Ep 2. Better With Firehouse

Elevating the humor and quirks that characterize Better With You's pilot, episode 2, "Better With Firehouse," treads through the pitfalls of placing expectations on loved ones and the struggle of negotiating contrasting lifestyles to form a cohesive family dynamic.

The episode kicks off with an attempt by Maddie (Jennifer Finnigan) and Mia (Joanna Garcia) to curry favor with the newly moved-in Ben (Josh Cooke) by cooking him a home-cooked meal. However, underestimating Ben's appetite for spice results in the subsequent fire alarm and a visit from the local fire department.

As expected, Maddie and Mia expect their firefighter heroes to be handsome, strong and virile - but the reality of it is far from what they visualized. Though Mia tries her hardest to convince herself that she's open-minded to dating someone "who doesn't look like Taye Diggs," the duo quickly learns that love knows no bounds (not even parking ticket quotas).

Meanwhile, Casey (Jake Lacy) takes turns with his do-it-all father, Joel (Kurt Fuller), to wear a prized antique pocket watch, which was inherited from the prior men inside their lineage. Joel, being a bit of a perfectionist, can't resist correcting Casey's styling, but Casey would rather sport it in his own way- which results in a physically comedic back-and-forth with both arguing their fashion sense.

Lastly, Vicky (Debra Jo Rupp) gets in on the chaos when she unwittingly leads Alvin (Kevin Sussman), her fiancée, to believe that the couple's attempt at role-playing is more than simply a potential source of monetary gain. The resulting image of a fireman in the wrong profession, coupled with the situations that arise in Ben and Mia's split firehouse living situation, emphasize the underlying theme of expectations vs. reality.

As the episode progresses, the various storylines come together in a way that ultimately leads to the realization that life is messy, but beautiful in its unpredictability. While the show's "young couple vs. old couple" dynamic adds a humorous touch, the real meat and potatoes of Better With You lies in its portrayal of familial relationships through the lens of love, tolerance, and growth.

Through episode 2, the show already seems to have found its footing. The writing continues to capitalize on the chemistry and talent of its cast, with jokes and gags that land perfectly without feeling cheesy or overdone. Better With You has all the makings of family sitcom comfort food, but it never falls into the trap of feeling too saccharine or predictable. Overall, the episode delivers on its promise to up the ante on laughs without losing sight of its heart.