So Help Me Todd Season 2 Episode 8 Review: P.I.’s Wide Shut

From Boomers to Gen Z, there’s a lot of generation talk on So Help Me Todd Season 2 Episode 8, “P.I.’s Wide Shut”. While those clashes flare into the court, it’s nothing to what Todd and Lyle start between themselves.

Tensions are at an all-time high between Susan and Margaret as they work on a case together, representing a tennis coach accused of drugging his young clients. Interestingly, Susan finally learning the truth about the firm does little to help.

After a few exchanges over credit and blame that seem out of line for them both, they’re able to realize the girl was being slipped performance enhancers by one of her own arguably well-meaning mothers. They make peace afterwards, but it’s still a shaky one.

Between the opposing client, her parents, Margaret, and both Susan and Todd, a wide variety of generations are represented. In several sometimes-funny, sometimes-“cringey” scenes, the gloves come off and the stereotypes come out.

The real punches, though, are being thrown by Todd and Lyle. When Todd goes too far insulting Lyle, he responds with a complex plot to humiliate him, and Todd responds in turn by faking his own death. I guess if you’re going over the top, you might as well go all the way?

Somewhat thankfully, a twist intervenes before matters spiral still further. While on a date with Judy, Todd catches sight of Lyle’s girlfriend Alex—except she’s outfitted differently and going under a different name.

Lyle is eventually convinced to investigate, and though a few left-behind pranks trip them up along they way, they manage to track Alex down…only to learn that’s she’s actually an FBI agent. Can we go back to my irritation about the cliffhanger we’re probably soon ending on?

Especially this close to the end of the series, this kind of drama between characters who previously supported each other at all times is stressful. As fitting with the common trope, a lack of communication is a big part of that.

Susan learning (off-screen) that Margaret doesn’t have much choice in what she’s doing helps only slightly. She’s rightfully resentful about the corner she’s been pushed into, but her blinders as to whatever Beverly is doing are worrying.

Likewise, Todd’s comments toward Lyle in the early parts of the episodes are inordinately off-putting. He’s a messy, flawed character, but we haven’t seen this kind of behavior since the series started. There’s little explanation for the reversion.

At least it doesn’t last too long, insane and potentially harmful pranks aside. Todd does get what it’s like to be misled by a romantic partner and the amusingly grudging partnership that follows is much more on brand for where they are now.

Whatever I expected Alex to be up to, it sure wasn’t an FBI investigation. Now all the questions we have about where the firm is really at and what some of the partners are involved with are even more pressing. We have only two episodes to learn more.

At least we bring Gus back in the middle of all of this. With other couples thrust into disorder, seeing him be a genuinely good person who finally treats Margaret as she deserves to be is a nice break. And now I hope that doesn’t foreshadow anything ominous.

Again, please consider signing the petition to attempt to save the show, however much of a long shot it might be. It seems hard to believe whatever ending is coming will be a satisfying ending to the series, and we all deserve at least that much.

 

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So Help Me Todd airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.

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