Recovery is a minute by minute process. It’s something that takes time, but it’s something that you will do every single day of your life. The thing that we’re loving about Single Drunk Female is that it shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of recovery.
So many times shows seem to want to sugar coat shit, and hey, to a certain point this show has to. After all, it is on Freeform. And that’s not knocking Freeform at all – it’s saying that they have to work within certain parameters.
Sam in only 9 days sober. She’s tired, frustrated, and withdrawing. But she’s trying to live her life and do good things.
Sam is at work and she does something that I would consider genius. She’s stocking shelves and she crawls behind a bunch of cereal, hoping to take a nap. I’ve been that tired before, where napping anywhere sounds like an amazing idea, so there is no hate here. But, you know, as expected, her boss doesn’t really like that.
Mindy tells her that she’s a newborn, being only 9 days sober and that they are going to a meeting. Though we don’t know much about Mindy at this point, I have to admit that I love her, because she cares. She’s in recovery and doing everything she can to help Sam.
That being said, part of the greatness of this show is Sam and her journey. I feel like we’re only on episode two and we will seen many more journey’s but right now seeing Sam’s is a reminder that no matter how far you fall, there is importance and no shame in picking yourself back up.
Sam believe that being a drunk, there is a lot less accountability. But the truth is that there is always accountability.
It’s just a matter of when it catches up on you.
At the meeting, Sam runs into James. He’s impressed that she’s there and Sam is just impressed with herself still being there. But she knows that she needs to work on her recovery.
I may have died laughing when Mindy told Sam that she couldn’t sit with her until she worked on her aesthetic. I know I shouldn’t have, but it so fit with Mindy’s attitude and the whole vibe of this show, that I was able to appreciate every single moment of knowing that the writers aren’t here to be kind per say. They are here to be honest and examine part of lives and attitudes and show you that they’re really wanting to make something that will resonate.
Mindy continues by saying that when they are in this room, she’s not Sam’s boss, she’s her chic friend who needs her to try harder.
James saw the entire thing and is like that had to have hurt. He gives Sam advice, to leave a card or keys on a chair so that no one takes it. She doesn’t have either, so James gives her one of his to be able to use.
Sam can’t sleep. When she gets up, her Mom is up. Her Mom couldn’t sleep either. Guess it runs in the family. But her Mom always has shit to say and shit that is so messed up, you wanna jump in the screen and slap her and tell her to be better to her daughter.
Her Mom is like I should hav changed mattress. She thought no one would ever sleep there again. Sams like I get it – you’d love for me to leave. Mom is like that’s not what I meant, but all I can think about is that Carol (her Mom) sure as fuck doesn’t know how to show she cares. She tells Sam loves her being there, but she hates that she has to be there. Mom is like don’t rush it, I want you to be healthy.
And to be honest, I do believe Carol wants her healthy. But part of me thinks that Carol doesn’t want to have to take responsibility for her part in her daughters issues. And so therefore, she thinks that being distant and rude with her daughter keeps her safe.
Though what it does is make Carol even more of an asshole.
Sam doesn’t want to be in this position either. She wants out. She wants her life to be back in New York. She wants to be happy and on her own.
But Sam is in denial. She’s half assing work, she’s doing the motions, but not trying to learn. It’s going to take something big to change that.
But ask and you shall receive.
Brit and Joel show up at the store, while Sam is trying to learn to slice meat. Felicia (Sam’s best friend) is trying to cover for her working there. But Sam is like I work here – this my hair net. This is where I work.
And the wakeup call is going to come quickly. When Joel walks off to do some other things, Brit has to tell Sam that she owes $5,000 for the party bus damage. Sam thought that Brit would forget it, but Brit tells her that she did the damage, she needs to figure it out.
Even though Britney tells her that she can pay over time, Sam is freaking out. But I don’t think that is such a bad thing. Sam needs a kick in the ass and she’s getting it.
She goes to talk to Mindy, and wants to throw her hat in the ring for the assistant manager position. Brit was her first come to Jesus moment, but Mindy was her second. Sam is like I am learning and I will do whatever. Mindy’s like I’ll give you a chance if you start doing your job – and good attitude.
Sam has a lot on her shoulders and any of these things would be enough to push her to drink. She knows it. She is overwhelmed, but I am proud of her that rather than drinking, she heads to Olivia’s for help.
Olivia can’t give her answers, and Sam doesn’t understand why not. But what is an important part of Sam’s recovery is figuring things out. Though it is for all of us, for someone in the midst of recovery, it is especially hard to know how to figure out anything. Sam is at the beginning of her journey and she isn’t the most eloquent. She asks Olivia what is the point of talking to her when she can’t help her figure out stuff. What does she actually do?
The answers to questions are not always things that a person wants to hear. Sam wants to have answers, but what Olivia does is help her stay sober in the moment. Sam didn’t drink today. That is a win.
The rest she will figure out later.
The shock of Sam’s day hasn’t ended yet though. She heads home and finds her Mom on a date. It’s a lot for Sam to take, especially when her Mom is really damn vicious and doesn’t reassure her daughter. Instead she tells her that she’s always there and sometimes she wants to be alone. She straight up tells her Mom she wants her groove back.
I will stand by the statement that Carol needs some damn therapy. Like a lot of it. She’s being a really shitty Mom. Like can someone slap her?
I can get the want for alone time as I am a person who would rather be alone than with people. But if someone needs me, I feel like my wants need to be put aside and I am there for that person that needs me.
Sam is tempted to drink, but she is strong and calls James. He comes and gets her and talks her through staying sober and her issues that are on her mind. I really like James and his constant support of her. He wants to make sure that she’s okay, but also breaks the news to her that she is untouchable until you’re a year sober.
Carol and Bob are weird, but they are a weird that fits. Sam and Carol have a lot of shit to work through and one hopes that they do. However, we’re not sure that Carol wants to work on anything that isn’t her own relationships.
Bob trying to relate to Sam is also weird, but I do love that Bob is standing up for her in his own way.
And Sam, well she’s gonna learn to stand up for her own life, and she’s trying. She gets excited for getting her first paycheck, but as always with Sam, it’s something. She drops her phone and cracks the screen, after sending Britney the first installment of the $5,000 that she owes.
Life is a bitch, but hey Sam, we believe in you. You’ll get there.
Single Drunk Female airs on Freeform.
