22.02.12

As its title suggests, the latest episode of " Up All Night " takes us back 18 months to the events surrounding little Amy Brinkley's introduction to the world. The poop jokes are in place, as is the requisite birthing video-viewing-turns-to-horror scene. As an episode of a comedy series, it's not the strongest installment, but as a device to make viewers care more about the characters and their relationships, it works quite well. And shucks, it's just sweet.

"Birth" also helps to paint Ava in a more sympathetic light. Sure, she's a self-obsessed freak, but she's also a lost little girl ever since her best friend grew up and took the path to domesticity. (Interestingly, Maya Rudolph and Christina Applegate 's relationship on the show is quite similar to that of the leads in "Bridesmaids," with Applegate in Rudolph's role and Rudolph playing Kristin Wiig's part.) Before Amy was born and threw a big ol' wrench into Ava's friendship with Reagan, Ava tried to duck that wrench with denial, attempting to simply ignore that Reagan had a human being growing inside her. Determined to help Ava just suck it up and accept the change was Missy, who offered to make a big change of her own: finally cutting the Crystal Gayle-length hair that she'd clung to since middle school.

Source: Starpulse.com