Mallory starts a new position as a magazine advice columnist, and although she has pure intentions, she finds that it's not as straightforward of a position as she thought.
Examples:
- Advice Backfire: Mallory is confronted by Andrea, a reader who took her advice regarding a break-up, stating that her life is now ruined and that she should've asked another column instead.Andrea: I should have written to Dear Abby. Oh, that's the last time I try to save a quarter.
- Brutal Honesty: For one reader who tells Mallory that she has discovered her first-ever boyfriend is seeing another girl, Mallory tells her to "stop crying" and "cut him loose". Alex even lampshades the harshness of Mallory's response, who argues that she has to be harsh or else "nobody feels like they're getting helped".
- Comically Missing the Point: When Mallory announces her new position, Alex is understandably confused:Mallory: Alex, Alex, guess what? I'm 'Dear Mallory'!Alex: Yeah, and I'm 'Adorable Alex'. So what?
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Crosses the Line Twice: When Mallory holds an open house night for her column readers, she creates different signs in the living room that readers can sit under to talk about a problem they have (Teen Problems, Family Problems etc), with a different Keaton assisting in each area. Alex spends the night manning the area near the 'Generally Nuts' sign, which (unsurprisingly) remains empty. When Andrea arrives to discuss her issue with her boyfriend, Alex purposefully seats her under the 'Generally Nuts' sign until she asks Mallory to remove it. - False Dichotomy: Most of Mallory's advice only provides the readers with two choices, when in reality they are presenting her with complex issues (romance, sexual etc) that require more in-depth exploration.
