Work in Progress Review: 176, 172, 171 (Season 1 Episode 2)
On Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 2, “176, 172, 171,” we learn more about Abby as she and Chris get to know more about one another.
Abby’s OCD behavior is the focus here as well as the budding romance, giving us some apprehension about when the twain shall meet. At her therapist’s funeral, Abby uses sanitizing wipes when forced to join hands with those around her. Later when she’s at the club with Chris, nothing like that is shown.
She seems comfortable there even if she is out of her depth with the young crowd.
We are introduced to the journaling on this episode and there are some off the cuff mentions to it while she has a “session” with her dead therapist’s photo. It’s painting a picture of this compulsion in a subtle, casual way, kind of like it’s easing us in—maybe that’s how it will go with Chris, too.
Abby’s obsessive journaling is also connected to the date in a clever way. Abby had been to that club before when it was “A Lesbian Bar.” (The flashback is titled as such.) She goes back to one of her journals to find out what the name of it was.
Abby: I totally remembered what the name of that bar used to be called. Yeah, The Watering Hole. And I once saw a Melissa Ethridge cover band there.
Chris: Wow!
Abby: It was the first place I ever saw the electric slide and I thought it was some sort of secret lesbian dance I didn’t know.
Chris: Wow, you remember a lot.
Abby: Mhm, yeah, it’s uh— [looks at journal] it’s a gift.
The episode ends on a reveal of a hidden closet that houses boxes and boxes of these journals. We see that the little bits we’ve been getting are part of a much larger picture. Personally, this gets me excited to delve further into the cognitive history of this character.
It feels like it’s meant to be an ominous thing, though, a caveat for Abby and Chris’ new relationship, but I think Chris is not only up for the challenge but really wants to know Abby on this deep level.
In the flashback, we see Abby’s issue with germs come up during a make-out sesh with a girl she met at the bar. They do an about-face and make the moment quite cute, rather than a painful memory which is what it seemed like it was set up to be. We only have the flashback from Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 1, “180 Almonds,” to go by and that was not a pleasant one for Abby.
Abby: I touched my hand on the dumpster. I have a thing about germs, so I just, uh—
Melanie: Oh, don’t, I have hand sanitizer.
Abby: Oh my God, that is the hottest thing that anyone has ever said to me.
The episode is steadily funny throughout—the whole funeral bit is particularly hilarious—but there is a sense of looming as Abby’s obsessive compulsions are shown to us. But, even then, it feels light and straightforward.
And the show handles things like gender fluidity and sexuality, similarly. There is a sensitivity to it, but also humor in a non-offensive way. Abby breezily shuts down “questions” about Chris from her brother-in-law by telling him that it is not her responsibility to teach him about the queer community. “My God, Mike, would it kill you to read a book?”
Abby’s lesbian friend, Campbell, is also working to wrap her brain around Abby’s new love interest.
Campbell: Okay, well, first question: I guess you’re not a lesbian anymore?
Abby: Jesus Christ, I was already not a lesbian!
Campbell: It’s a valid question.
Abby: I’m a queer dyke! Lesbians are old women.
Campbell: I’m a lesbian.
Abby: Exactly. Burn! You’re so burned!
Campbell: Okay, so you’re a queer dyke dating a man.
Abby: A trans man, yes.
So many elements seamlessly come together to make this such a unique and enjoyable TV watching experience. I usually dread Sunday night because of its proximity to Monday morning, but I now look forward to this time I get to spend in Abby’s world.
What did you think of this episode of Work in Progress? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Work in Progress airs Sundays at 11/10c on Showtime.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.