A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt: Analysis

Season 2, Episode 9: A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt

Analysis

Let the heartaches begin, as Long John Baldry once sang. If the previous episode set us up for the conclusions of the story lines, then Episode 9 sees the first steps taken.

Which is a cause for celebration in itself. Not least because, with a little bit of help from Dr. Tom, Erica finally came to terms with what we all knew for a long time - she has a "thing" for Kai.

We knew it, Ethan probably knows it, Dr. Tom certainly knew it, and now Erica has finally realised that she does have feelings for the barista. Shame it had to take this long and for so much to have to happen for her to come to such a dawning.

Then again, I guess that is what life is like, and Dr. Tom - as shown in the way he acts during the episode - wanted Erica to come to terms with it herself and then she knew what she had to do, as we see at the end.

I'm embarrassed to say it took me a while to figure out the title to this episode, but there it is so clearly now - it's all about denial. And Dr. Tom sends Erica back for an encounter with Leo to help bring her to her senses.

Of course, this is the first time we see Leo since the climax of Season 1 where she returned to save his life before realising that she couldn't and had to let him go. Understandably, the thought of seeing him again made her quite emotional, which Dr. Tom could sense.

The meetings between therapist and patient are classic in this episode. At last Dr. Tom is back to give her some great quotations - all about truths in this episode - and we've some regular therapy after stepping outside of the box in recent episodes.

Their meeting at 3am in his office was particularly good, with Erica leaving seriously annoyed and angry with Dr. Tom because she couldn't understand the point of her latest time travelling exercise.

However, who is there to help her see the reality in the end? Dr. Tom, who turns up at River Rock disguised, much to Erica's horror, as a potential case study for the sex book. I loved his metaphor about the ear worms and songs, and finally he helps the penny drop for Erica.

For me, that shows how much he cares, because he could have let Erica stay annoyed at him and only drag her into his office some time in the future. But no, he went to her because he knew she needed his guidance quickly.

On another Dr. Tom note - just look at his face when Erica describes how angry her dad had been at her over the car regret. Now if that isn't someone sympathising with the situation and relating it back to his own experiences, then I don't know what it is.

No surprise then that, in one of my favourite episodes of Season 2, Dr. Tom finally gets to deal with his own regret over his daughter Sarah. More on that next time.

Dealing with the regret, I know what it's like to be in Erica's shoes - looking up to and thinking the world of an older sibling. I used to be the same with my oldest brother. Someone I respected as sensible and mature.

When I discovered how he'd experimented with drugs at uni and now is a heavy smoker, suddenly I saw him in a different light. Maybe that's my problem and I'm too judgemental. However, he'll never be quite the same person I thought he was when I was growing up.

This episode redresses that feeling Erica has towards Leo though. We saw in the first series, maybe aided by the fact she got to see him all over again, just how much she thought of him. He was like a hero to her, not so much anymore though - he had flaws too.

It makes for a fun time travel though, with appearances by Jude and Zach. The latter is starting to get a little annoying now though, and I hope we don't see too much of him in the future.

It was also a clever touch for Leo to make a passing reference to Erica's revised perfect day from Season 1 on Central Island. Good writing that.

Of the males in Erica's life back in the present day, there were similar issues. Firstly Josh, coming to the club and pestering Sam before being knocked down by Kai's fist.

Now, I know it's violent and I don't believe in violence. However, I do think every guy would secretly love to be able to do that. Stand up for our girl and protect her and, if someone says something out of line or is threatening, we can sort them out.

I'm inclined to be more of an Ethan - composed, rational, and trying to mediate and talk things out. That's not cool or hard or really chivalrous though. Is that really what girls want, cos I could swear that, deep down, they love the hard man act.

Resorting to violence or not shouldn't be Ethan's main concern though, rather the fact that his girlfriend is clearly obsessed with another guy. If we needed any more evidence, then the signs were littered throughout the episode.

Her willingness to pick a fight with Kai, judge him in front of Alexis, her annoyance at him, her talking about him, her jealousy over him sleeping with Sam, and her bitter remark to Dr. Tom about Kai's "flavour of the week."

Add in her not paying attention to what Ethan was talking about and even avoiding going into Goblins to try and avoid her feelings for Kai, and all the signs are present.

Sparks of another kind are also flying between Erica and Brent. So often the one to protect her, he and she are clearly at loggerheads over his conduct and how loyal to be to Julianne. I can understand why she would be disappointed in him, but the other way around?

Unfortunately, the ultimate pragmatist is bang on in one respect - Erica has committed herself to a sinking ship. Loyal? Brave? Stupid? Either way, someone man the lifeboats. Stormy waters ahead.