3x07 General Store

[7.4/10] I really like the David/Moira story here. David wants to start his own business and, at the prompting of Stevie, realizes he could turn his critiques of the General Store (which is closing down) into his own reality. Moira is leery of him staking his meager fortune on this idea given that she and her husband have secretly supported David throughout his prior ventures.

That’s a solid conflict! There’s comedy that comes from Moira’s quick-changing recommendations on the town council over whether to let “Xmas World” take the space or not. There’s some good laughs in Moira and David’s interactions as usual. But there’s also some great character moments.

It starts with Moira worrying that she and Johnny have coddled David too much, to where he’s not prepared to do something like this on his own. David has an equal and opposite type of insecurity where he’s worried that everything he’s ever accomplished is a lie given the way his parents secretly pulled the strings. But that just makes the result better, where Moira encourages David to take the chance, not just because Xmas World pulled out, but because she thinks he has the taste and talent to make it work. It’s a really strong story, founded on the pair’s relationship, and it’s another opportunity for growth for a member of the Rose family.

The other two stories are fine, but nothing special though. Alexis starting high school again is a good story-generator. I like her fear that she’ll be bullied, instilled by her parents and David’s experience, only to discover that the high school girls actually admire her. There’s some meh cringe comedy at play, and something a tad contrived that she ends up in Jocelyn’s class, but it’s a solid preview of things to come.

Similarly, Johnny’s story about getting cinnamon buns from Ivan, the quarry-working baker he met with previously, in exchange for romantic advice on how to woo Twyla is cute enough but doesn’t really go anywhere. The laughs are pretty mild, but the whole thing is cute enough to pass muster.

Overall, this one rises on the back of the great Moira/David storyline, and is amiable in its other two subplots.