‘Anger Management’ Season Finale Review: “Charlie Gets Romantic”

That's all she wrote for Charlie Sheen, at least for now. ‘Anger Management’ season 1 comes to a close with its tenth episode, as Charlie finds his relationship with Kate jeopardized over an innocent invitation to the movies, while Charlie and Jennifer uncover a Facebook picture of their daughter Sam kissing another girl.

Last week’s ninth episode  “Charlie's Dad Visits” saw exactly that, as Charlie found himself visited by his father (Martin Sheen), and wondering if the slights he remembers over the years might have been his imagination running away with him, so what will the final outing bring?  Are there more laughs to be had in the potentially final half-hour, or or is it not worth committing to?

Read on for your in-depth recap of everything you need to know about ‘Anger Management’ season 1 finale, “Charlie Gets Romantic!”

Charlie catches up with the group in session, surprisingly learning that they’ve managed to control themselves from having anger outbursts lately.   Though initially tepid at the idea, Charlie agrees to stage a small celebration for the group to celebrate their 30 days without incident.

Later, talking post-coitally with Kate, Charlie casually invites her to a movie, though his therapist sex buddy appears to have a weird reaction to the idea, and blows him off for work and TV.  One another night, Kate gets ready to leave Charlie’s place, accidentally bumping into a concerned Jen.  Charlie and Kate again play off the idea that Jen thinks Kate is gay, but Jen seeks both their advice, having seen a Facebook picture of their daughter Sam kissing another girl.  Unsure of what to do with the idea, Charlie simply cracks wise.

The next night, Charlie chats with Brett at the bar, before Kate shows up for their movie date.  Rather than go with her however, Kate pulls a bizarre switch in arguing that a former patient of hers with movie trivia OCD would make a better movie companion, as she believes that Charlie is forming an emotional attachment to her.  She allows Charlie one more gesture of overt affection before she’ll cut off their friends-with-benefits relationship entirely, and Charlie begrudgingly agrees to sit down with the manically singing Judy.

Sam arrives home the next day, only to find Charlie and Jennifer confronting her about the Facebook picture.  Initially outraged, she claims she only did it to impress a boy, and her parents assure her she needn’t change anything about herself to impress anyone else.

The next day, Charlie ushers his group out following a disastrous party that trashed the house, when Michael enters to invite Charlie to a movie.  Reminded of Kate, Charlie tries to explain that as therapists he and Kate are successful in maintaining their boundaries, though he admits that there might be a little bit of denial in their relationship,  What’s a man to do?

Another night, Charlie takes Sam home to find that Jennifer is still fretting her daughter’s sexual preference, afraid she might have passed on a bit of her own bi-curiosity to her daughter.  Through the conversation, Charlie puts together that kissing might be the source of all  intimacy, all-the-while assuring his ex-wife that things with their daughter will turn out fine.

Later that night, Charlie attempts to hold back kissing in bed with Kate, who initially balks at the idea of sex without it.  When she realizes that she can’t get aroused without kissing, it dawns on her that her mind had begun to equate kissing with romance, and she throws Charlie out in the confusion.  The next day, Charlie has his session with the inmates, who help him realize he should probably come clean about his true feelings with Kate.

Glad to see he still kept his therapy appointment, Kate takes Charlie in for his session, but quickly finds herself deflecting any attempt to discuss their personal relationship.  When Charlie presses that they need to discuss their feelings, Kate tepidly agrees to amend their friends-with-benefits status to include both kissing and movies, placating Charlie.  Sharing a kiss, Kate realizes she’s got her…ahem…mojo flowing.

Well, that'll do it for 'Anger Management' season 1, as FX has yet to issue any announcement over whether or not they'll pick up Charlie Sheen's 90-episode order.  We're not sure what we should have expected from the first ten episodes, given that very little attention was paid to paying off any of the character relationships or plot threads developed over the season.  It's likely that the show will be renewed, but don't expect us to throw up any cheers if it is.  As for our thoughts on the first "season?"  Eh.

Did you like the finale of ‘Anger Management,’ or did it make you seethe with rage?  What did you think about the episode?  Join us  next season (maybe) for all-new ‘Anger Management’ episode recaps of on FX!