What I’m Watching: Divorce (Series Finale)

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 6 “Knock Knock”

This feels like such an unceremonious end to a show that really impressed me as it went on, the latest sign that HBO pilots are rarely a sign of a show’s enduring quality. “Enlightened” and “Bored to Death” are two other examples that came to mind right away where the big premise wasn’t all that appealing and I only started liking the show once I gave it more time to develop. Season two was this show’s strongest point, and, unfortunately, this final stretch felt a whole lot like what many other abbreviated last seasons do, which is that it would have been nicer to have more time to see everything happen. That said, there wasn’t all that much ground to cover, and we got some rather concrete conclusions for just about everyone. Diane got to quit in a moderately satisfying way, fully aware of the choice she was making and that everyone in her life knew what she was choosing. Dallas saved herself some embarrassment and legal trouble, and may have found a more appropriate calling. Jackie broke things off with Robert, which didn’t seem to bother him all that much, and it appears their relationship going forward will be relatively civil. Most surprisingly, Robert and Frances are in the best place they’ve been in since the show started, even if it’s not a romantic coexistence. Henry was far too nonchalant for Frances’ taste, and both she and Robert seemed happy as the credits rolled. I’ll miss this show, but given its lukewarm reception, I’d say the twenty-four episodes it got is well worth celebrating.

Series finale: B+
Series grade: B+
Season MVP: Becki Newton as Jackie
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Thomas Haden Church as Robert
Best Season: Season 2
Best Episode: “Worth It”

What I’m Watching: Divorce (Penultimate Episode)

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 5 “Away Games” (B)

I liked this episode more before I realized that it was the upcoming installment is the series finale. With her future with Henry uncertain, Frances was more than open to the idea of a romance, or at least an enthusiastic one-night stand, with Jeremy, something that Robert wasn’t even able to truly care about since he had to contend with a disruptive problematic element and an issue of a player breaking the rules. Jackie sent him off with a loaded goodbye, and the question she asked immediately upon his return was indicative of her dismissive attitude towards his unfortunate choice of words and sentiments during the dinner party. It was interesting that Frances was the one to make the call about Cecily being taken out of the game since she’s the only one of the chaperones who’s not actually a coach, and she was least impacted by it even though the game loss was pretty crushing to all of them since they would likely have won with their star player not benched. The big blowout between Jeremy and Robert was pretty intense, and it’s just another stressor Robert doesn’t really need now, not that we’re going to see much of its fallout with just thirty more minutes left in this show’s run. Diane does seem to be contemplating a relationship with an eighty-year-old man so that she can return to a life of luxury and fortune, which will likely make her happy. And though her she’s been featured so minimally recently, it was entertaining to see Dallas in the company of other medical professionals who had more than questionably crossed the line.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 4 “Bad Manners” (B+)

I wasn’t sure what part Jeremy would end up playing after we saw him briefly at the start of the past few episodes interacting with Robert, and it turns out he was just the catalyst here for the explosive discomfort that erupted during the double date at Robert and Jackie’s. It’s possible he’ll return again if Frances decides to give him a chance partially because of Henry’s complete lack of commitment. Jackie wanted the event to be fancy, working on folding her napkins while Robert put on a suit to impress either his current wife or his ex-wife. Henry’s code to indicate that he wanted to leave early wasn’t necessary when the whole thing got derailed by Robert bringing up the situation with Jeremy, Jackie mentioning that someone was interested in the house that wasn’t on the market, and Henry offering up his complete lack of being bothered by the notion of Frances going on a date with someone else. Everyone in the cast here is great, and I’m particularly pulling for Becki Newton to get some worthy work after this show ends soon. Dallas is proving to be a truly terrible therapist, utterly uninterested in her patients to the point of going to sleep in her chair immediately after breaking up with one of them. I’m glad to see Harris Yulin return as Gordon since I didn’t figure a one-scene appearance was enough, and even if she didn’t think she’d be dating an eighty-year-old man at this point in her life, Diane is starting to realize that certain things might be good for her right now.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 3 “Gaps and Bunches” (B+)

Co-parenting definitely isn’t easy, and in this case the fallout seems to be influencing Robert most after Frances stormed in to an already relatively tense situation to chew Jackie out for daring to suggest to Tom that he didn’t need to go to college because she didn’t and still makes a ton of money. Jackie held her own in that moment, and Robert’s going to regret that he didn’t stand up for his new wife during that encounter. Frances somehow didn’t manage to get in trouble for going at Tom without Robert when they had agreed not to, and she was also able to find the petri dish and win a bet with her new boyfriend. Cathy showing up again was unpleasant for all, and even Jackie grew tired of her after initially loving her stories. It seemed obvious from the start that Robert would eventually give in and just offer her money to cover a lot of their father’s expenses, if only just to get rid of her. Larry does seem quite detached from reality, constantly listening to his headphones and not to his cruel wife, and Robert seems to have gleaned a lot from his comment about the silence speaking volumes. Diane catching Taylor shoplifting turned into something very unexpected, resulting in her eagerly advocating for someone else and lecturing her grandfather, played by Harris Yulin from “24,” was an entertaining opportunity for her to find an outlet for her pent-up frustration that she’s really not so good at hiding.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 2 “Miami” (B+)

I like the rapport that Robert and Frances have developed now that they’re in relationships with other people, and it was interesting to see the pregnancy announcement go rather south for Robert in a different way than he expected with both kids questioning his safe sex choices due to the nature of the “blessed surprise.” Though his fellow coach, played by Dominic Fumusa from “Goliath” and “Nurse Jackie,” wanted to throw him a bachelor party, it was touching to hear him say that a meal with Frances was actually most fitting. Robert was running around like a crazy person trying to do everything on Jackie’s many lists, and fortunately she forgave him for not getting the stain out of the dress. Frances’ whirlwind trip to Miami wasn’t ever going to happen as smoothly as she wanted, and instead she got news far more important than the fact that Henry is still technically married. His expression of joyful freedom that he would never have to get married again was a bit blunt and unaccommodating, and that felt more crushing than Frances being chastised for her bird humor at her new job. A woman showing up eager to give Diane a tremendous amount of business felt way too good to be true, and it turned out that it was designed to be an act of humiliation akin to Nate causing her family to lose everything. Dallas’ work isn’t going too well either, and her patient quizzing her on how long he had left to live was a particularly low point.

What I’m Watching: Divorce (Season Premiere)

Divorce: Season 3, Episode 1 “Charred” (B+)

There are a number of shows that I find myself forgetting about, but I honestly had no clue that this show was returning at all. The news that this third season will be its last is not surprising at all, and I’m just happy that we get a bit more of it since I found season two to be really great. I didn’t remember a lot of what had happened, and that’s why the “previously on” segments are so helpful. Frances’ fortunes are not looking up, and going in to try to get a job with the man who stole her top would-be client didn’t represent an optimistic outlook. Though she definitely overplayed her enthusiasm for birds, she should at least find some purpose in her new job. And it appears that she’s involved in a happy relationship with someone played by James Lesure, recently seen in a far less enticing role on “Good Girls.” Jacqui being on bedrest hasn’t created the expected problems for her relationship with Robert just yet, but it is causing Robert to grapple with having another child at his age and looking more like a grandfather than a father. Telling Frances about the pregnancy went over much better than he thought it would, and maybe happiness lies ahead for both of them. Nick’s apology animal figurines didn’t win Diane over at all, and I love that she intimidated one of the guards into giving her a pen so that Nick could hastily sign the divorce papers. Dallas’ relationship with her son isn’t going well, and I’m eager to see how all of these dynamics play out over the course of the rest of this season.

What I’m Watching: Divorce (Season Finale)

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 8 “Alone Again, Naturally” (B+)

I’m writing this review without any knowledge of whether this show will be renewed, but resigned to the fact that this may be it. I like that this show got so much away from the fact that Robert and Frances hated each other and instead spent time on them as people who, in some cases, actually got along fine now that they’re not being forced into a relationship that neither of them was sure they wanted. Robert is the one who’s gotten to a great place in his life, starting a fantastic new romance that led to a surprisingly early marriage proposal and a summer-long getaway to Italy with the kids. I love Becki Newton and I’m so glad that she joined the cast, and her proposal acceptance was one of this episode’s best moments. Frances got an enticing partnership offer from her would-be poacher, and hopefully she’ll opt to take him up on that so that she can get something that will help her make a dent in the business. Diane driving home drunk was not good, but it wasn’t quite as worthy of the police’s attention as Nick’s severe embezzlement, which has him indefinitely behind bars and Diane on to new careers. I don’t know what comes next here, but I do know that this was a great season and that I would love to watch more of what is currently HBO’s most underrated adult comedy series. Parker and Church both really grew into their roles, and this show does boast one of the best ensembles currently on television. Bring on the renewal!

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Becki Newton as Jackie

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 7 “Going, Going…Gone” (B+)

This episode saw the brutal deterioration of a few relationships while others took off in unexpected ways. Frances bidding on precious artistic relics with Andrew at the start of the episode as she prepared for Sylvia’s show didn’t end the way she expected at all, with Andrew fuming that she had lied about how her marriage ended when she could have confessed to cheating, which wouldn’t necessarily have gone any better, and Sylvia poached by the gallery owner who was essentially her idol and not feeling the least bit guilty about not even talking to her about it since it meant that their business partnership was now going to be completely dissolved. At least she might have a date with Skip Zakarian to look forward to, though I suspect she’ll be angry enough at him for snatching up Sylvia that she’ll either not go (though I’m sure she will) or she’ll just let him have it rather than trying to actually pursue it as a romance. Robert’s relationship with Jackie seems to be a bit more stable, since their successful animal-disposal at the open house led to ideas of working together, and though Jackie is a whole lot like Frances in certain ways, I think she’s a better fit for her Robbie who should be able to get through these hurdles. Nick buying Diane the unpopular Peltz was sweet and hopefully something she’ll actually appreciate, and I didn’t think that his response to her complaining was going to be something so kind. Dallas has also found herself at the start of a surprising new romantic possibility, one that she was ready to give up on but isn’t so ready to give up on her. I sincerely hope that the next episode isn’t the last one we’ll see of this show – as someone who didn’t love it at the start, I do think it’s improved considerably and is worthy of much more exploration!

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 6 “Losing It” (B+)

I didn’t realize that this season is only eight episodes after the first featured ten, and I’m worried that this will soon become the latest underrated HBO comedy to be cancelled after just a few short seasons. This episode demonstrated just how great this show has become, with Robert walking in on Tom having sex with Ella in the bathroom and then trying to figure out how to deal with it in consultation with the important women in his life. Jackie was really not very fazed by it, perfectly and loudly blunt in public about her progressive sex talk with her daughter, leading Robert to the inadvisable decision to suggest to Ella that she had much more experience than Tom and should take it easy with him. I love that Robert and Frances went to their marriage counselor, who didn’t realize they were divorced, to talk at her and discover that they had exactly the same ideas for how to deal with Tom’s sexually exploratory behavior. Frances literally chasing Tom to have a sex talk was pretty funny, but not nearly as much as her getting caught on the trampoline with Andrew much to Robert’s gloating delight. Diane trying to get Dallas into her club led to some interesting antics on Diane’s part with her tumble down the stairs, but I found Dallas’ accidental run-in with Jackie much more enjoyable, especially since she managed to turn it into her own spontaneous therapy session that played out like so many frustrated patients’ experiences do in film and television, with the therapist literally saying nothing.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 5 “Breaking the Ice” (B+)

After an episode that found the two newly divorced adults behaving like adults, this one threatened to backtrack as Nick for some reason thought it was a good idea to invite Robert and his new girlfriend over without making sure that Diane knew they were coming. I’m still so happy that Becki Newton is on board for this season as Jackie since she’s so unfazed by everything that’s happening around her, eager to go up and meet Frances and even aware, much to her Frances’ surprise, that Robert and Frances slept together in Ohio. Frances almost sank to a regrettable level when she went running outside Diane’s house so that she could get a glimpse of Robbie’s new girl but then decided that she shouldn’t go down that route. Dallas’ reaction was pretty fantastic, and it’s a good thing that she made the decision not to share confidential information about her patient with her best friend. The rollerskating party went pretty well, and I love that Robert was unable to go on the ice because he couldn’t skate and therefore not able to intervene in the meeting of his girlfriend and his ex. Frances has her hands full trying to motivate the artist for her latest gallery, and maybe it’s fine if Robert is distracted by someone else in his life. Tom is sure having a good time with Jackie’s daughter, which might make things a bit more complicated if they split up down the road, but I’m hoping that doesn’t happen. Frances may just have to start her own relationship soon.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 4 “Ohio” (B+)

This episode holds up as firm support of my argument that this show has evolved well beyond its original premise, now portraying a mature adult relationship with two people who still have a connection that can’t be broken even by the dissolution of their marriage. Frances didn’t hesitate to offer to come with Robert as soon as he shared the news of his father’s deteriorating health, and he didn’t react all that poorly other than to tell her that she didn’t need to come. When she showed up anyway, he wasn’t happy, but he got over it right away since it was good to have her around. It turned out to be very helpful that she was there given how Amy Sedaris’ Cathy was infinitely less tolerable than Robert had even made her out to be, arriving with nothing but anger about Robert paying the extra $6 for the upgraded cable package and then taking full credit for that decision when her father woke up. There wasn’t much catharsis in the way of Robert and his relationship with his father, but it was all worth it for the brutal takedown of Cathy delivered by Frances and supported by a grateful and equally frustrated Robert. Back at home, Diane and Tom were weird but surprisingly not all that incompatible together, and we’re still waiting for Dallas to connect the dots and realize that Jackie’s “Robbie” is in fact Robert, whose horrific ex-wife isn’t exactly the worst considering she’s Dallas’ best friend.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 3 “Worth It” (B+)

It was smart that this episode didn’t focus on Frances and Robert’s kids at all, instead returning them to their home lives apart that barely interact, especially when they pass right by each other and don’t even look up to notice. I loved the look on Frances’ face when someone commented about Hastings, “Isn’t that upstate?” With a very pushy Diane trying to involve herself in the business, Frances became a bit too obsessed with tracking down the woman who painted one of the pieces that Andrew gave her from his late aunt. Approaching her while she was working at the bank was one thing, but showing up at 1am at her apartment demanding to see her work represented a bit too much aggression and enthusiasm. She’s more than ready to set boundaries in her developing relationship with Andrew but not nearly as aware of them in her own life. Diane is having considerable trouble at home with her gourmet chef husband, and stripping for a random guy watching her on the street is one way to deal with that. I was so excited to see Becki Newton, who was one of the best parts of “Ugly Betty” a decade ago when it was on and has only sporadically appeared on television since, as the realtor who lowballed Robert in a big way for his house and is now a new love interest for him, which is great save for the strange coincidence that she’s in therapy with Dallas, news of unknown but questionable meaning at the moment.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 2 “Happy Now?” (B+)

This was an incredibly confrontational episode, with every single couple expressing lots of resentment towards each other. Frances trying to plead with the construction guy to let them go by on their way to school turned especially sour when it turned out to be Robert, and things got much, much worse when he decided to show up at the school event when he didn’t have permission to be there. Reflecting that he could eat on the toilet if he wanted was rather depressing, and it’s no wonder that his colleagues aren’t eager to have drinks with him. It was great to see Gillian Vigman back as Janice, who was more than ready to indulge any of Robert’s fantasies and order up a threesome, though apparently all of her female (and even male) friends are parents whose kids go to the same school. Frances, who might have gotten somewhere by changing her name, managed to upset Lila enough to leave her off the family tree, which of course led to the unfortunate and irreversible act of her swearing at her daughter in front of everyone at the event and getting banned from walking her into school like that other crazy mom. After his lewd FaceTime call, Tony proved to be slightly more human than expected, only to immediately undo all of that as soon as Dallas suggested that she had been thinking about breaking up with him. At least Frances did have a positive conversation with Steven Pasquale’s Andrew, at the expense of Diane and Nick’s positive interactions, which collapsed when he brought out the duck.

What I’m Watching: Divorce (Season Premiere)

Divorce: Season 2, Episode 1 “Night Moves” (B+)

I had almost forgotten about this show, which wasn’t the big hit that everyone was expecting it to be when it started last October and took a little over a full year off before returning to the HBO lineup with a comedy that I couldn’t get into, “Crashing.” I am happy to have this series, which took me a little time to warm up to, back, and this opening episode shows that we’re in for some interesting antics this season. Seeing just how eager to continue fighting for concessions Dean Winters’ Tony Silvercreek and J. Smith-Cameron’s Elaine Campbell were and just how exhausted and done with all of it Frances and Robert were demonstrates that their divorce process is now officially over, and it’s on to where they go from here. Naturally, Robert remains the hero to his children, who prefer their father and don’t want to spend time with their mother, whose efforts to be budget-conscious backfired immediately since her children thought she was depriving them. Robert shaving his mustache is a big deal because it turns him into less of a villain, and now he’s going to have to get used to his new living situation, which is far from ideal. As Dallas continues her illicit romance with Tony, it’s fun to see Diane and Nick struggling to adapt to a new way of being together, only speaking if they have something positive to say, turning their interactions into pretty much nothing but wordless sex. This should be a fun season full of decidedly dark humor.

What I’m Watching: Divorce (Season Finale)

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 10 “Détente” (B+)

Opening this episode with Robert wearing a suit and showing a FunSpace video to potential investors made it seem like he was really doing well and might actually achieve his dream. Finding out that his assets had been frozen and his check not clearing was what was going to stop him from making it was a real blow, and it put him in a really bad place. It was surprising to hear Tony suggest that Frances might not have even been the one who initiated it, and when all Frances talked about when Robert called to congratulate her about the gallery was how great it feels to see your dreams come true, that just sealed the deal. This episode ended with Frances saying something that sounded a whole lot like what Robert said so vindictively at the end of the pilot, but without any of the enjoyment of getting revenge. Calling the police to report Frances kidnapping their children crossed a huge line, and there’s no going back from that. The night before, Frances did do really well with her opening, and she even got to react dismissively to Julian showing up to profess his affection for her. Denise buying a lot of alcohol and then finding a lost child looking for his mom was an interesting moment, one that showed just how much she’s on a different page than her unhappy husband. This show, after an unenticing pilot, turned out to be pretty great, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes in what’s sure to be a much more hostile season two.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Thomas Haden Church as Robert

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 9 “Another Party” (B+)

With all of the big end-of-year awards, this show picked up just one nomination, a Best Actress bid for four-time winner Sarah Jessica Parker at the Golden Globes. While she receives top billing in the show, costar Thomas Haden Church, who I didn’t like at all in the first episode, quickly improved and is now probably the show’s most entertaining component, yet he hasn’t received any recognition. I think most probably judged this show based on its pilot and didn’t give it more of a chance, something I do occasionally since I can’t possibly stick with every series after a mediocre or off-putting series premiere. What we’ve come to at this point is a point of entertaining discourse, with Frances fighting to get rid of the snake and Robert seeming like an appointment angel while all Frances knows is the many names of the Tooth Fairy. Frances’ experience trying to get involved in parent school activities was plentifully awkward, with her decision to confront Gillian Vigman’s Janice a particularly poor choice. Hiring a new lawyer at Max’s suggestion introduced us to Elaine Campbell, portrayed by J. Smith Cameron, who plays a totally different kind of person on “Rectify.” Unfortunately, her style is far more aggressive than Max’s, and serving Robert with divorce papers while he was in the middle of coaching a basketball game seems to have soured things considerably. It’s interesting to see that Robert’s business ideas might not be all bad, and Nick may even end up being an investor. Nick’s newfound happiness with Diane couldn’t have lasted forever, and their miserable interaction when she was obsessing about prolonging the toast was uncomfortable. The best part of the episode was the unexpected flirtation between Dallas and Tony, which ended miserably after some crazy sex when Tony couldn’t get over her having dropped a Tums under the seat in his car.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 8 “Church” (B+)

It’s a strange thing to see Robert so happy, but it’s also hard to know whether it’s all just an act. Thomas Haden Church as proven to be a fantastic part of this show, portraying Robert as so dry and frequently committed to emphasizing things he says just to be obnoxious. His sudden enthusiasm for taking his kids to church and having an afternoon of archery is strange, but he gets into stuff in a big way whenever he goes for it. He tanked his church experience as soon as he starting trashing Julien, and I love that he went to heckle Julien in his class and then intimidate him by saying “Bonjour.” His exchange was odd, and it was hilarious that all Julien said was that he wasn’t French, something you’d think he would have realized by now after hearing him speak for an entire class. Frances pitching herself as the perfect fit for a huge job at Sotheby’s was a nice prospect that could have worked out so well, but then she got it in her head that she shouldn’t step up her income so that Robert could just take half off it. Her deferment plan was wholly deluded, and it’s the most ridiculous she’s sounded yet. Calling to say that she wasn’t going to take it was awkward given how much she’d ruined her chances, and losing the chance to headhunt someone would have stung even more if Frances hadn’t been fooling herself into thinking that she chose this.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 7 “Weekend Plans” (B+)

We’re at an interesting point with the dynamic between these two characters as their lawyers take over and it doesn’t go exactly as planned. First, we know that Robert is beyond broke as we learn that he has an astonishing nine properties to his name, all of which are located in some area that one day, decades from now, may be up-and-coming and worth something. Frances is responsible for that debt, which means that all the money she’s earned that Robert could try to take in the divorce won’t mean much since has absolutely nothing to offer and in fact something to take. Max’s mini-stroke seems like sincere cause for concern, and assuring Frances that he put on a show during their initial meeting wasn’t too comforting when he immediately opened the door to a break room instead of the exit to the elevator bank. If nothing else, Max’s behavior did tame Tony, who saved his vicious, chauvinistic language for private meetings with a totally clueless Robert. I enjoyed the casting of Mary McCormack as Kathy, the woman Robert almost slept with on September 11th who was not at all amused by his efforts to renew their would-be affair now that he’s single. Robert lashed out at the barista who had always flirted him once he found out that she had a boyfriend, quite the double standard given the fact that he was married the whole time. Best of all, when Robert heard someone else use his “weekend plans” line, he knew he would score, and it seems like he’s a tiny bit more invested in this one-night middle-of-the-afternoon stand he had with Gillian Vigman’s Janice.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 6 “Christmas” (B+)

After Frances got that awful call from Robert’s new lawyer, I had expected a tempestuous and angry episode with the couple at each other’s throats. Instead, we got this relatively time but still highly entertaining installment centered on Robert’s insistence that everyone should be together on Christmas. Robert has an interesting outlook on life, one that venerates family traditions even when he’s doing what he can to pull apart his family. Frances is actually the one who deserves more criticism for her actions in this episode, putting off telling her parents and then announcing their impending divorce in front of all the party guests when Robert wasn’t even going to say anything. Letting Robert take the fall for her with her parents wasn’t exactly noble, but it does seem that they love him and are pretty much willing to forgive anything. Frances’ mom asking her if she’s going to forgive Robert before asking if she’s going to be okay says something, and Robert Forster’s father certainly expressed support for his son-in-law. Robert’s decision to spare her parents didn’t work out so well since he saved some of his more blunt language for their son who had his headphones on but hadn’t plugged them in to anything. One of my favorite parts of the episode was the brief snapshot we got of a very definitely not French Julian eating Christmas dinner with his parents, only to be interrupted by someone sent by another man’s husband to punch him in the gut for sleeping with his wife.

What I’m Watching: Divorce

Divorce: Season 1, Episode 5 “Gustav” (B+)

Robert managed to lose the element of surprise right away when his lawyer called the house and didn’t even introduce himself before Frances caught on to who he must be. Frances always wanted to play nice, and at first Robert was ready to be extremely spiteful. After a brief tempered period, he’s back to wanting to take everything, and he’s gone ahead and hired a lawyer who’s far more vicious than he is. Who better than Dean Winters, famous for trying hard to be a subway hero by pushing people onto the tracks and then rescuing them, to portray Tony Silvercreek, a cutthroat divorce lawyer who wasn’t recommended for Frances because he hates women. His 11pm call to Frances to intimidate her definitely worked, and having personal service at a big firm doesn’t sound so reassuring anymore. Robert might be shooting himself in the foot by trying so hard to get people interested in his “fun space” that feels hopelessly overambitious, with talk of tour buses for his field trip destination seeming very premature. Nick is more open to spending time with his bud, but he’s still not excited about investing in his pet project. Frances also spent some time with her friends, which gave her access to new connections that could have been great for her. I recognized Frank Whaley, who I’m also currently watching on “Luke Cage,” as Carson Hodges, the artist who initially had a great rapport with Frances before he let his ego get the best of him and started fighting like a child.