The entire ensemble goes through varying degrees of therapy in the second episode of season 3.
In this week’s episode of You’re the Worst, entitled “Fix Me, Dummy,” the main quartet of characters all face one of their biggest fears: taking responsibility for themselves. There was Gretchen finally following up on seeking professional help for her depression, Edgar helping Dorothy move into her apartment, Jimmy sucking up his pride and taking some constructive criticism from Edgar on his new book proposal, and Lindsay taking care of Paul as he recovers from his stab wound (inflicted by Lindsay). However, with these steps forward, come about ten different obstacles to thwart their respective paths.
Along with the reveal about Gretchen’s depression last season came the fact that she had never taken medicine or sought out professional help for it. It’s good to see that the show is not treating Gretchen’s depression as just something they can write off, but rather embracing it. This episode saw her finally stepping up and facing her depression head on by first going to a psychiatrist who then sent her to a therapist, Justina (played by Orange is the New Black favorite Samira Wiley). And how does Gretchen explain the difference between the two? Well, “A psychiatrist is like, ‘Here, take these pills, hoe.’ A therapist is like, ‘Tell me your shit, I couldn’t make it as an actor.” Gretchen’s interactions with Justina force her to admit that being vulnerable makes her angry and take responsibility for her life, starting with the gigantic pile of mail she has neglected. It is an important moment that shows Gretchen and the viewers that they can only avoid their problems for so long before they become too impossibly big to ignore.
The beginnings of Edgar flushing all his PTSD pills in the last episode are coming into play here. While he is supposed to be helping Dorothy move into her new apartment in L.A.’s coolest new neighborhood WeHoCa (West of Homeless Encampment), he instead gets extremely invested in helping the homeless’ signs get more attention. It initially starts off as him just putting his improve skills to work, but as Dorothy keeps reminding him that their sex life is back to normal now and that he should be helping her move in, Edgar just brushes her off because she does not need help like they do. Edgar bottling up his problems offers up a great contrast to Gretchen facing hers head on. I can tell that there is going to be a big fallout for Edgar in the near future.
In Jimmy’s world, he has finally finished his new book proposal and sent it to his agent and to Edgar expecting to him to respond by saying, “Wow, you’re so smart, Jimmy. I could never do that, I’m a stupid baby,” and not with the notes Edgar has prepared. Reluctantly, Jimmy sits down to read through his, Dorothy’s, and a random group of people’s notes and realizes that they would make his story better. Just as Jimmy is about to send a revised copy of his proposal over, he receives news that original idea has sold. In classic Jimmy fashion, he loudly proclaims that he never even needed any help because he never doubted his creation. His issue lies in his narcissism. Here, we see him actually accept the help he needs, but then throw it away once his plan actually works out. This total 180 in attitude coincides with Gretchen finally opening the mail and finding a letter saying his father has died. It will be interesting to see how Jimmy handles that news considering he has admitted to craving his father’s respect his whole life.
Lindsay offered the most comical take on acknowledging responsibility for her life and actions. She spends the entire episode in a sexy nurse costume as she sedates, bandages, and abandons Paul. She is so clearly feeling guilty about stabbing him and convincing him that he actually backed into the knife that she jumps on the idea of taking responsibility because it offers the hope of the magic forgiveness reset. She does not understand that actually holding yourself accountable for your actions means that sometimes you will be uncomfortable and have to really put other’s needs before yours.
“Fix Me, Dummy” offered viewers a look at almost every way someone can take control and responsibility for their own life. Sometimes it is not as black and white as you want it to be and it could lead to unintended consequences. It also reminded viewers that they do not, and should not, have to deal with it alone because talking it out can make things become clearer. The show’s creator, Stephen Falk, definitely has his hands full with these characters, but he is taking them in exciting directions as they make their forays into real actual responsible adulthood (one where they open the mail regularly and grow out of a chore chart and wash their legs).
Related Topics: Comedy
