Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9: Recap and Ending Explained

Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9: In its penultimate episode, the Apple TV+ comedy “Platonic” finally pulls the big gun. The prospect of a ‘cheating’ episode has always been tantalizingly close to materializing. Given the title of the series, someone jumping the gun to have an affair is expected to be the climactic twist. In the ninth episode, that twist does come, but not from the most obvious source. It also comes with ‘Platonic’-style crude humor.

Given that we are almost at the season finale, it is safe to say that ‘Platonic’ has been a finely acted and idiosyncratically humorous show. It is unlikely that we will get another season, so I will be eagerly waiting for the final episode of this series with a slightly heavy heart.

Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9 Recap:

The Repercussion

In the last episode, Charlie (Luke Macfarlane) became aware that Sylvia (Rose Byrne) had told Will (Seth Rogen) about the loss of her job before she broke the news to him. In addition, Will, with some help from his colleagues at the law firm, found that their pet lizard ‘Jessipa’ belonged to Will before. Not a stray, as Sylvia had told. This ticked Charlie off.

So, in the latest episode, titled “Slumber Party,” we see Charlie retaliating. Charlie sulks when Sylvia tries to pacify him by admitting her mistake of not confiding to her husband before her best friend. However, the table quickly turns. Charlie, who generally does not work late into the night, decides to stay back with his colleagues, not wanting to go home to Sylvia. Apart from Charlie, the late-night party consists of Stewart (Guy Branum) and Vanessa (Janet Varney). The three of them get drunk. When Stewart finally leaves, the tantalizing prospect of something happening between Charlie and Vanessa arises. And it does occur.

Under the drunken haze, with dancing shoes on, Charlie and Vanessa involve in something that can only be considered as ‘dry humping.’ Like the Radiohead song, they were high and dry. It does not last more than a few seconds as Charlie quickly withdraws. However, the guilt forces Charlie to confess everything to Sylvia immediately.

Will’s Conflict at Work

Will, on the other hand, gets involved in a different sort of entanglement at his workplace. His friends, and fellow business partners, Andy (Tre Hale) and Reggie (Andrew Lopez) had already tried to disassociate him from one deal. The deal collapsed due to the sleaziness of Johnny Rev in the last episode. Now, after another disagreement, Andy and Reggie, especially Reggie, try to force Will out of the bar they own. Where Will is the brew-master. The bar, “Lucky Penny,” is Will’s child.

Will goes to Sylvia’s house to vent, where he finds a different dynamic between Sylvia and Charlie. Obviously, Sylvia is aghast and angry at Charlie for the ‘dry humping’ episode. She does not say anything to Will. But she asks all their three children’s friends to stay the night as a sleepover. She also asks Will to stay the night to accompany her in watching movies. Charlie is left to look after everything while the six kids and two gummy-bear-high adults enjoy their time at a slumber party. Charlie gets miffed but does not say anything because Sylvia has the upper hand, again, due to the ‘dry humping’ episode.

The ADU Problem

Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9 Recap and Ending Explained - HOF — Rose Byrne and Luke Macfarlane in “Platonic,” now streaming on Apple TV+.

Will, at the slumber party, mentions to Sylvia that he has supervised many housing projects. He had mentioned this in the early episodes as well. Sylvia gets convinced that she, with Will’s help, can convert the largely unused garage into an ADU, or an Accessory Dwelling Unit. The following morning, she brings this up to Charlie. Charlie vehemently disagrees but has to relent as Sylvia once again pulls the ‘dry humping’ card.

Will, who was not aware of Charlie’s ‘cheating,’ finally learns about it from Andy. Andy, who was confided in by Katie (Carla Gallo), Sylvia’s girlfriend, tells what Charlie has done. Will is equally amused and befuddled. He tells Sylvia the next time they meet, which is at Sylvia’s house. Will tells her about his own ‘cheating’ episode during the last stages of his failed marriage with Audrey. Sylvia says that her marriage is stronger.

Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9 Ending Explained:

Will Sylvia Be Will’s Counselor?

When Will meets Andy, he tries to reconcile with his friend and find an amicable solution to their business problem. However, when Will sees Reggie and Andy come with a lawyer to the next meeting, he loses all his patience. He storms out of the bar, claiming he will never leave the place as he is the one who built it from scratch. Now, it seems that Will would need a lawyer. He might ask Charlie to help. But, it could be poetic to see Sylvia helping her platonic friend out of this jam using her legal expertise, especially after the debacle at Kirk Friedkin’s law firm.

Does Sylvia Reconcile with Charlie?

When Will and Sylvia enter the garage to do reconnaissance, Will immediately notices that the garage is upheld precariously. A few uncertain load-bearing beams are the only support. As if right on comedic cue, a raccoon jumps on Will’s shoulder, making him knock over one such load-bearing beam. The moment they scarper away from the garage, a major crack appears. Just then, Charlie arrives dumbfounded.

Will tries to leave to allow Sylvia and Charlie to talk privately. When Sylvia tries to stop him, he mentions that Sylvia’s marriage is not looking as strong as she might think. This makes Sylvia pause and have a discussion with Charlie. Charlie bares his soul to her. He admits to feeling neglected and jealous, as if he is the second most important man in Sylvia’s life. Sylvia mentions that he is after ‘Simon’, jokingly. Simon is their son.

This signifies that both Sylvia and Charlie have finally moved past the episode’s shenanigans. The light-hearted jab reflects that they are finally light-hearted since Will found out about the pet lizard. With the final episode of the season coming next week, we can expect that from Charlie’s side, the ‘platonic’ nature of Will and Sylvia might not be questioned again.

Platonic (Season 1) Episode 9: Recap and Ending Explained – Will Sylvia Be Will’s Counselor?