Better Things: Season 5/ Episode 1 “F… Anatoly’s Mom” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

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It’s the beginning of the end when it comes to seeing Sam Fox and her family, and with a bit of a time jump, it seems like we’re in for a hard goodbye.

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Aired	2/28/2022
Network	FX
Directed By	Pamela Adlon
Written By	Pamela Adlon

Recap

Duke – Sam, Xander, Duke

Right now, Duke is with Xander, so her appearance is short. However, at the very least, we know Xander is trying to be a good dad, and through a separate conversation with Max, it appears he and the girls have a private group chat.

Max – Sam, Max

Since last season, Max moved out! However, with her roommate and her deciding not to live together anymore, Max is in a bit of a pickle. For one, she might be pregnant or at least has reason to check if she is pregnant. Two, she has found a place to move to, but with her and Sam’s credit not being good, she may miss out on the place.

Frankie, Rich, Marion, and Phil – Frankie, Rich, Marion, Phil, Sam, Caroline

Alongside helping Max pick a place, Sam finds herself going with Marion, and his wife Caroline, to a genealogy doctor who reveals the man Phil thought was her father isn’t. Which for them is a major reveal, alongside other information, but Phil hunches it all off. Her focus seems to be tossing stuff out, seemingly both stuff she should get rid of and other things which just present bad memories. Sam finds it all overwhelming, going through her mother’s things, since she is clearly ready to toss out some prized memories but also decides to give Sam short notice.

This is troubling for Sam since she, Frankie, and some family friends have a dinner to celebrate someone getting into Harvard! Oh, not Frankie. Frankie has long since graduated and got a job, but it seems she is either taking a gap year or just has no interest in college. But, either way, all parties enjoy themselves, and the night goes well until Sam gets home and the lights cut out.

Luckily, Rich is there, so they aren’t alone, but he doesn’t help much. Mainly, he is focused on his ex seemingly owning his flaws and the temptation for closure or a continuation of what was going on. Either way, thanks to Sam buying a generator, for a moment, they have lights. But in pursuit of Frankie’s approval, Sam knocks down the statute at the top of the stairs, and with that, she decides she needs a walk.

Things To Note

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. How much time passed on the show? Is it as much in real life or more?

What Could Happen Next

1. Max will probably move back in
2. Since it has been teased so long, Phil might die

Collected Quote(s)

I’m jealous of everyone who gets to meet you down the road.
— Sam

Review

Highlights

The Consistency

While we are a few years beyond where we left off in season 4, it’s almost like nothing changed. Sam is still trying to be everyone’s maternal figure, and everyone fully takes advantage of that. Max is still a hot mess, Frankie both craving independence yet also some sort of closeness with Sam and Duke? Well, we’ll find out. As we’ve long seen from her, she can go from cute and adorable to saying and doing the most wicked things. So with her being older, it should be interesting to see if her dark side has progressed as she has aged.

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