Better Things Review: Show Me the Magic (Season 3 Episode 10)
On Better Things Season 3 Episode 10, “Show Me the Magic,” Sam’s father haunts Sam and the girls.
Watching Better Things is like watching a play. There are several distinct scenes within an episode. Sometimes they tie together to form a linear narrative. Other times. the commonality could be a theme. Then there are vignettes that appear to co-exist arbitrarily.
“Show Me the Magic” is a quote from Tempest, a loosely adapted film version of Shakespeare’s play. The protagonist, Phillip Dimitrius (John Cassavetes), is an architect who flees to Greece with his daughter after his wife tells him she wants a divorce. He becomes convinced he has control over the weather and can conjure storms with his mind.
Sam is obviously paying an homage to one of Cassevetes’ on-screen moments, and the majority of the episode does have a mystical quality about it. The message is clear: it doesn’t always matter if something is actually happening, it’s enough to believe it is.
Viewers know Sam receives “visits” from her deceased father, Murray, but it feels as if his presence is a physical manifestation of his voice in her head. He offers guidance: he’s the angel and the devil on her shoulders at times.
During season 3, Duke is seeing Murray, and there’s a collective understanding by all the occupants there’s a presence in Sam’s house. This is handled matter-of-factly by Sam who approaches this otherworldly dilemma with the same no-nonsense practicality she does with everything else.
Ultimately, visions of Murray serve as a catalyst for exploring death, grieving, and loss from multiple perspectives. Sam isn’t cold, but there’s an abrasiveness and lack of sentimentality to the character that keeps her at a distance. This season, Adlon acknowledges Sam’s struggles to share her feelings, especially the ones she hasn’t quite processed herself.
This is obvious with Mer and Dr. Miller, but it includes those closer to her as well. But in an effort to calm Duke, Sam makes Murray less of an intruder in Duke’s life and more a welcome visitor. In doing so, she experiences a cathartic moment herself.
While Frankie and Max may not be okay with their dad’s abandonment, they’ve adapted, There’s a pragmatism and cynicism that is inevitable as we age. If there wasn’t, we’d all still believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and happy endings of the fairytale variety.
Xander’s continued absence is hitting Duke harder season 3, so Murray’s appearance is filling some void. She takes it one step further by consuming his ashes which is odd, but when it comes to grieving there is no right way.
Adlon’s beliefs in what comes after death may be documented somewhere, but it’s obvious Sam is open to any number of possibilities. We’re all haunted by ghosts. In this case, Murray just happens to have as big a personality in the next life as he did in this one.
What did you think of this episode of Better Things? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Better Things airs Thursdays at 10/9c on FX.
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Jennifer Lind-Westbrook
Jennifer has been working as a freelance writer for six years, contributing to BuddyTV, Screen Rant, TVRage, Hidden Remote, Gossip On This, and PopMatters. She prefers binge-watching old episodes of The Office (British and American versions) to long walks on the beach. She's still holding out hope that Happy Endings will get a revival.