This honestly might have been the worst first episode for a sitcom I've ever seen. But, of course, the only thing the negative reviews are talking about is the diversity of the cast. So here's an ACTUAL review for you.
Topher Grace is not great as the protagonist. He's playing the exact same character as he did in That 70s Show, which if you remember anything about that show is not a good thing. Eric Foreman was always sort of just there and the rest of the cast was what got people hooked. Tom is just Eric 2: Electric Boogaloo, but this time he doesn't have the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, etc. To carry him. I'm sure Home Ec's cast are all great actors in their own right (even Topher), but these characters didn't have the charm to carry a pretty plain character.
As for the comedy, I have a hard time saying there was any. There were so few moments that even seemed like they were trying to make a joke and even then they weren't great. There was a moment where Tom accidentally steps on an active treadmill, flies back, and hits his head on a wall. He immediately gets up and says he's fine, like it's some Looney Toons cartoon. But with the tone that had been set by the show, I genuinely wasn't sure if it was gonna be played for laughs.
Speaking of tone, MY GOD, it's so depressing for a pilot of a sitcom. Two of the three families are down on their luck and they make sure you know that. Around half way through the episode, Tom and his sister's wives started having some competition to see who's worse off. It was like that scene in Deadpool where Wade and Vanessa were arguing about who had the worse childhood. However, unlike Deadpool, this wasn't so hyperbolic you end up laughing. It was just... sad. Obviously a show can touch on the subject of wealth disparity, under paid teachers, and the turbulent job market, but you have to have a balance between the comedy and the message. Watch Bojack Horseman if you want to see a good example of a depressing comedy.
The show isn't even "so bad it's good." It's not like The Room where it's so cringey, yet you can't look away. You kinda just wanna turn it off.
I'm honestly really disappointed that this show was as bad as it was. I would've loved to see Topher Grace make a comeback in a show with a diverse cast and well written characters. But that didn't happen. Instead we got a show that commits the cardinal sin of comedy: Being boring.
Topher Grace is not great as the protagonist. He's playing the exact same character as he did in That 70s Show, which if you remember anything about that show is not a good thing. Eric Foreman was always sort of just there and the rest of the cast was what got people hooked. Tom is just Eric 2: Electric Boogaloo, but this time he doesn't have the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Danny Masterson, etc. To carry him. I'm sure Home Ec's cast are all great actors in their own right (even Topher), but these characters didn't have the charm to carry a pretty plain character.
As for the comedy, I have a hard time saying there was any. There were so few moments that even seemed like they were trying to make a joke and even then they weren't great. There was a moment where Tom accidentally steps on an active treadmill, flies back, and hits his head on a wall. He immediately gets up and says he's fine, like it's some Looney Toons cartoon. But with the tone that had been set by the show, I genuinely wasn't sure if it was gonna be played for laughs.
Speaking of tone, MY GOD, it's so depressing for a pilot of a sitcom. Two of the three families are down on their luck and they make sure you know that. Around half way through the episode, Tom and his sister's wives started having some competition to see who's worse off. It was like that scene in Deadpool where Wade and Vanessa were arguing about who had the worse childhood. However, unlike Deadpool, this wasn't so hyperbolic you end up laughing. It was just... sad. Obviously a show can touch on the subject of wealth disparity, under paid teachers, and the turbulent job market, but you have to have a balance between the comedy and the message. Watch Bojack Horseman if you want to see a good example of a depressing comedy.
The show isn't even "so bad it's good." It's not like The Room where it's so cringey, yet you can't look away. You kinda just wanna turn it off.
I'm honestly really disappointed that this show was as bad as it was. I would've loved to see Topher Grace make a comeback in a show with a diverse cast and well written characters. But that didn't happen. Instead we got a show that commits the cardinal sin of comedy: Being boring.