Single Drunk Female Review: New York (Season 1 Episode 7)

Single Drunk Female Season 1 Episode 7, “New York,” brings us an installment that picks up immediately where we left off, finally squashing my biggest episode-to-episode criticism.

*Cue Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York”* 

When Sam and James touch down in the Big Apple for their interviews/meetings, Sam turns on “tour guide mode” while they kill time.

It’s a pretty comical take on Sam’s drunken blackouts, with her straining to recall why certain landmarks are familiar. It also seems like James’s first time in the city, so Sam is his NYC guru, keeping him from oozing vents and sketchy park benches.

There’s something to be said about being a big city local, knowing all the little tricks of the city and which air vents to avoid and which bodegas to frequent. Their tour of the city is bittersweet in a way, showing how independent Sam used to be.

Contrary to the typical A Plot/B Plot that many Single Drunk Female episodes have taken, we actually get three storylines in this one. While Sam and James are in New York, we’re treated to more Olivia and Stephanie and their giant cat Josh.

We’ve only seen a bit of Olivia and Stephanie together thus far this season, so I’m glad that this episode fleshes out their characters a little bit. 

The couple is apparently trying to have a baby, and Stephanie has already started the hormone regimen for IVF. The next step is picking out a sperm donor.

Do they really give you voice recordings of the men? 

Regardless, I think it’s great character development especially if Single Drunk Female does get a second season. Thus far this season, Olivia and her wife’s relationship is viewed through the lens of her sponsor responsibilities. While there is some of that tension here, I was happy to see them talk about something else.

Side note: I am OBSESSED with giant cat Josh. I have the “Joshy I love you” tune stuck in my head. True cat lady representation in this episode.

Elsewhere we check in with Bob and Carol after Sam calls to thank her mother for the $100 she slipped in her purse. Except Carol didn’t give Sam money, Bob did. And Carol doesn’t know how to feel about that.

I’ve been tracking this storyline since the Single Drunk Female revealed that Sam’s father had passed and it was hinted that his death kick-started her drinking problem.

Sam and Carol’s relationship strain seems to be directly tied to the loss of their loved one. Like Chekhov’s Gun, the mention of Sam’s dad on Single Drunk Female Season 1 Episode 7 leads me to believe that we’re finally heading towards a mother/daughter showdown.

Back to Sam and James in the city.

I thought it was obvious from Single Drunk Female Season 1 Episode 6 that Nathaniel, Sam’s old boss, wasn’t going to be a good influence for sober Sam’s life. Sam didn’t get that memo.

Since Single Drunk Female jumps around so much, it’s been seven months since Sam was employed as a writer in the city. She’s grown a lot and has taken back some of her agency, but I’m glad this experience kind of knocked her down a peg.

In the same vein, it’s also a sign of her growth. She is cognizant enough to remove herself from a situation that jeopardizes her sobriety, even if it sucks to have to do so.

James, on the other hand, thrives in his New York City experience. He’s there to pitch a sobriety app to a tech company and the CEO immediately offers to buy the rights – I guess? Not really sure how the tech/app world works to be quite honest.

Sam and James find each other again at the park bench they passed earlier – which by the way is apparently where Sam found out her dad died! Chekov’s gun in plain sight! 

With three full episodes left in Single Drunk Female Season 1, I think in hindsight this will be the one that sets up however the season ends.

I’ve been saying it all along, but it feels like someone is going to break their sobriety. I thought it would be Sam, but this episode might have changed my mind.

James is on an upswing, and with this new success and big life event, now I’m thinking that he might be the one who relapses. It would be an interesting twist!

“There’s an odd comfort in failure” – James

I really hope that Single Drunk Female continues the trend of not jumping ahead too far in time because I think we’re getting to know our characters better this way. With only a handful of episodes to go, I’m curious how storylines will be left.

There’s so much unsaid between James and Sam, and their resolve is crumbling as they spend more time together. Is James’s big win going to affect them in any way? If they get together, will their sobriety be affected?

Sofia D’elia Black and Garrick Bernard have excellent on-screen chemistry and #Jam (#Sames?) has the potential to be a top-tier ship. I’m still hoping for a slow burn, but I could be fine with a friends-to-FWB-to-lovers journey for them.

Stray Thoughts:

• I’m both Team Sam and Team James re: the smell of New York. On one hand, NYC has a very specific energy, on the other, it smells like rotting sewage half the time.
• Missed my girl Felicia on this episode!!
• Sam’s story about throwing up on a ferry and then the wind blowing it back on her is both the funniest and most disgusting thing I’ve heard on TV in a while.
• Bob is so pure!! It’s so sweet that he looks out for Sam, even if his approach to muggers is like a 2 out of 10 on the scale of what to do.
• I don’t know how I feel about Olivia carrying a baby. Will that actually happen?
• Joshy the cat I love you!!

What did you think of this episode of Single Drunk Female? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Single Drunk Female airs Thursdays at 10:30/9:30c on Freeform.

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