Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Two Sundays ago, we left the Pierson clan stumbling out of Brett’s movie premiere and rocking out to Tom Sawyer while Michelle Googled a divorcé. This week, Alex accompanies Tina to Texas and Brett surprises Michelle with a romantic night on the town in this emotional episode of Togetherness.
Alex plays hard to get during his Texas adventure with Tina, who shocks us by going all out to try and reel him in. After Tina successfully cockblocks him from going home with her adorable friend, Pam, our favorite Sunday night pseudo-couple have their first screaming match on the ride home. “You don’t tell me who I get to sleep with!” Alex shouts. “If I can’t sleep with Pam, you can’t sleep with Larry.” If it wasn’t clear before, it’s one-hundred percent clear now that Alex only flew to Texas to make Tina pay for sleeping with his idol, who they met at Brett’s premiere. Yet, for the first time since the start of the series, we see Alex oozing true confidence and, although Tina can be childish and jealous, she’s good for Alex in that being around her makes him want to be better for himself.
Back in California, Brett is still high off last episode’s robin sighting that became an epiphany of some sort, though we’re not sure how just yet. Within thirty seconds on screen, however, it’s obvious Brett is looking for a fresh start, and his first project is Michelle. The two are enjoying a romantic dinner when Brett surprises her with a hotel room key, sending Michelle into panic mode. In the pilot of the series, Brett explicitly asks his wife why she no longer wants to sleep with him, to which she replies, “I don’t know” (even though she complained to Tina that their sex has gotten to be too monotonous and structured). Yet, three episodes later, we learn that even spontaneity can’t turn Michelle on to her husband, whose efforts meant well, but in the sack, he simply can’t let go of his rigidity or let himself be attracted to his wife. “I can’t be like, steel boner man whenever you want me to!” He screams at her before admitting that its hard for him to want to sleep with the same person after ten years. Ouch.
This episode is the most transparent we’ve seen any of our characters, especially Brett, who has been a ball of unlikable frustration leading up to this breaking point. While we were given tidbits as to why he hates being 37 and married with two kids, we haven’t gotten to see his side of the story until now, when he’s at his most vulnerable. Brett seems to feel like he’s regressing even if, on paper, he has it all going for him: a job in the film industry, an adorable wife, and two even more adorable kids. “I do everything for you and everything for the family. I care too much about what everyone needs. I’m holding the whole thing up and the boner’s just falling down!” he screams. And while the truth of his insults continue to cut Michelle to her core, it’s hard not to root for Brett in this moment because, for once, we truly want to empathize. Surprise! Brett’s acting like a person! Houston, we’ve had a breakthrough.
Later, while laying in bed, after they’ve decided to give couples therapy a shot, Brett quotes George Harrison’s wife. When asked about the secret to being married for so long, she simply replied, “Don’t get divorced.” “I don’t want to get divorced,” Michelle admits, before silently forgiving her husband, who has been honest with her about his inner demons for the first time in a long time.
Read more recaps:
Episode One, “Family Day”
Episode Two, “Handcuffs”
Episode Three, “Insanity”
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Photos: HBO
