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Episode 4 “Michael Man” Details
- Director(s): Dawn Shadforth
- Writer(s): Ailbhe Keogan
- Public Release Date (HBO Max): October 4, 2026
- Check out more of our “Youth” coverage.
Recap
Alex is in need of a win, and it seems if it isn’t Sam, she self-sabotages any momentum she has. Now, how does Sam do so? Well, by telling Patrick about a hookup Alex had in Germany, which makes him decide to be with the 20- or 30-something-year-old Cara. When Alex finds out about this, she is embarrassed and pissed, and finds herself coercing a potential client, Rachel Lash, who is in the mental health field, into giving her a free session.
This upsets Sam, but what makes things worse is when Michael comes back into the picture, mainly for Alex’s ego; he presents the idea that Alex should stick up for herself. Lest we forget, Sam hired Alex when her business went under, and while she doesn’t bring it up, Alex hasn’t forgotten. But even with losing Malcolm and nearly losing Rachel, she talks about being a partnership.
Sam isn’t for it, and honestly, you can see why. Alex can barely stand being an equal partner to Michael, who really tries his hardest, even when thrown into her family drama. But eventually, Michael takes a stand and ends things properly with Alex. Which you can’t blame him for since, while she is looking for an ego boost, he is looking for affection and reciprocity, and Alex wants it all to be a one-way street.
But then there is Ruari. Frank, Sam’s partner, gives Ruari a job, and while heavy-handed on the pour, he is getting the hang of things and even integrating into the community Frank has created. However, Ruari is still Ruari, and he wants and needs guidance and understanding, and the internet is the only venue he finds himself able to get that.
Which is why when Bridget comes to the bar, things blow up as it becomes clear Brigette is more than willing to let Ruari’s reputation be as the pervert, for the alternative is her sounding easy.
New Characters in Episode 4
Rachel Lash (Vivienne Acheampong)
- Character Summary: Rachel is a psychologist with a column in the Times, which has focused on the shifting culture of men.
Cara (Nadia Parkes)
- Character Summary: Cara is one of Patrick’s love interests, who Alex paints to be notably young for him.
Bridget (Scarlett Rayner)
- Character Summary: Bridget is the girl Ruari had an encounter with at Kent, which has led to him being labeled as a pervert due to him being discovered waking up with his hands in her pants.
Delly (Roisin Gallagher)
- Character Summary: Delly is Alex’s sister, who recently had a kid, and who plays a larger role in the care of their parents.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Michael Taking A Stand For Himself [82.5/100]
I think a lot of men acknowledge that there is some work involved in earning a woman’s trust, vulnerability, and affection when dating. With that, you know it may mean a bit of an imbalance early on, depending on the woman. But when it comes to Michael and Alex, I think we can universally agree she was purely looking for everything she could get out of Michael.
After all, the relationship was built on Alex needing an ego boost, as most of her non-Patrick relationships are becoming. However, this one went further because, before, it seemed she was at least willing to try or experiment when it came to Michael. Now, he is this older man who forces Alex to think about her own age, and perhaps attraction, who is nice but also a touch frisky.
Which, upon first meeting him, did come off weird, I’ll admit. However, after spending time with Michael now, it seems it might not be that he was weird. Alex, however, might be. She continues to present the idea that maybe Patrick isn’t the problem; she is. For it seemed clear from the start that Alex would never get around Michael, not only being older but looking older. Yet, she entertained him and at one point seemed more than willing to have him sucked into her drama, unprepared.
Now, it would be one thing if it was in an effort to show him that he truly does not want or have what it takes to integrate into her life. But between her parents and Ruari, it seemed she wanted to dump everything onto him, not have to be intimate with him, and reap the benefits of having a man around who she could treat as if he were a dog.
Thankfully, however, we see Michael stand up for himself and make his exit, and in doing so, it raises the question of whether Youth is built upon the idea that Alex isn’t the victim of circumstance but has consistently gotten what she deserved.
Sam and Alex’s Complicated Relationship [82.5/100]
What’s interesting about Sam and Alex is that they are presented as close friends, but clearly not equals. Even outside the office, it can feel like Sam sees Alex as a mess she has to take care of, a grown White woman she adopted, more than someone she can equally rely on. Now, as Alex noted to Michael, part of the reason for this dynamic is because Alex feels she owed Sam after Sam took her on when her bookstore went under.
However, I think the long-term problem is going to be here: Alex feels like, seemingly in life, not just business, she deserves more than she does. Her ego got bruised for a while, with losing her shop, but that Michael boost gave her back some of her audacity. Which I don’t think Sam will experience as Alex wants. Never mind, we see Sam as the type who will quickly humble Alex and not allow their dynamic to shift. Not because she has control issues or anything like that, but because this is a relationship of convenience for Sam, and one which makes her feel better about herself.
So while Sam may not want Alex miserable, for it could affect her life and company, I do think she has a place in mind for where she wants Alex and doesn’t want her venturing beyond where she wants her.
Ruari Still Living In The Grey Area [81/100]
With finally getting some sense of Bridget beyond Ruari’s perception, I think the boy might be screwed. As you can imagine, Bridget, like Ruari, was in a new school, willing and able to hook up, but then came an imbalance in perception. No one wants the reputation of being easy, especially as a woman, and Ruari waking up with his hand down her pants paints the idea that she is a good-time girl. Sadly, the only counter to this is making it seem that Ruari took advantage.
But, let me say, there is something uncomfortable about this storyline. Mainly in how it paints the idea that Bridget, in trying to control the narrative, isn’t necessarily telling an outright lie regarding what happened, but is certainly painting Ruari in a bad light and letting it spread. Now, to be fair, we don’t have her take on what happened that night, just Ruari, so maybe he was being aggressive like Michael was with Alex, and ignoring Bridget being uncomfortable? It’s hard to say.
What is known for sure, however, is that Ruari is socially awkward, has no accessible person to talk to, and increasingly presents himself as someone easily influenced, checking for role models online, due to his father’s absence. I mean, you saw how quickly he was willing to attach to Michael.
On The Fence
The Malcolm Situation [78/100]
I’m really not looking forward to this Malcolm situation. There is just something about the specific brand of suffering Alex goes through on Youth which can sometimes feel too real. Because, on one hand, you know it is supposed to present comedic situations, because Malcolm is someone Alex rejected, cast aside, and now he is a hot commodity she has to court, and he has all the power. But the way this show is written, that comedy is circumstantial.
To me, as much as you can see a lot of what Alex goes through as humbling, there is also this vibe that she is a person who wants more, believes she deserves more, and yet life keeps pushing her to lower her standards and expectations. It’s a bit disheartening in a way where I don’t know if maybe I’m projecting, or if that is the goal: to have this undercurrent vibe of, is Alex wanting and expecting too much? Is Alex the problem? Or is it simply life sucks, but you press on, hoping for the occasional opportunity to trick you into thinking this proverbial dangling carrot is actually within your grasp?
Overall
Our Overall Rating [80/100]
Youth appears to be a comedy, but sometimes challenges that perception. Yes, Alex does find herself in a lot of awkward, uncomfortable, and potentially comical moments, depending on your humor and perception. But that’s the thing: you can find it funny how her ego clashes with her reality. But sometimes you can also see it as someone who wants more, wants better, and life, be it fate or the series of decisions Alex has made up until now, makes it so it seems impossible for her to turn the tide. Leaving you sometimes unsure if you are laughing with her, and Ruari sometimes, or at them.
What To Check Out Next
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Youth: Season 1 Episode 3 – Recap and Review
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Youth: Season 1 Episode 2 – Recap and Review
Youth continues to explore the hand that its lead plays in her own misery, and pursues both the truth and humor in every interaction.
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Youth: Season 1 Episode 1 – Recap and Review
Youth peels back the glamour, the idea of a triumphant second act, and gets to the heart of being a certain age, with a livable but imperfect life.
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