Loot Season 3 Episode 5 Review: Joyride

Loot Season 3 Episode 5, “Joyride,” forces Nicholas to make a long-gestating decision about his future while diving into the fateful day Nicholas and Molly came into each other’s lives.

It’s no secret that Nicholas and Molly’s relationship is highly codependent, for better or for worse. Nicholas needs more for his personal fulfillment than just being Molly’s right-hand man. Up to this point, his forward momentum as a character feels minimal.

Also, as Molly asserts her agency more and more, she doesn’t need Nicholas to do every little thing for her. They aren’t necessarily growing apart in their relationship, but Molly and Nicholas’ paths are diverging. They each need to walk alone to move forward.

While this conversation was inevitable, it is a pleasant surprise to see the incorporation of flashbacks to Molly and Nicholas’ first meeting.

It helps contextualize their entire relationship and showcases why they are drawn to each other in the first place. It’s easy to understand why each need each other now, but what brought them together in the first place?

It’s clear that Nicholas and Molly see each other for exactly who they are. They have a knack to recognize each other’s strengths and potential. By the end of the flashback, they bring out almost elevated versions of the other that thrives where they didn’t think they could.

Maya Rudolph and Joel Kim Booster’s chemistry shines bright here, especially in the unspoken moments. They always excel getting big laughs, but the palpable warmth they exchange with just a glance are just as effective at selling their rapport. 

Despite the radical change money brought into their lives, these two have remained themselves at their core. Sometimes they teeter into such ridiculous territory (to hilarious results), so it’s always wonderful to be reminded that they are people trying their best first and foremost. 

The additional insight into Molly’s adjustment to wealth brings a welcomed layer too. It’s easy to forget sometimes that she wasn’t always wealthy.

While her wealth and spotlight grew, so did Molly’s loneliness and the void she’s trying to fill with excess. Nicholas is very much the first person to fill that void.

The episode culminates in perhaps the most bittersweet moment of the series. Molly understands Nicholas so well she knows that these endless distractions aren’t going to fix the real problem. She also knows that he won’t leave unless she lets him go. 

Their mutual commitment to upholding their agreement to take care of each other is a rare genuine moment for two characters who are primarily silly together.

Nicholas in particular hides behind a dry and unattached exterior so seeing him crack open and be genuine is a winning moment not only for “Joyride” but the series as a whole.

Because “Joyride” only tells Molly and Nicholas’ story, the focus is sharp. This farewell is earned because it isn’t crammed in among three other storylines and has room to breathe. 

“Joyride” also is a major shift for Loot. Nicholas takes a major step forward for himself. Molly may not be as fragile as everyone thinks, but it’s certainly going to be an adjustment for her and that adjustment will likely ripple throughout the team.

Stray Thoughts

• Kesha’s acoustic performance of her song “Joyride” is strange but works really well?
• Joel Kim Booster should be in major award conversations for his performance in this episode.
• Like Nicholas, I also had a formative experience watching Kesha’s 2010 performance of “We R Who We R” on the Australian edition of X-Factor.
• The fact that we get an origin story for Molly’s signature bob is spectacular.

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Loot airs Wednesday on AppleTV.

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