“Love is putting someone else’s feelings above your own.”
You’re the Worst might have a cynical outer shell, but it’s less a criticism of relationships and more an examination of the trials and tribulations of those very relationships. Stephen Falk and co. understand their characters extremely well, and there’s still quite a bit of warmth to be found beneath the layers of sarcasm and illegal activities; these are simply people trying to navigate themselves and their relationships, and the roadblocks they encounter are inevitable aspects of their shared experience. Rom-com cliches don’t drive this show. The characters do, and even though they might be “the worst”, they’re still extremely fun to watch.
One of the most important scenes in this episode is mainly played for laughs, but it definitely applies thematically elsewhere in the show. The scene in question consists of a salesman going on and on about a phone family plan for Gretchen and Jimmy, about being “part of something”. It’s a monologue that hits on several important points regarding their relationship: yes, they want to be “part of something”, but at the same time, they also want to avoid domestication and being “disgusting normals”. They want to be seen as different from the crowd, but they’re slowly slipping into the grasps of the sweater people. So, they end up getting drunk and high and waking up in strange places with strange things, determined to stay out of that family bubble image the salesman paints in their minds.
Meanwhile, Lindsay has lost that family, and she and Edgar wind up gravitating toward each other as they throw away Paul’s stuff. It’s certainly a dark storyline for Lindsay, but one thing’s for certain: this show doesn’t shy away from the psychology of its characters. They all have complicated and painful journeys, and they might be in store for more of that now.
GRADE: B+
OTHER THOUGHTS:
– “I didn’t know it was a school.”
– “I look like a young Roger Ebert.”
-Gretchen’s death stare is adorable, and in case you all didn’t know already, Aya Cash is a national treasure. She gave one of my favorite performances on television last year, and the show is worth watching just for her.
-I probably won’t be giving this regular coverage, but I will check in for the finale; I also might cover something in the middle of the season if it’s, say, “Finish Your Milk” quality.
Photo credit: FXX, You’re the Worst
Polar Bears Watch TV 
Good premiere though I thought it felt a bit off in a way I can’t quite articulate. Perhaps it was just everyone getting into the groove of the new circumstances. Still a ton of fun. My favorite bits were the aftermath shots of the leads’ drug-fueled nights, the rappers’ rant towards Gretchen and the “I didn’t know it was a school” line. So happy to have this show back!