Ep 6. No Right Way
- November 11, 2003
- 20 min
-
7.2 (113)
In this episode of 8 Simple Rules, titled "No Right Way", the family deals with the aftermath of Paul's unexpected death. The episode begins with Cate struggling to come to terms with her husband's death, and she is inundated with well-intentioned but ultimately unhelpful advice from friends and family members who try to tell her how to grieve.
Meanwhile, Bridget is struggling to deal with the fact that she was the last person to see Paul alive. She becomes fixated on the idea that she could have somehow prevented his death, and begins acting out in increasingly destructive ways. Kerry, on the other hand, is consumed with guilt over the fact that she was mad at her father when he died, and she is having trouble processing her emotions.
As the family tries to navigate their grief, a number of other issues come to the forefront. The girls' school has invited Paul to speak at a career day event, and Cate must decide whether to honor the commitment that Paul made before his death. Meanwhile, Rory is eager to find a way to honor his father's memory and begins looking for ways to express his grief.
As the episode progresses, each member of the family struggles to find their own way to deal with their emotions. Bridget begins seeing a grief counselor, and Kerry reaches out to her mother for support. As the family begins to come to terms with their loss, they are left with the realization that there is no one "right" way to grieve, and that the best way to honor Paul's memory is to support each other through the difficult times ahead.
Throughout the episode, there are moments of both heartbreak and humor, as the family tries to navigate their way through a difficult time. The show handles the sensitive subject matter with grace and sensitivity, and viewers are left with a sense of hope that the family will eventually be able to find their way forward, even if the road ahead is a challenging one.
Overall, "No Right Way" is a poignant and moving episode that highlights the importance of family, love, and support in times of grief. The writing is sharp and insightful, and the performances are uniformly strong. Anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a loved one will likely find something relatable in this episode, and it is a testament to the power of television as a medium for both entertainment and reflection.