Review: Ultra City Smiths: “Family of Orphans”

Overview: Gail (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) does her best to juggle various issues in being there for her son, Trevor (Caleb McLaughlin), while also her brother, Street Hustler Boy (Damon Herriman). David (Jimmi Simpson) goes full lime. Little Grace (Alia Shawkat) makes a crucial choice and her mother Lady Andrea the Giant worries (Bebe Neuwirth) for her. Lastly, through Trish McSapphire’s (Debra Winger) investigation, the identity of the abandoned baby from long ago is finally revealed. 

Our Take: The finale to Ultra City Smiths doesn’t go full lime, in regards to the completion of the city’s various plot lines, as one might expect. However, much like David, it dances out its issues in a way that is much more therapeutic in the long run for a potential second season. 

Overall, this is a really nicely written episode in one little package despite it not resolving all the mysteries laying within shadows of the city. From the gecko, The Narrator, played by the amazing Tom Watts and his foreboding voice, offers an equally discomforting premonition in the downfall that leads to one being alone in Ultra City. The disastrous beauty is seeing just how that unfolds in the city. 

Gail’s son, Trevor, inches ever closer to the darkness of the city by getting involved in more Nixon activities, propelled by the isolation of his mother. Gail tries to save Street Hustler Boy, who actually is her brother, who is caught in a standoff with police during his attempted bank robbery. Major props to how smartly the series has handled it’s plot twists, including this one. More often than not, they are teased through off handed comments that could be viewed as innocently comedic but turn out to be much more. Which I suppose I should have known about, at least with Gail, because when she casually stated how Street Hustler Boy was her brother I genuinely thought it was her attempt at humor. But then funnily enough, I realized Gail doesn’t joke so that wouldn’t make much sense. The actual heist itself is also highlighted comedically for Street Hustler Boy’s trepidations and kindness during the whole ordeal not to mention the teller’s petty bickering on who should be a hostage. 

Suffering most of all would definitely be David as he struggles with his citrus compulsion. And his pain is my pure enjoyment with Jimmi Simpson’s over-the-top agony being a delight throughout as he tackles the case alone and it begins to take its toll. 

Little Grace leaves her mother, returning to her father, the notorious gangster, The Most Dangerous Man in the World. Like previously mentioned, this too is a clever twist and it is smart as to why her mother wanted to keep Grace as far away as possible from him. 

Also Donavan running for the job of Ultra City’s mayor is equal parts terrifying and stupid, so why wouldn’t I be excited for a plot point like that? At the very least, more of his baffling lustful ignorance being put to the test with the real world will be a train wreck that you can’t, and wouldn’t want, to take eyes off of. 

Lastly, David being revealed as the forgotten alleyway child is yet another huge revelation that allows the series to come full circle in a way that’s organic and intriguing, especially with how the relationship with his biological mother, Trish McSapphire, will transpire. 

“Family of Orphans” acts as a great point to leave Ultra City off of with various stories that had big developments in their progression but that also were not rushed to the finish line either. With more of the series staple humor and a huge final plot twist leaving on an exciting cliffhanger, hopefully this won’t be the last we see of the Smiths.