NBC
I had an interesting reaction to the first season of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which had a string of very strong episodes and then a bunch of very okay ones. There were some issues here and there with a few of the storylines, particularly how we were meant to feel about Simon versus Max. And sometimes the song choices for Zoey’s mysterious powers were cringey instead of funny or emotional. But one thing that was always great was Jane Levy as the main character Zoey, sometimes carrying weaker episodes.
The show returns with the appropriately titled ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Return’, which sets up some problems and then solves them all. It’s so easy that it feels almost like it could’ve (should’ve?) be a season finale instead, with a very mild sort of cliffhanger. The episode continues six weeks after the funeral of Zoey’s dad, and isn’t really concerned with existing in a pandemic world.
The season (which is still being filmed) started filming in September, and several characters make vague, oblique references to a bunch of ‘changes’ but in this world there is no pandemic. Honestly, that’s fine, because it’s not like TV has to reflect our reality completely, but probably it shouldn’t be hinting at it at all.
Although Zoey confides to Mo that she hasn’t heard any ‘heart songs’ since the funeral, it quickly is revealed that of course, her powers are still there. The episode does continue with the love triangle business, but it weighs things very heavily towards Max, with a personal gift of a ring, a mysterious, terrible sounding idea about a restaurant serving other restaurants’ food, and a need for him to do better.
NBC
In contrast, Simon simply shows up in an elevator to say hi and offers unwanted words of support, so it’s no real shock that Zoey makes out with Max at the end of the episode — this episode makes it very clear whom she prefers. At least for now. But the episode also sets up some issues: Maggie is having trouble accessing her late husband’s computer, Joan is leaving and wants to promote Zoey, Max’s replacement George (the great Harvey Guillén from What We Do in the Shadows) is being bullied, new mom Emily is stressed out, and the love triangle still exists.
Although we do see Zoey erupt in anger because she’s getting pushed too fast after coming back to work, by the end of the episode she’s all smiles and ready to take the new job, which includes ending the absurd bullying of George. She also ‘computers’ into her dad’s laptop to find a few video testimonials from her father, all meant to fix the episode’s problems. And in the final little montage, we see Maggie helping with the baby, and Emily seemingly less stressed.
So all good, until Zoey kisses Max, but that’s not even a problem if that’s the simple ‘cliffhanger’ for this episode. I still feel like the show isn’t always handling Max’s character well, because he feels more flattened out to me — maybe it’s first episode jitters, but Simon’s not so interesting either since they resolved his ex-fiance storyline.
On the music side, the show goes for an all out big number with ‘Hello Dolly’ by Louis Armstrong (and from the musical) in one of the obvious songs the show likes to use, and Fun’s ‘Carry On’ as another ‘this song is telling you what is happening’ situation. On the ironic juxtaposition side, we get Jet’s ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl?’ from Max and Simon immediately after saying they don’t want to compete anymore — it’s meant to be a funny joke, but it’s a bit flat.
And the most interesting song was George starting to sing Melissa Manchester’s ‘Don’t Cry Out Loud’, a song that is about hiding your pain through a happy face, because Zoey interrupts it in the middle, tired of another person she apparently needs to help. That sort of conflict could’ve driven a longer episode arc really, the idea that Zoey is still grieving and isn’t prepared to do more ‘case of the week’ helper stuff. But that’s tossed aside with the end of the episode.
So overall, the episode feels a bit rushed and not entirely well thought out — but some forgiveness can be granted for an episode that was likely written and produced entirely in pandemic bubbles. Jane Levy is as engaging a narrator as always, and I’m willing to give the show a chance to see where things go — hopefully for the better.
What did you think of this episode? Start a conversation in the comments section below.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Tuesday at 8:00 PM on NBC.
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