Fleishman Is in Trouble
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How the flim-flamming flip-flop did Toby Fleishman wind up here?
Here, in his kitchen, holding an overpriced, rotting quarter of a watermelon?
In-season watermelons are delicious, but as the saying goes, theyre also abundant and low-value.
$14.99 for a pitifulquarterof a watermelon in high summer?
Not in a region awash in reasonably priced, high-quality produce.
Welcome to an episode told almost entirely in flashback.
Oh, and grab some Kleenex this one is trying to break your heart.
Its painful to watch good love go bad, but what if were watching a good-faith delusion go bad?
1 with a bullet.
And they do, for quite a while, but the warning signs are there early on.
Not nearly as much about Rachel as about Toby.
He either cant or refuses to see whats right in front of his face.
How does he not notice her marrow-deep need for the security of having an executable plan?
Shes all of that and ever so slightly desperate for success to boot.
Its a potent combination, but it doesnt make for a life grounded in values congruent with Tobys.
Toby is A Good Person whose career choice is a righteous one.
Thats my background, too; I get it, this stuff runs deep!
The latter two flow from the first, so she gets cracking.
And she stays there.
And what does she have to worry or feel guilty about?
Hannah is in great hands with Toby and their lovely nanny, Mona.
Other small, humanizing details make their way into Libbys narration.
(I did say youd need Kleenex for this episode.)
God, this poor girl.
Being surrounded by people who snipe and hassle, sure, but people, nonetheless!
People who care about you and say so!
And oh yeah, her substitute OBassaulted herduring labor by stripping her membranes without requesting her consent.
Giving birth is hard enough under ideal circumstances.
No, thank you.
That vapid brunette James Van Der Beeklooking guy who doesnt even do anything worthwhile with his life?
The one who tried to lure Toby into working for his pharmaceutical company?
Wait, could Rachel be with Sam Rothbergright now???
The not-at-all subtle needle drop of Tonight, Tonight, by Smashing Pumpkins, fairly screams meet-cute incoming!!
but its not just that.
Theyre all good, but his Is that … formula?
upon arriving home the day Rachel founds her own agency is pure gold.
