What I’m Watching: Breeders

Breeders: Season 3, Episode 5 “No Can Do” (B+)

It’s so interesting to see how Ally and Paul have different approaches to their work, with Ally dead-set on doing everything she can to save her business while Paul got so set on the promotion even though he admitted that he’s not an ambitious guy and is happy where he is. Ally was ready to channel her anger to allow herself to achieve even more before it all hit her following Leah and Alex’s offer to help fund her company, and ditching Ava’s birthday party to drive an hour to get her medication felt like a release she really needed, even if Ava is going to resent her for a while because of it. Grace being picked up because her cousin died and then returning in the middle of everyone singing happy birthday to Ava was uncomfortable, but, unlike Jacob, who isn’t realizing what his best friend needs, Grace acknowledged the unfortunate timing and Ava hadn’t wanted a fuss anyway. Paul’s conversations with Luke continue to be the best part of this show right now, and I like that Paul talked to Luke rather than Ally because he figured that he would be able to relate. Acknowledging that he had never lost his temper at work was an important step, as was his unexpected decision to go ahead and apologize and be forced to gleefully agree to changes that Brandon wanted to make after just having arrived from Chicago. The best line of the episode was Jackie’s summary of checking your privilege: “the same as counting your blessings, but you’re supposed to feel guiltier.”