Ep 3. Date Expectations

Sean Saves the World is an American sitcom which aired on NBC in 2013. The show starred Sean Hayes as Sean, a divorced gay father who is trying to balance his busy work life with raising his teenage daughter, Ellie (Samantha Isler), and dealing with his pushy mother, Lorna (Linda Lavin). In season 1 episode 3, "Date Expectations," Sean's friend Liz (Megan Hilty) sets him up on a date with a man named Colin (Justin Kirk), and Sean tries to juggle his nerves, his work responsibilities, and his desire to make a good impression.

The episode opens with Sean complaining to his friend Max (Thomas Lennon) about how hard it is to find a good man to date. Max suggests that Sean try online dating, but Sean is skeptical that those sites would work for him. Meanwhile, Ellie is worrying about a school project due the next day, and Sean is trying to help her finish it while also keeping his eyes on the clock so he won't be late for his date. When Sean gets to the restaurant to meet Colin, he's immediately smitten with him, but he's also nervous and fumbling with his words. Colin is polite but seems a little taken aback by Sean's nervous energy.

During the meal, Sean keeps getting distracted by work-related texts and calls, and he has to run out of the restaurant at one point to handle a crisis at his office. Colin seems understanding, but when Sean returns to the table, he's more frazzled than ever. When Sean accidentally knocks over a glass of wine, Colin suggests they leave the restaurant and go for a walk. Sean is a little hesitant at first, but he agrees, and the two men end up having a fun time exploring the city and getting to know each other. Colin is charming and seems to be genuinely interested in Sean, which makes Sean relax a little and start to enjoy himself.

Back at home, Sean and Ellie are finishing up her project and are staying up way past their bedtimes. Sean is exhausted from his date, but he's also excited about the possibility of seeing Colin again. However, when Colin asks to see Sean again, Sean is hesitant. He's worried about balancing his job with his personal life, and he's also hesitant to get too invested too quickly. Colin seems to sense that Sean is holding back, and he tells Sean that he understands if he's not ready for a relationship. Sean is relieved and grateful for Colin's understanding, and the two men part on good terms.

Overall, "Date Expectations" is a sweet and funny episode that highlights Sean's struggles to balance work and dating. Sean is a likable character who is easy to root for, and the show does a good job of balancing his personal life with his professional one. The humor is mostly light and self-deprecating, and the pacing is brisk enough to keep things interesting. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with Sean feeling more confident about his ability to date while also acknowledging that he has a lot of work to do on himself.