Reviewer Rating: 4.7/5.0
4.7
Alec’s promise to calm things down never lasted.
Irrational Season 2 Episode 8 had him out of the main action, but it couldn’t stop him from risking his health, even if he made himself sick in doing so.
However, Rose and Marisa’s idea of taking over seems to involve them doing unreasonably dangerous things, which makes their concerns seem somewhat hypocritical.
In Irrational Season 2 Episode 8, Alec Isn’t as Marginalized as He Seems
After Alec came down with appendicitis-related pain, I worried that this was the show’s way of writing an episode for him.
Many of NBC’s shows exclude actors in a false way so they can rotate active actors and save money, but that didn’t work out well for “Irrational.”
Alec is an important part of the premise of the series. No Alec means no neuroscience, and that would make the series nothing more than another police procedural.
Luckily, Irrational Season 2 Episode 8 doesn’t quite go in that direction. Instead, we’re happy with Alec trying to investigate from his hospital bed while Marissa and Rose take all the risks.
I wish, though, that he would have persisted in talking to witnesses and suspects from his hospital bed so we could avoid the trope of him trying to leave against medical advice and crashing again.
Did Alec learn his lesson after his wound reopened? I doubt it, although Kelly wouldn’t let him try such a trick again!
Kelly and Alec’s scenes are the best part of the moment
Irrational Season 2 Episode 8 follows Alec’s mental health issues, which keep him bedridden and leave the case entirely in Marissa and Rose’s hands.
However, Kelly’s reactions made me laugh, even though they weren’t meant to be funny.
I especially loved her reaction when she found out Alec was conducting witness interviews when he was supposed to be taking a break.
She should have known that no matter what, Alec would never be completely out of the box, but her confused reaction was hilarious.
Their final scene is more serious but also more intense.
Alec: Weren’t you inducted into the orchestra’s circle of honor tonight?
Kelly: Don’t worry. It was just a silly little get-together with my college friends, nothing more.
Alec: They wanted to honor you. This is also an important part of your life.
Interestingly, Kelly also built her life by putting her own needs last. She sacrificed a lot to take care of Alec, and he did the same to save the world.
I’m glad Alec at least recognized his sister’s self-sacrifice and encouraged her to spend more time with her friends.
Hopefully one day he’ll listen to his own advice, although both Alec and Kelly may think their situations are “different” and that the other’s tendency to not take care of themselves is a more serious problem.
Marissa and Ross took as much risk as Alec
Marissa warns Rose that Alec has too much on his plate and takes too many risks in the name of helping others, which, while well-intentioned, is also somewhat hypocritical.
Marissa and Rose took just as much risk as Alec did.
Is there a big difference between ignoring a ranger’s warning and scouring woods that could soon burst into flames versus Alec standing in front of a train to stop it?
It’s an interesting role reversal, with Alec stuck in the hospital worrying about whether the women he cares about will come back alive, rather than them worrying about his latest stunt.
Despite this, Marissa was the first to teach Alec not to risk too much, and the first to insist that they enter a forest that might burn.
She and Alec are similar in that way, which is probably what attracted her to him in the first place. She did say that after her son was born, she decided to channel her attraction to danger into working for the FBI.
However, Rose is closer to being the right woman for Alec because (at this point, at least) she understands his need to sacrifice everything to help others and isn’t scared away by it.
The combination of Marissa and Ross makes this episode worth watching
While Marissa and Rose go on a dangerous hike in the woods, Alec is trapped in the hospital, which sounds like a dream on paper, but turns out to be brilliant – and Rose and Marissa’s bond is part of it important component.
These two were Alec’s two main loves at the start of the episode, and even though Marissa doesn’t like Alec that much anymore, it seems to be harder for her to adjust to than she’d like to admit.
However, by the end, they became best friends. I like them.
There are so many stories on TV about women fighting each other over men, so it’s refreshing to see current and former lovers become best friends.
Beyond that, we also get some of Marissa’s backstory.
Marissa brought tears to my eyes when she told her story about how she got pregnant and went to a shelter for expectant teens alone.
I also wonder if there will be more to come. She said she ended the adoption because she didn’t want to be tempted into searching for her son, but come on – there’s no way a drama like Irrational could bring up something like that without the son reappearing!
The concept of the “Ulysses Contract” ties everything together
My favorite aspect of Irrational is its use of principles from neuroscience and behavioral psychology to solve this mystery.
Lost Souls does particularly well with the concept of the Ulysses Pact – putting yourself in a position where you are forced to take actions you would normally resist.
Before David and his gun showed up, Shanna nearly committed suicide because she was forced to run 26 miles when her body couldn’t handle more than 18 miles.
Her Ulysses contract wasn’t that different from Alec’s standard operating procedure. He also pushed himself too hard and became seriously ill.
However, his body executed its own Ulysses Pact, shutting down and leaving him in a position of forced rest…even if it wasn’t the first time.
Over to you, irrational fanatic!
What did you think of Irrational Season 2 Episode 8?
Sound off in the comments with your thoughts, and don’t forget to rate this episode by voting in our poll.
Irrational airs Tuesdays on NBC at 10/9c and Wednesdays on Peacock.
Watch “Irrational” online
