FX's You're the Worst - Episode 1.06 "PTSD"
After Jimmy sleeps with an A-List celebrity, he and Gretchen embark on a sex arms race to even out their score.
I haven't written about You're the Worst since my pre-air review. I didn't much care for it then after seeing the first two episodes. However, people whose opinions are trust said that it got better in the episodes after that. So I decided to check back in. I still don't love it as much as some people do. There are still moments of writing that just seem lazy. Like what was the whole point of Edgar's subplot in "PTSD" other than to make fun of him? And yet, I appreciate the uniqueness of what You're the Worst is trying to do. It doesn't always work. But it is experimentation that I'm intrigued to see progress.Most importantly, it seems like the show is doing and saying stuff with its main couple. They may be terrible people but they are also the most honest and real in this universe. All the other couples despise each other. Jimmy and Gretchen's intimacy is the only prominent emotion of the show. On an individual level, the show still has a much better grasp on Gretchen than Jimmy. For instance, what is his actual job? I don't exactly know which took me out of the scene where he was interviewing Ginger Gonzalez's A-list celebrity a little bit. But they both have a point-of-view of merit. Neither of them want a traditional relationship that will lead to a traditional type of life. They have never bought into that facade. But now, they are starting to intimately care about each other. It's gotten to the point where it hurts them a little bit to know that the other is sleeping with other people. Could the sex game have been funnier? Of course, it could have. But then, it would almost have played as farce. As it is, it's intimate and small and yet leads to a major decision in their relationship. That's wonderful.
Additionally, the supporting characters have been given actual stuff to do. Lindsay is struggling with the fact that she's married to a guy she just can't stand and Edgar is strangely dealing with some type of post traumatic stress disorder - which isn't how the episode gets its title, which is deceitfully a pleasant surprise. I don't think they've ever treated Edgar's issues with any kind of respect - although its fun watching him in a training montage of sorts while calling in on the radio. Lindsay, meanwhile, gets a really strong minor moment of having sex with a stranger only to notice the stickers still on his mini-van. That's a symbol of the life she could have. But is it what she wants? That's the question so many characters on You're the Worst simply don't have an answer for. And now, I'm intrigued to see more.
Some more thoughts:
- "PTSD" was written by Franklin Hardy & Shane Kosakowski and directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.
- I also just hate the show's treatment of Killian. It's simply not good and I cringe whenever they remind us of his presence.
- Ginger Gonzalez is just an okay actress. So for the show to try and convince me she could be an A-list celebrity just never really worked.
- I loved that concluding montage showing everyone else's lives in terrible states because of what Jimmy and Gretchen did but they are happier than they have ever been with each other.
- Lastly, I just think You're the Worst is doing fun things stylistically with the camera.
