Casual Review: Progress is Slow Coming (Season 4 Episodes 4-6)

As Casual Season 4 progresses, Alex, Val, and Laura continue to make changes in their lives in the hopes of figuring out what will make them happy. They have been stuck in ruts for a long time and desperately need to break free.

On Casual Season 4 Episode 4, “Dreams Stay With You,” Alex searches for clarity in his life in a very Alex-like fashion: he buys some psychedelic drugs online and takes off into the woods. While under the influence, he hallucinates his dead father.

We know Alex and his parents have always had a complicated relationship. Alex has been trying to make peace with his parents for most of the show, or about eight years in the characters’ timeline.

One of the biggest issues during his childhood was the constant parade of significant others his parents brought into the home. They had an open relationship and made no effort to shield their children from their sex lives.

It’s interesting that Alex is drawn to open relationships himself, even being in one with the mother of his own child. It makes sense that Alex freaks out when Rae brings Jeff into their home. It’s not just about his love for Rae — it’s about protecting Carrie.

As an adult, Alex has never been able to build the kind of relationship he wants with his parents. He simply can’t forgive them. The situation only becomes more complicated after Alex assists his terminally ill father in committing suicide in Season 3.

Needless to say, Alex has a lot to work through on this camping trip.

Surprisingly, his crazy, drug-induced adventure brings him the clarity he’s seeking. He finds the courage to go home and tell Rae how he truly feels. Even if his methods were crazy, I’m so proud Alex is actually able to express his feelings and be honest.

Alex: Would you just give me a straight answer? What am I doing here?
Charles: Poor Alex, always searching for what’s right in front of him.

However, this happiness is short-lived.

On Casual Season 4 Episode 6, “Faultless Bodies and Blameless Minds,” Alex becomes totally infatuated with a woman he keeps seeing around town. He is so tempted by her that he can’t even function. He wants so badly to remain faithful to Rae, and yet he sabotages himself as soon as he sees an attractive woman.

Is Alex actually in love with Rae or simply with the idea of Rae? He needs to seriously ask himself that question.

I’m disappointed to see Alex struggle so much. I really want him to find a woman with whom he can build a life. His long string of romances and flings is getting tiring.

Alex isn’t the only one with romance developing on these episodes.

Val begins dating John, and I’m not surprised at all. No way is Val going to have a man in her life and not sleep with him sooner or later.

I honestly believe she is much better off without him. He is taking over her store. While I think Val’s new project is dumb and destined for failure, it’s hers, and John needs to respect that.

I hate to watch Laura follow in her mom’s and Alex’s footsteps and make the same mistakes. But she’s following the only examples she knows.

Casual Season 4 Episode 5, “The Last Super Bowl,” gives the audience a heartbreaking glance into Leia and Leon’s marriage. It’s rough seeing these two fight. They are both such easygoing and mild-mannered people.

I feel like there is no good solution for these two. The decision to have children is way too important for either person to compromise on. The emphasis is on Leon and how Leia changing her mind on the subject is affecting him, but Leia’s world has been turned upside down as well.

Val: It’s hard to know anything truly, but you know Leia. She knows you. Are you sure you want to give her up for a life you don’t?
Leon: I’m giving up a life either way.

I hope they both take the time to decide what they really want before they make any decisions about the state of their marriage.

Leon may have moped around the Super Bowl party, but at least he got to go. Leia is stuck at home feeling like the bad guy.

I’m loving Casual‘s take on what the future will look like. In five years, the NFL will be no more, WiFi (now provided by only one giant company) will still be unreliable, and Ubers will be self-driving.

The writers have not been shy about political digs either. These moments are funny because they are totally accurate and delivered in a deadpan manner. It’s as if the characters are glad 2018 is behind them, but they still can’t truly laugh about it yet.

As we near the end of Casual, all the characters have a lot of work left to do. Everyone’s love life is in shambles. The goal of Casual has always been for these people to find meaningful relationships in a world obsessed with shallow flings. I’m not sure if that goal is going to be achieved before the show ends once and for all.

What did you think of these episodes of Casual? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Casual Seasons 1-4 are streaming now on Hulu.

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