It seems this week’s theme of Four in the Morning is asking us why many people today are so cavalier in their relationships. Friends come, friends go; relationships have in a sense become disposable. However, “one way or another, everyone gets their blowback.”
We jump right in with William (Mazin Elsadig) and Mitzi (Lola Tash), two halves from two different wholes, sharing a late-night meal at The Patrician when William’s parents appear, declaring they are disowning him. Just like that, a biological connection is legally severed with a simple signature, and yet William does not appear bothered at all.
Now, if you recall at the close of Episode 1 , we learned that—on his deathbed—Albert the talking pig revealed to Mitzi that Jamie and Bondurant slept together, setting the stage for some dramatic irony. With that in mind…
Bondurant (Daniel Maslany) is at the hospital; he has lost his blow, and will miss an audition as a result. It is Jamie (Michelle Mylett), not Mitzi, who rushes to his side. Bondurant is diagnosed with “Trick Candle Syndrome,” a psychosomatic disorder, necessitating a visit from the on-call psychiatric resident. He is unwittingly treated by her daughter playing dress-up, but the wisdom of a child’s innocence brings clarity for Bondurant; he should not be lying to avoid intimacy. In the end, Bondurant recants his proclamation of love for Jamie and declares that he is indeed in love with Mitzi.
Meanwhile, Mitzi shares Albert’s revelation with William. Suddenly, William views his relationship with Jamie in a different light, already emotionally distancing himself from her. After a few long monologues we cut to Mitzi experiencing a sexlucinatory episode and we finally meet Albert the talking pig! He comes clean: after all who can believe a pig on magic beans?!? Bondurant it seems was simply trying to make the oh-so cavalier Mitzi jealous. The joke, however, is on Mitzi and William. They both assumed the worst of their partners based on the word of a pig and had sex behind Bondurant’s and Jamie’s backs.
I still really love Four in the Morning, but it really struck me in this episode that I do not yet have empathy for any of these characters; no emotional connection at all. They just happen to be fun to be around. But, after some thought and in light of the theme explored tonight, perhaps that is a deliberate choice for creator Ira Parker? Perhaps the point is I am to be invested in the journey rather than care about who is travelling with me. Relationships here, in this environment, can be tossed away easily and we, and our four protagonists, deliberately avoid investing ourselves/themselves in personal relationships. But to what ends?
I do have one complaint, however. NO one looks this good at 4 in the morning, except perhaps flight attendants.
What do you think is next for our foursome? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Four In the Morning airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on CBC.
I was going to give this show a go but I forgot to set it to record on my DVR. Now I think I’m just going to let it pass me by. After reading your review I think it’s a show I probably won’t like and I’ve been a lot more fussy when it comes to shows to keep watching these days. There’s just too much tv nowadays . I still have 20 shows I’m behind on. I keep finding myself dropping shows I’m a number of episodes in on like Arrow, Playing House, Bitten, etcetera, because I realize there’s always another show I want to watch more.