How To Live A Better Life - Season 2, Episode 2: "The Pool Master" Review

Watch The Episode Here

I'm not even going to waste time coming up with an intro to this review. I'll just ask it now: How in the hell are we ever going to recover from "Home Is Where The Home Is"? Seriously? How? Is this the death of HTLBL as we know it? Fortunately, no it's not. "The Pool Master" is actually a normal episode of the show. Nothing spectacular, it's run-of-the-mill by its own standards, but this is the first time we get a tried and true Mike and Jordan episode mixed with the snazzy new direction and production quality of the new season. The result is what we've all been waiting for.

The first season of the show isn't bad, you can just tell that there wasn't much artistic expression when it came to the cinematography, dialogue, and other technical aspects of the show. It was more concerned with getting you used to its universe, and that's perfectly fine. Now that the guys know what they're doing with this new season, it's time to expect some tastefully framed scenes. You can really tell in this episode what shots they tried to make artsy. It's a mixed bag. Some of it looks alright, and some of it looks artsy for the sake of being artsy. There's nothing wrong with adding a little flair to your work, but when a traditional camera angle is the best option, use it. Don't try and force an artsy angle in places where it won't work. People will begin to call you pretentious.

The episode opens up with Mike going totally Zen on the pool table. Jordan comes down to find him this way, and Mike explains that he has a pool tournament coming up, so he needs to "study". He needed to "become the pool table". Why, Mike? Because you like balls being knocked around all over your body? HAHAHAHAHAHA Me: 1 You: 0

Jordan brags about how good he is at pool, and challenges Mike to a game. Mike accepts. I don't know why, but people claiming to be experts in topics they know nothing about, then having to demonstrate their "skills" or lack thereof is always funny to me. Mike is doing exactly this. He doesn't rack the 8-ball in the middle, and Jordan calls him out on it, only for Mike to turn it right back around on him and say that that was a test. Simple humor, but it works every time. No clue why.

Mike also goes to grab a "pooly stick", and as he is about to get the green one, Jordan stops him cold with a, "THAT'S.........MINE." Followed by a dramatic zoom on Mike's face, and we are treated to this:

Tastefully shot!

Jordan makes a big deal about using that cue, and gives Mike a really short one. Very well then. Begin game.

Cue a montage of Mike blowing dicks and Jordan being a so-called "Pool Master". The music choice here was a nice touch. I don't know the name of the song, I just know that it's a nice touch. Mike, knowing that his bluff is blown, takes up Jordan's offer to be trained by the master. Cue yet ANOTHER montage, yet this one is a little less montage-y and a little more involved. Jordan has Mike do inane yet appropriate things like bench press a pool cue, and run while holding to pool balls. Is that what they're called? Pool balls?

This other montage is set to the cliche Rocky training music that's not "Eye Of The Tiger", a song whom's name I cannot remember. It still works here. Good choices for music this episode, guys. After it's over, Jordan feels that Mike is ready to take on that tournament. Cut to black.

I mentioned in the episode 6 review that this show can be really bad with its endings. Case in point: episode 6's ending. This ending is much better, actually. It's short, simple, but executed just right. Mike walks into Jordan's room the next day. Jordan asks how Mike did. Mike explains that he got last place. Jordan acknowledges Mike's statement. Mike leaves. The end. Endings like that can be ewww if they aren't delivered right by the actors, but thankfully Zach and Jordan pulled it off. This season is looking up.

Stray Observations:

• Again, leaving comments is encouraged! Do so!
• I will continue to not mention the intros in the review, unless they are something special. This intro featured Jordan acting like a dog. Eeeeeeeh
• I really hope a major character on the show dies by falling down Jordan's dangerous stairs. Series finale twist maybe???????????????
• First well-framed shot: Mike racking the pool balls. Pool balls? Someone please correct me.
•  "It's not the size of it that matters, it's the way you play pool with it."
• That laundry basket looks like it could really hinder Mike and Jordan's ability to break the pool balls.
• Seriously! Jordan's leaning on it! Somebody move the damn thing!
• Jordan talking to Mike off-camera only to realize when Mike comes on camera, he's looking in the wrong direction. Classic example of a sight gag that would never work in real life, but once you introduce a camera, it suddenly works and isn't weird at all.
• When Mike is running with the pool balls(?), he moves his body and opens his mouth in such a way that if you were to mute the episode and play a song from High School Musical, it would look like he's singing and dancing to it.
• So what's up with the bloopers being in a much lower resolution (and in episode 6's case, in a different aspect ratio) than the rest of the episode? 
• Overall Episode Grade: B