They say that the truth will set you free, but I have to wonder sometimes if everything needs to be said. Sometimes the truth seems to be used as a way to manipulate people, to change a narrative to a way that suits one person or to unburden one soul.
And then sometimes, the truth changes everything. But in the same breath, I can tell you so do lies.
When it comes to Conversations With Friends, part of me thinks that it’s a combination of both that has made things worse for all of these parties. Truth and lies have changed everything.
LAST YEAR
Nick and Frances alway talk about the weirdest things at the weirdest times. But I do wonder, with the shit that they have to talk about, is there ever a good time?
Frances finds herself asking about what happened to Nick last year. She knows that he was depressed and having a hard time, but wants to understand why.
He had booked a job in Los Angeles and it was tough. He was having a hard time and ended up having to drop out of the film. He felt as though everyone was judging him and disappointed. Melissa and him hadn’t really been in touch while he was gone and when they were back together in Dublin, they fought all the time.
In one of these fights, she announced that she didn’t want kids. All he could think was, well, I do. He had always thought that was part of the plan. They fought and things were said that they regret. But suddenly, no matter what he did, he just couldn’t get up. She had made it about her, thought he was punishing her. But it wasn’t.
And she tried, but he just wouldn’t go to the doctor. And before he knew it, he was hospitalized for six weeks.
When he left the hospital, Melissa said that she wanted a divorce. She’d started seeing someone else. He didn’t react, just tried to thank her for helping him and she lost it. She broke. She had been scared and she felt so guilty. And apparently this had led to them talking. Talking like they hadn’t before. They agreed to stay together, but live in separate rooms while they figured it out.
And for him, he felt better. He started working again. She stopped seeing Chris, the man she had been having an affair with. Like life got to be ok. He was functioning but felt pathetic, worthless and a waste of time. And that was where he was when he met Frances. It was hard to believe Frances had interest.
Frances didn’t know that he had felt like that. She hadn’t a clue, but I don’t think that he has any idea that in a way, she may feel the same. He’s like l know you thought I wasn’t expressive enough, he just found it hard. She’s like no, I am not expressive either. She feels like she was cold sometimes but she couldn’t express what she felt, but for the record, he makes her really happy too.
THE PROSPECTS AND THE LIES
There is a look in Frances eye that tells me that she’s hoping that this is forever, even if he says he won’t leave his wife. I just worry that she’s not going to be able to see that it’s not that simple and it’s not that way.
She knows that he loves his niece, and really wants kids. She’s joked about it before. But looking at her I have to wonder, does she think that she’s going to be able to keep him because she’s willing to give him something that Melissa won’t.
She asks him if he still wants kids, and he says yes, but it is off the table. Frances reminds him that he never knows, after all he’s still young. He’d be a great dad.
Frances Mom is in town because Frances is getting the results from her scan. It’s so great to see her Mom supporting her, because honestly I thought her parents really just didn’t care. But then again, maybe they are just like Frances, unable to express themselves.
When Frances goes into get her results, I have to admit, I tensed up. I was scared for her. Frances has endometriosis. I don’t want to think that she wasn’t afraid of the diagnosis and wanted to treat herself to make sure she’s okay, but the fear in her eyes didn’t seem to really show until the doctor says that it may cause fertility issues.
Not sure if Frances is just keeping everything in or if it has something to do with the fertility part, but Frances decides to not tell anyone the truth. And this choice will lead to everything changing. But lies and secrets have a way of doing that.
She claims that it’s just period pain and the doctor says that they’ll just change her birth control pills.
And when Nick calls her she says the same thing.
Frances needs to learn to speak. I am not hating on her for being introverted, but so many problems in her life could be solved by simply being honest and communicating how she truly feels and what is truly going on with her.
THE WHOLE F**CKING YOUR WIFE THING
Now, issues with Frances are going on, but Nick well he’s got his own. And someone needs to teach the man tact.
He tells Frances that he slept with his wife, which shouldn’t be a big deal. It is though, because Frances doesn’t know how to deal with it and also because Nick is a coward because he tells her when she just got her results.
He takes a deep breathe and then says it can wait. Frances says no, say it. He doesn’t even have the balls to tell her in person. He tells her on the phone that Melissa and him kissed and slept together. He claims he feels weird telling her on the phone, but I believe nothing.
Frances gets off the phone and bangs her head into a wall. She really is too young and naive to realize what she’s gotten herself into. But it’s a lot more complicated. And it becomes more complicated when she tries to act normal and go to Nick’s birthday.
She doesn’t want to be at the party. She doesn’t know how to act. So, she’s avoiding everyone, but Nick still manages to find her. He wants to make sure she’d okay, and she’s trying her best to be calm about everything. But she can’t be. She tells him that she’s fine and then is like I am having difficulty processing the whole f**cking your wife thing, but it could possibly be the timing. She digs in deeper when she says he felt he had to tell her about it, so…
Thank God for his sister coming in to say goodbye and distracting everything. Until Nick makes introductions, and says that the baby is the most important person in his life. She sees how important kids are.
And then when Melissa and Bobbi come in, she’s done. She leaves.
Frances can’t handle what is happening. Nick follows her out and asks her to stay, but she can’t.
GOODBYE TO YOU
Leave it to Melissa to dig the knife in deeper. Nick had told Frances to share her story with Bobbi, but she hadn’t. And Melissa did. Who knows what she said and really even if it matters. Because what matters is that Bobbi didn’t find out from her that she had written a story about her.
The story is offensive to Bobbi and she is pissed that Frances can write this, but doesn’t speak to her. She doesn’t communicate anything.
And she’s had enough of Frances. It has become too much. Frances can’t speak – Bobbi yells at her and says her self-obsession is exhausting and hurtful and boring. Frances is in tears, and Bobbi keeps going off. Bobbi says she can’t be Frances friend anymore. She doesn’t want her in her life. She packs and leaves.
Bobbi telling Frances all this, as well as everything with Nick, sends Frances into a tailspin and she starts cutting.
And it leads her to breaking things off with Nick.
He wants to talk about what she is saying, but she says there is nothing to talk about. He asks if she wants him to leave Melissa, and Frances says no. Part of me thinks she is lying, but part of me believes her that she doesn’t want to.
Frances says she doesn’t know how to do this anymore and I am wondering if she ever did. He says he hates making her so unhappy, and she says they shouldn’t see each other anymore. He asks if that’s what she wants and she says ya. The pain in his eyes scares me, but also I truly think it’s for the best.
He tells her that he loves her. And there is no doubt in my mind that he does. But sometimes, love isn’t enough.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Nick wanting to meet her Mom is weird to me, BECAUSE he’s not going to have a long term future with Frances. He’s said that he’s staying with his wife.
- Frances Mom being so shocked about Nick – well, I had second hand embarrassment.
- Frances Mom asking about Nick and then calling Frances a wild woman, I really wonder if she knows her daughter at all.
- No one is worth banging your head into a wall Frances.
- Bobbi asking Frances if Nick and Melissa sleeping together was a problem – I wanted to high five her and be like yes, please call her out.
- Frances ignoring Nicks calls? Well, that will never end well.
Conversations With Friends is streaming now on Hulu.
READ ALL OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS REVIEWS –
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×01 Review: “Episode 1”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×02 Review: “Episode 2”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×03 Review: “Episode 3”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×04 Review: “Episode 4”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×05 Review: “Episode 5”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×06 Review: “Episode 6”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×07 Review: “Episode 7”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×08 Review: “Episode 8”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×09 Review: “Episode 9”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×10 Review: “Episode 10”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×11 Review: “Episode 11”
- ‘Conversations With Friends’ 1×12 Review: “Episode 12”
