The plot contraction of the previous episode ended with Sean being rejected by his father again. He desperately fought with a group of men, only to be beaten without being able to fight back. While he was significantly more wear and tear, luckily his injury wasn’t as serious as expected. Now in the hospital, Sean’s bedside is surrounded by the entire group. He took painkillers and was clearly delighted to see them, greeting them with a cheeky smile: “My favorite band,” he announced, “Gabby and the White Saviors.”
Sean, unfiltered due to his drugs, hilariously laid it all out: He noted that while Jimmy and Paul may have been by his side, that didn’t stop him from getting into another fight. Then, with perfect comic timing, he saves the day for Liz, calling her “his favorite business partner who betrayed him.” He reveals that Alice once tried to kiss him and told Brian, who was considering adoption, that he would be a terrible father.
Sean’s father Tim had briefly visited the hospital earlier but left disappointed after learning that Sean had been fighting again. Jimmy is determined to bring Tim back and insists that he and Paul track him down. But Paul was firmly against it. He believes they have intervened enough and now need to maintain professional boundaries. But Jimmy wouldn’t let it go. He asked Paul to admit that staying out would eat him alive. In a frustrated outburst, a grumpy Paul finally admitted that he actually wanted to get involved (even though he was fully aware that it was unprofessional). So the two set out to find Tim.
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| “In a Lonely Place” – Shrink, pictured: Harrison Ford and Jason Segel. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
Jimmy and Paul work together as well as the actors who play them. It’s the stark differences between them that make their dynamic so interesting to watch. Their contrasting personalities not only inspire moments of humor and tension, but also bring out the most eccentric sides of each character. As actors, Jason Segal and Harrison Ford perfectly reflect this dynamic. Seagal’s comedic timing and emotional openness meshed perfectly with Ford’s dry humor, creating a natural chemistry that became one of the show’s greatest strengths.
When the two therapists approached Sean’s father, he was not at all happy to see them, but surprisingly, he agreed to the conversation without resistance. He accuses Paul and Jimmy of meddling in Sean’s mind and making him believe that all of his problems are his father’s fault. In response, both Paul and Jimmy opened up about their own struggles with fatherhood, acknowledging how difficult it is to do well. Jimmy admits that he failed his daughter after Tia’s death, while Paul admits that the shame of his unfaithfulness to his wife has prevented him from trying to stay in his daughter’s life.
At the end of the conversation, Tim said, “I feel worse now than I did an hour ago. Is this therapy?
Paul’s deadpan response? “Yeah, almost.”
Their honesty about their struggles as parents seemed to help. Tim returned to the hospital and apologized to his son.
Another particularly important storyline is when Brian admits to Alice that he “has been talking to the young man who knocked down her mother.” In true Brian fashion, he doesn’t deliver the message in the wittiest, most appropriate way – but somehow, that’s exactly what Alice needs. Motivated by this revelation, she decides to confront Louis, the drunk driver who caused her mother’s death.
Louis is surprised to see her, but is happy to talk to her. His guilt is palpable as he encourages Alice to vent her anger and tell him everything she’s always wanted to say. She confided, telling him how his reckless behavior had ruined her life – she’d lost friends, her father had cheated on her, and the person she needed most, her mother, was gone because he killed someone with his reckless driving she.
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| “In a Lonely Place” – Shrinkage, photo: Brett Goldstein. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
I loved the moment when Louis asked Alice to tell him about her mother, someone he had never known. While sharing a story, Alice recalled details she had forgotten, and surprisingly, she thanked him for helping her recall. Louis apologized again, admitting that he thinks about what he did to her family all the time.
Then the unexpected happens: Alice forgives him. She said it was something her mother would do.
While it’s a beautiful and poignant moment, it feels too easy. I get it – resisting the charm of Brett Goldstein, especially his adorable British accent, is no small feat. Still, Alice’s forgiveness feels surprisingly swift, considering everything she’s endured as a result of Louis’ reckless behavior. That said, this sets the stage for some intense emotional moments, with Jimmy inevitably learning that Alice has been secretly interacting with the person responsible for Tia’s death. The consequences can be explosive, testing their fragile relationship and forcing them to confront their shared grief.
Meanwhile, Liz continued to feel increasingly unsteady. She missed working in the food truck with Sean, and her attempts at pet photography were going nowhere. The animal shelter didn’t even want her free photos. When she tells her son Connor to put up with Alice and Summer’s situation, stop moping around and go back to college, he’s hurt. Liz has always been a forthright person, not afraid to speak out about what she sees, but when it comes to her kids, she’s generally a loving, supportive mom. So Connor, caught off guard by her uncharacteristically harsh tone, decides to leave for college without so much as a goodbye or even a hug from his mom, which seems like the ultimate punishment for Liz.
Derek was known for his sweet and understanding nature, but was completely unaware of the extent of his wife’s emotional spiral. His failure to see her breakdown leaves Liz feeling completely isolated. In her loneliness, she reaches out to her old boyfriend Mike, whom she recently met. His genuine passion for her pet photography was a huge boost to her confidence. But what about reconnecting with an ex while drifting? Oh my gosh…that’s all the ingredients for this mess.
The episode also further explores Gabby’s relationship with her sister Courtney, continuing their bickering from the previous episode. Gaby unfairly expected Courtney to take on the bulk of her mother’s care. While Gabby does support Courtney’s recovery from addiction, Jimmy wisely reminds her that that doesn’t mean Courtney will always be in her debt.
Gaby thoughtfully arranged for the hospital where her mother’s eye surgery was to be performed to allow her to stay an extra night, giving Courtney some much-needed rest. Gabby then opened up to her sister, acknowledging how hard Courtney had worked to rebuild her life. She told her she was proud of her and recognized her efforts in caring for her mother. Gabby tells Courtney that she is free now—free to live without endless obligations. It’s a touching scene that perfectly illustrates their growth, understanding, and strengthening of their bond.
Overall, this was an enjoyable episode with several laugh-out-loud moments. While emotional scenes like Alice forgiving Louis and Tim apologizing to Sean were heartfelt and well-acted, they felt a little too convenient. In the absence of a deeper conflict or struggle, the resolutions feel a bit rushed. Nonetheless, this episode sets the stage for more drama and emotional complexity in the episodes to come.
