The episodes begin at the funeral with a final washing away of Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) and any redeemed nature he might have had. Throughout the season, sophisticated Evelyn (Holland Taylor), Charlie's mother, takes a turn for the even more sexually adventurous, and Jon Cryer as Alan seems to cry a little too much. From the audience reaction and special features, you might recognize the series as a success, but I think it has too far to go to keep the viewers watching.
Entering through the stage doorway and stepping over the dead role of Charlie Harper comes handsome and heartbroken Internet Billionaire Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher). This seemingly lovable and naïve character gradually seems to redirect to that of the inebriated and unconscious Charlie Harper. But Harper's character seems to have been replaced with an over-abundance of nudity, vulgarity, profanity, sexual "over the top" inferences, and way too many drugs! Trying to replace Charlie's traits isn't going to do it, guys... it was Charlie's lovableness that endured. All those nasty qualities were overlooked because of his magnanimous nature. Maybe you just missed it -- people loved him in spite of his recklessness and irresponsibility. He tried, but he just couldn't make responsibility work for him. Remember: everyone loves the underdog!
Surely Two and a Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season is a transitional season in a vain effort to keep a show alive that has been buried in so much bad press that it would take a miraculous resurrection to again infuse life into it. Unfortunately Lorre, Charlie Sheen was your golden goose! True, you do write amazing comedy, but Charlie on the not-quite-so-academically-brilliant hand was your equal in his own career. He may have made you cringe on the social scene, but he made you the bucks with his charisma and charm!
Two and a Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season does change complexion somewhat. Interior Designer Evelyn gives the Malibu beach house a more contemporary, edgy look. The new owner decides to donate Charlie's signature piano to a charity. Jake makes a life-changing decision to move into a role of maturity. Schmidt seems to be in and out of women's beds, and spends a great deal of time comfortably strolling naked around his new manor. Alan has a psychological awakening as he dons Charlie's bravado. You'll enjoy the return of the regulars as they greet Walden's ex and new love interest cast members. But in the final episode, there is one dramatic cast exit that will forever change the Two and a Half Men family, even on the heels of Charlie Sheen's departure last season. Interesting, but not necessarily compelling, viewing awaits the next season as we question its future.
The absence of Charlie Sheen/Charlie Harper in the series left a void in my TV viewing. This is a show I would be so anxious to sit down and watch, day after hard-working day... but now all that's left (thank God) are my DVDs of my "Charlie Sheen Show!" Moving forward from this media tragedy is a difficult task for both warriors, Sheen and Lorre; their egos were crushed and embarrassed publically, but unfortunately the memory lives on.
I, in my heart of hearts, cannot accept Ashton Kutcher as the lead role in Two and a Half Men: The Ninth Season and probably never will. Charlie Sheen, even though he had a very tarnished reputation, seemed genuine and if he did anything wrong it wasn't intentional, it just was his unfortunate nature. But Ashton Kutcher blemished his past with Demi Moore when he had an adulterous affair. And, as a woman, I cannot accept his rejection of her trusting and devoted nature. This is the woman who bared her soul with Annie Leibovitz's startling photograph on the cover of Vanity Fair. In all her unmasked glory, she revealed to the world what a beautiful and loving mother she was. It was art; it was motherhood; it was courageous -- her nature. Meanwhile, Kutcher seems to skip through life not caring whose head or heart he crushed. And this attitude, unfortunately, is the one that casts a shadow on anything he might do futurewise, in my opinion, including
As far as the series gasps to continue... Lorre's writing will always be genius (i.e. Big Bang Theory... or should I say, Big Bank Theory)? But I think the Two and a Half Men boat has sailed. Keep inventing... but not this one! Lorre, I think your anger to dissolve Sheen/Harper was your primary goal (as evidenced in the Harper character demise)... but his unbeatable memory lives on far greater than Kutcher or any other actor. With oh-so-much bad press behind them, can any of them redeem themselves? Probably only Charlie Sheen has the favor of the people, because Chuck Lorre poured more of Harper's loving, care-free, generous, and totally unaccountable nature into the hearts of his public. Can Two and a Half Men survive? Barely... but without my favor.
Two and a Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season Special Features includes Two and a Half Men Version 2.0 where Lorre and the cast reveal behind the scenes to the show and The Billionaire Upgrade: Walden Schmidt's Malibu House Redesign which shows changes to the Harper beach home. There's also a Gag Reel to lighten the weight of this important series.
It doesn't matter how good or bad the show was, its the taste and smell that's left with the viewers… its now just hate-filled bitter comedy. I certainly have no more appetite for Two and a Half Men, and I might watch it critically, but never with the enthusiasm and eagerness I once had. Without Charlie Harper everything pales in the absence of Charlie's "sheen."
