Chris: Alexa hit it on the head about this episode, there’s a satisfying amount of resolution but there’s still that implosion so it feels like there’s plenty of meat to enjoy in season two. There’s been enough character growth with Jimmy and Gretchen where you feel like something has been accomplished but there’s still feels like there’s plenty of messed up things wrong with them so it won’t feel inorganic once there is some sort of conflict in season two. What this episode accomplishes is it opens up the backup characters some more. We got a pretty good look into Edgar but with Lindsay, this episode solidifies her character’s depth (or lack thereof) and shows the audience that her troubles with Paul and their divorce is a situation that will be dealt with in more detail in the future. There’s also the introduction of Edgar’s growing infatuation with Lindsay which just feels like a massive disaster and I remember hating that when I first watched this episode because I viewed Edgar as the innocent one (or as innocent as a recovering drug addict/dealer can be) and I didn’t want Lindsay’s mess to cause him to spiral. So let’s mix up some trash juice and jump into season two!
Alexa: Virtually all the tension that’s been brewing between these characters since the beginning of the show completely blows up in this episode - and not just among the main foursome, but Becca, Vernon and Paul as well. The reveal that Paul has been having an “emotional affair” with a woman online and wants to divorce Lindsay is a prime example of this show’s uncanny ability to surprise in an authentic way. Until now, we’ve really only seen Paul as Lindsay sees him - a one-dimensional dork. But he’s an actual human being and Lindsay’s blatant disregard for his feelings has consequences. This episode is really all about the consequences of everyone’s actions so far - Jimmy being a terrible friend to Edgar and insensitive toward Becca, Gretchen refusing to be upfront with Jimmy about her feelings, Lindsay’s self-involvement. It all implodes in spectacular fashion and does what any decent season finale should do - provides some resolution for this season’s plot threads and sets the stage for what comes next. I’m particularly interested to see how Jimmy and Gretchen deal with living together. There’s another effective use of split screen in the episode’s final moments that underscores Jimmy’s and Gretchen’s conflicting emotions. They seem simultaneously excited and apprehensive about the next phase of their relationship. Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to being along for the ride.
Joel: While the structure of our main group of people is still clearly a couple and each part of the couple’s sidekick best friend, we’re starting to move to the point where the show feels like an ensemble of four people. The show really took its biggest step in that direction at the beginning of this episode with each of the four main characters separately getting invited to the party. This feels like the first time that the show is interested in each of these four characters existing independently of each other. We’ve come to a point in the story where these characters have separated from each other, yet we open this episode by checking up with all four characters, and following all four plotlines.
The meat of this episode is obviously the party where pretty much every storyline we have comes to a head as every conflict of the show so far is dragged out into the open. There’s some pretty sitcom level storylines here. Pretty much every sitcom has a few episodes where friends fight to the point of not talking to each other and the show Friends had a eerily similar “Saying yes to a proposal that never happened” storyline at one point. However, in what’s becoming it’s signature style, You’re the Worst takes one these exact same setups, and plays them out in a more subdued, realistic way. The awkward moments of characters interacting again, feels awkward and uncomfortable, and the show let's that feeling linger, just as it would in a real life situation.
Of course, a fair number of the minor characters get some great moments here as well. Paul moves from side joke to actual full on character in this episode, causing Lindsay to have to confront issues that she wasn’t even considering to be problems. Becca and Vernon’s struggles come into light as well, as Becca’s attempted infidelity comes to light in front of the crowd. Things that feel like they would be one episode jokes in other shows, are getting a chance to evolve into actual storylines with actual consequences here. By the end of the episode, we have almost every relationship taking a dramatic step forward. Yes, the conflict between Jimmy and Edgar is resolved by returning to the status quo, but every other situation has the characters moving forward, most notably, Jimmy and Gretchen moving in together to start off the next season.
Comments
Post a Comment