Official Discussion Thread: "Not So Together" (Season 1 Episode 8)
Alex gets amazing news that inspires him to seek out Tina.
Season finale, everyone! Thanks for stopping by the sub, and see you next year.
Posted Mar 8, 2015, 10:39 PM UTC
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Song: James Blake's "The Wilhelm Scream"
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Probably just a funny coincidence, but the Wilhelm Scream is also a sound effect that has become an in-joke with sound effect people, Brett's job.
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But what does it MEAN???
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Great episode. The last scene was phenomenal; as soon as Brett started driving to Sacramento I knew what was going to happen but I was so invested in the characters that I was completely drawn into scene and was mentally screaming at them not to do it.
Fantastic writing along with fantastic performances!
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This is way late, but I just saw the finale. Are we sure that's where he was driving? It's the obvious assumption, but I don't think he mentions anything, and he's driving a car with like a 60 mile range.
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I'm pretty sure they showed a sign that said something like "Sacramento X Miles" while he was driving but it's been awhile so I don't remember for sure
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Ok, thanks.
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The final scene was as suspensefully seductive as it gets.
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Suspensefully seductive is a pretty good way to describe James Blake, the artist on the track
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A Nissan Leaf can't drive all the way from LA to Sacramento, that's 400 miles.
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Michelle is like a 15-year old, always playing these little games. I don't like her.
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I love people who watch TV hoping that everyone will act perfectly, never fuck up, and never make mistakes.
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Seriously though look at it from her point of view. In her mind she's just realized she married someone she'll never be happy with. To me it seems like she's halfway out of the door anyway. Now her dream man is here and dtf with a conjoining hotel room. No one's ever going to know. It's not going to matter soon. It's not a game. She's trying to be happy. Everybody's just trying to be happy.
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A little late here (just watched on HBO Go), but they did a great job at making Brett an unlikable husband. Michelle gave him plenty of chances. Whereas, Transparent (Amazon Prime) features a similar situation with a husband at no fault whatsoever.
Let me get the pillow.
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What's transparent like?
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It is going to be almost impossible to wait until next season after that finale. I was invested in this show from the first preview and it has developed beautifully over the season. Brett continues to grow as a character and I can't wait to see his story evolve. I am also very intrigued with Alex new role and life in New Orleans that will be a great setting for his character.
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Does anyone know of a single TV critic that regularly reviews this show? For a show that's so good, and in a primetime slot, I think it's kind of strange how little attention critics are paying to it. Hopefully that changes next season.
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Andy Greenwald on Grantland has some really good pieces on it when it first aired (and had an excellent podcast with the Duplass brothers) but I don't think he's written anything on it recently.
Definitely worth checking out, though.
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I'd expect a "Hey this show just ended a brilliant first season" type post from Greenwald in the coming days
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Gwen Ihnat at the AV Club
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Gwen Ihnat at AV Club has done this season, but is a bit more negative on it than I would be.
Here's the season finale: http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/togetherness-not-so-together-216021
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thanks
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This episode has me torn. I feel like everyone except Brett is improving their lives. I want to hate Melissa for falling for the salt and pepper, but she really needs SOMETHING, anything, at the moment.
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I disagree, I think it is 50/50. Alex is clearly improving his life by finding something more stable and achieving his vocational goals. Brett is finding inner peace and is finding time for his family. On the flip side, Tina chose to stay with the dog freak and Michelle decided to slut it up. Plus, Michelle has been acting like a child throughout the season. She was unwilling to talk at times and only wanted to engage Brett on her own terms, a very selfish/childish thing to do, specifically when in a relationship during a time of conflict.
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the dog freak
yes. I couldn't put this into words before. The dog is so unsettling.
Plus, Michelle has been acting like a child throughout the season. She was unwilling to talk at times and only wanted to engage Brett on her own terms, a very selfish/childish thing to do, specifically when in a relationship during a time of conflict.
I agree, I definitely see what you're seeing. I think she's given up so much of her own goals and identity over the last five years, off-screen, and we're seeing the outcome of that: a bit of defensive, grasping desperation to find some meaning in her life outside of her immediate family. She probably feels like if she gives any more ground, interpersonally, there will be nothing left. Even though that's irrational, in this case. She's acting more or less how I'd expect from an educated woman who's been not given the opportunity to get out of the small box she's been living in over the last 4-5 years.
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Yes! I do agree with that too. I just feel as if Michelle is bringing a bit of this onto herself. I liked the duality of Peter and Michelle in this episode. The way that they interacted with their children was very telling of their personalities or at least the people they are becoming. For instance, look at Brett, he is taking care of the children in a very pragmatic and tangible way. In many ways he represents the "now" of being there for his children, while Michelle is representing the ideal, as she pursues a new school for her children. Moreover, both Brett and Michelle have had their reservations and self diminished during the course of the season. Marriage is about working through that together. Additionally, both Brett and Michelle have faced temptation, Brett in the form of the hippie lady and Michelle in the form of salt and pepper haired guy. So, my thoughts of Michelle being childish and selfish are not borne out of what is happening to her, because it honestly happens to most of us. Rather, my issue with Michelle is her reaction towards what is happening.
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Brett DID improve his life.
He quit his shitty job, and he's already feeling way, way better.
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It was fun to watch how genuinely happy Brett was for his friend and I loved them randomly meeting up at the beach. Brett got some great advice from his buddy and it was cool to see him open how with his kids. I really like the way this show ended.
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So I'm an idiot but where is Brett going, to see the hippy chick or just driving away? Also what was Alex's end-game if Tina did say she would come with him, surely Larry would just tell him to fuck off if he thinks he's still going to have the acting role.
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He's going to see Michelle and tell her what he said to Alex at the airport about feeling happy and excited about things for the first time in years. Alex probably didn't have a real long-term plan, he was hyped up on the excitement of the acting gig and the looming finality of going to New Orleans/Tina moving in with Larry.
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Oh Michelle went to Sacramento, that all makes sense now. Thanks a lot, it was a superb last shot, and playing Wilhelm Scream out in full was a great decision.
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I hate you Michelle.
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This show is so amazing. I think it's so close to real life it's scary, I see myself in all of the characters and I'm only 24 years old. I sometimes hate them & their decisions - but I see where they are coming from, I've been there. (Except Tina's last decision, I want her to ditch Larry asap and just be happy) Oh well! One of the best shows I've seen :)
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A little late here, but I'd love to be asked if that top suits the jeans.
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What an incredible final scene