One of the best characters inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagedoesn’t have a clear plotline headed into season 2, but that could create plentiful opportunities for the future. While it’s a lot of fun seeing a series play thesitcom age gap tropein such a heartfelt yet amusing manner, the non-title characters need interesting, evolving arcs as well.
TheGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1 finalemakes major status quo changes, the most notable of which is thatGeorgie (Montana Jordan) now co-owns the tire store and is possibly on the way to building his future franchise. But that change leaves one character lacking direction inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 2, which the show needs to thoroughly address.
Jim’s Role In Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 1 Is Largely Tied To The Tire Store
Of everyone in theGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagemain cast, Jim McAllister (Will Sasso) is arguably the only character with no entirely self-driven storylines. His conflicts always directly involve one or more other main characters, such as his doubts about his future relationship with Connor (Dougie Baldwin) or his concerns about Mandy’s (Emily Osment) reckless spending habits.
Outside the store, Jim’s something of a one-note character.
Even Jim’s gambling debt with Connie (Annie Potts) spurs more decisive action by Mandy and Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones) than Jim himself. In contrast, while every sitcom storyline inevitably involves multiple characters,Mandy selling diet shakes or Connor asking Chloe (Kara Arena) out highlights those individual characters explicitly,while the rest of the cast act as observers with only mild involvement.
Jim’s storylines with his kids also only arise in scattered episodes, meaningJim’s only real throughline in the first season is his relationship with Georgie as it pertains to the tire store. This really starts to gain traction about halfway through the season, when a subplot involving Korean tires introduced in episode 2 escalates to Georgie briefly quitting his job.
The tire store also accounts for conflicts such as Jim and Georgie lying to their wives about going to a riverboat casino, Jim taking issue with Audrey and Georgie working together, and Jim’s ultimate decision to retire. However,it’s precisely Jim’s last storyline involving the tire store that leaves his character in need of a new one entirely.
Georgie And Ruben Buying The Store Leaves Jim Without An Ongoing Character Arc
It’s As Much A Will Sasso Problem As A Jim Problem
BecauseGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagecan’t rely onThe Big Bang Theorycameosand references as easily as a spinoff likeYoung SheldonorStuart Fails to Save the Universe, there’s more pressure on the latest prequel series to generate viewer interest through the merits of its own cast. And that makes Jim’s retirement a bit worrisome.
Outside the store, Jim’s something of a one-note character. His default settings are worrying about his kids and trying to stay out of their issues entirely, the latter being especially prominent when he’s trying to avoid collateral disputes with Audrey. Whatever interests he develops to fill his retirement are therefore responsible for shouldering a lot of unexplored character development.
Aside from the risk of Jim becoming too much of a background character (having started the series as Georgie’s only living father figure),failing to ensure Jim maintains a compelling character arc would be unfair to Will Sasso. And it’s not like such a notable actor can be easily recast if he ever declines to renegotiate his contract.
Sasso gets to show off significantly more emotional range inGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagethan in previous well-known projects likeMad TV,Best in Show, orThe Three Stooges.His interest in playing Jim is the only thing keeping him from taking that talent to another network, so it’s important that his storylines continue to have some gravity.
How Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Season 2 Can Explore Jim’s Character After Selling The Shop
Jim Has More Time To Improve His Relationship With Connor
Although Jim needs an overhauled character arc now that his storyline with the tire store appears to be concluded,Audrey herself points out that the exciting thing about retirement is how it leaves Jim’s future open to the unexpected. However, showrunner Steve Holland suggestsJim’sGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 2 storylinewill involve regrets over selling the store:
Jim is not built for retirement, and it’s the thing we talk about in the writers' room. My dad is retiring now, and he’ll be 81—he put it off for so long because he was afraid of that. And I think part of the fun with Jim in season 2 is that he’s not built for retirement.
You have all these great plans of what retirement is going to look like, and all the freedom you’ll have, but when faced with the reality of it, it might be a little more boring and daunting than it seems [in the moment].
This means that, while it’s not likely an interesting enough conflict to drive his motivation throughout the entire season,Jim’s first major storyline will seemingly involve figuring out what to do with his time now that he isn’t working. That directs Jim to a character arc that could technically be his individually, while nonetheless involving Connor in a big way.
Something that focuses on his love of autocare and his concerns about Connor’s future would play most into his character’s established traits
“An Old Mustang” is among the most tragic episodes of season 1, revealing Jim’s true fears about Connor and their relationship. But sharing a father-son project with Georgie isn’t the only reason Jim is excited to restore his Mustang. It’s also a project that interests him, and the kind someone “not built for retirement” could embrace as a new side hustle.
Not only could a side hustle give Jim a reliable arc, but he could also try to include Connor, teaching him a marketable skill in exchange for showing more interest in his music.Jim already knows that asking is all it takes to get Connor to help with difficult chores, and that rule would theoretically apply here as well.
Post-retirement,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriagecan really take Jim in any direction now. But something that focuses on his love of autocare and his concerns about Connor’s future would play most into his character’s established traits. And, if it legitimately brings Jim and his son closer, then that’s just the cockle-warming gravy on the side.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
Cast
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage follows the couple as they navigate the complexities of adulthood, parenting, and marriage while raising their young family in Texas.
