The Shrink Next Door
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People are rarely true monsters.
Office hours are open, my friends.
Theyre not talking, but shes certain that her big bro wont forget her on her birthday.
Hundreds of Phyllis heads, presumably cut out of old family photos, cover her floor.
This is the last time we see her in this episode.
Meanwhile, Ike is adding people to his family circle.
But since this is America, Ike goes back to work as Bonnie stays at home with the kiddos.
So when Ike falls asleep during a session with Marty, Marty understands.
Ike turns this into a teachable moment when he asks if Marty ever wanted to be a father.
Marty says no, but he says he loves being an uncle.
Oh, wait, no.
Those kids are out of his life now, along with Phyllis.
Somehow the conversation gets twisted into a discussion of legacy and philanthropy.
Marty has other things on his mind.
Other than being estranged from his entire family, Marty seems to be doing quite well under Ikes tutelage.
Hes got more confidence and more spring in his step.
Ike looks on at this exchange with a bemused smile on his face.
He seems genuinely pleased; his patient is growing.
He pushes the idea of the Pen Gala, and Marty finally gives in.
Marty feels the same, and he presents her with the gift of a frame.
Hannahgivesframes all the time but never gets them.
Its thoughtful and nerdy in all the right ways.
However, for Marty, the night is all downhill from there.
Hannah strongly hints that shed like to dance.
Marty finally gets the hint, but then the song ends.
The two sit a bit awkwardly as Ike circulates around the gala.
At one point, Ike grabs a program and scans it for his name.
The camera lingers on the section thanking Major Contributors, and we see that Martys name is conspicuously absent.
But we do get a sense that Ike is really proud of himself here.
At the table, Hannah and Martys conversation eventually meanders to how Ike and Marty know one another.
Marty tells all and even indicates some self-awareness that Ike is deep into his pockets.
Hannah is kind of appalled, but its not a deal-breaker for her.
Its not even a deal-breaker when Ike and Marty win the auction for the baseball.
Oh, the baseball.
Hey, its not his money, so!
Unfortunately, thats not how auctions work.
Ike gets showered with accolades in the aftermath while Marty is left to have a complete freak out.
This freak out ends up with him wandering out on the street in the middle of a heart attack.
Somehow, Ike finds him there, diagnoses him, and quickly shuttles him to the hospital.
But any goodwill that Ike accumulated when he saved Marty immediately disappears when he gets home to Bonnie.
I used my own money.
(Throw away the whole man, Bonnie.
Our time is up for now, but Ill see you at our next session.
Marty check-in: My guess has been that Marty had a fraught relationship with his dad.
(Whaddup, Murray Bowen?!
Thats for my LMFT nerds.)
Nocera confirmed that Martys father was emotionally withholding.
For example, the real Marty claims that his father never once said I love you to him.
So its no wonder he was drawn to Ike.
Can we make Happy Thorsday a thing?
I legit only know what the Pen Gala is thanks to the Curtis Hanson filmWonder Boys.
In it, Michael Douglas plays a stoner professor who once won a PEN Award.
