James. Oh, James. I love James, but was I ready for a flashback episode no? Do I understand why it’s here? Yes. Do I know that we need to know more about James and Sam? Yes.
But I think for me, the hard part of this episode of Single Drunk Female, was that I love James so much that I don’t want to think anything badly of him. I don’t want to see him at his lowest, but yes, I know that the lowest is there.
It’s there in everyones life.
Seeing drunk James is a different thing. Remember, we’re in a flashback episode here, and so we’re seeing the day that he met Sam. The day his life changed.
He was the family golden child. His parents felt like he could do no wrong and were proud of his job at MIT. He was coding, he was in a high pressure job, he was desired. He was living the dream.
His brother though, he was seeing the things that no one else was willing to see. so when James heads home for Thanksgiving and is drunk. Like DRUNK. It’s evident when he leads the family prayer and his brother is trying to cover for him.
But James doesn’t want his help. He doesn’t want him to cover for him, because he doesn’t realize for himself that something is wrong. Even when his brother calls him out in front of the family, everyones making excuses and believes that James is fine. I guess that we all see things that we want to see and the rest we just let slide.
James leaves and heads to the bar. Now one has to wonder what would make the bartender think that serving him or Sam (who is also there) anything because they are blasted.
I have to admire the fact that James full on commits to his dancing, which hey, I had to look away. Sam did too, but she at least could tell him and buy him a drink.
Not sure what I ever thought happened between Sam and James, but them fucking in a dirty bathroom wasn’t on the list. Glad that they both got consent and do think that it was something that was important to show.
I have to say, like Sam really just had no fucks to give, she was like come on, lets get this shit done. Not exactly the most romantic thing in the world. But one thing that I think that we all need to realize is that these characters are in a state where everything that they do is going to be a battle up from rock bottom – at least in this episode.
The two get kicked out of the bar and take a walk (which just FYI totally agree with James, like why can’t we just be fit) and end up at a gas station having a feast of junk food and slurpees that they have spiked. The two are able to let down walls and be vulnerable with each other. But hey, that may just be the inhibitions that alcohol has stripped away from them.
The two end up back at the bar, talking about how horrible it is that people care about them and are worried about them. Obviously they have no idea what they are talking about but hey, we’ll let it slide, cause they are drunk and don’t get what is going on. I will love the moment that they change that thought process and see that people loving them is a good thing.
It will be a great thing.
The two of them continue on their walk, but Sam is somewhat sobered up – or at least shocked into reality when James decides that he should stand in the middle of the street until a car comes. She has to jump up to help him and pull him out of the way.
Screaming at him, asking what is wrong with him, if he has a death wish – it’s a lot for him. He realizes that it wasn’t okay and doesn’t know why he did it. He doesn’t have a clue, but with every second that passes he’s realizing more and more why what he did was stupid.
And it’s enough.
It’s enough to scare him and show him that he has a problem.
Seeing someone hit rock bottom is not an easy thing to watch, but it is something that a lot of people go through and we have to be able to support them. So seeing James brother show up for his first AA meeting.
Sometimes that’s what life is, showing up.
Single Drunk Female airs on Freeform.