Chris: I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of this episode but I do appreciate that it’s really their first attempt to focus the main story of an episode on a character other than Gretchen and Jimmy. It’s the first time we fully dive into Edgar’s struggles with PTSD and why that led him to become a drug addict and, just like last episode with Jimmy’s insecurities, it’s a problem that is far from resolved at the end of the episode. Also, we get really the first real interaction between Edgar and Lindsay which is a friendship that is a staple of this show almost as important as Jimmy and Gretchen’s relationship. In very broad terms, I think both Edgar and Lindsay are looking for someone to “be there” for them when needed and when Jimmy and Gretchen both prove to be unreliable in those roles, Edgar and Lindsay find that in each other.
Alexa: This episode is probably the weakest so far in terms of Jimmy and Gretchen’s story. Her disgusting apartment elicits a few laughs but otherwise their plot line isn’t that interesting this time. But it does give Edgar and Lindsay some one-on-one time, which paves the way for them to grow beyond the leads’ best friends and into part of an ensemble. Edgar has been a scene stealer from the beginning, but this is really our first opportunity to take a deeper dive into his character and his difficult adjustment to civilian life. The whole jaw-wired-shut gimmick also gives Kether Donohue more of a comedic showcase than previous episodes. We haven’t gotten to know Lindsay particularly well yet, but here, she has the opportunity to be more than just the reason Jimmy and Gretchen met. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate Sam’s love of Arts and Crafts-style architecture? Someone get this man an HGTV show.
Joel: Edgar and Lindsay, the other two characters that get to be part of the intro, really get their first character moments in this episode. We’ve known a little bit Edgar since episode one, namely that he’s been a solder and suffers from PTSD, but that’s only been addressed from Jimmy’s point of view in that it’s brought up to highlight Jimmy’s inappropriate bluntness when bringing it up. Edgar gets his first “solo story” in this episode, and it feels like the first step in creating a show about more than just the two main leads. It’s a nice moment because Edgar’s PTSD has been a part of the character since the first episode, but it’s been viewed through the lense of comic relief up to this point. Yes it’s funny that Jimmy is so terrible that he can’t address Edgar’s issues or be able to emotional support him on any sort of real level, but that doesn’t mean that Edgar’s struggles aren’t still real. This is a step away from the humor through absurdity that you get in a lot of these “terrible people are funny” shows. The consequences of the terrible actions of the main characters are either ignored or played for laughs themselves. Edgar’s struggles still result in a comedic situation in this episode, but it feels like a bigger part of the character and his evolution. A character trait that at best felt like a throw away joke a few episodes ago, is starting to inform this character as well as his relationships with other people.
Lindsay, the other best friend character, also gets a little bit of time in this episode away from Gretchen. Her storyline of her jaw being wired shut is not as interesting or as involved as Edgar’s in this episode, but it’s still the first real look the show has at these two characters existing outside of their respective best friends.
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