Platonic Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Let the River Run
The comedy keeps going strong as Sylvia and Will help each other with sticky work situations on Platonic Season 1 Episode 7, “Let the River Run.”
It’s a big deal for Sylvia to be reentering the workforce, and the episode begins by showing just how important it is for her. However, there are several indicators early on that foreshadow her quick demise at the law firm.
The immediacy and spectacularness of her failure after only one day at Tobey, Friedkin, Kwong, & Zelman is a fantastic punchline to the set-up.
Rose Byrne plays Sylvia as capable yet plagued with social insecurities and something to prove. Add a significant generation gap between her and her new colleagues, and the situation becomes ripe for cringe comedy.
Platonic has shown an impressive ability to take things right up to the cringey edge and diffuse it with comedy.
The best example of this would be Platonic Season 1 Episode 5, “My Wife’s Boyfriend.” Just when I think I won’t survive the cringe, something unexpected and undeniably humorous happens to make all the awkwardness worth going through in the first place.
It’s quite the journey—Sylvia’s first and last day of work—and makes for a fun ride with plenty of laughs along the way. Byrne brings a lot of nuance to the comedy of her character, and her choices succeed in showcasing a fully fleshed-out, quirky, silly personality that is a joy to watch.
The break room scene is right up there with the Dodger Dog scene of Episode 5 in terms of the high cringe factor. The timing of the other Aussie girl’s introduction is absolutely brilliant. Timing is pretty important in comedy, and the break room scene is a great example of just how much.
Platonic Season 1 Episode 6, “The Big Two Six,” highlighted the age gap between Will and his younger girlfriend, Peyton. This episode continues that theme with the generational gap.
Sylvia has difficulty relating to and connecting with those that fall into the Gen Z category. Will, on the other hand, is more comfortable with the gap, embracing youthful trends and speaking the language of the younger generation.
I particularly love Will and Lord Rotero (Leonard Robinson) communicating simply with “my man.”
Will, however, is not all in on all the hipster milieu of today’s twenty-somethings. He points out the absurdity of certain things in the funniest of ways.
Andy: Hard kombucha is not your area of expertise.
Will: It is nobody’s area of expertise because it’s stupid. Gut health for people who like to get fucked up? Those are two different crowds, okay?
Sylvia is more than game to help Will out of his jam just as he was with her painting debacle. His gratefulness and her self-satisfaction (after a day full of struggles) as they exit the bar is heartwarming.
It has a similar vibe to the beginning of the episode when Sylvia wakes up on the first day of her new job. Moments like these with Will are just as important in her life.
Jobs may come and go, but a friendship like Will and Sylvia’s is priceless. Just like a Lord Rotero original.
What did you think of this episode of Platonic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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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.