If you’re sick and tired of the coddled special snowflake treatment of Millennials, then CBS has got the show for you. The Great Indoors features the struggle of outdoorsman Jack Gordon (Joel McHale) as he rejoins a magazine publication now moving online and run by a bunch of selfie-taking, participation trophy-winning Millennials. And there are no "safe spaces" when Joel McHale is involved.
Surprised to see his old publication being degraded by vapid twenty-somethings Jack eventually takes his anger out on the group. In our new PC culture, it is a scene that needs to be seen to be appreciated on CBS.
Brooke: Okay, this was a really good meeting, guys. Thank you so much...
Jack: You're all so... Confident. You went to good schools. You played on winning teams.
Emma: We only won two games that year.
Jack: You're holding a huge trophy.
Emma: Uh, yeah, we got that 'cause we all tried really hard.
Jack: Yeah, well, so did the team that won! Trophies are for winners.
Emma: Ew.
Jack: Clark, what are you doing?
Clark: I'm listening. I'm just setting up for my podcast.
Jack: You've got a podcast? About what?
Clark: I interview people.
Jack: Who are you interviewing today?
Clark: Mason.
Jack: And what are you interviewing Mason about?
Clark: His podcast.
Jack: All right, stop this! Stop this right now! This is work! You guys always expect work to be fun. You can't just post animal videos and call it journalism. You can't take a word, remove some vowels, and think it's a great app. And Clark, get a podcast when you have something to say. In fact, you should have the first silent podcast because up to this point, you have said nothing that improves on silence.
Clark (Crying): That's a really good idea.
As happens far too often in the modern world, a scene follows with Jack meeting with human resources and company lawyers because he “created a hostile work environment” that could risk a lawsuit. As the lawyer remarks, young people are a “delicate group” that require a class to comprehend. Fortunately, she says, they keep the lawyers in business!
Of course, like any sitcom, the episode ends with the group making up, promising to try and combine his outdoor experience with their knowledge of technology. Yeah, it’s pretty shallow, but it’s worth seeing awful behaviors get called out for a change on television - and without a trigger warning! If the show can continue keeping up with this mindset, it could find another fan in me.
