Oh man, this show honestly can do no wrong in my eyes at this point. This was such a lovely, somewhat mellow midseason finale, and I loved it as I've loved every episode this season.
Cons:
I'm so sad about Darryl and White Josh, you guys. This isn't a con in the writing of the show, but it's another tentative question about the future. If WhiJo isn't in the show as much anymore, I'll be really upset. I already feel like the side characters in this show don't get quite as much screen time as one would hope.
Pros:
Before we get to the main stuff, though, let's focus on their sad breakup. It's heartbreaking because Josh doesn't know what's going on at first, and when he realizes his face just falls and it's... so hard to watch. I love the detail of cutting back to them later and learning that they've been trying to say goodbye for the past two hours but haven't quite been able to walk away. They end up sticking around to watch Josh (Chan) do his cool bar tricks, and when the episode ends we don't get to see the fatal moment when they actually part ways. It was such a melancholy way to do the breakup, but undeniably effective. I also like that Darryl's daughter is the one to make it happen, because she knows her dad isn't happy anymore.
Josh Chan's plot thread was my least favorite of the episode, but it still goes in the "pros" column for a couple of reasons. The elephant in the room this week is that Josh's name isn't in the episode title - for the first time in this show's history. This signifies that Rebecca has moved on from him, but also that the narrative is focusing on another character for a change. And it also lets us continue to examine Josh as a human being, instead of as a symbol of Rebecca's current mental state. And... Josh isn't doing so well. This little thread had lots of good comedy, but also uncovers the fact that Josh is aimless in life and doesn't really know what his life goals are. I think this is a good thing to focus on moving forward with his character.
Paula's journey was really the show stealer, as it should be. In a way reminiscent of her first almost-affair, Paula winds up running in to her first boyfriend when she's in her home town visiting with her father. The two of them spend time together, and Jeff tells Paula that he regrets breaking up with her. She realizes that this is all she needs, and is able to go back home and tell Scott sincerely that he's her number one choice.
So many good details to go over here. Paula's song, "First Penis I Saw," was laugh-out-loud hilarious, and really showcased this actress' impressive talents. It may be my favorite Paula song that we've ever gotten. The stuff with Jeff was just the right amount of crossing the line so that you start to feel uneasy, but it all comes back around by the end. The scene at the end with Scott was precious and just warms my heart. These two have their ups and downs, but they really do love each other. Oh, and also? Paula watches Outlander and it was fun to see her throw references to it around.
Finally, we end with Rebecca. As I said, Paula was the main character of this episode, but we still continue to follow Rebecca's recovery. Rebecca is obsessive about doing her homework and researching how to get better, but her doctor tells her that instead of shooting for an A+, she actually needs to try for a C+. Relax. Enter the real world. Make mistakes, because people do, and she needs to get used to that. So? She goes on a trip with Paula, ends up getting wasted with Paula's father, sexts with Nathaniel, and then comes home and ends up having sex with him. And it's all... okay! This isn't an example of Rebecca behaving completely reprehensibly. She makes a couple of choices that aren't the exact best and healthiest choice in the moment, but they're also not choices that are going to destroy her or anyone around her. It's what she needs. I love this. Rebecca makes the point that she's usually not an in between person. She's either doing really well, or falling completely apart. She needs to accept that people have flaws and she does so in this episode.
Her song, "My Friend's Dad," was a Shirley Temple parody and it was just the right mix of fun and creepy. I completely loved it. Not much more to say about that, but... great job as always with the songs!
Nathaniel is a precious adorable angel and I'm really liking him a lot. I love that he genuinely likes Rebecca, but also is not pressuring her in any way shape or form. When she shows up and initiates sex with him, he stops to ask her if she's sure it's okay with her therapy and everything. There's no big hoopla, no terrible consequences. Their fade-to-black sex scene is framed within the story as a perfectly acceptable thing. I personally think Rebecca probably doesn't need to be in a relationship right now, but I don't condemn her for wanting to have sex, and Nathaniel is awfully adorable...
That's all I've got. Again, this show is freakin' amazing. I can't wait for 2018, when we get our next episode!
9/10
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