Physical Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Don’t You Want to Watch

Physical Season 2 Episode 5, “Don’t You Want to Watch?”, opens with a flashback: Four months ago, when Sheila and John Breem had their little mutual masturbation session at the local mall, it turns out there were security cameras and the whole event was caught on film. 

This is, naturally, how Tyler has evidence of their affair, because one of his stoner buddies works mall security and swiped the tape for at-home use (blech!!) while telling Breem that someone forgot to record any footage that night at all. Breem believes this because he is an idiot, but honestly, it’s probably what he deserves.

(Because what’s extra gross about this whole business is the implication that Breem himself knew where the cameras were located—he helped install them, apparently—and didn’t mention them on purpose.)

Tyler, who is perfect, has apparently sat on this information for four entire months because he is absolutely the best, most genuinely good person on this show. He’s certainly the only generally tolerable male character and he honestly deserves the world.

In fact, thanks to his generally live and let live attitude, Tyler only the brings the tape up after Sheila tries to take advantage of Bunny, and won’t acknowledge the whole, you know, she stole her whole idea/brand from her thing. Sure, Tyler’s maybe lazy and a little bit dumb, but he genuinely loves Bunny, and on a series full of cynical, selfish, self-interested people, that honestly counts for a lot.

In fact, the pair can’t even go through with their blackmail scheme initially—when they witness Breem’s wife crying outside an electronics store, neither can bring themselves to dump more pain on her (or the children they assume she has) by revealing her husbands a cheater.

I know these characters are meant as vapid California 1980s stereotypes and all, but I’m also pretty sure Bunny and Tyler are the only people in the world of this show who aren’t overt monsters and I can’t help it I’m rooting for them.

So, I don’t know if I’m supposed to be cheering with they show up on Sheila’s doorstep demanding cash—but I am.

Elsewhere, Sheila enlists Greta to drive her to L.A. for a meeting with Auggie Cartwright, where she essentially pitches her vision board for turning her workout tape into a lifestyle brand.

Now, on some level, I respect Sheila’s girlboss instincts here—she’s seen the success someone like Vinnie Green is having with his rip-off Deal a Meal infomercial and branded studio—but also, I mean, she’s made one tape and done a few public appearances at county fairs and mall kiosks. And so while Auggie certainly seems vile (and homophobic), I’m not sure any marketing type would be opening these doors for her this fast.

Sheila’s naivete here is honestly a bit surprising, given how savvy she’s been about so many other things. I’m not sure why she’d believe that this company would be particularly interested in her larger dreams, or want her to do anything other than what they signed her on the dotted line for. 

But, I guess Physical needs some way to push her more firmly into Vinne’s orbit, and at least introduce the idea that Greta (who, as the past couple of episodes have mentioned multiple times, is Very Rich) should be bankrolling Sheila’s fitness empire.

We’re five episodes into the second season of Physical and at this point, I have to ask: what, exactly, is the point of Danny?

When Season 2 premiered, I thought for a brief, wild second that the show had realized how awful Danny is and was actually taking steps towards having him legitimately grow and change as a character. We actually saw him trying to be supportive, to listen to his wife, to privilege her needs above his own for once. 

Of course, that lasted all of, like, one episode. And now Danny is back to being a huge jerk—lecturing Wanda, the mom he’s been flirting with, about allowing her son to be part of the PBS Socal special rather than focus on “the message”, which is all just a veneer for the fact that he’s literally jealous of a small child. At least Wanda finally saw through him though, which has to count for something.

Stray Thoughts and Observations:

• That closing Depeche Mode needle drop was so good. (RIP, Andy Fletcher.)
• So…I didn’t imagine the part where Physical implied that Breem’s dad was gay did I?
• Sheila’s totally thoughtless “they’re still alive??!” about the founders of the company she works for made me cackle. 
• “I’m a straight shooter, ok? I tell it like it is and sometimes that just gets me in trouble.” I. Hate. Danny. So. Much.
• Of course Tyler doesn’t have a poker face!
• I have to admit, I’m curious how Danny would react to news of Sheila’s affair. Have the time he doesn’t even behave as though he likes her that much—at least not for herself. (He’s very interested in controlling her, though. Or at least controlling the “idea” of her.)

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

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New episodes of Physical stream Fridays on Apple TV+. 

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