Work in Progress Review: 14 (pt. 2), 12, 11, 10 (Season 1 Episode 7)

On Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 7, “14 (pt. 2), 12, 11, 10,” Abby avoids Chris while she beats herself up over her mistake. She comes clean in the end, and Chris is rightfully upset, but the fate of their relationship hangs in the balance of the first season’s penultimate episode.

Self-deprecation is, unfortunately, a common side effect of improving oneself. When you’re focused on getting better any stumble can be disheartening and big missteps can feel catastrophic. For Abby, seeing Chris’ dead name and not telling him about it is a misstep that sends her into a disparaging and slightly destructive spiral. 

The first half of the episode shows this. Abby stress eats, manically journals, smokes, and ditches her Best Self meeting. She goes back and forth over her reasoning and avoids any advice about being honest. And, of course, on this particular day, the Best Self coach is talking about truth-telling.

Judy: Well, how do we feel about the truth? You don’t want people lying to you, right? We want the truth. What is the truth? It’s being honest with yourself when life is hard. When you’re challenged. When you’re uncomfortable. Right? You have to tell the truth.

This is advice Abby should be listening to, but being in such a dark place, it is the last thing she wants to hear, especially from an over-exuberant diet coach. A kind look from a gentleman at the meeting is another excuse for her to leave—she probably doesn’t feel worthy of a stranger’s kindness right now. 

Hearing the same encouragement from friends is easier to take, but it still does not make the act of truth-telling any easier. Campbell gives her some tough love and doesn’t let her slink further into her self-hatred by tricking her into going to the art show to see Chris. Abby needs this—there is no telling what further wallowing would’ve led to, especially with the almond countdown being so close to the end.

The way Campbell helps is effective, but there is one thing she says that doesn’t seem particularly helpful: “A normal person wouldn’t be freaking out like this.” Campbell can be hit and miss with her sensitivity, sometimes within the space of one conversation. Abby, admirably, doesn’t let the comment derail what is the good advice that follows—Campbell gets her to the exhibit, after all. 

Abby McEnany does a great job of portraying Abby’s internal struggle throughout the episode. Like her friends, the audience wants her to be truthful with Chris, but seeing her so vulnerable to her own self-torment makes us empathize with her. This makes her moment with the painting that much more potent.

The art spurs thoughts of her break-up with Melanie and we see some of it in a flashback. And then the memory gives her the strength to finally tell Chris. I love this—the power of art.

It does not go well, but at least she is out of the grips of guilt, and all hope is not lost quite yet. Chris is understandably angry and hurt, and that could take some time for him to work through. But, Abby is on her tenth almond, so how much time Chris needs could really complicate things.

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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