Ok, before you jump down my throat about all of the things that Murphy did wrong, I need you to take a deep breathe. Before you remind me of all of the things that Murphy did wrong and how he betrayed Ingrid, I need you to hear me out.
Before I dive into my defense of this ship (which there is no defense for that betrayal, #IYKYK), I want to start by saying that the first time that I watched Partner Track, I thought Murphy was endgame. And then I watched the series twice more.
I have never read the books that Partner Track is based on, but after watching – I didn’t want to. Not that I don’t think that the books will be amazing (I purchased them), but I found myself so invested in these characters that I didn’t want to be pulled out of the television series, but wanted to be able to find my way, based on the chemistry that I see on the screen, but also the way that these actors bring this show to life.
And in that, I realized something.
After I wrote the season review, I went back and watched the series, realizing that I shipped Murphy and Ingrid, because I believe that it’s a relationship that I think leads Ingrid down the road to get her to the relationship that I think we all really want – her and Z together.
Her road with Murphy this season leads her to doing things that get her to helping Z and that ending. So, I ship Murphy and Ingrid to get to the ultimate ship of this show, Ingrid and Z.
Yes, we’re going to need to write this one to get to the next I Will Go Down With This Ship, Ingrid and Z. So bear with us, as we go down with the ship Murphy and Ingrid, to get to the endgame – Ingrid and Z.
When Jeff came to New York, Ingrid was focused on one thing – making partner. Nothing else mattered to her. Her balance of her life was work and friends, but romance seemed out of touch.
The thing is that Jeff was supposed to be a one night stand that she never saw again. But fate has a way of working out and what’s meant to be will always find a way.
When Jeff arrived at the firm, he acted as though he didn’t know Ingrid. She may have remembered everything about him – the way he smelled, the way he touched her, the way he felt. So for him to not remember her hurtful.
Now, you may not be a big believer in fate, but some of us are. Fate has a way of bringing you to a place where you need to be. Fate brought Murphy back in Ingrid’s orbit. Fate reminded her what it was to feel that passion. We’re not sure why Murphy acted as if he didn’t remember her, but we’re with it for that moment of him whispering that he remembers everything.
When two people have that passion but aren’t together romantically, but still around each other, it reminds you what it’s like to be alive. It reminds you what it’s like to feel. And it motivates you to find that passion again.
For Murphy to remind Ingrid that she wants to feel that way again and for him to want to chase the way she made him feel… brings out the best and the worst of them. Angst and passion may not be what everyone wants, but it’s definitely something we do.
For Ingrid, being around Jeff set her on a road that reminded her just that… that she was alive and that she was a sexual woman and work didn’t have to be the only thing that she did.
It’s something that we all need to be reminded of and it’s something that changes us. We need to be reminded that we need to live and to not just exist. Personally, I don’t think that Ingrid would have participated in anything outside her friendship circle and started to look around at the possibility of dating.
Jeff reminding her that she’s alive led to the next thing in her road to where she belongs. Ingrids so focused on work that she doesn’t see what’s walking right in front of her. And one of the things that she seems to look over the most is love and allowing people into her heart.
It’s Jeff being around and her seeing him with someone else that makes her realize that she needs to step out. It’s her seeing that she is also desirable. It’s her seeing that she can balance both.
And when Nick comes into the situation, she sees that she can be taken care of and still balance her work life. People will understand that and that allows her to start to open herself up even more.
Granted, she is not truly all in with Nick, because she’s so in love with Murphy, and that’s the reason that I can’t think that was the relationship that she needed to fully discover herself. Nick was a relationship she existed through, but didn’t LIVE through. When we see the moments that she’s growing and allowing that relationship in (the Murphy one), what she’s doing is learning a balance to her life.
I am not saying that their relationship is a healthy one. It’s definitely not. Murphy has more baggage than a warehouse holding all the lost luggage in the transportation system. He’s also not addressing the issues he has or unpacking any of it. He’s definitely trying to just move forward and living a life of bad decisions along the way.
But the truth of the matter is that this isn’t about Murphy or Ingrid – it’s the way that they are together. Even Nick sees that. Granted, he has to learn the hard way by catching Ingrid lying and them in a very compromising manner.
But I will also say that the heat and passion and Nick share is part of what makes them exciting. At this point, I admit that I am overlooking the lies that Nick told, because we don’t know about them.
When you’ve lived a life that you are happy with, that’s an amazing thing. When you start to explore parts of yourself that have taken a back seat, because you’re so focused on something else, you start to realize that you can do many things. It’s a matter of figuring out what is important.
For Ingrid and Jeff making partner is important. But what they teach each other is important. Ingrid teaches Murphy that he’s good enough, that he is not defined by his past, but can allow himself to believe in something better, because she loved him wholeheartedly. Murphy taught Ingrid about embracing the moments and not settling for a life half lived or lived in lies (including lies of omission).
So yes, I will go down with this ship, because who Ingrid is at the end of season one has a lot to do with this relationship. And seeing her wins, her strength, and the way that someone is willing to believe in her is important.
Only she doesn’t realize yet that the person that believes in her most is Z. And hey, I will go down with this ship, because her complicated relationship with Murphy is going to lead her to seeing that there is more to life and she deserves that life.
A life filled with love and truth.
Sometimes you have to go down with a ship to get to the ship you want. Sometimes you have to go down with a ship to get to the ship you need. Characters are complex.
But that’s the beauty of them.
What do you think? Do you think that Murphy and Ingrid needed to be? Do you think that they have chemistry? Tell us all your thoughts.
Partner Track is streaming now on Netflix.
Here is the thing, I believe in fate too. Jeff protects his heart and we saw him open up a bit, Ingrid is an open book to some extent both are dishonest when it comes to the matter of the heart enter Nick. What I am trying to say is I don’t believe Jeff betrayed Ingrid, Ingrid was quick to believe Marty (hence the cliff hanger). Most have just jumped to the conclusion Murphy betrayed Ingrid to get the promotion by telling Marty (le Boss) about ending up in Jail and stolen earrings. Stop right there, I don’t believe its Jeff, why you ask? Let me see Marty was constantly want to talk to Nick, why? Nick was the only one that knew the earrings were missing, the cops knew where to look for the earrings, like name and address (a picture alone doesn’t determine where one lives) Jeff did not know about the stolen earrings until Ingrid rang him to get her out of Jail. I expect Jeff to argue his case it wasn’t him, Ingrid will not believe him they both move on until something happens that Nick was the culprit all along, his rich, his powerful and doesn’t like to loose. At the end of the day I want Ingrid and Jeff together.