Episode 41: In Case of Rapture

Last episode gave hints of this current season having lighter moments, and this episode was where it delivered in a very humorous episode. The opening death is so bizarre and hilarious that it had to have its basis in urban myth.

While it was morbidly funny, it was followed a visit to Fisher and Diaz, which lead to an interesting showcase of how different people can react to the same news. Nate, still grieving for his wife, is astounded that the husband is not in mourning, but at peace because he believes it was all a part of God’s plan. It drives Nate crazy that he doesn’t allow himself to mourn openly like Nate has.

As for his quitting, I understand it. He is right when he says that everyone else working for Fisher and Diaz were made for this line of work and he wasn’t. After his father’s death the work sucked him in and he’s been there for over three years.

Why is Rico hanging around Sofia and being excessively charitable towards her? This doesn’t make much sense. Aside of the obvious reason that he still carries some feelings for her. If anything he would be acting this way towards Vanessa to make up for his infidelity. Regardless of his non sexual intentions of helping her out now, Rico is playing with fire here. It has affected the way he behaves towards his real family, as shown when they’re out for pizza and it is spilling over to his work.

I don’t understand how Edie and Anita appeal to Claire. They seem too pretentious like Olivier, whom she loathed, from last season. Mena Suvari, beginning a guest starring role, feels a bit like her American Beauty persona had she pursued art. Dedicated to her role, but still comes off as phony. Anita feels like someone who tries too hard to be edgy. The highlight of her story was seeing Tom Lenk, best known for his role as Andrew on Buffy and Angel, reciting a poem he wrote about the clitoris.

Brenda’s plotline feels superfluous and boring. Joe has some passive aggressive issues, like that bizarre scene where he was yelling during masturbation to get Brenda’s attention. Last week she had purpose since they picked up where they left off last season with Nate arriving at her doorsteps a broken man, but now it feels like she should leave the party for now until she’s useful again. I don’t understand the appeal of Joe for her, maybe living with her eccentric family made her want to pursue a relationship with a man who was the exact opposite. Although this isn’t as compelling as Brenda’s mom or Billy.

HBO is known to be a network that pushes the envelope as far as what is traditionally shown on television. While it helps make for some potent television, sometimes it borders on gratuitous, as if they want to flaunt that they can show things that other networks can’t. This week David received oral sex from a plumber who came to the home to fix a pipe problem that sent blood flowing through all the popes. It could be understandable that David wants to relax for a little bit. But later on as Keith tells him about it Keith brushes it off as if the two picked up a snack. Their relationship has always been volatile, but I don’t think either of them would take the brushing off cheating. Essentially this was unnecessary for the overall show.

Keith’s job isn’t too remarkable, but there were some funny moments as his coworkers were commenting on the women in the mall they were assigned to and Keith joined in awkwardly. How will they react when they find out about Keith’s personal life?

The conflict over George has really helped make Arthur a more interesting character than what we’ve seen last season. Arthur has come across as a wacky neighbor type. An odd young man who speaks like a golf commentator, looks like something out of a Charles Adams cartoon and arranges his things in precise, but odd ways, but giving him a spot in an odd love triangle gives him use beyond being just weird for the sake of weird.

George is clearly hiding something. No man can go through five wives before Ruth as a normal person. Arthur also discovered that George may not know as much about rocks as he claims to. His nonchalance as he discovers the plastic container with the feces inside is unusual compared to everyone else in the room, whose reaction ranged from shocked (Ruth), to amused (Nate) to inspired (Claire.) The container is unusual, which may point the finger towards Arthur, whose mannerisms would fit in that.

Release was the episode’s central theme. The blood spurting from the sink awoke the blocked artist in Claire and the inspiration seemed to come easier for her, as she saw the feces in the container as an opportunity for a good picture. Nate dealt with release both from his job and with the widower, who didn’t release his grief over his wife. The son of the woman couldn’t compose himself as his father did and cried outside. While Lisa was buried in the manner that she chose, Nate is still having trouble releasing that and it’s apparent during his encounters with the widower, to the point where he fantasizes about the man’s dead wife, as if that may help the grieving process. Rico is having trouble releasing himself and telling his wife the truth and releasing himself from Sofia, especially upon learning about her poor living conditions. Keith is uncomfortable divulging his personal life to his coworkers. Claire is trying to free herself from the constraints. Brenda and Joe, while it was never established if they made it to the 91^st day of her abstinence, finally gave in to their urges. In order to establish a lighter mood for this season, it’s important for some of these characters to lighten their own loads. This is the second step towards that.

Overall score: 8