Alan, meanwhile, is struggling with his own simmering anger toward his son Ezra. In his mind, he talks with Charlie, who helps him work through his feelings toward Ezra.
Alan is angry with how Ezra accused him of not respecting his choices, even when Alan feels he’s been perfectly reasonable. Charlie helps Alan see subtle ways he has been unsupportive.
Ezra tells Alan that he broke up his family and devastated Beth. His way had to be the only way.
Ezra was always determined, even when it came to things like school. Beth, on the other hand, was more likely to give up easily.
Ezra is seen putting up missing signs with his father’s face on them. Despite the bad blood between them, Ezra is seen putting up signs with his father’s face on them. ..
Ezra thinks Charlie is self-righteous. But Charlie then draws connections to Ezra’s behavior and Alan’s own. In reality, Alan has looked down on Ezra’s choices. It then dawns on Alan that he’s been more compassionate to a serial killer than he has been to his own son.
Ezra needs to see Ezra so he can apologize to him. Maybe now he’ll stop making excuses and start fighting for escape.
Alan’s dreams of escape are a recurrent theme in his life. He often picks up an empty tube of foot cream and sharpens it on the side of his bed, in an attempt to make himself feel more awake and focused.
Ezra’s father is worried about him and this affects his multiple aspects of his life. He surprises his family by bringing home candy that, by the looks of it, isn’t kosher.
Later, Ezra goes to Alan’s house and picks up Beth’s guitar–the one he earlier refused to accept from his dad. He plays it, singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” He then confesses to his wife how harsh Alan was toward him after Beth’s death. Ezra was simply angry with him–that’s all.
Ezra seems to be letting go of some of his anger, but Sam continues to act on his. He follows his boss to a restaurant and when Kyle leaves, Sam acts like he’s run into him coincidentally. He ushers him into a private area behind another restaurant.
“There, Sam brings up the issue again of Kyle’s breaking company policy,” Sam begins. “When Kyle calls him an idiot, Sam finally breaks. He slams Kyle into the ground and strangles him.”
He starts walking away, but then turns back. Kneeling down by Kyle’s body, Sam recites the Kaddish he can remember.
He goes to a convenience store to grab a hot dog and calls Mr. Buchella. It turns out that the school counselor would be glad to be Sam’s therapist if he could get in touch with him.
Alan wakes up to find that his best friend Sam has confessed to killing his wife. Alan is devastated and decides to take his own life.
Alan tells his friend, Alan, that he wants to change. But he doesn’t know if it’s possible. Alan insists that it is–not only for him, but for his victims too. But it takes time.
Alan tells Sam that he’s not going to leave and that therapy is the only way to fix things. Sam doesn’t seem to want to listen, and tells Alan that he’s never hurt anyone he liked before, but he might have to kill Alan if things don’t change. ..
We hear the sound of Alan scraping and sharpening his tube of foot cream against the bed.
The Episode Review
This episode brings Ezra further into the story, and it’s interesting to see that the longer the series goes on, the more its title seems to refer to Alan than it does Sam. Alan is, in a sense, his own patient.
Ezra has been trying to figure out how to deal with his anger and self-doubt since he last saw his doctor. He’s been able to use techniques for his patients on himself, and it’s fascinating the ways he is able to use them on himself.
I’m hoping the father and child get the closure they need, but the more time Alan spends discussing his other child, Shoshana, the more I wonder about her whereabouts. Directors make a point of occasionally reminding us of her existence. ..
I predict that she will play an important role in the upcoming episodes. Alan has been neglecting his daughter in spending so much thought and energy on Ezra. I believe that he will be able to overcome this issue with her help.
