Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and the Valentine’s Day specials on television have vacated the premises. As you all know from Thanksgiving, I rather enjoy a holiday-themed episode every once in a while, my personal favorite being Halloween episodes.
It’s a chance for a show to take a short break from the normal stresses of plot progression to sit back, relax and watch as the characters fall prey to the clichés of the holidays.
Don’t get me wrong, every once in a while a show comes out with a truly unique idea, such as the “New Girl” Thanksgiving episode, which ended with finding their neighbor dead on the toilet.
But most times it is the same old routine.
Valentine’s Day specials are filled with bitter lonely characters, a shocking reveal of a crush, a male disappointing their girlfriend in some way, and the gross cheesy couple who spend all day calling each other sweetie and giving lame gifts like those corny heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates (which is like navigating through a minefield without the cheat sheet, in my opinion.)
“Raising Hope” pulled the old routine of female-challenged Jimmy wanting to spend his Valentine’s Day with already-spoken-for Sabrina, and his mom coming up with the idea to pretend to have a girlfriend (which usually blows up in the person’s face).
However, “Raising Hope” played well this round and actually made that idea succeed!
Jimmy’s family finds an aspiring actress from the local improv troupe (Ashley Tisdale) and sets them up on a double date with Sabrina and her boyfriend, Wyatt.
Almost all of the other members of the improv troupe work at the restaurant where they eat, so they spend the entire night making Jimmy look like the best boyfriend in the world, including having a mariachi band play a song he requested and having him tell a “stranger” to leave his lady alone, while Wyatt looks like a jackass. Example: Saying he has to go to the bathroom and sneaking to the bar to watch the game (in case it’s unclear, that’s a no no.)
Here’s the thing: it actually works!
The next day, Sabrina breaks up with Wyatt because she wants to be happy like Jimmy.
However, Jimmy, being the simple and earnest character he is, feels terrible if he gets Sabrina because he lied.
He invites her to a show on Valentine’s Day, saying his girlfriend has to work.
But as we find out, it is the improv group they’re going to see.
Sabrina notices and asks why his girlfriend is up on stage with almost everyone from the restaurant, but the show begins.
Then one of my favorite Valentine’s Day moments ensues.
The scene being acted out is the first time Jimmy and Sabrina met.
The show continues, showing Jimmy’s love for Sabrina grow over time.
When Sabrina has caught up to the fake girlfriend, Jimmy turns to her in the audience to apologize for lying and profess his love for her. We wait for a response, and then “Raising Hope” pulled a dirty move: Sabrina gets up and runs out of the theater.
I, like everyone else, was wearing the “are you kidding me?!” face as Jimmy runs out into the parking lot after her.
He catches up and the show pulled the old switcheroo.
Sabrina was glad he followed her out because she hates public kissing and throws herself into his arms.
“Raising Hope,” you got me. I can’t remember seeing a Valentine’s Day episode so personal and sweet, and I have never seen the characters I’ve been waiting to get together for the entirety show actually get together on Valentine’s Day, let alone in the season finale of a show!
The episode is called “Jimmy’s Fake Girlfriend” and will be posted online Wednesday (Fox has that terrible eight-day rule).
Even if you don’t watch the show much and now you know the ending, I recommend the episode. “Raising Hope” is a unique show, in my opinion, and has a hilarious and honest charm.
This episode will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
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