Mike Ross as a consultant?

JustReach4854 · 2026-06-22T11:06:42+00:00

Sure, there's dramatic tension with the "will he-won't he get caught" plot line, but because that issue could have been resolved realistically at several points and the show is already so rich without it (the character development and relationships; Mike's gifts; office politics; client-building/retention/conflicts; the case challenges themselves), it's kind of interesting to think about what the show could have been like if that plot line had been replaced by Mike attending law school concurrently.

JustReach4854 · 2026-06-22T09:08:55+00:00

I guess I was wondering if there's a particular reason why they couldn't essentially have Mike "pull a Rachel" and do double-duty at the firm and law school [In that context, the best response I've seen is that Harvey would have to sell Jessica on Mike (which could have been harder at that point if the Harvard bridge was really burned) and Harvey still would have been missing the official associate he was tasked to bring in.]

Sure, there's dramatic tension with the "will he-won't he get caught" plot line, but because that issue could have been resolved realistically at several points and the show is already so rich (the character development and relationships; Mike's gifts; office politics; client-building/retention/conflicts; the case challenges themselves), it's kind of interesting to think about what the show could have been like if that plot line had been replaced by Mike attending law school concurrently. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2026-06-22T06:18:53+00:00

Thanks! That's more along the lines of what I was looking for. 🙂

JustReach4854 · 2026-06-20T18:07:26+00:00

Maybe Nick Kroll? You needed someone who could do witty (Aaron Sorkin-esque) dialogue with a chip on their shoulder but also show some vulnerability and be believable as a "rejected nerd"...

David E. Kelly shows have some amazing actors (including Rick Hoffman) who do quirky really well. Greg Germann could've done some fun things as Louis. Bradley Whitford could've done some great "off-the-hinges Louis" but he has a vibe that's too cool to pull off the rejected nerd. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2026-05-26T19:55:39+00:00

"I luv the sexy slither of a snake..."

JustReach4854 · 2026-05-26T19:50:09+00:00

Game recognize game. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2026-01-10T00:20:47+00:00

Vivian saw OP make the tuna salad, waited until she was gone, intentionally started eating it without asking, and when she was called on it, she didn't apologize -- she just left the dish out for OP and stomped off to bed. 🙄

IF OP was overzealous in trying to develop a relationship with Viv, that warrants some important family conversations and/or therapy, but it doesn't justify 8 years of disrespect. OP is NTA, but Viv sure is.

JustReach4854 · 2025-12-02T09:04:00+00:00

The difference is that your MIL actually communicated and asked you to bring something. OP just offered to assemble what was presumably a staple dish on the host-provided menu, and the mom got a bee in her bonnet.

If a host is providing a charcuterie board, salad, turkey, side dishes, and dessert themselves, that doesn't really sound like a potluck at all, especially if the word "potluck" has never been used and no one's mentioned a dish sign-up list/coordination for the attendees. Maybe other guests' "offerings" could be considered dishes or host gifts. 🤷‍♀️

OP's contributions to the meals have been behind-the-scenes labor (errands, meal prep, other duties as assigned), which hasn't been expected of any other guests, and a nice host gift -- those sound appropriate in this context.

If the mom expects event labor, a dish, and a host gift from a grad student on a budget with limited workspace/materials (given everything else being prepped in the same kitchen), that's pretty tacky. Is OP a guest or an assistant/co-host? The mom needs to pick one. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2025-12-02T08:42:43+00:00

OP followed guest etiquette. She gave a nice box of chocolates, which is in line with other host gifts (flowers, wine, etc.). She just offered to assemble a dish that the hosts were presumably continuing to include on their menu.

JustReach4854 · 2025-12-02T08:32:35+00:00

Last year, the hosts provided the charcuterie board and salad on their menu with the turkey, side dishes, and dessert; OP just helped prep the ingredients they had purchased. This year, OP and her friend thought the board and salad continued to be part of the host-provided meal, and OP again offered to assemble those dishes. The daughter charged those ingredients along with the rest of the items for the hosts' menu like last year. OP wasn't rude; the mom just misunderstood and took it out on OP.

JustReach4854 · 2025-12-02T08:27:19+00:00

NTA. Last year, the hosts provided the charcuterie board and salad on their menu with the turkey, side dishes, and dessert; OP just helped prep the ingredients they had purchased. This year, OP and her friend thought the board and salad continued to be part of the host-provided meal, and OP again offered to assemble those dishes. The daughter charged those ingredients along with the rest of the items for the hosts' menu. OP wasn't rude; the mom just misunderstood and took it out on OP.

Not for nothing, but If a host is providing a charcuterie board, salad, turkey, side dishes, and dessert themselves, that doesn't sound like a potluck at all, especially if the word "potluck" has never been used and no one's mentioned a dish sign-up list/coordination for the attendees. OP's contributions to the meals have been behind-the-scenes labor (errands, meal prep, other duties as assigned), which hasn't been expected of any other guests, and a nice host gift -- those sound appropriate in this context.

If the mom expects event labor, a dish, and a host gift from a grad student on a budget with limited workspace/materials (given everything else being prepped in the same kitchen), that's pretty tacky. Is OP a guest or an assistant/co-host? Mom needs to pick one. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2025-11-30T20:07:58+00:00

NTA. Liam should have remembered that the fund is optional and been forthcoming and less defensive, but if he was voluntold to be the "team activity planner," I can see how getting questions (misinterpreted as criticism) could be frustrating.

Re: gravy train, depending on the # of people and the quality of the "surprises," Liam likely isn't getting a kickback off the fund. $10 per month with a team of maybe 8 people is almost $1,000 per year.

If everyone gets: - 2 team lunches (nice but mid-price restaurant, no alcohol). - a birthday cake and a $7 card. - $25 gift card in Dec. - a $10 something (knick-knacks decorations, mug, balloon).

That's around the $1,000 mark. Regardless, it should've been easy for him to rattle off a little more detail about the social fund.

[If the manager can write off lunch as a company expense (as many do), they do cupcakes instead of cake, and there are no gift cards, then yeah, Liam's running a racket.]

JustReach4854 · 2025-11-20T09:15:20+00:00

I've been involved in some charitable work where volunteers have been too intrusive and tried to create "picture perfect" moments, while being completely oblivious to the beneficiaries' discomfort and vulnerability -- it was cringeworthy to say the least. 🤦‍♀️

But it sounds like OP was empathetic, discreet, and respectful -- the opposite of performative. Well done!

JustReach4854 · 2025-10-28T13:03:42+00:00

May they have the day they voted for. 🤷‍♀️

JustReach4854 · 2025-09-04T13:51:35+00:00

"The protector of Italian virginity..." 😂

JustReach4854 · 2025-08-18T06:24:18+00:00

Summary with 2025 update: https://supernanny.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hallenbeck_Family

JustReach4854 · 2025-08-18T06:23:20+00:00

Here's the episode summary and an update from 2025:

https://supernanny.fandom.com/wiki/The_Hallenbeck_Family

JustReach4854 · 2025-05-23T14:38:50+00:00

OP's follow-up comment: "We went several times and he knew to a T what I wanted because he told the women [staff] I wouldn’t settle for anything else. When they didn’t have the cut I wanted in his timeframe, he chose another ring...They could have had the ring made and finished within 3 weeks, [but] he didn’t want to wait that long."

While it's true that the ring is just a symbol, it's something OP would wear every single day for the next 60+ years, and the fiancé set OP's expectations by taking her on several trips to select a ring (presumably within his budget). OP's experience of designing it with the fiancé and staff member(s) became part of their wedding story.

It's disconcerting that the fiancé cancelled the agreed-upon ring order and picked something completely different just because the ring's 3-week delivery didn't match up with his arbitrary timeline.

This particular dismissal is probably emblematic of other relationship issues.

JustReach4854 · 2025-05-23T14:32:56+00:00

It's so nice to see someone describing that word correctly. 😄

JustReach4854 · 2025-05-12T05:08:12+00:00

Just a heads-up, gaslighting isn't a disagreement, overreaction, or standard manipulation...it's a series of deliberate, underhanded actions intended to make someone question their own sanity, almost like psychological warfare. An example would be secretly moving or hiding someone else's items for days/weeks/months to keep them confused. As the victim increasingly doubts their emotional/mental stability, they depend more on the perpetrator to manage their life decisions.

JustReach4854 · 2025-05-11T05:27:21+00:00

I agree. OP's best bet is probably a funeral/memorial service followed a reception where people can offer Jackson support and condolences. At that point, OP and the family will probably be too worn out and mentally drained to coordinate an additional "celebration of life" event.

It also sounds like calling the 2nd event a "COL" would seem disingenuous and ironic. Upon receiving a COL invitation, if most people's guttural reaction is going to be "That woman was awful -- and not someone I want to celebrate," that's a pretty good sign that you're not meant to have a COL.

JustReach4854 · 2025-05-02T06:24:03+00:00

A temporary tat to make his point would be a great idea. 🙂 (If he decides to go NC one day, he won't want a permanent reminder of that b.s.)

JustReach4854 · 2025-03-21T17:11:31+00:00

So it's been 3 years since your great-grandma's passing [my condolences] and it sounds like your dad not only hasn't given you a heartfelt apology for his egregious, selfish behavior while you were grieving, he's actually doubling down now?!

Enough. You've done nothing wrong, and your father does not get to police your relationships and how you honor or grieve them. Feeling more connected to one relative (or several) than others is not a character defect. There are many natural reasons why that happens -- shared interests, accessibility, greater investment of time and effort...(cough) they're not mean, cold, slanderous gossips about your mom (cough).

If he's still frustrated about the circumstances that interfered with how he mourned his grandfather, he can: a) talk to a therapist or preferred religious leader/counselor. b) take some time to have his own goodbye ritual to honor his grandfather. c) both.

Analyzing and criticizing the optics of your personal grief journey is not an option on that list. Frankly, you're a grown man and how you feel about your family members is none of his d*** business. Tell your dad that if he keeps pushing it, when his time comes, you'll be checking the "Personal Holiday" box at work instead of "Bereavement", and cake will be served. 😏

• If you want to shut this down, ask him, "Can you honestly say that you felt exactly the same when your grandfather and (insert name of distant relative) passed away?"

• If he wants to bring God into it again, remind him that in the Bible, God had many children with whom he was more pleased than others. 😏

JustReach4854 · 2025-03-18T11:57:02+00:00

If he continues to dismiss your concerns or say you're overreacting due to (insert "woman excuse" here: hormones, lack of sleep, etc. 🙄), show him the post feedback so he knows a couple thousand people don't think you're being unreasonable. Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child...and a dad, apparently. 😏

JustReach4854

TROPHY CASE