The Shrink Next Door
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Martys half-hearted enthusiasm for the parties doesnt change, but the years tick by anyway.
Ike promises his guests a wonderful time in a cheeky save-the-date.
There will be food, drink, and oodles of games.
Hes also generously chartered a bus for his partygoers to shuttle them to party nirvana.
Ike snipes at her about the twins being in two-piece swimsuits and then subtly negs her perfect outfit.
But then we see him wearing the snake in the very next scene.
The safari party goes pretty well.
And when Marty and Ike return to the city, things go back to normal(ish).
In a therapy session, Marty jovially shares how his body still aches from doing all the party chores.
But Ike has other plans.
Will Ferrell imbues Marty with an open innocence.
A year later, Marty has built a splendid koi pond and hes tenderly caring for all his fishies.
At the party, Marty runs into Miriam (Sarayu Blue).
She might look familiar, and thats because weve seen her twice already.
Marty overheard a sensitive bit of info back then and, to Miriams horror, he repeats it here.
Did you tell your mother no about Florida?
She doesnt answer the question, but she acknowledges that many of Ikes patients are at the party.
Marty also runs into a guest and inadvertently tells her that the house is actually his.
And he gets BIG MAD.
Ike confronts Marty about this at their next session.
He claims that hes only protecting Marty (What?!
), and Marty just nods in agreement.
Skip ahead to 1997.
Its a pirate party, and Ike rocks an outfit complete with a real parrot.
No one is happy, except for Ike.
Theres a lot going on in 2007.
Its a white party, so the yard is a sea of linen and lace.
Ike looks like hes cosplaying as a cult leader.
Everyones getting older, but Ikes party stays the same age.
But the real focus here is on our old friend Miriam.
Marty is more at home talking to his pets than engaging with the strangers at the party.
(Honestly, same.)
Marty does, and everyone at the party gets incredibly upset; Miriam is inconsolable.
As Marty guides Miriam to the guesthouse to grab some dry clothing, Miriam explodes.
Blues performance as Miriam is gutting.
Her entire body seethes as words pour out of her in a waterfall of rage and regret.
Ike told her to cut off her mother.
Then her mother died.
And she never had a chance to say goodbye.
This is a moment of catharsis that weve all been waiting to see from Marty.
The interaction with Miriam rattles Marty.
So when Marty plonks down in his fish pond, Ike notices.
(Its been 10 whole years and he hasnt asked?!)
He calms Marty down enough to ask a huge favor.
Break up with Miriam.
Marty asks Miriam to walk with him to go get help.
As they disembark, they stand out as two lonely green figures, adrift in a sea of white.
Its a striking visual.
Ike has so irrevocably harmed these two people, and hes about to do even more damage here.
Marty proceeds to strand Miriam at the gas station.
The pay phone rings.
Its Ike telling Miriam that shes a toxic person and that he doesnt want to work with her anymore.
Miriam is free, but at what cost?
And will Marty ever get his chance?
Progress Notes
Ike check-in: Ikes behavior profile is pretty much playing on repeat at this point.
Hes nasty and manipulative whenever he doesnt get what he wants, yadda yadda yadda.
Miriam specifically mentions Gwyneth Paltrow.
Marty check-in: As the series often showcases the Jewish faith, Miriams role here seems quite intentional.
In the Bible, Miriam was Mosess sister, and she is the first prophetess in the text.
Its also what happens in abusive relationships.
Theres even a term for it:the cycle of abuse.
At the very first party, Marty really wants to put out some dip.
This makes me think that hed probably be good friends with the dip-loving Oliver fromOnly Murders in the Building.
Now Im imagining a universe where Marty lives in the Arconia and solves crimes with Selena Gomez.
Its the least he deserves.
