This episode dives headfirst into personal and professional tensions. Rick is busy trimming the employee list, while Erica is tasked with handling the eccentric actor Brian Baumgartner. His latest demand? He wants to pivot from comedy to serious, Oscar-worthy roles, preferably with an introduction to Tom Hanks. When that’s not possible, Erica tries a compromise with another actor, Patton Oswald, but things blow up. Determined, she visits Brian at home and manages to salvage the situation with a heartfelt pitch.
Meanwhile, Ted is neck-deep in the messy murder trial of Lester. When Lester learns about his wife Val’s affair, he spirals, making Ted’s job harder. Ted confronts Stuart Lane, who is representing Val, leading to a tense face-off. Things escalate when Stuart delivers an envelope revealing that he’s the Executor of Ted’s father’s Will, a move designed to rattle Ted.
Flashbacks to 2010 reveal more about Ted and Stuart’s rocky history. Back then, they clashed while working a mob-related case in New York. Ted’s father was tangled in shady dealings, and Stuart’s intervention saved Ted’s career, even as their friendship strained under the pressure.
Back in the present, Ted’s frustrations boil over during the divorce proceedings between Lester and Val. It’s only when Lester reveals he didn’t know about the affair—thanks to his terrible eyesight—that things settle. In a surprising gesture, Lester offers Val a new movie role, signaling a fragile truce. The episode ends on a somber note, with Ted and Stuart silently paying their respects at Ted’s father’s grave.
This episode leans heavily on the emotional baggage between Ted and Stuart, and while it adds layers to their complicated relationship, it does feel like it’s treading familiar ground. The flashbacks are insightful, shedding light on Ted’s anger issues and how far back his rivalry with Stuart goes. But at times, the constant tension feels repetitive rather than revealing.
Ted, for all his brilliance, continues to let his emotions drive his decisions, often to his detriment. It’s telling that even his client has to calm him down. While his outbursts add drama, they also make him seem more reckless than strategic, which feels out of sync with the cold, calculated lawyer we expect.
On the other hand, Erica’s subplot feels like filler. While it adds some light-hearted moments, it doesn’t significantly move the needle on her character growth beyond reinforcing what we already know, she’s determined and willing to go the extra mile.
Despite its flaws, the episode delivers emotional intensity and sets the stage for deeper conflicts. With the past creeping into the present, it’s only a matter of time before these buried secrets blow everything wide open.
