Platonic (Season 1) Episode 6: The sixth episode of “Platonic,” titled “The Big Two Six,” is a carefully cautious outing after last week’s immensely entertaining episode, “My Wife’s Boyfriend.” In this week’s episode, where Seth Rogen’s Will once again has a glass-related accident, the Apple TV+ show refocuses a little bit, veering towards the hinted mid-life crisis of its central characters. As a result of this, the Rose Byrne-Seth Rogen starrer has its first ‘serious’ episode. That is not to say that it does not provide its chuckle-worthy moments. It does, in its usual quips and jabs. Rose Byrne particularly shines in this episode, with a clever nod towards some classic physical comedy.
Platonic (Season 1) Episode 6 Recap:
Sylvia’s Job
The episode starts with the previously-teased job opportunity for Sylvia (Rose Byrne). Sylvia has been apprehensive about this job. That is understandable, as she is not in the corporate world, working as a stay-at-home mom/homemaker. Also, the fact that the interview is coming from a friend of her husband, Charlie (Luke Macfarlane), has not been comforting for her confidence. Nevertheless, she will love to have the opportunity to go back to the workforce as a lawyer, to have a second go at the career she could have had.
The preparation for the interview starts with an important discussion of what to wear. With a painstaking effort from Sylvia to not look like Angela Merkel, she finally lands on a suit that fits. Which, quite predictably yet hilariously, is a doppelganger of a suit that the former German Chancellor has worn. Regardless of the clothing debacle (mostly in Sylvia’s mind), Sylvia does get the job. First comes ecstasy and relief that she is still valuable as a lawyer.
However, it immediately opens up the problem of delegating some of her homemaking responsibilities. She struggles to find a babysitter who will keep her mind at rest regarding the three little ones. That is where Will (Seth Rogen) and his new girlfriend, Peyton (Emily Kimball), come in.
The Big 26 Birthday
Will faces a little problem in his newfound relationship. In last week’s episode, he told Sylvia that this relationship did not mean much to him, to find some excuse when Sylvia asked him why he had not informed her about Peyton. It seems Peyton got wind of the same. It positively irked Peyton. To make up for the same, Will asks Sylvia to come and meet Peyton. He feels that introducing her to his close friend would probably mollify Peyton.
It does. Peyton immediately gets cozy with Sylvia, something that does not make Sylvia particularly beaming with positivity. She struggles to keep up with the much younger woman. The significant age gap makes for forced conversation, at least on Sylvia’s part. And she cannot help but wonder if it is the right relationship for Will.
So, when Peyton tells about her plan to Sylvia, about involving Will in her upcoming twenty-sixth birthday (hence the episode name), Sylvia cannot help but express a little reluctance. However, it comes across to Peyton as if Will is still hung over his ex-wife, Audrey. This triggers a late-night argument between Sylvia and Will. Will feels Sylvia being judgemental of the relationship because she cannot accept Will dating someone so young. In the end, Will goes right through the glass door while trying to barge out. Another glass-related accident for Will after taking a massive gash last week, which Charlie had to tend to.
Platonic (Season 1) Episode 6 Ending, Explained:
Why Did Will Break Up with Peyton?
After arguing with Sylvia, Will doubles down on his commitment to Peyton. He asks to host the birthday event at his bar and asks her to invite all her friends. Sylvia also joins the party and starts to make more of an effort to be accepting of this relationship. However, something changes in Will while Peyton and all her twenty-something girlfriends are dancing jubilantly, without a care in the world. Will suddenly realizes that this is not a relationship he wants to be in, just like Sylvia stated.
So, he does what he perhaps should not have. He breaks up with her on her birthday. Now, what made Will realize that this relationship is not working can be assumed. Peyton represents a time that both Sylvia and Will can no longer identify with but only gaze at with painful longing because it is gone.
Much like the urban anthem “YOLO”(You Only Live Once, just in case you were unaware) that Peyton and her friends exclaimed and embraced, Will is suddenly hit with the existential crisis he has so far neglected and pushed deep inside. The realization that you have this one life, and half of that is gone, is a bleak thought that rears up its head from time to time. Confronted by the unabashed youthfulness of Peyton, Will sees no option but to struggle with the acceptance that he is a middle-aged man. This makes Will panic, and he immediately breaks up with Peyton, hurting the young woman in the process.
What is in store for Sylvia in her new role?
This episode mostly focuses on Will’s existential crisis. It seems Will has taken strides in accepting that. Now, we have to see if Sylvia gets confronted by that. She has been able to evade that so far. But the new job, and her new routine without the children, might just be the trigger. She has not fully displayed this, but her anticipation of the job and worry for the children are signs that she is nervous about this massive change. With Charlie gone for a few days, she is well and truly alone. Will also seems to be occupied with his own struggles.
As mentioned already, Sylvia had her doubts about the job offer since it came from Charlie’s friend. It has been a constant source of self-doubt for her. She is unsure whether she deserves the position or if it has been offered to her as a pity. We do not get to see the interview to know how genuine the test has been. If Sylvia gets some sort of confirmation that the job was not given to her based on merit, she might also be forced to confront some of her inner fears, just like Will did in this episode.
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