After months of living in a state of marital purgatory, Pat and Eileen made positive strides toward their individual independence by having a divorce ceremony and moving Pat into the garage. It wasn’t the type of leap forward that either of them might’ve wanted, but it was a necessary baby step that shows that they’re both heading in the right direction. While each does need to figure out what their life looks like without the other, it’s tough to completely turn away from a life-defining relationship that took up nearly two decades and produced three children. If Pat and Eileen are to emerge on the other side of this divorce healthy, happy, and ready to find themselves, it’s going to take some time to build themselves up to the point where they don’t collapse upon entering this new phase in their lives.
On the next episode of The Real O’Neals, Pat and Eileen make a significant change to the typical O’Neal Thanksgiving and bring dates to dinner. It’s one thing for the two to be seeing other people, but it’s a whole other thing entirely to not only have everyone together in the same space but add in the kids and a holiday setting on top of things. Though Jimmy, Kenny, and Shannon know about and support their parents’ decision to divorce, it’s hard for things not to get awkward given the new people present at a family-centric gathering and the fact that neither Pat nor Eileen has been dating for very long. Whereas Eileen is still feeling out her connection with (and feelings for) VP Murray, despite the amount of time they’ve already spent with one another, Pat is only one date into his post-separation life and hasn’t intentionally brought anyone around the family yet. It’s a lot of firsts colliding with one another in one of the most stressful holidays of the year, so the O’Neals can only hope that this new tradition for their family gets off to as good a start as possible, all things considered.
The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 9:30 on ABC.
Do you think it’s too soon for Pat and Eileen to bring dates to family holiday functions? Will this Thanksgiving further or hinder the progress the family has made recently? If things go well, could Pat and Eileen begin embracing their new lives even more?
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THE REAL O'NEALS - “The Real Tradition” - The O’Neals deal with a change to their Thanksgiving tradition when Pat and Eileen invite Gloria and VP Murray to dinner as their dates. Meanwhile, things don’t go as smoothly as planned when Gloria offers to help Kenny cook and Eileen prepares to meet VP Murray’s mom for the first time. The Food Network’s Graham Elliot, Alex Guarnaschelli and Antonia Lofaso as themselves, on ABC's "The Real O’Neals," airing on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 (9:30–10:00 p.m. EDT). (ABC/Ron Tom)MARTHA PLIMPTON, NOAH GALVIN, MARY HOLLIS INBODEN
