Work in Progress Review: 161, 153, 137, 122, 106, 104, 102 (We’re Still Counting Almonds.) (Season 1 Episode 4)
Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 4, “161, 153, 137, 122, 106, 104, 102 (We’re Still Counting Almonds.),” progresses Abby and Chris’ relationship while centering on bathrooms.
When an episode has a title like this, it’s nice that it has a central theme. Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 4, “161, 153, 137, 122, 106, 104, 102 (We’re Still Counting Almonds.),” will probably become known as The Bathroom Episode. The numbers of the almonds signify the passage of time, and it confirms that, yes, Abby is still doing her nut countdown to death despite being happy with Chris and their blossoming romance.
Morbid as it is, I agree it’s best to err on the side of caution—even happy bubbles can burst. I also see how it might shake Chris’ confidence, and so does Abby which is why she tries to downplay it. In her weekly session with the late Dr. Franklin (Abby keeps her photo on her phone), Abby says, “Living your truth isn’t all great.”
Working on yourself is difficult; that’s why they call it “work.” Deciding to love yourself as you are and taking up your space in the world is only half the battle, there is the rest of the human race to contend with and obstacles to overcome. On this episode, the obstacle is something that shouldn’t be an obstacle at all: using the bathroom.
Abby’s bathroom issue is a two-part problem. One, she faces society’s absurd, ingrained gender normative standards and two, she has OCD which involves obsessively washing her hands. Numerous people judge her use of the women’s room throughout the episode, and it is distressing each time. Then the flashback shows how it has been a source of anxiety for Abby for a very long time.
Dealing with this prejudice time and time again over years and years for something as simple and as necessary as using a public restroom can wear one down, and Abby reaches her breaking point at a Dolly Parton concert. She completely loses it, and you can’t really blame her—some of these people are downright awful.
“Read a book” is Abby’s go-to when faced with adversity, and she goes into a “Read a book” spiral with this crowd now assembled in the ladies’ room. Her response doesn’t land this time (two of the people are librarians), and she even says something ableist to a woman in a wheelchair (played by disability rights activist, Emily Muller) in the process. However, Abby’s misstep is the audience’s gain in the form of a clever teachable moment written into Abby’s angst.
Abby: My life is worse than everybody else’s! Okay, except for her.
Contented Woman: My life is pretty good, actually.
Abby: See, she has an easier life than me. You want to know why? ‘Cause people don’t fucking hate her on sight, and let’s be honest, everybody feels sorry for her.
Contented Woman: Um, disabled people are not the yardstick to measure how much shittier your life could be.
This along with the general horribleness Abby experiences from people showcase the rampant discrimination in our society. Chris has to use an app to find safe places to go to the bathroom, for crying out loud. This is the world we live in, unfortunately, and it’s not always easy even if you are living your truth.
What did you think of this episode of Work in Progress? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Work in Progress airs Sundays at 11/10c on Showtime.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.