It’s been a lot of fun seeing Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as versions of themselves in Apple TV's Brothers. They have a great natural rapport and a long-term friendship. And this show feels a bit like spending some time watching their friendship at work.
That doesn’t mean things always go smoothly. In fact, often there is some kind of disaster. That’s certainly the case in the fifth episode of the series, “Valentine’s Day.”
Big gestures
We begin the episode with Matthew and Woody gathering their wives, Val (Natalie Martinez) and Joy (Brittany Ishibashi), so they can see their latest purchase. The boys have purchased matching, garish suits. The ladies naturally assume it’s their Valentine’s Day present for each other, which leaves them wondering what the boys got them. It’s at this moment that Matthew and Woody realize it’s Valentine’s Day, and that they’re in trouble.
Woody suggests they steer into comedy. So, Matthew comes up with something he thinks is funny — a framed and signed picture of himself. He delivers it to Val just after she gives him the napkin from their first date that she saved and framed. It doesn’t go over well.
It goes over even worse when they hear Woody and a choir of children serenading Joy. When Matthew points out he did it, mostly, to one up his friend, it’s the wives who are in unison as they storm off.
That leaves Matthew and Woody trying to make amends. Matthew sends Wyatt (Nolan Almeida) to buy some jewelry. Meanwhile, Matthew and Woody are off to the grocery store to buy supplies for dinner. A dinner they have been tasked with making themselves. While at the store, they get a call from Val that Matthew’s card is being used fraudulently at a jewelry store and the perpetrator is being arrested.
Matthew and Woody race over to save Wyatt, who is being put in handcuffs. But it turns out this was all an elaborate prank from Val and Joy to make the boys sweat. They gather Wyatt and Kai (Oona Mei Yaffe) and head home. But when they get pulled over for real, Matthew and Woody think it’s another prank. They manage to get themselves arrested in the process.
Worse yet, when they call home, the ladies think it is another joke. They leave them in jail. So, it’s Matthew’s campaign manager (Lisa Gilroy), who bails them out. But it comes with some restrictions about his future behavior.
More than friends
While Matthew and Woody are fumbling about trying to please their wives, Wyatt is mulling a big move. He’s been getting closer to Kai, who is his best friend. She feels the same, but could it be more than friendship? Matthew urges his son to take a swing.
Wyatt tries first at the jewelry store, but his gesture catches Kai by surprise and results in a punch to the face. While riding home with the police after their parents’ arrest, Kai and Wyatt talk about it again. They try again, but the cop car hits a bump, and Kai ends up with a bloody lip. Clearly, it’s not going as planned.
Back at the ranch, Kai is thinking about things back in the bus. Wyatt finds her, and they’re able to catch up and lay their cards on the table. This time, things are right. They connect and share a sweet kiss. This time, the interruption comes from someone else.
Olive (Highdee Kuan) has been struggling since her breakup with Jimmy (Skyler Gisondo). Her father tries to offer advice and even urges her to move on. It seems she’s considering just that. But at the end of the episode, Jimmy arrives in Austin — trying awkwardly to recreate the moment from Say Anything to win Olive back. More drama to come.
The original premise was the idea they might be brothers. While that fueled some early stories, we’ve kind of gotten away from that of late. I enjoy the pace and tone of the series as the first season continues, but I do wonder how seriously the show wants to explore that original idea and what will come of it as we close in on the end of the first season.
Brothers streams Wednesdays on Apple TV. Check back next week as we recap all the action of the season.
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