Splitting Up Together – Go Out The Lights

By: Ariba Bhuvad

For the first time in a long time Lena (Jenna Fischer) has some free time and wants to spend it with Milo (Sander Thomas), Mae (Olivia Keville), and Mason (Van Crosby). But each of them is too busy with their laptops and phones to pay attention to her. They point out that she was busy first and that’s why they found something to get busy with, too. Randomly Milo asks about their serving spoons, although no one has any idea why he needs them. Lena takes this as an opportunity to spend time together and runs after him saying that they can buy more.

Maya (Diane Farr) is still super pregnant and refuses to get induced despite Lena telling her he should and the fact that her due date has passed. Frank (Travis Schuldt) is nodding in agreement from a distance but doesn’t want Maya to see him. However, Maya views the situation as her baby competing with her and she isn’t about to back down. To pass the time Lena gives Maya a scrapbook of sorts to fill out things about the baby.

Martin (Oliver Hudson) tells Arthur (Bobby Lee) that he has been spending more time with Annie and when he shows Arthur pictures. He doesn’t seem too impressed. Martin reveals that Lisa Apple (Monica Barbaro) has been actively ignoring him and is completely cool with Lena, something that has been bothering him a lot lately.

It turns out that Milo has been reviewing household items and putting up the videos on YouTube. He has a fan following and gets hundreds of comments and likes. This is why he can’t hang out with Lena which prompts her to have a conversation with Martin. She feels like their family is disconnected now more than ever so Martin suggests that they do something as a family to hang out and get the kids away from their phones. They tell the kids they’re going to Cap’n Furley’s Putt-Putt which gets their attention, but they say they understand the kids are busy and can’t come. However, the kids love going to this place and ultimately decide they are going to tag along. Unfortunately, the electricity goes out before they can go anywhere and they end up having to stay home. There is a blackout on their side of town so Lena and Martin decide to go turn on their generator. Martin says that they should tell the kids the generator isn’t working so they are forced to hang out instead of being on their phones. The kids are disappointed to find out the generator isn’t working and before any family activities can begin Camille and Arthur show up in hopes of being in the house with the generator. Shortly after Lisa shows up with the baby because she doesn’t want the breast milk to go to waste. Lena and Martin are left with no option but to turn the generator on. Maya ends up joining later after arguing with Lena about it.

While putting away the bottles of breast milk Martin tells Arthur that Lisa is still avoiding him. All the while, Arthur is drinking breast milk out of one of the bottles. To stay away from Martin we see Lisa sit out in her car as Lena and Martin watch from inside the house. Lena tells Martin to go talk to Lisa while she sets up a group activity. Maya gets flustered with everything so she walks out to take a walk with Frank following behind.

The electricity goes out again and everyone gets freaked out when they hear footsteps in the house. They’re relieved to see it’s just Henry (Geoff Pierson) who tells them the generator isn’t working. It isn’t working because Arthur was charging his Tesla with it so it ran out of juice sooner than it should have.

Martin goes out to talk to Lisa and tells her she is being a baby and points out that Lena never behaved this petty, even when they weren’t together. This seems to strike a nerve with Lisa who says she will never be like Lena and she was just trying to prove she can do things on her own. But Martin tells her wants to help and that he is a great dad. Henry isn’t too pleased with all the Lisa/Martin action and Lena reassures him that Lisa will be around because she’s Annie’s mother. Besides, she doesn’t believe in having any animosity between them. However, Henry mumbles that Lisa and Martin will end up together.

During their walk Maya’s water breaks and they’re unable to call anyone for help. They end up delivering the baby on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, everyone else is inside doing performances as Lisa finally decides to enter the house. Milo insists that she sing a song because she has a good voice and it gets awkward when everyone realizes the song is about Martin. Henry glances over at Lena with an “I told you” look but she tells him to shut up.

The paramedics show up to take Maya and the baby to the hospital. Everyone comments on how large the baby is. After all the craziness Martin gives Lisa a check as Lena watches from a distance wondering if her father had a good point. Martin says goodbye to Lisa and talks to Lena about how he and Lisa have worked things out. But more importantly, he wants to tell Lena how amazing she has been through everything. She says it has been hard but they will make it through and he agrees.