2x07 Headspace

[7.4/10] Oh Nate. Just when I’m excited for him to have his big moment in the spotlight, just when I feel bad for him when even his big triumph doesn’t earn him his dad’s approval, he has to turn around and start believing his own hype. I’m frustrated, because I like Nate and I wish he was still on an upward trajectory, but I also like it, because even if it hurts for a favorite character, it’s a believable character progression. Nate’s never experienced this before. He doesn’t know what success feels like. He’s been told he needs to assert himself more and stand up for himself more. But he doesn’t know how exactly, and so this strange confluence of events leads him here. Sigh. It sucks when you appreciate the writing for a character but lament where it leads them, but is the sign of good storytelling.

I particularly appreciate how close he comes to breaking out of the cycle. His speech to Coclin is ghastly. The metaphor about his art being merely worthy of a HOliday Inn is an abominable thing to say to someone. It’s a nice Coach Beard moment when he sets Nate straight. But the second Nate sees some negative comments about him on the internet, which are inevitable, he takes it out on the next man down on the totem pole. The poor kit man who has to bear the brunt of Nate’s anger doesn’t deserve it, and it’s painful to see Nate be such an asshole.

But not as painful as watching Roy and Keeley relationship drama. That's a different kind of sigh. The shtick here is such a stock sitcom routine. Keeley needing her space, Roy being clingy, Keeley finally reacting, Roy overreacting, until ROy has an epiphany and makes it up to her with a big gesture is generic T.V. writing without a new angle or novel twist. The “eureka” moment when Jamie talks about it being the right thing to do to give a defender space on the pitch is way too on the nose. And the melodrama when they have a freakout during a conspicuously on-point Sex and the City episode is just too much. Who needs this crud?

I did, however, like Ted’s interactions with Dr. Sharon. At first he stalls, and then he’s angry and demeans her whole profession, accusing her of not really caring but only doing it for the paycheck. She rightfully turns the point right around on him, persuading him to admit the foul, and starting off from a place of empathy but also firmness. I have to admit, like Ted himself, I was resistant to Dr. Sharon’s arrival at first, but I’m glad she’s here now. This is a strong continuing story thread, and I like the fact that it’s not suddenly easy for Ted, but something he has to adjust and ease into.

Otherwise, I appreciate the fact that Rebecca is still fretting over whether to meet her mystery Bantr man, and Sam is lamenting how his mystery Bantr “bosslady” has gone silent. Their chance meeting in the hallway is corny but effective, and the moment when Rebecca half-recognizes the sort of poetic way in which Sam talks is a nice note to play with them.

On the whole, the Nate storyline is painful but hits on something real, which is all you can ask for. The Ted storyline is a mirror image, tough in its truths of how folks can struggle with therapy, but landing in a good place. And the Roy/Keeley business is complete rubbish.