In the latest episode, we find Jake retreating to the mountains, capturing sounds of nature, when he stumbles upon a hand protruding from a pile of twigs. But it’s not just any hand—it belongs to the ethereal Sarah, played by the enchanting Grace Parker. Sarah is nestled in a hollow, covered by branches as part of a Wiccan-esque ritual to “connect with her essence.” Their conversation reveals Jake’s struggles; he admits to never voicing his true desires and feels trapped in his own life. Sarah tells him he’s “like a spirit in shackles” and, with a mystical tone, insists that he’s a free spirit with no path forward.
Jake’s discontent is palpable—his marriage almost crumbled in the earlier episode during a seemingly harmless game. Similarly, Ben and Lily are at odds, with Ben frustrated by Lily’s constant need to direct his actions. She interrupts his intense workout to rope him into playing a clown for her children’s party. When Emma calls Lily out for being manipulative and leading Ben on after a drunken kiss, tensions rise.
Lily defends herself, stating that Ben acknowledged their kiss as merely a “drunken mistake” and claims he’s “too needy, almost like a girl.” Emma, playing the peacemaker, advises Lily to treat those close to her with more care, especially considering Emma’s own feelings. Feeling cornered, Lily can’t ignore that her reckless behavior with Jason and her disregard for Ben’s feelings paint her as selfish.
Meanwhile, Emma is not without her faults. She meets up with Chris to explore a potential charter school site in an abandoned building. In a comically exaggerated sequence, they struggle to clear a blocked doorway, resulting in an impromptu, playful entanglement that could easily be mistaken for a comedic take on romance. Their chemistry continues to blossom as Chris suggests a road trip to attend a public auction for the school building, promising more enticing moments between them in future episodes.
Taking Emma’s advice to heart, Lily attempts to help Ben by securing him an audition for a part in one of Jason’s films. Initially thrilled, Ben’s excitement quickly turns to anger when he discovers he’s auditioning for the role of the “funny sidekick.” After all his hard work at the gym, why should he settle for that? A heated argument ensues, with Lily pushing him to audition, arguing that staying stagnant on Jake’s couch isn’t an option. Ben reluctantly complies, but insists on reading for the lead role, which doesn’t sit well with the producers. He storms out, declaring he won’t be manipulated any longer and is done with Lily’s “superficial antics.”
Jake has reached his breaking point too. After being mistreated by an arrogant director and left hungry all day, he finally snaps, exclaiming, “I’m a spirit in shackles!” to a dismissive audience. He retreats back to the mountains, where Sarah cryptically advises him to lie down in her ritual space. Frustrated, Jake is fed up with being ordered around! This episode feels like it’s penned by advocates of male empowerment, as these beleaguered men seek to reclaim their assertiveness from the domineering women in their lives.
After his outburst, Sarah kindly offers to hold Jake’s burrito as he reluctantly climbs into the hollow, with branches draped over him. Will this journey into his mortality help Jake find peace? And with Emma clearly on the verge of a romantic encounter with Chris, will this group ever find their way back to one another? Only time will tell.
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Summary
In this episode, Jake, Ben, and Lily confront their frustrations with one another, revealing their desires for autonomy in a world that feels increasingly controlling. Their struggles are a poignant reflection of the complex dynamics in relationships.
Keyphrase: men feeling bossed around
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