Between baffling plot decisions, strange developments, or irritating personality moments, there are the ones who annoy us when they're on our TV screens.

The 2022 TV season was a good year for romantic relationships and juicy character arcs, but this list is about the other side of the coin. The most annoying TV characters we couldn't ignore (even when we tried).

Below, we at TV Fanatic came together to pick out those frustrating characters and shine a light on them.

Did your choice make the list? Check out the list below.

Ariadna "Ari" Blanco Commerford – Elite (Netflix)

A soapy show like Elite has its fair share of scandalous drama and destructive characters.

Elite Season 6 was no exception, but rich girl Ari continued to make things worse. Her storylines have been a consistent thread of one wrong decision after another, fueled by a reckless ego. In 2022, she took the cake with who she hurt.

For instance, she drowned out her sadness over Samuel's death with drinks, she toyed with Nico's feelings based on his transgender identity, and she slept with her new friend's crush in the backroom of a club.

But to make matters worse, she slept with her brother's boyfriend and got pregnant by him. Iván was equally at fault for hurting Patrick, but there is a sibling code that hurt even more with this betrayal, especially since she and Patrick are twins.

Granted, the grief over Samuel's death must've been painful for her, and she reacted as such. However, Ari was a roller coaster that never seemed to end.

Iggy Frome – New Amsterdam (NBC)

Where does one even begin with Ignatius Frome?

It's such a pity that one of the most beloved characters of New Amsterdam Season 1 has become the most loathsome. It's almost as if his likability vanished along with Kapoor.

As a psychiatrist, it's unsettling how horrible he is at his job; his co-signing an incestuous relationship and the disturbing solution he had for a child rape case are among his worst offenses. His personal life doesn't fare much better.

The real pity is that there is no way New Amsterdam can salvage what's left of this insufferable character by the time the series wraps.

Charly Burke – The Orville: New Horizons (Hulu)

This is a show that, by its very nature, asks its audience to suspend their disbelief as they travel through space with a diverse crew of alien species fulfilling missions of exploration and diplomacy.

Still, there is still no way to understand or accept the sudden intrusion of an untried ensign with obvious emotional baggage into the top level of officers aboard the ship.

Ensign Charly Burke gets plopped into the crew on The Orville Season 3 Episode 1, rambling about pancakes and hating on Isaac as a stand-in for all Kaylons. Others describe her as "special" in that she's capable of "four-dimensional thinking," whatever that means.

Too bad she cannot deal with her trauma in any dimension. She's a weaponized ball of PTSD who should've been on indeterminate psych leave and NOT at the controls of a starship.

You'd think Seth MacFarlane would've learned not to cast his significant others after the fallout from Halston Sage's exit when their relationship ended. But NOPE, we get stuck with a season of the unfortunate Anne Winters trying to redeem an intensely unlikeable character to no avail.

On the bright side, the character's dead, so we don't have to worry about a return if The Orville Season 4 is a go. Thank, Avis.

Otto "Obie" Bergmann IV – Gossip Girl (2021) (HBO Max)

Why is Obie even friends with the group on Gossip Girl? He barely even hides his disdain anymore whenever he's around them.

Obie started as the sensitive rich boy who wanted a fresh start in life and dating. He made bad decisions with how he handled the Zoya/Julian romance, and he got into disagreements with his powerful family. Nothing too outrageous couldn't be solved.

However, since Gossip Girl (2021) Season 2 began, Obie has been a frustrating shell of whatever potential he once had.

He's purposely withdrawn himself from his friend group, thinking he's above it all and not wanting to get involved in any high school drama. He continues to go against and reject his family and then acts surprised when they reject him back. And his dating life is in shambles.

The storylines in 2022 have been refreshing and on an upward swing; it's feeling like peak Gossip Girl flair. So, why hasn't Obie caught up? Maybe it's time he gets a farewell Gossip Girl blast?

Harry Greene – Heartstopper (Netflix)

Harry Greene would be your guy if you had to pinpoint the rich jock bully on a teen TV series. He's more on the rugby side of the sports scene, but he fits many qualities of the cliché archetype.

Harry would open his mouth at every turn and say another cringe-worthy line, exerting his "big man on campus" energy.

Like his constant bullying of Tao, his pushing Imogen to get with Nick, and his awful homophobic attitude to Charlie and Nick, even when he sees that his supposed best friend is going through something, he continues to be a jerk, showing no empathy at all.

Nick deserves much better friends than Harry and those rugby guys. Hopefully, karma gets Harry one day!

Isabella Tavez – Good Trouble (Freeform)

Despite being an all-around good guy, Gael has the worst relationship luck.

His relationship with Brian didn't go far. Then came Callie, the most indecisive person ever. And now we have been treated to Isabella.

Pinpointing one annoying thing about her wouldn't do her justice! She seems like a child in a grown woman's body. It appears like she has trapped Gael in this never-ending torture.

Him being the good guy that he is, accommodates her every need and whim. After she delivers the baby, she should, like, go. Go!

Percy Scott – Blockbuster (Netflix)

Percy (played by JB Smoove) was a grown man with the mind of a high schooler.

Percy's motivation kept changing every episode based on what conflicts the writers needed to drum up. He was a frustrating character because he never seemed to learn from his mistakes and always acted only out of self-interest.

He deliberately sabotaged his supposed best friend Timmy (Randall Park) on multiple occasions simply because he wanted to spend more time with him. And for a guy running a party-store business, he sure hung out at Blockbuster a lot.

Colin McKenna – Uncoupled (Netflix)

Ghosting someone is an awful thing to do in any relationship or situationship. Abruptly breaking up with a long-term partner after 17 years with no warning? That's an insult to their couple's history.

Colin had that frustrating quality of someone who tried to make themselves emotionless and the innocent party in the breakup.

He spent 17 years with Michael and never communicated any issues or concerns he felt while in the relationship. He only did one half-hearted counseling session with Michael to discuss their issues before breaking up for good.

And then he had the nerve to ask Michael to get back together after he saw how well Michael grew and thrived without him.

Michael picked up all the pieces and worked on himself; we can probably guess Colin didn't do the same after their breakup. Colin wanted the greener grass and didn't acknowledge his fault in their relationship problems. It's irritating that he treated someone he "loves" with that behavior.

Moishe Maisel – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime Video)

Don't get us wrong, there's a lot to celebrate in the authenticity of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Miriam's and Joel's parents — Abe (Tony Shalhoub), Rose (Marin Hinkle), Shirley (Caroline Aaron), and Moishe (Kevin Pollak) — align pretty well with the lovingly overbearing nature of Jewish families.

However, at times, the parents also veer on caricatures too often and come across as insufferable characters.

It's a little easier to be sympathetic towards Midge's parents as they get more texture, but there's little justification for Moishe's broken record of kvetching and one-upmanship.

Additionally, with Amy Sherman-Palladino's style of characters repeating dialogue and conversations that intersect at jagged angles, the style ups Moishe's annoyance factor tenfold.

Abhishek "Shake" Chatterjee – Love is Blind (Netflix)

One man stood at the center of a lot of drama on Love is Blind Season 2. That man was "Shake." After finally meeting Deepti and proposing to her, we all hoped he would grow to be the man she deserved. Unfortunately, he continued to dig himself deeper into a hole that he couldn't escape from.

Shake became the biggest villain of the second season.

He made rude comments about his fiance, openly stated he wasn't physically attracted to her, and spoke inconsiderate things to Deepti that made her feel unworthy. And when given a chance to grow and apologize during the reunion, he doubled down on his terrible behavior.

Why even go on a dating show about marriage if you didn't want to get married?!

Let's all be grateful that Deepti said "no" at the wedding and will find somebody who respects her. We all cheered for her in that now infamous moment.

Daniel Durston – Big Brother 24 (CBS)

Another player featured from the reality TV world. This time, it's coming right from the Big Brother house.

Daniel started the game strong by being the first Head of Household (HOH) and forming several tight bonds. He was close allies with Nicole and Paloma and was woven into a tight enough group with players like Ameerah, Alyssa, Jasmine, and Terrance that he could've ridden that wave far into the game.

Unfortunately, his blind faith in Paloma started a messy series of events that lobbied bullying and terrible treatment against one houseguest, Taylor (the future winner of Big Brother Season 24).

Daniel reinforced rumors against Taylor, openly calling her out in front of everyone, and tried on multiple occasions to get her evicted based on his "feeling" about her. It got so bad that his calling her out triggered a new alliance to be formed to help Taylor and overthrow houseguests in the game, like Daniel.

Just like Shake above, reality TV does follow real-life actions. But as a "character" on the season, he fell into the villain role, and we couldn't wait to see him walk out the door to chat with Julie.

Now, over to you, TV Fanatics!

Did your favorites make the list? Who would you have added?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The post 2022’s Most Annoying TV Characters appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The streaming service made the decision Friday to cancel the comedy series after a single season.

The series didn't make an impact on the streamer's viewership metrics, which typically spells doom for any series.

The series launched to tepid reviews in November.

Blockbuster starred Randall Park (Timmy), Melissa Fumero (Eliza), Tyler Alvarez (Carlos), Madeleine Arthur (Hannah), Olga Merediz (Connie), JB Smoove (Percy), and Kamaia Fairburn (Kayla).

"Timmy Yoon (Randall Park) is an analog dreamer in a 5G world. He’s spent his entire adult life dedicated to his first love, movies — a passion that's kept him at his first and only job, managing his hometown Blockbuster Video," the logline teases.

"Then Timmy is alarmed to learn that his store is officially the last Blockbuster in America."

"He now has no choice but to take action to stay open and keep his friends employed. Timmy and his staff quickly come to realize that being home to the last Blockbuster might actually be exactly what their community needs to rekindle the human connections they lost to the digital age," it continues.

"It also unexpectedly reunites him with his long-time crush Eliza (Melissa Fumero), who's recently come back to work for him."

"Will this battle to preserve the past be the push Timmy needs to step into the present? His employees can only hope so."

The series hailed from creator, writer, executive producer, and showrunner Vanessa Ramos, who previously worked on Superstore and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The series did manage to have some humor, but it wasn't as consistent as you'd expect.

Blockbuster had excellent talent on and off screen, but the premise never really stood the test of time.

Netflix comedies rarely live as long as dramas. The dramas tend to have more buzz.

What are your thoughts on the demise of Blockbuster?

Hit the comments.

NCIS Three-Show Crossover Photos Tease Reunions and Danger for Franchise Favorites

Open List

The post Blockbuster Canceled at Netflix appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 10, a former child star (Bobby Moynihan) causes chaos, while things come to a head with Eliza and Aaron.

There was a lot to love about this finale, even if it ended on a predictable cliffhanger.

Called it — the internet, and thus streaming services, are down thanks to the solar storm!

Hold onto your DVDs if you've still got them (and a way to play them). They might be worth more than toilet paper one day.

Hannah: The solar storm is real. It’s why China built a second sun.

_{🔗 permalink: The solar storm is real. It’s why China built a second sun.}

Blockbuster works because, at its heart, it is a show that believes in the inherent goodness of people, and it is fronted by a kind and caring person — Timmy.

So, when characters (such as Kayla and Percy) are mean, it's jarring, and more off-putting than it would be in a show where everyone is morally grey.

For instance, take the scene when everyone was mean to Connie in Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 7 after her friend died. It was ghastly.

Bobby Moynihan's Lil' Stevie was funny, but his humor was so much more crass (particularly being racist and overtly sexual with kids) that it felt a bit inconsistent with the rest of the show's wholesome tone. Maybe that was the point, to shake things up a bit.

Stevie redeemed himself somewhat by warning Carlos about Hollywood, but Carlos — again, due to his good nature — only saw the good side of this, as a sign that he should keep trying in the face of rejection.

At last, Kayla and Percy, still building off of their heart-to-heart in Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 9, finally find some common ground. He's the person she feels closest to, and she is comfortable lashing out at him because she knows he'll forgive her.

This is what Connie told Eliza in Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 2, and though we still haven't met Eliza's daughter, it was nice to put a bow on that callback.

Speaking of Eliza, she finally came clean with Aaron.

It was time. Everything has been building up to this. Aaron's confusion was understandable, but he was always so clueless. He seemed to love Eliza, but we never really heard him talk about his role in the deterioration of their marriage in the first place.

Eliza: Doing a bunch of little things right doesn’t cancel out the big thing you did wrong.

_{🔗 permalink: Doing a bunch of little things right doesn’t cancel out the big thing you did wrong.}

Eliza's just not feeling it anymore. Even if it doesn't work out with Timmy, her reasoning is sound, and she should still be confident in her choice to end things with Aaron.

It was probably a good thing Eliza didn't get the words out to confess her feelings for Timmy.

There was too much going on, and she needs to sit with her feelings about the end of her marriage before rushing into something else, and Timmy needs to process losing his girlfriend (and his store).

Well, we knew it couldn't last with Lena. It's a shame, as Lena seemed pretty confident in her and Timmy's relationship, at least before Eliza showed up and made it all awkward. What was sad about this is that Timmy didn't fight for Lena.

If he had explained that he just saw something intense happen with his good friend, Eliza, which is why he said her name, Lena might have seen reason.

Eliza: Did you know that lips are technically a mucous membrane and not skin?

Timmy: Huh, I did not know that or want to.

_{🔗 permalink: Huh, I did not know that or want to.}

Is Timmy still into Eliza? Is this going to be the pattern, where one of them always has feelings for the other, but it takes a while for those feelings to overlap between the two of them? Timmy seemed happy about Lena being his girlfriend.

Whatever happens, Timmy has more significant problems to deal with right now.

The cliffhanger (Hannah discovering Eliza's feelings for Timmy) signals that this story is not over, and hopefully means the series will get renewed.

And why not? It's probably relatively cheap to make as it's all primarily filmed in one location. It could go either way.

Danielle: I’m looking for a movie about a pig, but not Babe. It’s too big a city.

_{🔗 permalink: I’m looking for a movie about a pig, but not Babe. It’s too big a city.}

Some fun things:

• The payoff for the newscaster gag was subtle but satisfying. Remington Alexander is finally back from vacation, and he's sunburnt. That's it. Whatever, I laughed!

• When Connie mentioned that Eliza's posture was horrible, Eliza's bones cracked as she stood up straight. Oh, the joy of being in your early 40s!

• Several customers from throughout the season showed up during the riot — Danielle, stoner Dustin, oncologist Thumb Head Joel — and each got a moment or two.

• The Jingle Bills were all genuinely pleased when they found out Hannah got into community college! Delightful.

Connie: I thought you died, or worse, hated me.

_{🔗 permalink: I thought you died, or worse, hated me.}

The underlying thread of bleakness, which reared its head near the end when the store was trashed, knocked the wind out of Timmy's sails. He has the right to feel like he's on a sinking ship. Maybe people aren't all good.

When a show has been built on this premise, we feel the devastation along with Timmy.

Lena: Never underestimate nostalgia. Nothing thrills people more than knowing their memory still works.

_{🔗 permalink: Never underestimate nostalgia. Nothing thrills people more than knowing their memory still…}

TRUER WORDS, LENA! NEVER SPOKEN.

This is the crux of it. This kind of lampshading is acceptable because it's not the show making a dig at itself, but pointing out a truth about the viewers who have made it this far — this critic included!

Using the washed-up child star as a metaphor was apt. We want to cling to the things we loved from the past, and it doesn't matter if they were necessarily good or not because memory is a way to escape the horrors of the present.

It speaks to the decay of modern society. More and more things will be obsolete until we can't keep up anymore. People, businesses, and ways of life will get left behind.

Timmy: This is Y2K all over again. They said the computers would shut down, so my dad panicked and printed out all his porn. Nothing happened except I had to use the other side of that porn to print out my essay on Gatsby.

_{🔗 permalink: This is Y2K all over again. They said the computers would shut down, so my dad panicked and…}

It's hard to be an optimist in the face of this reality, but somehow Timmy managed — at least until the end. Blockbuster (the store, not the show) isn't a sustainable thing.

It was apparent from Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 1 that this was never going to be some revolutionary show (few sitcoms are). Still, Blockbuster is what it is — funny, relatable, diverse, and diverting.

It flirts with some dark ideas, but ultimately it's a little piece of self-aware nostalgic fantasy. It's basic, sure, but sometimes you just want some popcorn.

Did you enjoy Season 1? Who were your favorite characters? Mine's got to be Madeleine Arthur's Hannah, though Connie and Carlos come in a close second.

What moment gave you your biggest laugh? Do you find the finale fulfilling?

Are you looking forward to Season 2 — if there is a Season 2? Let us know in the comments.  

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 10 Review: Sh*t Storm appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 9, Eliza wants to move on, and Kayla wants to move out.

Tuck into some expired Before Sunrise gummies or a Jumanji 2 bar for the full experience!

One thing that’s great about Blockbuster, and something that always enhances a show, regardless of genre, is little details in unexpected places.

All the bit players give just enough clues about their complex inner lives. Donna and Mark, the snack vendors, could be throwaway characters, but why not make them a married couple with an imbalanced power dynamic? There is a lot going on there.

Then, there’s the stoner pair, Eric (Zavien Garrett) and Dustin (Jared Ager-Foster). These guys could easily become recurring characters. One or both of them could even wind up working at Blockbuster (trust me, I’ve worked with many guys exactly like them)!

It was great that the show gave them a few moments of their own and that the staff just welcomed them into the fold. They’re clearly regulars, and as I’ve said before, it’s not just the staff who are family at this Blockbuster — it’s the customers too.

Making the minor roles three-dimensional (like a promotional display, if you will) fleshes the world out. It lets our imaginations provide the missing context while giving us laughs in unexpected places.

Percy: Are smoothies canceled? Did Gary over at Smoothie Sips get caught up in another animals-riding-unicycles scandal?

Connie: Again? Those poor raccoons.

_{🔗 permalink: Again? Those poor raccoons.}

The Thimble 2: Thumb Wars concept was supremely ridiculous but not outside the realm of direct-to-DVD sequels trying to make their budget back.

The entire plotline with the oncologist “Thumb Head” was absurd, but again, there are people like that for stranger fandoms other than a sentient thimble.

Hannah: Okay, so the display we’re buiilding is for Thimble 2: Thumb Wars, which is the delightful tale of a country thimble, Emma Stone, in the big city, Billy Porter, looking for her dream thumb. So, Billy Porter plays the city.

_{🔗 permalink: Thumb Wars, which is the delightful tale of a country thimble, Emma Stone, in the big city,…}

Connie’s mania was somewhat contrived, but Olga Merediz sold that obsession for all it was worth. It can be hard to lose your touch with something you once excelled at. Connie is more than just her ability to do puzzles. Hannah and Carlos recognize that, among all her other gifts.

Connie: Touch my puzzle again, and I’ll kick your lurking ass to the Walmart parking lot you were born in.

_{🔗 permalink: Touch my puzzle again, and I’ll kick your lurking ass to the Walmart parking lot you were…}

We’ve established that Timmy is a great boss and friend to Eliza, but I have never heard of any boss letting their employee practice for an outside job interview IN HIS OFFICE.

Timmy is considerate to the point of spinelessness, and Eliza probably doesn’t even realize how much she takes him for granted. What’s more, he forgave her fast for the horrible things she said about Blockbuster, but once he realized how embarrassed she was, he dialed it back.

Not only is Timmy attentive (unlike Aaron), but he’s great at coming up with solutions on the fly (like the expired candy).

Eliza appears to be in a similar position with her jobs as she is with her relationships. Her position at Blockbuster is safe, and she knows she can always fall back on it, but it doesn’t satisfy her — much like her marriage to Aaron.

A new job is something she wants but has no idea how to get, and she doesn’t believe herself worthy — which seems to be how she feels about Timmy.

However, if she chooses Blockbuster, she at least gets to stay near Timmy. It might be satisfying once she has responsibility and higher pay (if that happens), but if she always thinks of the job beneath her, she’ll never be truly happy there.

Hannah: Does Kayla seem more “Kayla” to you?

Connie: Maybe she’s vibing. That’s a word I’ve seen on the internet.

_{🔗 permalink: Maybe she’s vibing. That’s a word I’ve seen on the internet.}

Kayla and Percy, at last, showed their tender side.

It’s no secret these two have not been my favorite characters. They’ve been self-centered and mean with few redeemable qualities. However, Kayla showed some vulnerability here and garnered some sympathy.

Many teenagers are bratty, but we sometimes forget how hard it is to be that age and have that need for independence coupled with the lack of sense of how the world works. Even naive Hannah could sense the apartment scam.

Kayla: Do you guys know if we have a fax machine, or what a fax machine is?

_{🔗 permalink: Do you guys know if we have a fax machine, or what a fax machine is?}

Percy stepped up and became the dad Kayla needed him to be. Though she complained about her mom (his ex-wife), he defended Shaina, saying she was just trying to do what was best for her daughter.

It is odd that she didn’t initially think she could crash at his place if she needed to — it’s obvious that despite everything, the one thing guiding him is his love for her.

However, Kayla is always so wrapped up in her phone, and maybe she didn’t see what was right in front of her. That, or she just didn’t realize her dad could be so caring and not self-serving.

Either way, it was nice that Percy and Kayla had this moment to show that underneath it all, they have a father-daughter relationship worth nurturing.

Other fun things:

• I felt Timmy’s secondhand embarrassment in my bones after that “love you” at the end of the job reference phone call!

• Percy having a pet coyote makes sense, though I couldn’t tell you why.

• Connie speaks Albanian for some reason.

• This quote:

Thimble: Stick your thumb in me for thumbs of fun!

_{🔗 permalink: Stick your thumb in me for thumbs of fun!}

No solar storm has hit yet, so it’s undoubtedly going to happen in the finale, right? It’s just Chekov’s solar storm at this point.

The pace of this episode was great, and all the plotlines were either fun, funny, or consequential. Characters developed! Milestones were achieved! The one-liners kept coming, and many laughs were had!

How did you feel about Episode 9? What do you think is in store for the finale?

Share your thoughts, hopes, and theories in the comments — but no spoilers if you’ve watched ahead!  

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 9 Review: Thimble appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 8, Timmy and Eliza get day drunk, while Carlos and Connie encourage Hannah to follow her dreams.

Things are shifting for much of the Blockbuster staff, and a few storms may be on the horizon.

The newscaster gag is still going strong, though it is odd that they're constantly playing the news on the televisions at Blockbuster.

One of the joys (yes, there were several!) of working at Blockbuster was choosing what movies would play on the screens on any given day. Sometimes, it was upcoming release trailers or ad packages from corporate. Since corporate doesn't exist anymore, it makes sense that they wouldn't have those.

I'll admit the news is a good way to info-dump, so maybe it's just there as a narrative device. And the running joke is still funny. Will it have a payoff? Will one of the Blockbuster staff end up as a newscaster?

Speaking of the news, there were three mentions of the supposed solar storm that could knock out the internet.

Hannah: You could just pay me in quarters. It’ll go a lot further because the solar storm will reduce us down to bartering our precious metals.

Timmy: You gotta stop listening to your dad’s trucker radio.

_{🔗 permalink: You gotta stop listening to your dad’s trucker radio.}

My theory is that the internet will go down either in the next episode or the finale, which will mean no one can stream anything, and Blockbuster will see a surge of DVD rentals (don't spoil it if you've already watched it, this is just a guess!)

Carlos: A world without the internet. Would Mark Zuckerberg turn to ash like a vampire?

_{🔗 permalink: A world without the internet. Would Mark Zuckerberg turn to ash like a vampire?}

As far as jobs go, working at Blockbuster isn't hard, but there is so little work happening here, it's no wonder Timmy can't make ends meet.

Between Timmy and Eliza going off for FOUR HOURS to drink and have fun, while Carlos and Connie help Hannah study for a test (which she then takes twice!) — who is helping the customers? Who is scanning returns? What is going on here?

Eliza and Timmy had a great connection in this episode, and once again, Melissa Fumero gets to show off her acting chops. Her drunk Eliza was fine (authentically playing drunk is harder than it sounds) but her sad/angry rant about Erin and Aaron was heartfelt.

Timmy: Your face is what’s called, in some circles, “Ted Kennedy Red.”

_{🔗 permalink: Your face is what’s called, in some circles, “Ted Kennedy Red.”}

Eliza has been pushing away her feelings and is now really coming to terms with the fact that she doesn't want to be with Aaron.

Unfortunately, it may be too late for her and Timmy, but if he proves anything here, it's that he is a good friend to her and will always look out for her, even if he has nothing to "gain" from it.

Even though Eliza realizes that she is attracted to Timmy (at least it felt that way in the Uber), hopefully, she can separate those feelings from her need to break things off with Aaron.

It's okay to be alone, Eliza! Just because she can't have Timmy doesn't mean she should settle for Aaron if she's not happy with him.

Eliza: I couldn’t have gotten through it without you, Mr. Blockbuster.

Timmy: Oh, please, Mr. Blockbuster was my father’s name.

_{🔗 permalink: Oh, please, Mr. Blockbuster was my father’s name.}

Timmy seems to be happy with Lena, which is nice. Often at this point on shows like this, the hero is still pining for his love interest, but nope, he was just trying to cheer up a friend going through a hard time. It's a refreshing turn.

It's hard to know if Timmy still carries romantic feelings for Eliza, but knowing that she was looking for other work probably solidified the fact that she would be able to move on from him. Timmy definitely gained some healthy perspective at that moment.

However, Eliza's reference to the cat-caller rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know any woman who would think like this.

Eliza: That creep at the Gas-n-Guzz who has sexually harassed me every time I’ve been in there has stopped. All of a sudden.

Timmy: Feminism is weird.

_{🔗 permalink: Feminism is weird.}

Nobody likes catcallers. Please don't catcall. We don't enjoy it or appreciate the "attention." Maybe the creep stopped because he realized that what he was doing was harmful and degrading. It is a good thing he stopped. Ugh.

Did anyone else think it strange that The Ripped Donkey was open in the middle of the day?

Also, the grown-up version of "Special Guy Day" circled back to the theme of the deterioration of small-town middle America. Everything fun has closed — all that's left to do is drink and play at the bar.

Whether the cause is COVID or big-box corporations, it paints a bleak picture.

But despite it all, there is friendship, if nothing else. There are co-workers who will look out for you and help you pass your college entrance exam.

Hannah: Ever since I had shrimp nachos, my tastes have become first class, and I want more in life, including going to the shrimp nachos of the education system — community college.

_{🔗 permalink: Ever since I had shrimp nachos, my tastes have become first class, and I want more in life,…}

Hannah's focus "quirks" made total sense — having multiple distractions can be beneficial to many neurodivergent people.

It's more understandable now that Hannah was homeschooled — it's unlikely she would have done well in a typical school system anyway. Though she is exceptionally bright, her brain works differently.

It was touching that Connie and Carlos provided her with the setting she needed to thrive without judging her — wouldn't it be nice if the educational system could support diverse needs in that way?

How did you feel about Episode 8? Do you think a storm is coming? What's in store for Eliza and her relationship with Aaron?

Share your thoughts in the comments!  

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Special Guy Day appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Friendship is the them of Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 7.

Connie needs a new one while Percy and Timmy re-examine theirs.

It was shocking how mean the staff was to Connie when she came in late. They should have ALL been sorry immediately, not only after they found out her friend had died.

It was nice of Eliza to step up into a friend role to help Connie through her grief, but it just shows that for all the camaraderie, sometimes work friends should simply be work friends, and that's where the buck stops.

Now and then, a work colleague becomes a tried and true lifelong friend, and it is special when it happens. You just can't force it.

It is hard to make friends in the real world these days, especially as an adult. It's harder still when a dear friend dies.

It was sweet of Kayla, Eliza, and Hannah to step up and help with Connie's matchmaking, recognizing their limits but still wanting to support their co-worker.

Kayla: We had no idea there were so many flavors of old weirdo.

_{🔗 permalink: We had no idea there were so many flavors of old weirdo.}

For a moment, it seemed like the conclusion was veering towards giving Connie space to grieve and accept the loss of her good friend.

But no, it was as simple as replacing Helen with another woman with whom Connie could watch her telenovela.

It's great to include the other local business owners, like Rene and Patrice, within the narrative as characters in their own right — but damn, poor Helen, forgotten just like that! These folks are weirdly emotionally stunted.

Patrice: I always say memoirs are the light in the tunnel of our collective soul.

_{🔗 permalink: I always say memoirs are the light in the tunnel of our collective soul.}

What does this say about Blockbuster employees? Should us former video store clerks feel personally attacked? Or just recognize that you might have to be a little weird to work at a Blockbuster?

Carlos: Last week he printed his own 15-page bridge to “Uptown Funk.” He’s a shockingly proficient lyricist, but still.

_{🔗 permalink: Last week he printed his own 15-page bridge to “Uptown Funk.” He’s a shockingly proficient…}

Finally, after encouragement from Carlos, Timmy stood up to Percy — not once, but twice!

This has been a long time coming.

When Timmy expressed his genuine feelings, Percy responded with passive-aggressive trolling. When Timmy confronted him again, Percy didn't exactly counter with anything he hadn't already said or implied. He misses hanging out with Timmy. Boo-hoo!

Once again, why does Percy see this as an excuse to antagonize his friend at the potential detriment of Timmy's business and multiple people's jobs? How self-absorbed can you get?

Kayla: Yeah, my dad’s got his bad side, and his other bad side.

_{🔗 permalink: Yeah, my dad’s got his bad side, and his other bad side.}

Percy got let off too easily. They indeed have a history, and Percy has been there for Timmy in the past, but the relationship feels incredibly lopsided. Why should Timmy have to endure Percy's abuse just because Percy is in a position of power over him?

It's hard not to feel for Timmy. Timmy wants to believe that his friend is a good person, even though it's been a long time since Percy has done anything thoughtful or kind for Timmy.

Eliza is definitely still raw after Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 6. She's clearly upset that Timmy is actually making a meaningful connection with another woman, even if she tries to hide it.

Timmy declares himself done with dating apps — and then, wouldn't you know it? Carol's daughter shows up.

Timmy: I am looking to meet someone in the real world, because you can’t find a “you complete me” on an app. Although, apparently, You Complete Me is an app for people who are into Wordle. Sexually.

_{🔗 permalink: I am looking to meet someone in the real world, because you can’t find a “you complete me” on…}

Lena is kind, friendly, pretty, and loves Blockbuster — she's basically perfect! Timmy's awkwardness in asking her out was endearing, his cheesy pickup line was imbued with enough self-deprecation and sincerity to work on Lena, and she was willing to give him a shot.

Eliza better poop or get off the pot with Aaron if she wants a chance with Timmy. She can't keep stringing her husband (and herself) along if she's not feeling it. She's doing her best to make it work, but in this "trying to make it work" time, she's reevaluated that she doesn't want to be with Aaron anymore.

Eliza needs to give herself permission to go after what she wants, not just what she thinks is right.

Her daughter is in college. Yes, divorce is traumatic for the kids involved, no matter their age — Timmy is a shining example of that — but staying in a marriage where there's more resentment than love is not the solution.

It's not like Eliza hasn't tried, but her heart is just not in it anymore — potential relationship with Timmy notwithstanding. It's apparent she's not in it for the long haul with Aaron.

Hannah: It’s a commemorative plothole.

_{🔗 permalink: It’s a commemorative plothole.}

Are you rooting for Eliza and Timmy, or do you think Eliza should focus on herself?

What do you think of Percy's attitude towards Timmy? Are you as fed up as he is (and we are)?

Let us know in the comments!  

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Intimate Angels appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 6, Timmy finally stands up to his parents, Connie stays up too late, and Eliza can't catch a break. 

Parental control is not just an issue for Timmy but for Carlos, too, though it's more insidious in that the latter has internalized the guilt of not measuring up as a son. 

Anyone who's worked at Blockbuster for a significant amount of time knows what it's like to do inventory. This episode will bring back all those feelings!

On the one hand, you would have to work late, and it could be hard to struggle through your sleepiness. On the other hand, it was usually done without customers around, so way less pressure! 

Though I love Olga Merediz (Paciencia y Fe), Connie's dance interlude went on just a little too long. Carlos's trailer about it was fun and a testament to his skill.

Connie: By this time I’m usually asleep in front of the TV having a nightmare about James Corden.

_{🔗 permalink: By this time I’m usually asleep in front of the TV having a nightmare about James Corden.}

The joke about "coming out" as a filmmaker to his parents was sweet, and it was nice to know they accepted his bisexuality. He thinks "filmmaking" would disappoint them, but they seem like loving parents.

It makes logical sense — film school is expensive, and accounting is a more steady, reliable source of income.

Again, we have the theme of immigrant children not feeling entitled to have dreams of their own. They must make sacrifices for their parents, who sacrificed so much for them.

Carlos: I’m, like, weirdly good at accounting. That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever said.

Connie: Saddest thing I’ve ever said is “One ticket for Space Jam 2.”

_{🔗 permalink: Saddest thing I’ve ever said is “One ticket for Space Jam 2.”}

Poor Carlos struggles with the need to prove himself academically. He has skills in both accounting and filmmaking, but one of them is his passion.

It will be a hard road to achieve his dreams and financial security, but it's better than living a life of regret. Hopefully, his parents will support him when he "comes out" to them.

I also appreciate Hannah and Carlos's friendship. They are so supportive of each other, always encouraging their friend to live their best life.

I don't know if the show will attempt to 'ship them (not saying I'd be mad, though), but I do like how their platonic relationship is portrayed. 


Hannah: I love B’s. They’re home school A-pluses.

_{🔗 permalink: I love B’s. They’re home-school A-plusses.}

It is odd how an episode about parenting didn't feature Percy and Kayla, the show's most dysfunctional parent-child pair. JB Smoove and Kamaia Fairburn are decent actors, but their characters don't have many redeemable qualities. 

This whole episode felt oddly paced, and the action at Timmy's parents' care home just felt like a distraction from the main storyline. Though I understand it's showing character development for Timmy, it's hard to see his parents treat him like this. 

Timmy: My mom’s a required taste.

Eliza: You mean an “acquired taste?’

Timmy: Nope, required, as in I’m required to help her whenever she calls.

_{🔗 permalink: Nope, required, as in I’m required to help her whenever she calls.}

Timmy's just a good guy. He's wholesome and lovable and owns his own (struggling) business. Of course, he's a catch (see Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 5)! However, he lets everybody walk all over him, which we now see started with his parents.

He's a doormat because he wants to keep everyone happy. As a child of divorced parents, he's always going to want to be the peacemaker, but it was good for him to realize that his parents have always had a strained relationship and probably always will. 

This was a great episode for Melissa Fumero as Eliza.

Eliza: This is supposed to be my “me” time. I should be on my couch cuddling my cat, a bag of sour smurfs, and Target’s finest Merlot.

Hannah: Is this what Cathy is?

_{🔗 permalink: Is this what Cathy is?}

Here's the thing — it's okay to want alone time. It is healthy for couples to have outside social circles (other than work) as long as the other spouse doesn't feel excluded.

However, Eliza equated wanting "me" time to disliking spending time with Aaron. Sometimes people grow apart, and no amount of Aaron trying to improve himself will be enough because Eliza has mentally checked out of their relationship.  


Eliza's rant to Timmy was gratifying, and, honestly, it feels so important to hear a woman articulate these feelings — a woman is allowed to want time for herself.

It's not unreasonable to be frustrated when she clearly states what she needs and is constantly denied it. We all need our "decompression" time for our sanity, whatever it looks like.

When Timmy told her she was making him a better leader, and she responded that that wasn't her job, the message landed crystal clear. It shouldn't be the woman's responsibility to make the men in her life "better." 

Here is the thing — Eliza felt comfortable and safe telling these things to Timmy. He really listened, apologized for taking her for granted, pledged to do better, and then did.

This was an example of Timmy improving on his own, and Eliza took notice.

Eliza: It’s so weird hearing the word “sorry” coming from a male voice.

Timmy: 13-year-old Timmy thanks you for saying I have a male voice.

_{🔗 permalink: 13-year-old Timmy thanks you for saying I have a male voice.}

Other little fun jokes/running gags: 


• Trout Royale! Standing in for Squid Game, this is one of the goofier parody names I've heard, but I giggled every time someone said it with a straight face.

• Love that the seniors just settled in to watch Saw III like it was any old Turner Classic Movie.

• The newscaster joke just keeps going! Way to commit to the bit! 


Overall, this episode was uneven. I missed the Blockbuster employees during Timmy's side trips to the care home. However, there were still some great moments.

How did you feel about the inventory shenanigans? Did you dance along with Connie?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Parental Control appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Eliza thinks it's fear-mongering, but Hannah insists it's real. Connie shows up with a Lil' Stevie movie poster.

Timmy explains that since rentals aren't covering costs, they are doing more special events — like inviting former child star Lil' Stevie for a meet and greet.

Connie laments that she hasn't heard from her best friend Patrice in two days and worries that Patrice is mad at her.

Timmy tells Lena that the pre-sales from the Lil' Stevie event will help pay the rent for Blockbuster for the next two months. Things are looking up.

Timmy starts an important conversation with Lena when Lena gets a text from her mom and must head back to Hot Piece Of Bass before chaos ensues.

In the break room, Hannah confides in Carlos that Aaron will re-propose to Eliza again tonight at Blockbuster. Carlos agrees to film it and says he may also have some exciting news soon.

Kayla and Percy walk together outside, marveling at the line-up of people waiting to see Lil' Stevie. Kayla and Percy quietly make fun of the nerds.

Eliza and Timmy stroll the "Winter Wonderland" of the store, pleased with the decorations. Eliza and Timmy happen to stand under some mistletoe, and Eliza immediately says how awkward it would be if they kissed.

Lil' Stevie arrives, citing the solar storm for causing his delay. He tells them to please call him just Stevie. Hannah announces that they have sold out the event.

Stevie admits that he is very nervous and hasn't been in front of a crowd in ten years. As Timmy, Eliza, and Hannah go to warm up the crowd, Stevie takes a drink from a flask to calm his nerves.

Timmy and Eliza warm up the crowd with some trivia. Stevie comes bursting through the poster and falls down.

Timmy suggests Stevie do his catchphrase. Stevie responds by imitating catchphrases from famous Black characters. Timmy whispers to him his catchphrase, "But I'm too young to be Santa" (also the movie title).

Stevie says his catchphrase, and the crowd cheers. Timmy realizes that Stevie is drunk.

In the store, Timmy tells Stevie to keep it together and stop drinking. Stevie sits down on the Santa chair and starts signing DVDs. Stevie is inappropriate to the first child in line and tells him his mom looks like a porn star.

Timmy tries to cover for Lil' Stevie, but the crowd disperses, disappointed and offended.

Carlos serves a hot drink to a child and gets an email from the film school. He discovers that he wasn't accepted.

Timmy checks in with Connie to see how many refunds she has processed — it's a lot.

Stevie approaches Timmy, asking where everybody went. Timmy tells Stevie they all left because of his behavior and tells him to go, but Stevie won't because he's too drunk to drive.

The lights in the store begin to flicker. Hannah, Connie, and Timmy head outside, to see the sky lit up with green and blue light — it's the solar storm. Timmy heads to the bar for a drink.

As Carlos mopes in the break room, a trio of acapella singers — the Jingle Bills — arrive. Carlos deduces that they are here for Aaron's proposal, which they confirm, asking if he's the one who's going to film it.

Carlos says he's not a filmmaker, gives them his camera, and tells them to get Hannah to film it.

Dustin heads up to Kayla at the counter, who is selling toilet paper for $5 a roll. Connie asks Kayla to call Patrice — she doesn't want to seem pushy. A customer asks to use the landline, as cell phones aren't working.

Eliza asks Kayla if she has seen Timmy — if he's feeling down, he'll need Eliza to cheer him up. Kayla is overwhelmed by everyone and storms away.

At the Donkey, Timmy complains to Lena. He recounts how his mom used to put out one Christmas decoration every year — a reindeer — but it kept getting stolen by neighborhood kids, and eventually, she stopped. Timmy wonders if he should just give up.

Lena tells him that what she likes most about him is his optimism. She also refers to him as her boyfriend, which cheers him up.

Percy approaches Kayla and reminds her of a time when she had colic as a baby, and he stayed up late watching Celebrity Grappling — which Lil' Stevie was on.

Kayla tells Percy he is a dork, just like the rest of the fans. Percy is confused at her attitude, as he thought they were finally getting along.

While the Jingle Bills (all named Bill) warm up, Hannah sets up the camera.

Eliza heads to the Donkey, where she finds Timmy drinking. She is concerned at first, but then Lena returns with another round, and Eliza covers by being overly friendly.

Car horns blare outside. Timmy, Eliza, and Lena head out, seeing many customers flocking to Blockbuster. With the solar storm, streaming services are down, and people will need DVDs for entertainment. Timmy hugs Eliza and Lena.

In Blockbuster, business is booming. Eliza sees Timmy and Lena kissing, and is downhearted. Hannah finds Eliza and asks her to come to the break room.

Kayla rings through the long line of customers with cash only, while Connie bemoans her loss of Patrice. Kayla urges Connie to pull herself together and help serve the customers.

Patrice comes in to confront Connie for never calling her back. They realize that neither can remember who was the last to call or text. They declare that they both value their friendship, and hug it out.

Patrice announces that she was planning a big Christmas surprise — she is taking Connie to the Paris hotel in Las Vegas!

Eliza enters the break room, where the Jingle Bills are singing. Hannah films. Aaron re-proposes.

Timmy wanders into the background and watches part of it, then quickly and quietly leaves. Aaron doens’t see Timmy, but Eliza does.

Eliza tells Aaron, "No." Hannah slowly backs away.

Timmy comes back out, a little shaken. He accidentally calls Lena Eliza, and Lena says they should cancel their date tonight, saying she needs space. Danielle asks Timmy for a movie about a pig that's not Babe.

Carlos finds Steve sitting on the floor smoking. At a loss, Carlos sits down on the floor with him. Stevie is sad that everyone just came to make fun of him.

Carlos is discouraged because he didn't get into film school. Stevie assures him that Hollywood is filled with rejections, and that shouldn't stop him from trying. Carlos feels a bit better. Stevie passes out.

Eliza and Aaron sit down to talk. The Jingle Bills give them some privacy.

Eliza tells Aaron that just because he's been doing everything right since he cheated doesn't fix the fact that he did cheat and that they had problems leading up to that. She says it doesn't feel right between them anymore, and they owe it to themselves to try and be happy.

Eliza tells Aaron she has feelings for someone else, and he guesses Timmy. She apologizes and leaves him alone. The camera has been filming this whole time.

Timmy tries to break up a fight between two moms who both want to rent "Snow Buddies." Eliza approaches him and says there is something she needs to tell him.

Percy finds Stevie, telling him he's a huge fan. He asks Stevie to sign a copy of Celebrity Grappling, but Stevie refuses and excuses himself.

The fight between the moms escalates.

Percy continues to harass Stevie, who gets loudly defensive.

Eliza keeps trying to express her feelings to Timmy.

The moms get physical.

Stevie shoves Percy into a shelf of DVDs, knocking it over.

A riot breaks out. Customers loot the store, stealing DVDs, posters, decorations, and candy.

In the aftermath, the store is empty and trashed. Kayla sits on the floor with Percy, and he realizes that she still cares about him.

Kayla explains that she was mad earlier because she actually cares about Blockbuster and was angry that Stevie was ruining everything, so she took it out on her dad, the person she is closest to.

Timmy surveys the wreckage. Eliza reassures him they can clean up and get it back to normal again. Timmy wonders what the point of it is and declares himself done with Blockbuster.

Hannah finds the video of Eliza confessing feelings for Timmy to Aaron.

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 10 Recap: Sh*t Storm appeared first on TV Fanatic.

All four plots on Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 5 revolve around love or attraction.

Some are definitely more successful than others!

Carlos's plotline felt disjointed at first, which was probably the point, but it turned into something really funny and even poignant.

It shows how much this little Blockbuster family is bonded. It can be hard not to feel deeply emotionally invested in your co-workers' love lives sometimes.

Hannah: I can’t believe you dated someone who married themselves. Or listened to Modest Mouse.

_{🔗 permalink: I can’t believe you dated someone who married themselves. Or listened to Modest Mouse.}

However, it still felt like they were respecting Carlos's boundaries and having fun with him, trying to figure out what he finds attractive in a partner.

Carlos's revelation was a gut-punch for him, but once he came to terms with it, he figured out how to embrace this attraction to narcissists and be the best version of himself going forward.

(Side note: Of course, it's Leonardo, hands down!)

Hannah: We’re “turtling” the playing field.

_{🔗 permalink: We’re “turtling” the playing field.}

Kayla and Percy start the episode trying to help Timmy get on with his life and move on from his crush on Eliza.

Carlos: You look like a cool English professor with an unorthodox but exciting approach to teaching.

_{🔗 permalink: You look like a cool English professor with an unorthodox but exciting approach to teaching.}

The "market" (if you want to call it that, though maybe therein lies the issue) is inundated — there are over 1500 dating apps out there right now, so it stands to reason that many of them are specialized or hyper-specific.

You may not have as many options within the app you use, but the idea is that the ones you'd get will be better matches.

How does anyone find love these days? Most of the apps Kayla lists off are made up, but they all sound like they could be real, which is wild in and of itself.

Timmy: Does normal Tinder still exist?

Kayla: It does, but people just use it to buy and sell used furniture.

_{🔗 permalink: It does, but people just use it to buy and sell used furniture.}

Timmy is naive to put his trust in Kayla, but he makes the best of the awkward situation in which he ends up. Though he doesn't connect with any of his dates, at least he has a fun night.

I'm not sure how to feel about Rene. On the one hand, she's reclaiming the label of "Tramp," and more power to her for that. But her most defining characteristic is that she's sexually aggressive.

Rene: Did you wanna get another straw? We can Tramp and Tramp it.

_{🔗 permalink: Did you wanna get another straw? We can Tramp and Tramp it.}

It's uncomfortable to have the "cute stalker lady" trope played for laughs because reverse the genders and it would be considered harassment (and should be in this instance, too).

Though Rene seems harmless and doesn't physically engage with Timmy until he's accepted her date, it's still unsettling, particularly since she says she'll never stop asking.

That said, Rene seems to mellow out a bit when they are on their date, though she's upfront with her desires and her past.

It is odd that a show that's progressive with its casting and LGBTQ+ representation would use these weirdly outdated gendered tropes.

Percy: That was so gross and hot at the same time. It’s not often you see a cheek kiss with tongue.

Timmy: Tongue was rough. Like a cat.

_{🔗 permalink: Tongue was rough. Like a cat.}

Still, it redeemed itself at the end with the camaraderie of the women — there was no big blowout, no "catfight" over a man, and these women found that there was fun to be had in good female company, too.

Kayla and Percy would have to find fireworks someplace else.

(Side note: What would a Winnie-the-Pooh tramp stamp look like, anyway? A pot of "hunny," maybe?)

Percy: Sometimes you gotta jump your ass out the car and hope the semi behind you slows down in time.

_{🔗 permalink: Sometimes you gotta jump your ass out the car and hope the semi behind you slows down in time.}

It's hard to dispute now that Percy sucks as a human being.

He supposedly loved his best friend, Timmy, but can only go so long before actively sabotaging him. Percy is torn between loyalty to his best friend and his desperation to connect with Kayla, the daughter he loves.

As for Kayla, it's clear she views him with thinly-veiled contempt. She's right to call him on it — he's at Blockbuster all the time, so who's running his party store? For someone with so many responsibilities, he's sure at Blockbuster a lot.

I'm not sure anymore whether Percy deserves Kayla's cruelty or not. What else happened between them? Did he do something unforgivable to her and her mother that he's trying to atone for?

It was intriguing to see more of Eliza's relationship with Aaron, and it's hard to pinpoint where this is going.

Obviously, we're meant to feel the chemistry between Eliza and Timmy (which is palpable and genuine), but Aaron is doing his best.

Though he cheated on her, Eliza decided to recommit to him. She sees him trying, but it's almost as though she's expecting him to fail, as if that would give her a free pass to leave him for good.

But he hasn't failed, and it's muddling her view of what she actually wants.

Melissa Fumero does well portraying Eliza's uncertainty as a woman who's not quite sure where she wants to be in her life, who she wants to be with, and what would make her happy.

Timmy is there to be her friend, but he's clearly a gentleman and will not step in where it's inappropriate. It will need to be Eliza's decision.

How did you feel about Timmy being the king of queens? Which TMNT is your favorite?

Drop your thoughts in the comments!  

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 5 Review: King Of Queens appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Donna and Mark, the snack vendors, stock the display. Timmy says he won't be able to pay until next week. Donna orders Mark to pack the snacks back up.

Connie and Hannah prepare to assemble the display for "Thimble 2: Thumb Wars." Connie assures Hannah that this is like a puzzle, and Connie considers herself a puzzle expert.

Kayla, looking at her phone, walks into the boxes and knocks over the display pieces. Percy appears, offering her a mango smoothie, but she refuses and storms away. Hannah and Connie wonder if something is going on with Kayla.

Some stoner customers (Eric and Dustin) come in to buy snacks, but Timmy tells them he has none to sell. He gets an idea and heads to the back.

Carlos applies to film school. Timmy comes in and asks for the Thimble 2 promo candy, which he intends to sell.

Timmy mentions that he is disappointed to be losing Eliza, and when Carlos calls him on it, Timmy insists that he's happy in his relationship with Lena.

Eliza is in Timmy's office, doing relaxation exercises. Timmy brings her a Jumanji 2 promo snack since he knows she wouldn't have eaten. He says he can't imagine Blockbuster without her, but her moving on is important.

Timmy mentions that Aaron must be excited for her. She tells him that Aaron doesn't know, and though she tried to tell him, he wasn't listening. Timmy assures her Aaron will be excited once he knows and leaves her to continue her interview prep.

Connie and Hannah continue to work on the Thimble 2 "puzzle" without much success. A suspicious male customer (Joel) lurks around them.

Kayla complains that it's too loud, and Hannah suggests she go home if she's not working.

Kayla says her mom is at home and being annoying, so she's looking for an apartment and has found a great option. Hannah and Connie congratulate her on taking a big step but offer to look at the apartment with her.

Timmy talks on the phone, giving Eliza a glowing reference. Eliza emerges from the back and overhears him. He hangs up, and Eliza thanks him.

Connie continues to work on the Thimble 2 display while Carlos and Hannah watch, concerned. Joel approaches Connie and offers to help. Connie snaps at him to back off.

Some Western music plays, and Connie orders all non-Blockbuster employees to clear the area. Joel retreats.

Timmy sells some "Before Sunrise" gummies to Dustin and Eric. Eliza returns from her interview, and Timmy asks her how it went. She tells him that she didn't take the job because she realized that Blockbuster needs her, and she wants to be somewhere she can make an impact.

Timmy confides in the Dustin and Eric that he thinks Eliza should move on. The stoners suggest that he should do what they do in the movies. Timmy heads out.

Kayla excitedly announces that she got the apartment — she just needs to pay a $100 pre-deposit to view it. Carlos, Connie, and Hannah all warn her that this sounds extremely sketchy, but she won't hear it.

Carlos, Connie, and Hannah tell Percy about Kayla's apartment hunting and how it sounds like she's being scammed. Percy realizes he needs to step up and help his daughter.

Timmy heads to the car rental place, Round The Clock, and tells the owner, Andrea, that they must consider fighting for Eliza even if she refused their initial offer. Andrea tells Timmy that they didn't offer Eliza the job and that she did not speak highly of Blockbuster.

Percy finds a dejected Kayla. Kayla confesses that she got scammed. He hugs her and assures her he will take care of it.

Joel checks in and asks how long the display will take. He confesses that he is a "Thimble Head" and wants to be the first to stick his thumb in.

Carlos questions Eliza about how she could turn down a job with so many benefits. Timmy returns and confronts Eliza about her lies and the horrible things she said about Blockbuster to Andrea.

Eliza is ashamed and apologetic, so Timmy covers for her, proclaiming that Round The Clock was planning to offer her more money, but he stopped them, as she is his best employee. He says he will increase her salary.

Carlos and Hannah are relieved that Eliza is staying.

Percy asks Kayla why she needs an apartment so badly. Kayla complains about her mom, and Percy sympathizes but defends Shaina's actions, saying she is just looking out for her daughter.

Percy tells Kayla she is welcome at his place whenever she needs a break. He also reassures her that he has fallen for many scams in his time.

Connie reveals the completed Thimble 2 display. Joel wants to put in his thumb, but Connie says she deserves to be first. She puts her thumb in, but the display clenches onto her thumb, and she can't release it.

The voice of the Thimble distorts. Finally, Carlos has to grab a fire extinguisher and knock the display apart. Connie's thumb is released. Joel is horrified.

Connie confesses that she let the puzzle thing get out of hand — it was what she was good at growing up, and she was worried she had lost her "thing." Hannah assures Connie that there are lots of things she is good at, and she and Carlos list Connie's many talents.

Timmy and Eliza throw the broken Thimble 2 display into the dumpster. Eliza apologizes for her harsh words in the job interview. She thanks Timmy for being in her corner — Aaron thinks he looks out for her, but he actually doesn't. Eliza says that Lena is lucky to have Timmy.

Timmy suggests more ideas to make the Blockbuster experience special for the customers. He offers her the position of Assistant Manager, and she accepts.

The post Blockbuster Season 1 Episode 9 Recap: Thimble appeared first on TV Fanatic.