The Patient
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Oops, Sam did it again.
All for basically no reason at all.
Sam does not follow through on his contract with Alan.
He doesnt even tell him he did it until they get through 37 (!)
points in a game of table tennis.
Andthenhe has the audacity to tell Alan therapy isnt working.
As Alan has discussed with both Sam and Charlie, therapy is not magic.
Hell, even I feel as though Ive been a broken record talking about that concept throughout these recaps.
At this point in time, Sam doesnt seem to be doing any of these things.
It looks as though Alans time is up.
This doctor is out.
However, Alan isnt going down without a fight.
But that comparison is too simple and pat, and the show knows it.
Instead, the connection between Ezra and Sam is revealed during Alans glorious breakthrough with Charlie.
Left alone for another day, Alan contemplates his empty tube of foot cream.
In this moment of despair and hopelessness, Alan decides to get real with himself.
And his journey in this particular session with Charlie is admirable and astonishing.
Alans breakthrough session with Charlie takes place over the course of a day.
Charlie isnt playing nice anymore.
Ezra was offended by his comment about the kosher steak?
Well, okay, maybe Alan shouldnt have qualified it with kosher.
Ezra was frustrated about the size of the donation he gave to his Orthodox yeshiva?
Charlies reaction to this reveal is fantastic.
Alan unloads in a tirade of anger, claiming Ezra thinks his way was the only way.
Yet it turns out Alan is guilty of that line of obstinate thinking, too.
In fact, hes the one who passed down those behaviors to his son in the first place.
When Alan says, He must have felt it.
All of it, I fully broke down in sobs.
Its a devastating realization that powers Alans survival instinct.
Even within the confines of his imprisonment, Alan is gearing up for something big.
In the outside world, we get the opportunity to live in Ezras skin.
He dutifully hangs Missing posters on every available surface.
The coda to the episode sees Sam coming home to a changed Alan.
Sam wakes Alan up so they can play a game of table tennis.
As they ping and pong, there seems to be more than just a game at stake.
And it becomes clearer than ever that Alan is fighting for his life.
Sam isnt too sure how hes going to handle the situation with Alan once hes started with another therapist.
Its clear he doesnt want to kill him, but what choice does he have?
The punch line involves a clever Jewish man asking to die of old age.
Thats all the time we have for today.
Ill see you at our next session.
Speaking of, okay, so who hasnt wanted to strangle their boss on one occasion or another?
Of course, were not serial killers, so we dont do it.
Will Sams careless misstep lead to the SWAT team of Alans dreams coming to rescue him?
