What Goes Up Must Come Down: Analysis

Season 2, Episode 11: What Goes Up Must Come Down

Analysis

As episode titles go, few encapsulate the events of an episode as well as this one's does. Erica, riding high with the launch of The None, is about to come crashing back down to earth - and then keep falling.

This is definitely one of the most fun episodes of Season 2, with some great time travelling as Erica lurches from riches to rags in Dr. Tom's attempts to give her a little bit of perspective about life's up and downs.

Elsewhere, we finally see Kai begin to make some progress in dealing with his regret over Travis. His eyes have been opened when it comes to who was really pushing for the band to become big, and why he hasn't any reason to feel as guilty as he does.

Of course, this dealing with the regret and actually working with, instead of against, Dr. Fred is all gearing up for the barista to neatly round off his work back in 2009 before the end of the season.

Back to Erica though, and I know from my own experience how easy it is to wallow. It's also easy to allow something bad or a terrible experience to take you off course. I know it certainly did with me. However, as Dr. Tom says, setbacks shouldn't be seen as the end.

Rather, we should approach them as a challenge and should use our hardships to make us grow stronger and wiser. Easier said than done though, and Erica had the same problem.

The negative response to The None clearly rocked her, although tempting fate that her day couldn't get any worse proved wildly misguided. Which brings me onto her and Julianne's firing by Galvin.

True, The None didn't do so well with the reviews, but they had no idea whether it was going to sell. True also, Erica shouldn't have gone to see Horowitz. But firing her? That seemed extreme.

Julainne's dismissal was easier to understand. After all, she's the boss and ultimately carries the can. Then again, I think Galvin should look to himself too. He clearly promoted her beyond her abilities off the back of one success.

If she has not been up to the top job, the Friedkin stuff aside, then he should look to himself for - like her - being too impulsive with his decision making.

Of course, the firing sows the seeds of animosity between Erica and Brent, with the latter ruthlessly deciding not to inform them during the big argument that Galvin was there. That's Brent though.

So it's up to Dr. Tom to show a distraught Erica - unable to take comfort in the ever-practical Ethan's advice for her to immediately update her CV - the reality of her situation.

It's funny how people do always equate money to having things easy - as Erica does. I'm not so sure, and never have been. I guess it's a double edged sword, and everyone knows that money can't bring lasting happiness.

As Erica finds out when she lives the high life, including a great cameo performance from Dr. Tom as her fashion designer. As I mentioned earlier in this season's analyses, Judith's fear of them losing touch actually became reality - and we could see how hurt Erica was by that.

Then there's the very clever bit of returning Erica to where we see her getting fired from in the very first few minutes of the very first episode. Great stuff from the writers.

Much amusement abounds as Erica is constantly patronised by Vera, as she worries that this is her reality and that she is now back further down that she was before.

Erica frantically searching for Dr. Tom and that whole scene in his office was particularly good. His "on the hoof" safari story and how she blew her money were funny. Her refusal to leave his office was also good.

Ultimately though, it is down to Barbara to give her daughter the advice and perspective she needs. We've seen her mom's strength in Season 1 over Gary's affair but, for me, this is where Barbara and Kathleen really shine.

That's the kind of parent you want. That speech, the analogy with the cards, and talk about getting up and keeping fighting was superb. Arguably the best speech in the entire season actually.

It provides her with the inspiration to storm into River Rock and confront Brent - interestingly in charge of things in the Non Fiction department - and ask him for a job. Cue that old vicious circle dilemma of experience and opportunities, but it is a crucial one.

Erica need not start right at the bottom back in the present day, as she actually has experience. True, she could be rich, but she is still better off then she was before having worked at River Rock and got experience.

Overall, things could be worse, and they may just be about to with the dramatic final twist. Mind you, plenty of cracks are on evidence before that final scene between Erica and Ethan.

She is clearly annoyed by his flippant attitude towards the reviews of The None, and who didn't think he'd got her jewellery in that box instead of a pen? Erica clearly did too, although she disguised how underwhelmed she was pretty well.

That final scene clearly showed that contrast between the two though. We'd already seen such a dilemma over whether Erica should write the sex book earlier in the season. Ethan's caution against her willingness to take a punt.

It's not opposites meshing, it's opposites clashing. Forget trouble in paradise, more paradise lost. Time to cut the cord.