Diane, Liz and Ri'Chard strategize with Neil Gross to help him buy out the Democratic Party. Jay brings Carmen into the Collective to help extract information from a white supremacist. Diane and Kurt battle relationship issues.
In order to embrace hope, Diane must forego love. She sees that emotion as simply too inconsequential to everything else she carries about. She listens to people talk about themselves and the roles they've played in Democratic politics during Frank Landau's wake. It's not really about honoring his legacy. People are inherently selfish. Diane is enraged by that and the ways in which corruption has taken root in the party she sees as fighting for democracy itself. The other side isn't sitting on the sidelines. They are organized. They have spent years building to this moment. They can take rights away from people at any moment. Yes, this drama heightens this paranoia and dread. The majority opinion of the Supreme Court stated that the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade could only be applied to that case. And yet, it's hard to believe that. The justices of the conservative majority all lied during their confirmation hearings about honoring that precedent. Moreover, Clarence Thomas offered a list of rulings that should be revisited in his separate opinion. Rights are under attack. Gay marriage could very well be next. A room full of Democrats mourn the loss of a towering figure in their world when that news breaks. They are defeated. All Diane can do is proclaim how deeply fucked all of them are. Of course, that isn't helpful. That expression can be cathartic at times. It still takes courage and determination to fight back. Diane wants to continue doing so. But she has also been hurt too many times to think this moment will turn out any different. Even when her party forms the majority consensus in this country, politics are dictated by minority rule. Nothing gets accomplished. That too is a foolish mentality from people who haven't been paying attention. Diane wants to be energized. She finds herself lacking in that passion. Neil Gross encourages her. He presents her with all these offers. Money fundamentally changes the way this country conducts itself. The Democrats should be willing to embrace the Republican tactics in order to beat them. Too often, this side is holding themselves to higher moral standards instead of ensuring our democracy remains functional. The divisions are so severe now. It seems daunting to try to mend them. That spells out doom for Diane and Kurt. They never purposefully talk about politics. It comes up though. That has always been the central issue in their marriage. Diane is told if she wants to be a leader in the future she has to end her marriage. She follows through with that promise. She believes it's what has to happen in order for hope to emerge. And yet, the state of the world has nothing to do with whether or not this marriage lasts. It's simply Diane projecting importance onto the possible power she wields in making a difference. Every voice matters. A difference is only made when the collective make their opinions known and fight for the change they want to see.
Of course, Diane was having these doubts long before Neil presented her with this offer. The firm is eager to maintain his business as well. They believe they must appease him no matter what. That means encouraging his efforts to blackmail party leaders into submission. They have to play dirty and embrace the same tactics if they hope to win. That means coordinating with tech companies to exploit opinions. That means treating political leaders as Gods. That means reacting boldly when someone holds a diverging perspective. People are still inspired by the world around them. Carmen is brought into the Collective and wields just as much power as Jay does. In fact, they are both allowed to navigate between both worlds. They make a difference in this underground environment while holding down their jobs at the firm. Of course, they are still compromised. They can't provide the services that others expect from them. That puts lives in danger. Their colleagues aren't powerless though. In fact, a simple suggestion leads to Marissa and Zev getting married. It happens so quickly. It's a joyous celebration. One where Jay and Carmen race to participate in. They also see the value in coercing information out of white supremacists in order to further disrupt their attempts at toppling society and remaking it in their image. The Collective achieves these goals by circumventing the law. They have the vast resources to do so. It's under the guise of this entire system being checked by lawyers. That may not be enough to ease people's minds about the good work being done. It remains shrouded in secrecy. It's fulfilling work for Jay and Carmen. That matters. It shouldn't be the sole source of satisfaction in their lives. People need multi-faceted lives. Diane clearly yearns for something more. She deserves more than being Liz's drinking partner. Liz and Ri'Chard grew to respect each other as partners. And now, they envision a future of leading the world's largest firm. That seems obtainable to them. That's their dream. Diane is a valuable partner. However, she isn't needed to make Liz and Ri'Chard's dream a reality. She provides a personal touch when it comes to keeping Neil's business. He has a long history with her. He listens to her thoughts about how to remake the party. He wants to make this investment. He wants to spend his money on something that matters. He can absolutely change the world. He still depends on people lining up behind his vision. He has to be the man leading the charge. He has to make these suggestions and pull the strings of everything. When Diane receives an email from the RNC, that's her breaking point. She didn't make a donation. Kurt laughs about it. He stands out in this environment. Diane has already moved beyond him. He isn't an active part of her life. That's heartbreaking given how close and loving they once were. The breakup is expected of Diane to do. She has made connections elsewhere to feel alive. That isn't necessarily love though. That matters even if Diane refuses to admit it. The tear sliding down her face informs how difficult this is. She still forces herself to do it because she sees it as the only way to make the world right even though Kurt didn't break it in the first place. Kurt can help. Diane simply refuses to see him as anyone besides a political operator working for the opposing team.
