Battle Royale: Analysis

Season 2, Episode 2: Battle Royale

Analysis

"It's good to talk." Growing up this side of the Atlantic during the '90s, you used to hear that phrase a lot when British Telecom used it on a string of TV commercials.

However, the older I've got, the more I've realised that people don't put it into practice. All in all, human beings are dreadful communicators.

Instead, we avoid talking about things, we don't express our emotions, share our feelings, or confide in people. I guess it's the easier option. After all, talking about something difficult is the first step to confronting and, hopefully, resolving it.

If we never talk though, we just allow problems to get worse, things to escalate, and minor issues become major ones - and they can very quickly spell the end of our relationships.

It's the lesson Erica learns in Episode 2 that, while having finally bagged the guy she's been in love with forever, her dream relationship could very quickly implode if they aren't able to communicate with one another properly.

In a weird kind of way, it's another example of the transition between being friends and being in a relationship. While you're never closer to a friend than you are a partner, it can often be easier to discuss certain things with friends than your other half - which isn't how it should be.

Entering into a relationship completely alters the dynamic between two people too, where you go from being a person in someone's life to being the person in someone's life. Where secrets and lies are no longer allowed, and where you're introduced to a new concept - arguing with one another.

Of course, for Erica, everything blows up at Sam's 30th birthday celebrations. Now, I am a guy, so maybe it's typical that I'd side with Ethan, but I do think Erica went well over the top in her reaction to him.

Sure, he was probably wrong to go out for so long. However, all the talk about marriage between Erica and Aunt Roberta? I mean, she knows Ethan better than anyone, does she really think, despite them being such close friends for so long, that the guy wants to get re-married again so quickly?

There's nothing worse, too, than a couple's argument brewing and simmering in a public place when it really needs to be properly tended to. It always ends up impacting on others who, unless they're blind, clearly notice everything isn't right.

I guess we always fall back on the "not discussing this now" line when actually these things need to be confronted before it gets worse. However, when it's too late to save public face, I say just get it over and done with.

Certainly that was my own experience of relationships. Now, I'm not a big talker, I keep myself to myself and don't reveal my deepest thoughts or emotions, but when I know there's a problem then I try to talk about it.

However, if the other person isn't willing to play ball, then things can often just end up getting worse. How many of the silly things we argue and fight about could just be solved if we talked properly and openly though?

I mean, sure we all avoid confrontation. Indeed, outside family or a relationship, I don't think I've ever had a falling out with a pal. I'm just not like that. The fights ubiquitous to a relationship almost put me off them altogether though.

As for Erica, one relationship with a man - and I'll come on the others of Erica's in this episode later - which has been put back together is that of hers with Dr. Tom.

There's a nice moment when she sits down in his office and smiles at him, saying how pleased she is to be back there doing her therapy and talking about things with him. He smiles at this too. Erica and Dr. Tom - one of TV's best double acts.

He is in fine devil's advocate mood throughout this episode actually. It's a position I often try to adopt myself, because I do think it's a necessary evil and someone has to do it. Sometimes you have to say difficult or awkward things and not just stick to opting for the easy option.

Dr. Tom does it brilliantly - challenging Erica's communication skills both in terms of how much she communicates and the way in which she does it. Seriously girls, when will you realise shouting and nagging a guy doesn't work? We don't respond to it.

I have to be honest and say that the time travelling in this episode is actually one of my least favourite during the first two seasons. Having thought about it, I think it may be because of the lack of regular characters - just Erica, Jenny, as well as Dr. Tom of course, who appear.

It's always more fun when other characters from her family or circle of friends are included in the regrets. I guess for it to have worked though, it had to be someone she'd met at a camp like that and then totally lost contact with without ever discovering why things went wrong.

I think as the episode goes on it's quite obvious to guess what is up with Malcolm, so it's not that much of a surprise when he reveals to Erica the real reason behind his behaviour.

As ever though, Being Erica teaches us the lesson that having regrets is one thing, we just have to learn not to repeat the same mistakes in the present day that led to our regrets in the first place.

In Erica's case, that's actually opening up and talking honestly with Ethan - in a really powerful scene between the two.

As for her other relationships. Brent is clearly still fuming about being overlooked for "the sex book." He's obviously unhappy that Erica has been chosen ahead of him, although it's hardly her fault, and he evidently isn't sure how to act around her.

His anger, instead, is reserved for Julianne. Poor woman. Completely oblivious to the havoc Brent is about to unleash with his email to Galvin. Hell hath no fury like a metrosexual scorned.

Brent's actions are clearly motivated out of revenge, although we all know he has a point about Julianne's judgement and managerial style. I wonder if his ends ultimately justify his means though? I guess that's a point for a future date.

However, it accurately portrays how Brent described himself to Friedkin in his management class, "decisive" and "potent" indeed. Add in "conniving" and "ruthless" too.

Finally, after the dramatic revelation at the end of the last episode, Erica begins her struggle in trying to get Kai to open up about his therapy. He's clearly resistant at first, but it adds an interesting dimension to her own therapy - as well as her relationship with Ethan.

Is it any coincidence, too, that both of the first two episodes end in the same way - with Erica and Kai at Goblins? As with so many of Erica's experiences in Season 2 - they end up coming back to Kai.