Alice and Jimmy celebrate Tia's birthday. Liz's mother-in-law visits. Paul ponders his legacy. Jimmy finally goes on a first date with Sofi. Gaby has a crisis of confidence. Liz learns more about Brian's living situation.
"I Will Be Grape" was written by Zack Bornstein and directed by James Ponsoldt
Healing from trauma has been the fundamental journey of the series. Putting in the work doesn't mean only good things will happen afterwards. It's providing the tools for these characters to cope. The narrative requires big events to occur in order to test how well the characters are doing. The show can't simply delight on the fun these characters have together. That's certainly an element of the storytelling. It's a blast. They check on each other frequently. Gaby and Paul pop in as Derek recovers from surgery. He's not really the focus though. Instead, the story pivots to Liz's tension with Derek's mother, Constance. The casting department has brought in some really great additions this season. Candace Bergen is the latest to play with the ensemble. However, the story suffers from one too many ideas happening at once. Liz doesn't want Constance to comment on her parenting. She sets that boundary. They both realize each child requires something different from them. That's enough of a connection that provides the resolution to the story. It also must deal with Matthew remaining aimless in life, Derek's recovery, and Liz trying to convince others that Constance actually hates her despite the pleasant words she says. It's a lot. Not every element has the time to breathe.
Healing from trauma has been the fundamental journey of the series. Putting in the work doesn't mean only good things will happen afterwards. It's providing the tools for these characters to cope. The narrative requires big events to occur in order to test how well the characters are doing. The show can't simply delight on the fun these characters have together. That's certainly an element of the storytelling. It's a blast. They check on each other frequently. Gaby and Paul pop in as Derek recovers from surgery. He's not really the focus though. Instead, the story pivots to Liz's tension with Derek's mother, Constance. The casting department has brought in some really great additions this season. Candace Bergen is the latest to play with the ensemble. However, the story suffers from one too many ideas happening at once. Liz doesn't want Constance to comment on her parenting. She sets that boundary. They both realize each child requires something different from them. That's enough of a connection that provides the resolution to the story. It also must deal with Matthew remaining aimless in life, Derek's recovery, and Liz trying to convince others that Constance actually hates her despite the pleasant words she says. It's a lot. Not every element has the time to breathe.
The same applies to Jimmy and Alice remembering Tia on her birthday. That's the foundational trauma that everything else extends from. Alice worries about her father being all alone after she leaves for college. He even considers Summer's offer to move in. Alice invites Louis back to town to show how well he's adjusting. He's figured out how to move on. She wants her dad to do the same. Any progress has been slow. Jimmy must listen to his own advice. It builds to Sofi joining in the group celebration for Tia. That's an awkward first date. It also reaffirms that everyone likes her and sees her as a solid potential partner for Jimmy. Meanwhile, Paul and Gaby have their own stories that don't nearly have enough time to be fully fleshed out. It's clearly a transitional moment for Gaby from where her story with Maya started and the twist in the end. That will dramatically shake up her life. The loss is meant to sting. It's also a moment built to close an episode due to how surprising it is. With Paul, he simply enjoys saying "fuck Parkinson's" wherever he goes. It's a meaningful sentiment. The narrative runs the risk of losing its power due to the frequency. That can't be lost because Paul is going through the most significant change in his life so far. That needs to remain the focus even though others aren't quick to embrace his plans.
Grade: B
"Depression Diet" was written by Emily Wilson and directed by Anu Valia
This season has built up how everyone depends on Gaby. She's agreed to a lot. She has big ambitions. She was inspired by the work she was doing. She was eager to embrace more. But now, she's filled with remorse. She wasn't able to save Maya. She's terrified it was on purpose. It wasn't an accidental overdose. Paul understands it's an occupational hazard of trauma work. He has the experience. Gaby sees all the good she can do. She turned down Paul's offer of the clinic because it wasn't what she wanted to focus on in her profession. This loss forces her to reconsider everything. It's frightening. Everyone worries about her. They check in constantly. Gaby must guide others through the grief as well. Several of her patients knew Maya. She participated in the MMA fighting. She was referred to Gaby by a fellow patient. The more information Gaby learns the more she considers herself a failure. She didn't know about Maya's abandonment issues. She would have changed her approach had she known. She loses trust. That perspective shift is startling. Paul recognizes how difficult it will be for Gaby to return. Doing so immediately isn't healthy either. A balance must be struck. Gaby can't find that right now. It's hard to process. It's such a pivotal emotional wallop. That provides this episode with the focus that was missing in the prior one.
This season has built up how everyone depends on Gaby. She's agreed to a lot. She has big ambitions. She was inspired by the work she was doing. She was eager to embrace more. But now, she's filled with remorse. She wasn't able to save Maya. She's terrified it was on purpose. It wasn't an accidental overdose. Paul understands it's an occupational hazard of trauma work. He has the experience. Gaby sees all the good she can do. She turned down Paul's offer of the clinic because it wasn't what she wanted to focus on in her profession. This loss forces her to reconsider everything. It's frightening. Everyone worries about her. They check in constantly. Gaby must guide others through the grief as well. Several of her patients knew Maya. She participated in the MMA fighting. She was referred to Gaby by a fellow patient. The more information Gaby learns the more she considers herself a failure. She didn't know about Maya's abandonment issues. She would have changed her approach had she known. She loses trust. That perspective shift is startling. Paul recognizes how difficult it will be for Gaby to return. Doing so immediately isn't healthy either. A balance must be struck. Gaby can't find that right now. It's hard to process. It's such a pivotal emotional wallop. That provides this episode with the focus that was missing in the prior one.
While two storylines play off momentum that was built across the season, Ava living with Brian and Charlie is something entirely new. It's less about her and more about Liz. Her presence prevents Brian and Charlie from building their family. They have leaned on Liz for so much. They need the freedom to make mistakes. They need to be assertive with what they need. They can't rely on Liz to do that for them. Of course, she still fulfills that role by requiring them to fire her. She will still constantly be in their lives. Nothing is really changing. It requires self-reflection though. Liz has to be open to criticism and adjust her behavior accordingly. She does so. Elsewhere, Sofi was positioned as perfect for Jimmy so long as Jimmy got out of his own way. Her joining Tia's birthday celebration was awkward. That same energy applies when Jimmy meets her family. He must become a therapist to help Sofi and her ex-husband set boundaries. It's a distraction from romance. It's also endearing because it proves Jimmy knows what he's talking about. He has the skills to navigate this situation. It's more personal because he's taking this step forward. He doesn't need to be afraid. It has the potential to go well for him. He just has to acknowledge that moving on doesn't mean forgetting about Tia. He must accept that he can have more than one great love.
Grade: A-
