstacle faced by one of the couples and their children/family.
Perhaps the subtle beauty of the show lies with the concept of a central cast rather than a combination of main and supporting actors. The parents/grandparents John & Joan sit at the top of the central cast, serving as matriarch and patriarch to the Short family. While their children will often get frustrated with their old school way of thought, just like we all do with our parents sometimes, they also often rely on them for advice. I’m sure we can all relate, with our own parents, to the episode where they join Facebook and have no clue how to use it. Their son Matt, who lived with them for all of Season 1 following his failed marriage, has now fled the coop and is in a relationship with Colleen making memories of their own. Matt’s relationship with his parents brings to light the pros and cons of moving back in with your parents as an adult.
Heather (John & Joan’s only daughter) & her husband Tim have three children: Samantha, Sophia & Tyler. Tyler, the couple’s oldest and only son, is dating Clementine who is also featured as part of the central cast. Heather and Tim often depict how difficult it can be to juggle raising their children and focusing on their own relationship at the same time. When Heather comes to work for Tim in his office, their relationship is put to its biggest test yet but they survive in the most amicable way possible.
Jen (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Greg (Colin Hanks), along with their baby Lark, are another part of the central cast. Jen’s relationship with the Short family shows how frustrating yet rewarding it can be to have in-laws in your life. One of her funniest moments is when she is pretending to meditate just to take a break from the family to play a game on her phone. SPOILER!: When Jen went through her miscarriage, however, every member of the Short family was there to support her.
The show’s character dynamic is a perfect example of how its lighthearted sitcom fare makes it easy for all types of viewers to follow as well as something that you can watch with your entire family. With Season 3 aiming to build on these strong familial relationships, viewers can expect to see plenty more shenanigans take place as each member of the Short family continues to grow and adapt to life’s many obstacles. A brand new episode of the 22-episode series will air every Thursday and will be made available on CBS All Access for our fellow cord-cutters. Seasons 1 & 2 are also currently available for streaming via Hulu.
Michael is a music and television junkie keen on most things that are not a complete and total bore. You can follow him on Twitter — @Tweetskoor
