‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×06 Review: “Episode 6”

There’s something that happens when secrets come to light. What is that? It’s that everything changes.

And everything between Bobbi and Frances is changing.

They’re back in Dublin and Frances prepared to go to her Moms. Bobbi is cold and is just like okay.

There is something to be said about the way that Bobbi handles things, but we’ll get there.

Frances is heading home to see her parents. Her Mom is trying to relate to her, but Frances is making that next to impossible. She’s so deep in her own head and it’s as if she thinks talking to anyone about her life means that the world will end. She’s even avoiding talking to Nick, who wants to know how things are with Bobbi.

Her Mom even wants to know how things are with Bobbi.

Frances doesn’t want to talk about anything. But she’s going to have to come sort of clean with her Mom. She’s in a lot of pain and bleeding heavily. Mom asks if there is any chance she could be pregnant. She admits she could be. Her Mom says they are going to hospital. This could be serious.

And for a second as the viewer, you’re holding your breath. Because what happens if she is pregnant. How does that change things? How is she going to tell Nick? Frances can barely talk to the doctor about anything, and he’s a doctor. But we’ll give her a pass, because she’s in a hospital and she’s in pain.

Luckily there is no sign of pregnancy. But what is wrong with her then? She’s going to have to wait for the AM and the gynecologist. The nurse suggest that her Mom go home and get some sleep.

I can see this rift that is between Frances Mom and her get bigger. Her Mom wants to know about her, but she realizes that Frances isn’t going to be the one to open up to her. And then you have to wonder if her Mom thinks she’s failed somehow.

Frances needs to be alone and in her own feelings. She curls up crying and falls asleep after getting a text from Nick saying that he’s going to sleep – will try her next day.

The next morning with the gynecologist, Frances is in a lot of pain. The doctor thinks that it’s nothing serious, that they will figure out out and not to worry.

Frances doesn’t know how to deal with being honest to those around her. But when Bobbie messages her, I am really pissed. Pissed because Bobbi has this habit of making everything about her. She’s embarrassed. Sorry Bobbi, not everything is about you.

It’s almost as if Frances wants to forget what has happened because she’s not wanting to face it. But Bobbi gets in her head and Frances starts reexamining her life and rereading old texts.

Never reread old texts.

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Frances having to face what Bobbi thinks about her emotions leads her to her fathers. He’s a mess and one has to wonder if that makes her think that she’s going to end up that way. She is so annoyed by the fact of who her father is, but I can’t see her trying to understand.

Yet, when you’re faced with a lifetime of the same behavior from your parents, you then are faced with the fact that’s all you are ever going to expect from them. You’re going to see the same thing coming and not believe in more from them.

It leads to resentment and it leads to wondering why you’re there at all. Truly, I understand why Frances doesn’t understand why she’s supposed to love a man who doesn’t act like a father, but also can’t even love himself. He isn’t trying to get better.

He’s accepted that his life is just existing.

But I will give Frances credit that she wants to take control of her friendship with Bobbi. She meets up with her at a bar and Bobbi is just being rude. Then again, Frances is being distant. Bobbie claims embarrassment, but the way that she, I have to wonder if it’s more that she’s afraid of loosing her friend, than what her friends is doing. But Frances tells her that she’s not easy to talk to, that she’s judgmental.

Bobbi says Nick isn’t the problem. Frances making her feel like an intruder in her life is the problem. Frances says it doesn’t make sense because when she thinks of her life she imagines Bobbi at the center.

Friendship is a weird thing. We’re expected to learn how to be there for others and we’re expected to be able to adapt to who they are and somehow compromise with them. Friendship is this strange thing of wanting to be there for others and allowing them to be there for you.

But friendship is complicated.

And so as these two find their way back to friendship, there is going to be a lot of shit said, but it’s how they get through it. And they will. Because they are learning how to be honest with each other.

Now, don’t think Nick has gone away. He’s still in this picture. Frances just hasn’t responded in a few days and so when she does, he asks to call her. She says please call, but when he does, she stares at the phone ringing.

Time to put your big girl panties on and answer the phone.

Conversations With Friends is streaming now on Hulu.