This episode was so great.
It made me think of the Weezer song Undone.
Jimmy just keeps pulling at the thread. Last week it was duping his mark into buying tequila and the itch to test the light switch. This week, the thread is still calling his name. While OCD might not be the trigger, his brother sure is.
Jimmy is on the balance beam of life, you can see it. It's a thing of beauty the way the show crafts it. On one side, is all that is good, expected, and desired by society. A relationship with Kim, a great job, respect. On the other side of the line, thrill, deceit, unlawfulness, danger. Jimmy on one side of the balance beam is good, sweet, and wants to succeed. On the other, he wants some danger, to get back at his brother, and to live a life outside of the box.
There are three things in particular that I want to comment on for this episode. First, when Kim puts her hand on Jimmy during the meeting in which his brother shows up. It was such a sweet moment. She did for him what no one has done -- believed in him. With that one small gesture, she let him know he could do it, that she was there for him (literally, by his side), and that he just needed to breathe -- everything was going to be fine. I would like to note that even Kim has her doubts though. Not about Jimmy per se, but she knows that he is on the balance beam. She knows one small thing could push him in either direction. That's why she moves the name cards (booklets). She has this nagging feeling that if everything could be just right, Jimmy really could succeed.
Except, the second thing I want to comment on happened. Jimmy's brother, Chuck, showed up at the meeting. Out of all of the variables for Jimmy (and what Kim is trying to protect Jimmy against) this is the worst that could happen. Jimmy makes it through the meeting, even does well, but Chuck just freaking can't handle it. The thread gets pulled when Jimmy asks Chuck what he is doing there.
He says to bear witness.
What the show does well, is they leave the statement open ended like that. It could be, to bear witness to Jimmy doing something good, but we all know it's not. He's there to bear witness to Jimmy's (presumed by Chuck) inevitable failure. Chuck knows just how to push Jimmy's buttons and he gladly, despicably does. Jimmy knows Chuck has no belief in him, but to want to come see his failure? You know what Jimmy has to be thinking, my brother won't leave his house because he is schizophrenic, but he will muster up the courage and overcome the fear to watch me fail? That's what motivates him? How absolutely cutting. What Kim feared, a slight push by some unforeseen variable to cause Jimmy not being able to succeed, ultimately is a proverbial superman-punch from Chuck.
The third thing I wanted to comment on was the decision to then represent Mr. Hot Wheels. It's not coincidence that Jimmy takes the case after his brother wins Sibling of the Year award. Jimmy is subconsciously going to prove his brother correct. Also, maybe on a not so subconscious level Jimmy figures if he can't ever be good in Chuck's eyes, why bother?
Plus, as Kim so eloquently puts it later on the bed, Jimmy can tell a story. He's good at scamming people, he's good at twisting the truth just enough. It feels good for Jimmy to be good at something.
But that thread ... that thread is being pulled. Kim sees it. Jimmy sees it. But right now, that thread is small, it couldn't possibly unravel the whole sweater. As jimmy puts it .. but nothing happened. Yes, but that thread leads to the entire sweater, Jimmy ....
It made me think of the Weezer song Undone.
Jimmy just keeps pulling at the thread. Last week it was duping his mark into buying tequila and the itch to test the light switch. This week, the thread is still calling his name. While OCD might not be the trigger, his brother sure is.
Jimmy is on the balance beam of life, you can see it. It's a thing of beauty the way the show crafts it. On one side, is all that is good, expected, and desired by society. A relationship with Kim, a great job, respect. On the other side of the line, thrill, deceit, unlawfulness, danger. Jimmy on one side of the balance beam is good, sweet, and wants to succeed. On the other, he wants some danger, to get back at his brother, and to live a life outside of the box.
There are three things in particular that I want to comment on for this episode. First, when Kim puts her hand on Jimmy during the meeting in which his brother shows up. It was such a sweet moment. She did for him what no one has done -- believed in him. With that one small gesture, she let him know he could do it, that she was there for him (literally, by his side), and that he just needed to breathe -- everything was going to be fine. I would like to note that even Kim has her doubts though. Not about Jimmy per se, but she knows that he is on the balance beam. She knows one small thing could push him in either direction. That's why she moves the name cards (booklets). She has this nagging feeling that if everything could be just right, Jimmy really could succeed.
Except, the second thing I want to comment on happened. Jimmy's brother, Chuck, showed up at the meeting. Out of all of the variables for Jimmy (and what Kim is trying to protect Jimmy against) this is the worst that could happen. Jimmy makes it through the meeting, even does well, but Chuck just freaking can't handle it. The thread gets pulled when Jimmy asks Chuck what he is doing there.
He says to bear witness.
What the show does well, is they leave the statement open ended like that. It could be, to bear witness to Jimmy doing something good, but we all know it's not. He's there to bear witness to Jimmy's (presumed by Chuck) inevitable failure. Chuck knows just how to push Jimmy's buttons and he gladly, despicably does. Jimmy knows Chuck has no belief in him, but to want to come see his failure? You know what Jimmy has to be thinking, my brother won't leave his house because he is schizophrenic, but he will muster up the courage and overcome the fear to watch me fail? That's what motivates him? How absolutely cutting. What Kim feared, a slight push by some unforeseen variable to cause Jimmy not being able to succeed, ultimately is a proverbial superman-punch from Chuck.
The third thing I wanted to comment on was the decision to then represent Mr. Hot Wheels. It's not coincidence that Jimmy takes the case after his brother wins Sibling of the Year award. Jimmy is subconsciously going to prove his brother correct. Also, maybe on a not so subconscious level Jimmy figures if he can't ever be good in Chuck's eyes, why bother?
Plus, as Kim so eloquently puts it later on the bed, Jimmy can tell a story. He's good at scamming people, he's good at twisting the truth just enough. It feels good for Jimmy to be good at something.
But that thread ... that thread is being pulled. Kim sees it. Jimmy sees it. But right now, that thread is small, it couldn't possibly unravel the whole sweater. As jimmy puts it .. but nothing happened. Yes, but that thread leads to the entire sweater, Jimmy ....
... and Jimmy is about to be undone.
Until next time!
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com
Until next time!
** If you would like to read my other blogs, please find them at:
http://www.madelinefresco.com
http://www.ihatemyback.com.
**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com