Before Sam goes in for her interview, Olivia texts her words of encouragement to Stephanie. Stephanie thinks Olivia treats her sponsees too much like a job and wishes she would focus more on picking out a sperm donor with her. ..
Nathaniel invites Sam up to his office at Smug Media. He tells her that her sample piece was “brilliant,” if a little too smart for the company. He thinks she would be a great fit for the job which, as he puts it, would be covering local cultural events.
Nathaniel asks Sam if she was her rock bottom, and she becomes somewhat vulnerable with him about a bunch of other stuff she was going through at the time of her breakdown. However, she realizes he’s not enjoying her reality, so she tells a funny story about throwing up. This, Nathaniel laughs. He even says stories like that are what Smug Media is looking for.
Sam is excited to meet some new friends, but is a little nervous about how she will feel meeting Nathaniel again. He advises her to be herself and not worry about what others think, just have fun. ..
After the interview, Sam’s mom gives her a hundred dollar bill. She thanks her for giving her money and then she calls to thank her friend, but it wasn’t her friend.
Carol asks Bob if he was the one who wrote the anonymous letter, and he confesses. She’s angry that he didn’t consult with her first. ..
Bob regrets what he did, and is sorry to have hurt Sam. He admits that he would have done it with his own kids if he could have gotten away with it.
Carol starts crying. That’s just it, she says. He was stepping in for Sam’s dad, who passed away–and Carol misses him. Bob then steps forward to embrace her.
James interviews potential investors about his sobriety app. The meeting goes well, and the investors are interested in purchasing the app. ..
Stephanie worries about the long-term effects of IVF injections on her body. She doubts that Olivia actually wants a baby. ..
Stephanie and Olivia apologize for not being more involved in their daughter’s life. Stephanie agrees to help carry the baby.
Sam meets Nathaniel and his coworker at a bar. There, she learns that her job would be more than just a “party reporter.” Nathaniel reasoned that it would be fine with Sam, since she’s already beaten addiction. ..
After a tense meeting, Sam walks out in the middle. She takes deep breaths once she’s outside, trying to calm herself down. ..
She offers to stay in New York while he wraps up his meeting with his investors, and he tells her not to ask things like that; he doesn’t know if he can keep saying no to her.
The episode ends with Sam on a bus back home. Felicia texts her to say she’s glad she’s coming home. “Me too,” Sam responds.
The Episode Review
This installment of Single of Drunk Female was able to sit in its heavier moments. A consistent problem with this show is how it rushes through scenes and conflicts. This episode utilized its punchy scenes to pack actual punches, however.
Olivia and Stephanie’s relationship has been simmering for months, ever since Olivia became Sam’s sponsor. Carol’s moment with Bob promises to be a cathartic way to process the loss of Sam’s father.
The best part of this episode was its critique of people who are insensitive to recovering alcoholics. Sophia Black-D’Elia delivers some heartfelt performances as her character realizes all over again that the world is not going to hold her hand throughout recovery. ..
