You’re the Worst’s brave depression storyline that has fueled much of its second season has not come without sacrifice. The sophomore run is a far inferior collection of comedy in comparison to last year but, in lieu of laughs, it has given us a vivid portrait of mental illness. It has, at times, been a difficult transition. In recent weeks, the show found its rhythm with the new dramatic turn, highlighted by the poignant “LCD Soundsystem,” the season’s ninth episode and one of the series’ best overall. But the groove came to an abrupt end with yesterday’s “A Rapidly Mutating Virus,” a half-hour that was fractured from the start.
The early struggles of YTW’s second season were often due to over-commitment, cramming numerous storylines into episodes too svelte to accommodate them all. That was the driving issue of the year’s 11th entry, which bounced from Sam’s feud, Gretchen’s continued fight, Jimmy’s cracking commitment, a bizarre new plot surrounding Vernon and Edgar making an ass of himself in front of new paramour Dorothy. The individual bits and pieces were fine, but they were unable to coalesce in any meaningful way, a sincere disappointment when considered against the strength the show has found in recent weeks. The biggest struggle FX had when creator Stephen Falk pitched the depression storyline was that he wouldn’t be able to make it interesting. When the show began to turn, Falk proved the doubters wrong, but as the season has worn on, the struggle has withstood. Gretchen was in the same zombie-like mode last night as the previous week, though more self-destructive. Lindsay appears uninterested in offering assistance, perhaps from experience, leaving Jimmy as the lone torchbearer. To his credit, Jimmy has given genuine effort. He rebuffed Nina, the attractive bartender, twice last night, only relenting after his relationship was emphatically lit on fire. I can’t place exactly where my frustrations lie. Part of me applauds the reality Falk and his team have brought to the situation, but the other wishes the show would find a way to combat the depression head-on. It’s becoming vapid to watch Cash, who continues to perform admirably, snip at everyone around her and stare emotionless when she isn’t erupting. It’s an intimate frustration, one that connects me to Jimmy’s difficulties as a partner. As a viewer looking for a sliver of entertainment, though, seeing the once vibrant and whip smart Gretchen reduced to a shell is painful. But, again, such is the power of depression, and while the decision to explore the territory has led to roughness, it should still be applauded for pushing boundaries.