Reviewer Rating: 4.8/5.0
4.8
Irrational Season 2 Episode 3 had two mysteries to unravel, but they were almost beside the point.
Alec’s investigation into whether the hockey accident was actually murder, and Kelly’s attempts to find out who framed her for the hack, are vehicles for exploring deeper issues.
The two stories are connected through the way competition changes people and the price they often pay for doing the right thing. while subverting most common TV tropes.
“Irrational” Season 2 Episode 3 Reinforces the “Seize the Day” Theme
The story behind the story is all about not taking life or relationships for granted.
The district attorney and others have been accusing Sove of showing no remorse for Leah’s death, but the opposite is true.
After Leah accidentally broke Soph’s collarbone, Soph lived with regret because her friendship with Leah never got back on track.
Even knowing that she was not responsible for Leah’s death didn’t help Soph much because she realized too late how much time she had wasted maintaining this unnecessary rivalry.
Sophie couldn’t foresee Leah’s needless death, so she thought there was plenty of time to forgive her, and didn’t want to do that, although on a deeper level, she did.
She learned the hard way that sometimes time runs out when you least expect it. Her final scene with Alec is touching as she admits her mistakes and is willing to accept his advice.
Alec also has the best view of redemption I’ve ever heard.
Alec: Redemption doesn’t happen overnight. You took the wrong path step by step. You have to go the right way in the same way.
This quote belongs in the meme category.
Too many people think redemption only requires an apology, and it’s important to realize that it takes work—and don’t be too hard on yourself if things aren’t completely resolved after one or two attempts to make amends.
Sove isn’t the only one who has to consider the consequences of his choices, either. The whole show is about this.
Phoebe must find courage
Irrational Season 2 Episode 3 didn’t have as much going on with Phoebe as I had hoped.
I thought she would be more proactive in trying to do something about her new boss’s behavior, but instead she just asked Marissa for advice and confided in her that she wasn’t sure she had the courage to do the right thing.
Phoebe: What would you do if someone with more power than you did something wrong, but reporting it might get you in trouble?
Marisa: You ask that? I followed my FBI mentor and a current U.S. Senator. You know. I don’t think you’re asking for advice. I think you are asking for permission.
Phoebe: Maybe. What if I’m not as bad as you?
Since the end of season one, Phoebe has been torn between her desire to be a part of something big and her fear of taking risks.
She decided to leave Alec’s job because she felt it was “safer” to find work elsewhere. However, it’s clear she’s not happy to play it safe.
Phoebe is constantly drawn into mysteries that she believes are harmful to her mental health.
She always claims it’s “one time” to help someone out, but she’s doing it every week, so she needs to take a closer look at herself and decide what she really wants.
She got closer to the truth when she admitted to Marissa in Irrational Season 3 Episode 2 that she worried she wasn’t bad enough to do the right thing.
Hopefully this will be the beginning of Phoebe taking steps to regain her courage and stand up to the professor who she feels is taking advantage of her students’ hard work.
Is Rachel a plagiarist? I have no idea.
There is nothing inherently wrong with ghostwriting, although Phoebe had no idea what Ava was doing when she asked her for help on a project.
The professor should be more transparent with everyone about her plans, but it’s unclear whether she actually stole anyone’s work.
Phoebe was unprepared for a potential plot twist in which Ava signed a contract or otherwise agreed to ghostwrite for Rachel, in which case there would be no plagiarism.
Still, her predicament is very much in line with Kelly’s predicament in the third episode of Season 2 of Irrational.
Kelly must choose between her friends or clearing her name
Kelly is conflicted throughout the entire incident, as Marissa sends her undercover into the coding unit to find out who stole her code and used it for ransomware.
Sadly, her skills were used against her in many ways, and team leader Angelique judged her for her undercover investigation in Irrational Season 2 Episode 3.
Angelique was unbearable.
Of course, she’s entitled to her political beliefs, including her belief that hacking banks and insurance companies is no big deal because CEOs make so much money off people who can barely afford it.
But even if Kelly agreed to this, the hackers put her name back into the code, meaning Kelly will likely go to jail if the real culprit is not found.
When Kelly faced extreme consequences for something she didn’t do, Angelique complained that Kelly shouldn’t be spying on the group, a complaint that fell flat.
It’s not hard to understand that Kelly needs to clear her name.
Yes, Angelique would have preferred to handle the matter internally, but how is that possible when Marissa is trying to find the hacker before Kelly is officially implicated?
Many police procedurals have attempted to depict the conflict of people of color in law enforcement who are viewed as traitors by their communities, but “Irrational” takes a much more original approach to this.
If the members of the coding group would rather Kelly take responsibility than entertain the idea of a member being arrested for breaking the law, then they’re not really friends, but that doesn’t make it any less hurtful.
Kelly thinks she’s finally found her people, only to discover they’re more concerned with being able to invade an institution they disapprove of than her well-being, and their anti-cop attitudes get in the way.
Irrational Season 2 Episode 3 Rose’s Plight Similar to Phoebe
Rose and Alec weren’t unable to separate their professional and personal relationships, and Rose’s involvement in the case gave Alec a chance to work through the trauma she was trying to escape.
Although the two were initially on opposite sides, the two worked well together, leading Alec to confront Rose about her continued avoidance of him.
This is the opposite of dividing for the sake of drama.
Rose wanted to end the relationship because she was worried about losing Alec to violence, but he was able to do a good job of explaining why the decision didn’t make sense to him.
Rose: The image of that man holding a gun to your head because of me has always haunted me.
Alec: Here comes the breakup speech.
Ross: It’s the only way to protect you.
Alec: You know, since I survived that explosion, every day that I’m here is a victory. You don’t have to protect me because I’m on borrowed time. I want to spend time with people doing things I’m passionate about…
Ross: What are you passionate about?
Alec: I care a lot. You’re saying I’m haunted by the image of a gun to my head, but I saw you in the same situation and I thought, I can’t lose Ross Denshaw.
Rose: I don’t want to lose you either. But it’s not safe around me, and if I don’t run now, I never will, and I don’t want this to end.
Alec: So don’t end it. Stay.
This conversation again fits the theme of taking risks versus playing it safe.
That’s why I love “Irrational.” Yes, it’s a light-hearted mystery, but it also has a worldview about what it means to be fully alive that made sense to me.
What about you, irrational fanatic?
Leave your thoughts on Irrational Season 2 Episode 3 in the comments.
Irrational airs Tuesdays on NBC at 10/9c and Wednesdays on Peacock.
Watch “Irrational” online
