Platonic (Season 1) Episodes 1, 2, and 3: Apple TV+ seems to be on a roll. After establishing “Silo” as one of the most intriguing Sci-Fi shows of this year, the streaming platform seems to have another high-profile winner. This time in comedy. The Seth Rogen-Rose Byrne starrer “Platonic” is an endearing reminder of the chatty romcoms of whichever era you like romcoms from. Created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller, “Platonic,” in its first three episodes, provides a fascinatingly intriguing “Will-they-won’t-they” conundrum, befitting its name.
The chemistry between Rogen and Byrne is fast and snappy, with a touch of zany existentialism. Just the right kind of notes the show intends to hit. Surely, ‘Platonic’ would make the audience wait for Wednesdays for a few weeks.
Platonic (Season 1) Episodes 1, 2, and 3 Recap:
The Reunion
Sylvia (Rose Byrne) and her husband, Charlie (Luke Macfarlane), seem to be happy and cozy in their small but quaint home with their three children. When the family could not decide on which movie they should watch together on their movie night (with the little boy suggesting “John Wick” and “Dahmer” and the youngest girl not looking beyond “The Emoji Movie”), all its members had to resort to entertainment on their own. Sylvia’s one comes from the news of the divorce of her long-time best friend, Will (Seth Rogen).
Will and Sylvia have not been in touch since Will got married. To a girl that Sylvia did not think was a good match for Will. So, when the news of Will’s divorce from the same girl, Audrey (Alisha Wainwright), breaks out, it is a big “Told ya so” moment from Sylvia. Except she nobly uses this as an opportunity to rekindle her friendship with Will. It becomes evident, when they meet at Starbucks, that Sylvia and Will understand each other quite well. And none of them are quite happy in their current lives.
The Rebirth
The reunion does not necessarily establish their friendship back, but it opens the door. Literally, Sylvia goes to Will’s bar, where he is the brewmaster. Through a drunken evening that involves fighting with Audrey, failed attempt at picking up dates, and buying a bejeweled collar of a dog, the friendship is reborn via soggy fries at a late-night diner.
The impact of the friendship will be felt later. Will joins Sylvia for her umpteenth visit to purchase a house. The ‘house’ in question is an old assisted living facility. Sylvia would need to do a significant and time-consuming remodeling to make the morbid facility a home for her family of five. Will, with his usual blunt charm, makes Sylvia confront her truth. That she never really wants this ‘nightmare’ of a house.
Sylvia agrees to tear up the contract. However, she imposes one condition on Will. If Sylvia agrees to heed Will’s advice not to take the seemingly haunted house, then Will will also have to break off from his tethered relationship with Audrey. Will agrees. As a result, Sylvia does what she promises to do. She backs off from the deal. Subsequently, Will has no choice but to go to Audrey’s house, do a complete breakup, and get his pet lizard along the way.
The Revolution
As days go by, both of them start to influence each other. Sylvia goes to a posh hotel where her husband, Charlie, is attending an office event. Charlie works in a law firm where he has been made a partner. Amidst the usual jabs and quips, Sylvia feels out of place and spiteful. She is a law student, and all these partners in Charlie’s office, including Charlie himself, used to be her colleagues. She, once again, falls back to Will’s friendship.
Will, on the other hand, was struggling to come to terms with the financial stability of his bar. His investor, Reggie (Andrew Lopez), wants him to do a deal with a restaurant chain. Even his friend, and the bar’s co-owner, Andy (Tre Hale), approves the new collaboration. Will’s commitment to keeping his beer’s identity as ‘cool’ faces a massive challenge, as he does not think the collaboration ‘worthy’ for his craft beers.
Platonic (Season 1) Episode 3 Ending, Explained:
What makes Sylvia so angry at the conference?
After Sylvia and Will spend some time eating and drinking in the same restaurant chain which Will’s bar is supposed to be partnered with, Will gets into a fight with Andy. Meanwhile, Sylvia goes to the conference where Charlie and his colleagues are there, dressed in restaurant merchandise. Charlie’s boss, Frank (Michael Kostroff), mistakes her for one of the waitresses. This ticks Sylvia off.
It was mentioned that Frank had met Sylvia on multiple occasions and yet did not seem to remember her name. An indication that he does not consider Sylvia worth remembering. Because he flaunts remembering some semi-strangers’ names correctly. An enraged Sylvia asks Frank to tell her name correctly in three guesses. Frank cannot, and Sylvia swallows the paper where Frank has written his speech.
Sylvia’s existential frustration was palpable, even before this breaking point. One of her comforting notions was that she had to bring her three children up. But when she sees one of her and Charlie’s old colleagues, Vanessa (Janet Varney), climbing the corporate ladder with a fourth child on board, she understandably loses it.
Does Will Change His Mind about the Collab?
While Sylvia and Charlie are discussing the aftermath of Frank’s speech incident, Will sees some of the intimate social media photos of Audrey. This seems to change his resolve. Will mentioned before that one of the primary reasons for their divorce was Audrey thinking Will was a ‘bit of a loser.’ Deep down, Will knew the potential of the collab and the money it could make.
Although Will is not particularly motivated by money, Audrey’s remark seems to be targeting Will’s financial stability. To Will, the restaurant chain deal is one way to show Audrey that he can earn bucks if he sets his mind to it.
Why is it called ‘Platonic’?
The series seems to work on the theme of “A guy and a girl cannot be friends.’ Like the classic Nora Ephron romcom “When Harry Met Sally.” The show even namedrops the film. The name of the show teases the same eternal question through the friendship between Sylvia and Will. Can they truly be platonic? So far, they seem to be. Either way, it sets up the intrigue for the upcoming episodes.
