‘Two and a Half Men’ season 12, episode 4 review: Alan and Walden’s adoption near-miss

While we have made fun of “Two and a Half Men” pretty extensively throughout its extended run on TV, there is one thing that we have to admit right now: This show is really taking risks in its final season.

The serialized nature of the show carried into Thursday’s episode, as we saw Alan and Walden take the next step in their adoption process: Getting close to actually landing a child. They found a woman who was willing to let her child be adopted by them, and for most of the episode, almost everything seemed to be going fine. At the last minute, however, she decided that she wanted to keep the child for herself.

This was a pretty sad ending to this part of the story, but this also was emblematic of the somewhat-somber tone many Chuck Lorre shows are taking these days. Death has had undertones as of late on “The Big Bang Theory,” after all, and “Mom” has always been a reasonably dark comedy just due to the low-income nature of the characters.

There were still funny moments throughout this story, though, as we got another winning appearance from Maggie Lawson, and also the return of past standouts like Ryan Stiles and Clark Duke. Hopefully as we get further and further along into the final season of the show, there will be some more guest stars from the show’s past stopping by.

In the end, a solid episode … albeit a rather sad one. Grade: B.

What did you think about tonight’s new “Two and a Half Men” episode? Share with a comment now, and head over here to preview what will be coming next. (Don’t worry: There is good news on the horizon.) Also, sign up now to get some other TV updates on everything we cover today via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo via CBS.)