Irrelevant But Awesome

Chris:  That distraught mess I was hoping to find Jimmy in during the previous episode was unfortunately exactly how we found Gretchen. The previous episode focused on soley Jimmy and what he’s been up to so it makes perfect sense that part 2 catches us up on the rest of the main cast. As much of a mess that is Gretchen right now, I have to admit that I’m impressed that she’s at least still taking her medication and skyping with her therapist on a regular basis. It would’ve been terribly easy for her to fall out of those habits. It is incredibly weird to see Edgar and Lindsay as the individuals that has their respective lives together. When Lindsay and Edgar first hooked up, I initially groaned because I knew that would be terrible for both of them but the more I thought about it, the more I think it could work out. Because who are we kidding? Friends with benefits never works or never lasts that long. Either they give up and just start to flat out date each other or someone g...

Chris:  First of all, I hate Jimmy’s attempt at a beard. We get a look at what exactly Jimmy has been up to and it all makes sense, he’s keeping himself occupied with his DIY skills he discovered last season with the treehouse. As someone that hated the fact that he bailed on Gretchen previously, I was hoping to see him in a much more distraught with what he’s done but YTW instead went with something more Jimmy appropriate. Jimmy is simply avoiding his life at all costs but after witnessing Bert’s denial paired with the arrival of his book, Jimmy decides that he’s been in denial long enough. What Jimmy does for Bert at the end might be one of the nicest, least selfish things we’ve ever seen him do all in the name of someone doing what’s best for themselves. Of course, that act of kindness does have a bit of an asterisk because he did kind of steal Burt’s car. Sure, he left money but he still took the car without consent. Alexa: I spent most of this episode just glaring an...

Chris:  The ending of this episode makes me angry every time and, honestly, it’s the main reason season 3 is the one I’ve rewatched the least. I’d like to think Jimmy was putting up a front at the beginning of the episode when he proclaimed that he’s free from family knowing what he had planned was simply saying it so that the proposal was a true surprise. It’s the moment Gretchen referred to the two of them as a family where we see the turn in Jimmy and he runs off. That’s the moment he suddenly realized that he was losing his ability to bail at any point, something he desperately wanted to hang onto at the beginning of the season. And it’s strange, it really did surprise me the first time I saw this episode because it really did feel like their relationship was finally completely solid for the first time and then Jimmy just ruins that. Luckily for all of you, season 4 is available on Hulu now and we can immediately jump into it and not have to wait a year like I did to find...

Chris:  The argument episode that doesn’t really solve anything except for the definite end of Paul and Lindsey. However, the fact that nothing is solved is alright because like anything else, You’re the Worst likes to portray things as realistic as they can a lot of times and there’s times where a single argument doesn’t fix things. I will say that I think more was resolved with Jimmy and Gretchen than they realize, Jimmy realizes that Gretchen has been inspiring his work all along which is a huge pro to go on the list he’s been working on. The couple that I will say that hasn’t had anything resolved would be Edgar and Dorothy. The argument may have ended but Edgar then hides the fact that he’s progressed with Doug Benson and his career is taking off all to spare his girlfriend’s feelings. So in the end, we have the full spectrum of all the outcomes of a relationship argument; a couple realizes they need each other and stay together, a couple realizes they’re toxic for each o...

Chris:  We don’t talk about about the technical aspect of You’re the Worst because so much of the discussion is taken up by the actions of the characters and rightfully so. However, this episode is a technical fun ride with the long, coordinated, single takes with such a large amount of moving parts. Good thing the entire cast gets gradually more agitated as the episode progresses because I’m sure shooting an episode like this can cause people to be tense which is unlike most episodes. This is one of my favorite episodes and for once, it’s not because of the story or the jokes but it’s all about how blown away I am on how perfectly each shot works and how fantastically the cast and crew worked together to create a remarkable episode. Alexa: This episode is remarkably well executed. The back half of the season has focused largely on the escalating tensions between the three central couples, and the change in filmmaking style in this installment is a clever way to keep thos...

Chris:  And they were going so well during this season. For the first time in the whole show, the majority of the season was spent with Gretchen and Jimmy on solid ground as a couple. Of course, Jimmy is still processing his dad passed and that causes people to reevaluate just about anything and everything regardless if those things need to be reevaluated or not. Self-reflection is the common theme of this episode specifically with Jimmy, Gretchen and then some with Dorothy. While yes, it’s frustrating to see her not be able to really be happy for Edgar with his new opportunity, it’s also hard on her because of all the garbage she’s had to put up with only to barely get an audition here and there. You’d like to think most of us would be able to put our frustrations aside to be happy for our significant other but sometimes it’s too overwhelming. Alexa: Remember when I said I was enjoying quarterlife crisis Jimmy? That time has passed. As much fun as it was watching Jimmy in...

Chris:  Well, this could’ve been worse. This could’ve been a Becca episode. Seriously, I never would’ve thought You’re the Worst would do a Paul and Vernon episode and that I would actually like it. I really sympathized with these two men, both chose to marry these really messed up sisters and has worn both men down to the bone. Paul was one broken car away from breaking down himself and Vernon is actively trying to find a way to run to a different country. I think the fact that they were introduced as such ancillary characters is why I never really made the connection that they were in-laws and know each other very well. I think that’s why Vernon chose to cause a breakdown in the woods with Paul because he knew Paul would understand his torment. Although it didn’t happen just yet, I fully expect Vernon to either lose his cool or finally run away to Mexico before the show is over. Perhaps Paul will go with him. I’m cheering for both guys. Alexa: I would love to see the sho...

Chris:  During this episode, while giving his monologue about marijuana, I felt like we finally got our old Edgar back, the one that took all of his meds and was the moral constant of the show and that’s why it sucks that the interviewer took advantage of sweet, innocent Edgar. And being pushed isn’t such a bad thing when it comes to the advice Gretchen gave him but it is nice that Gretchen has that moment where she pushes too far and has a breakthrough because of it. And I guess everyone really does have a podcast. Honestly, I’m surprised a show that’s set in modern Los Angeles waited 3 seasons before having a somewhat main character have a podcast. I say this as a jaded podcast co-host that’s been doing it so long that I had to explain to people what a podcast was when we first started. So yes, Joel and I paved the way for Vernon Down the House. You’re welcome. Also, I echo Joel’s sentiment a few episodes ago that Becca is currently the worst of the worst and her excessive u...

Chris:  Honestly, this is about as well as Jimmy’s emotional breakthrough moment could’ve gone, all things considered. I was expecting some big breakdown that could’ve altered the show for good. Instead, Jimmy punts his dad’s ashes into Tony Shaloub’s front lawn. This episode introduces Ben Folds as himself into the show and his addition was perfect to the memorial service as he responded on the piano to Jimmy’s heckles. This episode does a good job significantly touching on all the major storylines going on with Edgar being reluctant to get his medical marijuana card in fear of it interfering with his government benefits, Lindsay wanting to hire someone to have sex with in front of her husband and, finally, Jimmy’s emotional breakthrough. Also, I wouldn’t mind a Killian-centered episode because I have genuine curiosity over what all is going on there and where his father is. Alexa: Can we just take a minute to appreciate Ben Folds? I had no idea the dude is so funny. I’m ...

Chris:  The show takes an extended break from the death of Jimmy’s dad storyline to further focus on Edgar and Lindsay’s stories and much like other Sunday Funday episodes, we get some things accomplished. This time around, we get Edgar finding out that marijuana actually seems to help his PTSD now that he’s no longer taking medicine. This resolution gives us one of my favorite sequences of the show during the “immersion therapy” scene which I think was beautifully shot. Gretchen is basically the audience in this episode, both in that we want this episode to happen and keeping Jimmy involved and in that we’ve all just about had enough of Lindsay saying she’s bored with Paul but will not stop talking about him. Ultimately, Gretchen summoning Paul leads to Lindsay dealing with it in the most Lindsay way by suggesting an open marriage situation. Also, speakeasy-type bars are overrated. Sure, the vibe is nice but really all it does is give them an excuse to charge way too much for...

Chris:  For the first time in the series, You’re the Worst has an episode that doesn’t really have any funny elements. Sure, there’s some jokes and dumb comments from the other cast but most were featured in the previous episode and aren’t really the focus of those scenes. I was happy that this was an Edgar-exclusive episode because I was very close to complain that he was featured very scarcely and vaguely in the previous episode. Little did I remember that Twenty-Two was an in-depth look of exactly how Edgar is suffering and how intense it has gotten since he stopped taking his meds. I’ll have to sing Desmin Borges’ praises here because not only has he revealed more layers to Edgar in every scene since the beginning of the show, Twenty-Two allowed everyone to see that Borges can absolutely carry an entire episode which is not an easy task for supporting characters. However, You’re the Worst had previously done such a great job at adding importance to the supporting cast that...

Alexa:  I think Joel is absolutely right in his assessment that for most people “Friends and Romans” is an average movie, and that’s definitely the case for me. I enjoyed it and don’t regret the time I spent watching it, but I haven’t thought about it much since and I’m not likely to watch it again. It was the perfect way to spend roughly an hour and a half of my holiday break while curled up on the couch. The film’s concept of mob movie extras breaking through typecasting barriers by mounting a Shakespeare production is a clever one, and I honestly would have liked it more if that’s all it was. The plotline with an actual mobster infiltrating the cast adds more conflict, but it distracts from the film’s central premise. For me, the struggle of whether or not the actors can pull this show off successfully is compelling enough on its own. “Friends and Romans” makes some excellent points about how often Italian Americans are stereotyped in popular culture, but it also suffers fr...