Like Alex, the single working mom at its center, Youth is juggling a lot. Now halfway through its first season (she wrote, optimistically), the series has introduced a gaggle of compelling characters and storylines, and done its best to drop in on as many of those as its half-hour runtime will allow. But it feels like some of those characters are still coming into view, and some of those dynamics are still in need of fleshing out. That’s not entirely surprising for a new show, particularly a comedy, let alone one with only eight episodes. But watching “House Party,” the expression that keeps coming to mind is one that often pops up in stories about single working moms: It’s hard, if not impossible, to have it all.
Along with revealing the problem with Ruairi, “Welcome To The Rat’s Nest” showed some of the cracks in Alex and Sam’s working relationship. Early on, they looked like co-conspirators as much as colleagues, but the growing success of Goblin Seed began to drive a wedge between them. Last week, for the first time, Sam really treated Alex like an employee. This week, Alex seems to realize this and asks to be treated like a partner—a case that might have been better made if she didn’t use a meeting with a client who happens to be a psychologist (Vivienne Acheampong as Rachel Lash) as free, impromptu therapy.
I could watch a whole show about how difficult it is to navigate a working relationship with a close friend, especially when there’s a power differential. Youth occasionally provides intriguing glimpses of that show, like when Sam pulls rank on Alex in front of the rest of the staff, only to go to her for help mocking the appearance of her husband Frank’s bartending staff. Or this week, when Alex, internally fuming because she thinks Sam’s been gossiping about her to Patrick, shoots her boss a “death glare” shortly before letting her insecurities derail her meeting with Rachel.
Alex and Sam’s relationship looks increasingly combative, or maybe just competitive, at work, and the Sunday calls and invitations to wedding anniversaries in Ibiza just blur the lines. I’m torn because Alex hasn’t been the most professional (see: the Frankfurt Book Fair) but Sam rarely misses an opportunity to put her in her place. Like a lot of Sharon Horgan characters, particularly ones played by Sharon Horgan, Alex is flawed but sympathetic, and she does appear to be good at her job most of the time. Missing out on the gold mine that is Goblin Seed was a bad move, but one that really only appears that way in hindsight. Alex has made some good discoveries, though Sam is right to point out that, compared to her own 30-year investment, she hasn’t put in the work. “The caucasity!” Sam exclaims, after Alex asks to be made a partner.
Alex’s smile and Sam’s “cheeky bitch” suggest neither one of them is really that upset, but even if there was lingering tension, there’s not enough room for it in “House Party,” especially when there are elderly parents, a son rearranging his crotch at the dinner table for reasons unknown, an ex who keeps leaving the door open for rekindling the relationship, and a sexagenarian who’s just trying to enjoy what’s left of his time.
Yes, Michael—or “Old Michael” or “Michael Man,” as Alex refers to him in conversation and her phone’s contacts—is back, and a date with him is once again a consolation prize after a disappointing run-in with Patrick. Alex can’t really see herself with Michael, but he’s so eager and understanding, and when he tells her to “lean on” him, she foolishly thinks she can just “[fast-track] the relationship, you know, past the honeymoon period, straight into the sexless marriage.” The folly of youth of old age.
Michael slips right into the surrogate dad role, giving Ruairi advice and looking out for him at work. Both Alex and Ruairi eat it up, along with his carbonara. Alex gets so comfortable so quickly that she just folds her plans with her parents in with theirs, much to Michael’s dismay. It’s possible the visit from her family, including her sister Delly (How To Get To Heaven From Belfast‘s Róisín Gallagher), was a pop-in, but it seems more likely that Alex wanted to use them as a way to avoid physical intimacy with Michael. Director Dawn Shadforth follows Alex through the gauntlet she creates with her family, using them as both physical barriers and distractions to keep Michael from getting so much as a kiss.
Again, Horgan is so good at making us simultaneously sympathize with her characters, even when they’re taking advantage of someone, and shake our heads at them. As Michael acknowledges, shortly before leaving Alex’s life (for good this time, probably), she’s the furthest thing from being free. The first time her eyes flash with real warmth towards him is right after Michael tells her she can rely on him. Alex wants a boyfriend and a partner; someone who makes life enjoyable and someone who makes it bearable, and she has yet to find those qualities in the same man. After seeing Patrick back with Cara (Nadia Parks), she was prepared to settle for just the latter with Michael, at least for a while. He also hears a ticking clock, though—one that’s got even less time left on it than hers—and he still wants to be desired, still thinks he is desirable, and he won’t settle for less. (See? John Mulaney was right: Men can want to have it all!)
After seeing Alex’s latest attempt at a relationship go up in flames, “House Party” switches the focus back to Ruairi, who’s now working at Frank’s bar and still hoping his dad will eventually be a dad to him. (I am also hoping Lorcan or someone else steps in before Ruairi falls for more pseudoscience from the manosphere.) When Bridget shows up at the bar with Mia and some friends, he approaches her and softly pleads with her to clear things up so that he isn’t known as “the pervert, hands-down-the-pants guy.” She doesn’t want to be defined by what happened either, but before she can say anything else, Mia pulls her away and Ruairi gets in a fight with one of their male friends. Back at home, an exasperated Ruairi gives his mom a short counterpart to that Barbie movie speech that sets my teeth on edge (YMMV, I know; it was intended for girls/young women, yes, whatever; still doesn’t mean it wasn’t mortifying!):
“I hate being a man. You have to be strong, but not too strong, ’cause then you’re an alpha. And if you’re an alpha, you’re toxic. And if you’re toxic, just, girls fucking hate you. But if we try and express our feelings, we’re weak and needy. If you send flowers to a girl, we’re just love-bombing her. If we can’t get it up, then we’re broken.”
I’m glad Youth isn’t just waving off the difficult reality of Ruairi’s situation, but this is the second time in a row that an episode’s basically ended with a declaration of sorts from him, and it’s a bit of an odd fit. Even with Horgan lightening things up with a menstrual blood visual gag and a little mother-son bonding over her latest romantic failure, it just feels like an unusually heavy note on which to close things. Horgan’s used to walloping viewers in the final moments of episodes with some reveal (see: Catastrophe, Bad Sisters), but with Ruairi’s disclosures, it feels more like she’s trying to end things with capital-S statements. If the rest of the season follows this trend, it’ll make for an interesting development in her work, though it’s still too soon to gauge just how successful a turn it is.
Stray observations
- • “Maskiel climaxed lustily and with a long doleful cry. Goblin seed was gold and soon the sheets were sparkling. Deanna lay back and almost bathed in it.” Despite the booming book sales and looming franchise, it’s hard to think Alex was wrong for passing on this.
- • I’m 60% sure Alex invited her parents to her dinner with Michael because she thought it would make him feel more comfortable to be around people “his age,” or what she views as his age, which is both awful and hilarious and 100% Horgan.
- • You know, old or not, Michael did cut right through the bullshit about the “art of constraint” and Alex’s attempts to use him for emotional support.
- • “Enjoy your white sauce.” “She’s an old friend. She’s great.” Sometimes the biggest burns hinge entirely on their delivery.
- • “When did it all stop being fun?” Really, Youth could spend the rest of this season just trying to answer that question.
Keep scrolling for more great stories.