What I’m Watching: Togetherness

Togetherness: Season 2, Episode 2 “Everybody is Grownups” (B+)

In a lot of ways, this show is very simple, the story of four friends who could be happy couples but for a number of reasons aren’t. That simple premise makes for a fantastic group and individual dynamic, as wonderfully illustrated by this week’s ill-fated party for Alex. Tina knew she shouldn’t have gone, and I don’t know if Larry not having his poker night with Tom (Hanks) would have made things better with Larry there or infinitely worse since Tina just doesn’t understand that she’s not behaving like a person should. What’s crazy is that Christy is actually trying, putting aside the obvious way in which Tina is hopelessly flirting with and pining for Alex, and including Tina in every activity without disliking her for what she’s doing. While this show is great at providing entertaining moments, it’s best when its characters really dig into what’s bothering them. After betting Christy a thousand dollars that Lea Thomas (not Thompson) had Jennifer Grey’s role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, her exchange of insults with Alex was quite intense. Her subsequent crash and unfazed wandering off emphasized just how little she took from the interaction. It was great to see Brett and Michelle living the grammatically questionable but otherwise strong sentiment that is this episode’s title, and Michelle deciding that was the moment to confess her adultery may have been a serious mistake. In this show’s typical style, all we get is Brett vomiting all over her, and we’ll have to wait until next week to find out how he really feels.