Jimmy grapples with his guilt over Grace. Paul makes a decision about his relationship. Liz tries to help Gaby find balance in her busy life. Paul and Jimmy disagree about Sean's treatment plan. Gaby's sister asks for her help. Liz has an idea for boosting business at the food truck.
"I Love Pain" was written by Annie Mebane and directed by Randall Keenan Winston
Jimmy needs reassurance about his professional ethics recently. He has to know he didn't cross a line. Paul has to tell him he didn't regardless of what the truth actually is. Jimmy spirals because Grace pushed her abusive husband off a cliff. He survived. She was arrested and remains imprisoned. Jimmy sees her every day because he refuses to give up on her. He asks Brian to represent her even though he still isn't a criminal lawyer. Jimmy is personally invested in all of his patients. Engaging in their lives helped him step into his own once more. It was risky. It was ultimately beneficial for his family. He was drowning in grief after Tia's tragic death. Now, he is learning how to step up as a father once more. He continually checks in with Alice. They have serious conversations about their concerns. Alice fears this spiral will make Jimmy fall apart all over again. She doesn't want that. She wants him to continue whatever helped reignite his life. It's a perilous time because Jimmy faces uncertainty. He worries what he said in a session with Grace could expose him to legal liability. That's not an example of him crossing a line though. Grace is still responsible for her actions. She remains a sympathetic figure who deserves to be heard fully.
Jimmy needs reassurance about his professional ethics recently. He has to know he didn't cross a line. Paul has to tell him he didn't regardless of what the truth actually is. Jimmy spirals because Grace pushed her abusive husband off a cliff. He survived. She was arrested and remains imprisoned. Jimmy sees her every day because he refuses to give up on her. He asks Brian to represent her even though he still isn't a criminal lawyer. Jimmy is personally invested in all of his patients. Engaging in their lives helped him step into his own once more. It was risky. It was ultimately beneficial for his family. He was drowning in grief after Tia's tragic death. Now, he is learning how to step up as a father once more. He continually checks in with Alice. They have serious conversations about their concerns. Alice fears this spiral will make Jimmy fall apart all over again. She doesn't want that. She wants him to continue whatever helped reignite his life. It's a perilous time because Jimmy faces uncertainty. He worries what he said in a session with Grace could expose him to legal liability. That's not an example of him crossing a line though. Grace is still responsible for her actions. She remains a sympathetic figure who deserves to be heard fully.
Instead, Jimmy no longer has a functional relationship as a therapist with Sean. This dynamic requires complete honesty and vulnerability. Paul warned Jimmy it was a bad idea to have Sean move into his pool house. Jimmy did it anyway. Paul has plenty of concerns about how Jimmy has conducted himself lately. It's become a disservice to Sean. The two of them became friends even though Sean is still in need of therapy. Boundaries no longer existed. Sean is the only one who refers to Jimmy's technique as "jimmying." It doesn't catch on as much as Jimmy desperately wants it to. However, he now has research to back up what he has been doing with his patients. He wants a success story. He wants those breakthrough moments to come. That makes him incredible fragile. People just tell him what he wants to hear. Again, that isn't healthy. In fact, it's more rewarding when his loved ones tell him the truth. He can't remain blissfully unaware. Then, he truly may destroy someone's life. An explosion still occurs at the end of the premiere. That's simply because Jimmy faces a bombshell he didn't know was waiting for him.
The drunk driver who caused the accident that killed Tia shows up at the office. Jimmy knows exactly who he is. Louis doesn't arrive under false pretenses either. He wants to apologize for his actions. Jimmy doesn't want to hear it. He forces him to leave. He is still full of rage. Moreover, he doesn't know how to tell Alice about this. He has to. She deserves this information. She even believes it would have been better if Louis showed up at their home instead. That would have gone awry in its own way though. Jimmy and Alice aren't ready for this confrontation. Louis presented himself. He is aware that this must occur. It's the new hurdle everyone must overcome. Jimmy and Alice still get triggered. They look out for each other though. They playfully tease one another. And yet, it carries more weight when Jimmy tells his daughter to be careful while driving. He doesn't handle everything correctly. He's trying his best. The effort is recognized. This is the most he is capable of giving right now. It doesn't mean he deserves a punch in the face that requires an emergency dentist visit. He was overconfident there. He's still insightful about so much.
Similarly, Gaby knows she should no longer be sleeping with Jimmy. She still falls into the same routine every night. It's comforting and fun. She has started developing feelings though. She knows Jimmy isn't ready for a serious relationship. That's the next step she wants to take. She will only be left disappointed waiting for him to possibly develop the same desire. Even when he comforts her, he has ulterior motives. He wants this dynamic to continue. Gaby sets a boundary. This is no longer a healthy expression of their friendship. And so, it must end. They need space to grieve separately. Then, they have the potential of being just friends once more. She handles it maturely. Jimmy knows Gaby so well though. He feels the need to step in once familiar family drama kicks up again. Gaby appreciates the gesture. She also knows Jimmy wants something more. That's why they need space. Right now, everything is just too confusing. Gaby learns on Liz for support. She provides it completely. Meanwhile, Brian freaks out over being the last person to realize Jimmy and Gaby have been having sex.
Paul is more than comfortable setting boundaries at work. He struggles properly expressing himself in his relationship. He's suddenly forced to realize just how serious things have gotten with Julie. He confesses his love eventually. That makes them both admit their true feelings. They grow incredibly strong. They haven't been together very long. This is real. They see that now. They have to talk about it. It's a daunting prospect. They have the tools to handle it. Paul provides that same guidance to everyone. He has to listen to it himself. Moreover, it wouldn't be the worst thing if he loosened some of his boundaries. Raymond no longer needs him as a therapist. Paul is the one who ends things. He has more pressing concerns with Sean. Paul and Ray like each other as friends. They should nourish that bond. Paul takes that step even though he refuses to admit Jimmy had a point. He doesn't want it to go to Jimmy's head. He's too proud in that regard. Plus, it works having Sean sit in his head for awhile and come to a solution with the tools Paul gave him. It places ownership on him for the decisions he makes. He can't ignore the hard work. More has to be done. He doesn't have to fear the worst. He is capable of confronting his friends without bad things happening. That growth occurs. The narrative has more to offer. The characters still mature. Yet the ensemble work just clicks in so many ways that are immediately charming and often funny.
