Honeymoon With My Mother-in-Law review

The setup

Poolside on his honeymoon, he is mid-thought about the stunning woman nearby when he realizes she is his new mother-in-law. Surprise: she showed up because her only daughter should not begin married life without Mom close at hand. She has booked the adjoining room, connecting door included, and calls it a proper family vacation. His wife heads off for a bath with one instruction: do not let her mother linger. The mother lingers. Alone with him, she explains she came to confirm the groom is meeting her daughter's needs. All of them.

Episode 2

Second thoughts arrive late and leave fast. He announces he should not be there, she notes that he is anyway, and his reminder that his new wife is her own daughter only adds to her fun. His fear of being overheard earns a simple instruction about volume. Her closing confession reframes the trip: this did not start at the pool, it has been on her mind ever since the ceremony. Short on dialogue, the episode mostly confirms the premise.

Who's who

• The husband: a brand-new groom whose first married mistake is checking out his wife's mother
• The mother-in-law: a surprise guest with an adjoining room and a very hands-on idea of support
• His wife: trusting, oblivious, and off to the bath at the worst possible moment

Verdict: 5.2 out of 10

The opener sells its premise in one shot: the groom's wandering eye lands on the worst possible person. The mother's entrance is brisk, the adjoining room is a nice bit of plotting, and her closing line turns maternal concern into a proposition with real nerve. The wife, though, exists only to leave the room, which makes the setup efficient rather than tense. Episode 2 hands the groom a sliver of guilt, which she laughs off, but it is too thin to add much: the mother's boldness remains the whole engine.

Episode guide