Mrs Fletcher 'Parents' Weekend' shows how Brendan has inherited his toxic masculinity from his father
As far as influences go, we have only seen Eve Fletcher's impact on the young and callow Brendan Fletcher. In Episode 4, 'Parents' Weekend' we finally get some insight into the influence of his father, Ted Fletcher.
That Brendan is excited about his weekend with his father is an understatement. We have seen hints of how Ted is consumed with his new life. For example, he doesn't turn up to send Brendan off to college because Jonathan, his second son (who is autistic), has a doctor's appointment. So when Ted suggests a father-son weekend, Brendan doesn't think twice about ditching the always-available Eve.
When Ted shows up, Brendan has cleaned the dorm and earns a "nice digs" from his father, right before his wife and Jonathan troop in after him. Brendan's falling face is all you need to know about his resentment about being the afterthought in his father's life.
Thanks to the vacuum left by Ted, Brendan, in his eagerness to be the perfect son, emulates his dad - from the way he objectifies women to his casual disrespect of feminist art created by students. In fact, the only time they 'bond' over the weekend is when they are demeaning women in some way.
Ted's caring, sensitive father figure side is reserved solely for Jonathan, his autistic son, and Brendan's half-brother. There is such a huge difference in the way he bonds with his two sons that you wonder if Ted has a split personality.
The show hasn't gone into why he is a perfect husband and father in his second marriage and such a jerk to Eve and Brendan. If he is unable to shoulder the demands of a normal son, would he really be good at caring for one with special needs? Would he really be more proactive in nurturing Jonathan than even the child's mother as it is shown in this episode?
Wouldn't he go off and find the next pretty young thing when things got difficult with the birth of an autistic child? It's a bit of a wobble in an otherwise great script and Ted's character arc seems to exist only to create some sympathy for Brendan. In the end, you are supposed to understand why Brendan chucks "Stripey", Jonathan's favorite toy, in the bin in a fit of jealousy.
Eve Fletcher is still acting consistently, more or less. The episode starts with her watching videos of middle-aged women like her talking about why they were doing an adult video. The reasons range from "curiosity", to "fun", to "bucket list item".
A little later in the episode, when she imagines herself being asked why she waited so long, she replies, "I didn't think I was allowed." Eve realizes that there is a whole world of sexual adventures out there, but what can she risk? What is she "allowed" to do now? Earlier, when Julian turns up to ask her out, she rejects him regretfully. The age gap is too much of a "not allowed".
She and Amanda, her colleague, attend Roy's funeral. (Roy, the porn-loving, masturbating senior.) She reddens when Roy's son calls her a "pervert" for misjudging a senile old man. You can tell that it is the name she has been secretly judging herself with. In her fantasies, when the "two studs" are too-young Julian and too-old (and dead) Roy, she shuts the laptop with a bang, horrified at where her mind has led her.
In comparison, her evening in with Amanda (Katie Kershaw) is less anxiety-inducing. They both talk about needing a "TV buddy" who they can asexually cuddle with. Amanda talks about her "bitch" ex-girlfriend while they are soaking in the hot tub together while Eve talks about having "crazy fantasies". It is all so relaxing, soothing and non-confrontational that when Amanda is bidding her goodbye at the door, Eve kisses her. It is a fledgling attempt to explore her sexuality in the real world. It's a still-born attempt as Amanda freezes, totally taken by surprise. Eve makes her hurried, squirmy and embarrassed exit, apologizing for the kiss while Amanda tries to tell her, it's ok.
Again, the scene strikes a bit of a false note. Eve Fletcher is really not (after four episodes) ready to shed her inhibitions and kiss a woman. Fantasise, yes. Take direct aggressive action, nope. Not yet. But given we are almost at the halfway point, the series does need to move it all along.
But that urgency isn't there when it comes to the teacher-student relationship between Curtis (Ifádansi Rashad) and Margo Fairchild (Jen Richards). They go out on a date but we are not sure if it is one. All through, Curtis seems attracted to Margo but uneasy, making us wonder if he is not as copacetic as he seems about Margo transitioning.
When Margo drives off, her insecurity raising its head, Curtis protests but doesn't stop her. But it's obvious she is on his mind as he scrolls through her Instagram account later. With Eve and Julian and now Curtis and Margo, the writing class is going to get très awkward, people...
'Mrs Fletcher' airs every Sunday at 10:30 pm on HBO.