'The Wedding Planners' Episode 2: A traditional Italian wedding and a video call with dad
Spoilers for 'The Wedding Planners' Season 1 Episode 2 'Big Italian Wedding'
While we were introduced to the Clarkson siblings in the two-hour premiere of the show last week, this episode takes us deeper into their runt of emotions as they try to move past the death of their mother - wedding planner extraordinaire Marguerite (Michelle Nolden). Now, having taken over the family business, we get to see the siblings tackle one wedding at a time every week. This week, we have an Italian family that has heartaches similar to that of the Clarkson siblings and while that may have hit home, we are also introduced to Jimmy, the father that didn't show up to their mother's funeral.
This week's bride is sweet Flora, a lawyer working in the family wine business and deeply in love with her fiancé, Aldo. She is also even more in love with her heavily traditional Italian family, and while they all miss her late mother, she doesn't understand how she almost doesn't have a say in her own wedding.
From her dress to the desserts personally cooked by her Nonna, her father wants to give his daughter everything he's worked his entire life for during her wedding to a very handsome and hearty man. Hiring the Clarkson siblings happened without a hitch as she tried to ease the pressure of her family only to have her Nonna not give up and end up with a fall that landed her in the hospital.
As the stress creeps on the bride, she decides to elope with her fiance but quickly realizes that the day doesn't shine as bright without her traditional yet fun-loving family. Here is where the years of genius that Marguerite taught her children come in handy as the apt wedding planners have the perfect interjection.
On the family front, Paige Clarkson (Kimberly-Sue Murray) who minds the books, was seen in a dilemma in the last episode when Sally (Lanette Ware), another wedding planner, wanted her under her wing. In this episode, we see the snarky nature of Sally as flashbacks show how she was introduced to the Clarkson family.
As Paige shows up to the annual Hartbridge Bridal Show with a table for the Clarkson Wedding Essentials, just like she did with her mother when she was alive, she gets a pep talk by frenemy Sally. As Sally's booth continues to overlay Paige's clients, Paige wonders if she has what it takes to lead the family business.
Ah, yes, Jimmy their dad, a tool of sorts who so badly "wants" to visit the family, but somehow just could not find the time to come to his kid's mother's funeral. While Hannah Clarkson (Madeline Leon) tells her father that his children need him to visit, James Clarkson (Michael Seater), a drifter who ignored his family for a while himself, holds a grudge against his father, claiming the man wants nothing to do with them.
The most epic of lines, with a tad bit of shade, was probably when James tells his father "when a matriarch dies, sometimes a family needs to spend some time together." Anyone else get 'Life With Derek' vibes on that one?
The series, two episodes in, is definitely a fun watch and the cinematography of it reminded us a tad bit of 'Desperate Housewives', minus the murders and scandals of course. From its pristine decor to its harsh realities, the show seems to be one that is binge-worthy as the Clarkson siblings navigate a business their mother left in almost perfect condition. It's interesting to see how the individual lives pan out, in all aspects as they work together, in moving on past their mother's death and make sure the family business, Clarkson Wedding Essentials, continues to meet expectations.
If you're not singing, "all for love and love for all," yet, you have to watch more coming up next week.
'The Wedding Planners' airs Fridays at 8 pm ET/PT on Citytv.