Pretty much everyone on Platonic knows that Will and Sylvia are more than a little codependent. Will knows it, Sylvia knows it, Andy and Omar know it, Charlie knows it, and Charlie’s therapist Dr. Melfi certainly knows it. But it’s not until the appropriately named “Boundaries” that Will makes a calm, well-intentioned effort to create some separation — a Herculean task given that he’s still living in her backyard. In the past, Will has accused Sylvia of interfering in his life and trying to control him, but here he openly admits how much he relies on her. Paying Sylvia some rent is a reasonable idea, even if it is just two $100 bills in an envelope.
I like that the episode doesn’t overplay the drama between Will and Sylvia at first. She seems slightly miffed when he broaches the subject of their unhealthy intertwinement, but she has more on her mind. For one, Cabo Carrie offered her a “more than full time” job as an in-house event planner, and she’s not sure she wants to commit to the workaholic lifestyle. But it all comes back to her marriage, which is suffering. Charlie is still writing his book and contributing very little to the house. The dog they’re fostering is attacking guests. And when Sylvia reacts to Katie’s open schedule by joking that she wishes she were divorced, Charlie gets upset.
Look, I’d be shocked if this show ever actually separated Sylvia and Charlie; it’s just not the type of series to get that dramatic, though maybe it would work if the divorce happened between seasons. But setting aside the wacky comedic sequences like Watson repeatedly attacking Will between pool rescues, this story line strikes me as a fairly realistic, down-to-earth depiction of the types of cracks that could appear in an otherwise stable marriage. There are some serious differences in perspective here that are hard for either person to reconcile. They’ll need to work hard in next week’s finale to end the season on a positive note.
I do appreciate that Charlie confronts Sylvia so quickly about her paying off their son to read his book. But I ultimately still empathize much more with Sylvia, so it’s pretty cathartic to see her lay into him the next morning about all the errands he could be running, explaining why she’s struggling to find time to read his “Lincoln Lawyer fan fiction” (brutal).
Look, I might still be annoyed with Charlie, but I’m trying to see this from his side. The idea is that Sylvia is genuinely really busy but also avoidant. We saw that with the holiday party a couple episodes back: Yes, Charlie scheduling therapy on the same day as her big gig wasn’t smart, but she also tried to get out of going until Will convinced her. Now, the same thing is playing out again: She could stay home today and read Charlie’s book like she said she would, but she chooses to kayak the L.A. River with Will and Katie instead.
This is the biggest episode yet for Will and Katie’s chaotic friendship (and it’s just a friendship, right?). Will is basically subbing Katie in for Sylvia, consulting her for help in combing through Terry’s Instagram to look for clues that something is going on with Jenna. I have to say, though: Drinking cosmos, BuzzBallz, and beer for hours, then going out to karaoke in K-Town, then going kayaking the next day? Were Will and Katie always like this? It almost feels like Francesca Delbanco’s script slightly exaggerates their personalities to create a comedic divide with Sylvia.
The kayak trip is funny, especially Will and Katie’s randomly cruel roasts about Sylvia (“Can you take it easy on me? I’m kind of in a bad mood today.” “What else is new?”) and Sylvia’s reactions to their irritating alliance. “Road Trip” set up this new lopsided triangle, and this episode takes it further with Will and Katie fixating on the supposed natural beauty of the trip. It also gets pretty disgusting with Sylvia watching in horror as Will and Katie actively drink the high-bacteria river water. (I’d describe the feather moment if it didn’t make me gag.) That horrible mistake reveals itself several scenes later when Katie projectile vomits into her windshield. Thankfully, we’re spared the sight of Will suffering similar consequences.
Sylvia gets separated from her friends for the final stretch, but they swiftly diagnose the actual source of her anger: She knows she should be back home reading her husband’s book. So she does just that — and stumbles upon a new reason to push her best friend away. It turns out Will was the one who encouraged Charlie to quit his job, making him responsible for this mess in which she finds herself. When he arrives home to tell Sylvia about the FBI raid at Lucky Penny, there’s a real coldness in her polite responses. Then she tells him to take his shit and go, citing “boundaries,” and doesn’t even tell him the specific source of her anger. She even texts Carrie to accept the intense new job, perhaps realizing she’ll really need to step up with Charlie committed to his retirement.
“Boundaries” is another funny and narratively strong episode in a standout season, setting up several potential reconciliations (or further splits?) in the finale. Congratulations to Seth Rogen and Apple TV+ on all the Emmys for The Studio, but I’m pretending at least a few of those awards are for Platonic.
Inside Jokes
• Katie suggests Will does a pop-up as a stepping stone to Shitty Little Bar, so maybe we’ll see that next week. If Lucky Penny is really closed for good now, he doesn’t have much else going on.
• In retrospect, the show was using “Reggie’s game” to set up the end of Lucky Penny even as Will was accepting a spot there again. So much for regression!
• “I almost forgot to tell you guys, the basement is flooded.” Omar has Charlie Kelly energy here.
• Sylvia’s Lynchian interactions on her solo kayak journey feel like an L.A.-ified version of a Broad City scene. The Ghostface-masked guy with a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Get” tote is a highlight.
• Nice callback to season one when Will kicks over his own scooter. And this time, Sylvia is the one who kicks a delivery robot!
• Love Rose Byrne’s imaginary weed-smoking after saying, “Are you kidding me? I’m so chill.” The fake cough is a nice touch.
• “Ooh, is that a baby jellyfish?” “No, that’s, like, six condoms that somehow got clumped together.”
• Another great ending song: “Beaches,” by Beabadoobee.