A moment of truth on Council of Dads brings an unexpected outcome for Luly.
Robin decides that the council has to share the truth with Luly this week on Council of Dads.
Robin has little patience for Anthony after he tells her that he is Luly’s biological father. She is torn apart by the heartbreak this would have caused Scott. Robin calls him a coward. If Anthony thinks Robin’s reaction is tough, just wait until he hears from recovering alcoholic Larry.
Larry tells Anthony he needs to forgive himself if he ever wants to receive forgiveness from Luly and Robin in the future. Anthony strikes a low blow reminding Larry that his own daughter, Lauren, will not speak to him. Larry accepts those words and explains that he is trying to help Anthony avoid that outcome. Larry grabs Anthony by his jacket lapels and drops some hard truths, but a difficult conversation ends in a supportive hug goodbye.
The first council meeting of the episode is short one dad. Anthony has left and the other two dads and Robin are left to figure out how and when to tell Luly the news. Meanwhile, Sam persists in asking Robin to go on a bowling date with him. Also, Peter and Oliver meet the birth mom who has chosen them as the dads for her unborn child.
Let’s take a closer look at the ‘Council Notes’ for Council of Dads episode 8.
Getting the news
The council decides they need to tell Luly soon. They choose the family dock as the location because Scott is “nearby” with his ashes having been thrown into the water there.
Luly is confused and apprehensive about Robin’s very serious tone and the presence of Larry and Oliver. Also, she and the kids have just learned that Anthony left for Las Vegas, but failed to say goodbye.
Robin reminisces about her first time meeting Luly and Scott. She reminds Luly that nothing can change her relationship with her dad. Here it goes. Luly hears that Anthony is her biological father from a one time rendezvous between birth mom Michelle and Anthony.
Luly concludes that Anthony left because of the truth coming out. She leaves to talk to Evan.
Headed west
Luly talks to birth mom Michelle about the circumstances surrounding her conception. We learn that Scott was on a binge. Michelle and Anthony were taking Scott to rehab and it was a scary ordeal. Their comforting one another led to the “one time indiscretion” as Larry describes it. Luly tells Michelle that she and Anthony are still acting like kids with the way they handled the information.
Larry is at the house working with Evan. Luly desperately wants Larry to call Anthony because he is not responding to her calls. Maybe he will pick up for Larry. Larry resists saying Luly would not want to talk to Anthony right now with the shame he is facing. Evan suggests that Larry step up and act like a dad and help Luly because “[Anthony’s] shame is not her problem”. Luly then announces that she will go to Vegas to speak with Anthony in person. Larry insists on going with her.
The pair arrives in Vegas and ask to see the chef at Anthony’s new restaurant. Of course, Anthony is surprised and nervous to see them there. Larry sits to the side while Luly confronts Anthony.
She describes the writing and therapy she has been doing to deal with the news. Anthony downplays the role he has actually played in her life. Luly tells him he cannot ignore what he has done for her and her family. He cannot run away from the truth because he does not feel like he is good enough. The conversation becomes a gesture of forgiveness from Luly to Anthony. Anthony is moved to tears. Hands are held and Larry is inspired by the reunion.
Meeting Sage
Peter and Oliver confirm their decision to adopt the baby that has been offered to them. They are so very excited about the decision.
Birth mom, Sage, comes to their home to meet them and share the gender reveal with them. When the balloons pop, blue confetti flies out announcing they are having a boy. They all celebrate. We learn that Sage wants to have a presence in the baby’s life as well. The guys are just fine with that especially since they know what it is like to be part of a larger extended family.
Robin performs an ultrasound on Sage as Oliver and Peter watch. Everyone is excited to see the baby boy on the screen. As the procedure is performed, Sage talks about looking for her birth parents after her adopted mom passed. She searched only to find out that her birth mom had died when Sage was 7 years old.
Written catharsis
The other Perry kids are so excited when Luly returns from Vegas. The kids want to see Anthony, too. Theo even wants to drop out of school and go to cooking school in Las Vegas while living with Anthony. Robin explains that no one is dropping out of school or going to Vegas.
Luly and Robin sit on the swing outside. They can tell that the kids feel something is going on. Luly shares a letter she penned to Scott about learning that Anthony is her father. Scott traditionally wrote letters to the kids and she found it helpful to work through her feelings in a letter.
Luly tells Robin that she put the letter on her blog and that her writing mentor said it could even get picked up by magazines. Robin explains that she cannot make the letter public. The younger kids are not ready for the news. Luly obliges.
Larry and Lauren
Robin finds Larry down on the dock by the water. He explains that he wanted to talk to Scott. Larry tells Robin how amazing it was to see Luly forgive Anthony and wonders if his estranged daughter could do that as well.
Robin says it would definitely be a loss to Lauren if she cannot forgive Larry and see what a great father he can be despite their very troubled past. Larry seems encouraged.
Larry meets with Lauren at The Crab Shack. She assumes that it’s because Larry is dying. When she learns he is not, she feels like he tricked her into coming. She gets angry when Larry refers to himself as her father. She insists on calling him Larry and reminds him that he lost that privilege after the drunken accident in 2004 that put her in danger.
Larry tries desperately to apologize and find a way for reconciliation. She asks if he has finished and he responds that he will never be finished trying to reconcile. Lauren walks away.
Bowling
Sam is definitely pursuing Robin. He stops by the hospital after work on the regular. He asks her to go bowling. She says that bowling leads to going home together and she does not have space in her life right now with all that Luly is facing.
Sam persists and gifts her with some brand new (as opposed to used and stinky) bowling shoes. Oliver encourages her to go on the date.
Once Luly forgives Anthony and gets some healing through her writing, Robin decides she will go out with Sam. She decides to skip the bowling part, however, and they proceed to Sam’s bedroom. As Sam and Robin revel in their time together, Robin gets an urgent text and has to leave for the hospital.
Oh no. #CouncilOfDads pic.twitter.com/8YktCO0slt
— Council of Dads (@CouncilofDads) June 19, 2020
And then . . .
We see Robin at the hospital talking to Sage. She gives Sage some upsetting news about her recent testing. Robin shares that Sage has Gerstmann Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, a progressive and fatal disease where the brain’s coordination ability deteriorates.
Sage has never heard of this before but recalls that her mother died at age 36, an early death that falls within the age range associated with the syndrome. Could the baby have the syndrome as well?
Sage begs Robin not to tell Peter and Oliver about the findings. She also reminds Robin about the doctor patient confidentiality. Still, Robin says that Sage needs to tell them.
Luly also gets some news when Evan tells her that her blog letter to her dad has been published by the Savannah Gazette. Her siblings may find out!
There are only 2 more episodes of Council of Dads in season 1. Fans are anxiously waiting and hoping for a season two renewal. Do you think the Council of Dads finale in two weeks will end on a cliffhanger?
Come back next week when I revisit Council of Dads episode 9 after it airs on June 25th on NBC – and don’t forget to VOTE FOR COUNCIL OF DADS here!
You can also revisit the events of episode 2 , episode 3 , episode 4. episode 5, episode 6 and episode 7.