Therapy, Charlie believed, had changed him for good. He was more confident, he’d learned to communicate better, and he had finally moved past the Jeopardy embarrassment. Sylvia was glad that Charlie felt comfortable enough to go back to his usual routine, but in episode 7 of Platonic, when Charlie asked Sylvia to come along with him to therapy, she freaked out. Charlie mentioned that he wanted to talk to her about certain things, and he hoped to do so in the presence of his therapist. Sylvia felt compelled to scrutinize the situation. She wondered if what he had to discuss could result in a conflict, which was why he needed his therapist by his side. She spoke to Katie and Will about it, and they both stated how within a few months of their therapy sessions, their marriages ended. Sylvia was afraid of going to the therapy session because she was not ready to find out what Charlie needed to tell her. But if she didn’t support his journey, it would backfire, so what did Sylvia do? Let’s find out.
Spoiler Alert
Did Sylvia attend the therapy session?
After Katie described therapy as the worst thing that could happen to a married couple, Sylvia wondered if avoiding the session would be better than dealing with what was about to unfold. Sylvia got the perfect excuse to keep herself distracted as well—she had a party to plan. The retirement party that was supposed to take place at La Cienega Haciendas in Hollywood glam style was back at the same old boring location that Sylvia had booked before. She accepted defeat once she realized that it was impossible for her to book La Cienega Haciendas. But things suddenly changed when Will mentioned that Diane, the real estate agent/Will’s one-night stand, was a member at La Cienega Haciendas. Sylvia was initially irritated when she discovered that Will had slept with Diane, Freddie’s (her son’s friend) mother. She didn’t want Will to get involved with anyone from ‘her world’ because she was afraid that, whatever he would do, she might have to face the consequences for it. But when Will mentioned La Cienega Haciendas and that he might manage to convince Diane to help Sylvia book the place, Sylvia was once again grateful to her best friend. She would’ve settled for the grim conference hall if Will didn’t nudge her to go the extra mile and arrange an unforgettable party. A change of party venue meant more work, and when the chairs she’d rented were delivered at the previous location, she figured there was no way she could make it to Charlie’s therapy session. Will offered to help her. He arranged a truck and got the chairs, and when he discovered that Sylvia was about to bail on therapy, he advised her against it. He admitted that his marriage fell apart because it was on the brink, and therapy simply helped them see the reality more clearly. Will ensured that Sylvia attended the session. He promised to handle everything related to the party and asked her to focus on saving her marriage. Sylvia booked a cab, but the traffic made it impossible to reach the location on time. She joined the meeting via FaceTime, but Charlie refused to discuss anything over the phone. By the time Sylvia made it to the session, the therapist announced that they’d run out of time and they could have the discussion in the next meeting. Charlie expressed his disappointment in Sylvia; he believed that she always prioritized everything else but him. Though when Sylvia explained her situation, he realized that booking the therapy session on the day of the retirement party wasn’t a good idea.
Is Will planning on starting his bar?
Will had been living in Sylvia’s ADU after he and Jenna broke up. He didn’t have a job, so he was tight on budget, but Sylvia and Charlie both made it very clear that they wanted him out of their property. Not only was Will living rent-free at their guest facility, but he had been bringing his dates home, and Sylvia and Charlie agreed that he was not creating a good impression on their kids. Sylvia introduced Will to Diane and hoped that her friend would finally leave. Diane showed Will an apartment he could afford, but Will was more interested in finding a commercial space where he could start his own brewery. Diane showed him a property that was just perfect—it was not expensive, and the vibe was great. But Will couldn’t afford to open a bar as well as move into a new apartment. He had to make a choice, but he feared that Sylvia wouldn’t let him live at her house rent-free anymore. Meanwhile, after organizing a successful retirement party, Sylvia was offered another gig, and she was thrilled. She figured she couldn’t handle the workload alone, so she asked Will for help, and he happily agreed to assist her. But he had a condition: in exchange for his help, he hoped Sylvia would let him stay at her guest facility for a little longer. He explained that he was planning on opening his ‘shi**y little bar’ (a term that Jenna used to describe his hopeless dream), and he needed her support. Sylvia didn’t mind the deal, especially after Will promised not to bring any ‘special guests,’ but she had to consult with Charlie as well.
Why did Charlie decide to retire?
After the Jeopardy incident, when Charlie took a break from work, he realized that maybe he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life boxed up in a cubicle, living a mundane existence. He was experiencing a midlife crisis, and the sudden realization that he might end up not doing the things that he’d always hoped to had hit him hard. Charlie was determined to take risks and not be bogged down by responsibilities. Sylvia was shocked when Charlie suddenly announced during Frank’s retirement party that he too had decided to retire. The news came as a surprise to everyone in the room. Sylvia wondered if he’d wanted to discuss his decision to retire in the therapy session, but Charlie later told her that he’d made the call on the spot. Seeing how his colleague, Frank, had spent his entire life going into a law office to work 60 hours a week, he figured that was not the life he wished to have. Charlie knew he was unhappy, and he’d realized that he felt that way because he always believed he needed to live his life a certain way. But lately, he figured that he didn’t have to fit into a box and he could choose other exciting paths in life as well. While he didn’t really know what he intended on doing, he was excited about the uncertain future that was lying ahead.
How does Charlie’s retirement affect Sylvia?
Charlie’s decision to retire caught Sylvia completely off-guard. She wasn’t prepared for such a massive change. There was no denying that her family was mostly dependent on Charlie’s income, and she wondered how they would manage now that he’d decided to find a new path. Charlie reassured her that he’d enough for Frances’ college fund and he’d also saved for his family to get through this rough patch. He wasn’t worried; rather, he felt freer than ever before. Charlie also believed that Sylvia’s business would take off and they wouldn’t really have to worry about staying afloat. Sylvia wasn’t so sure, but Charlie seemed extremely confident. It was time for Sylvia to take charge, and even though she wasn’t quite sure about the future of her business, the pressure to make it successful now all the more might just be the push she needs to work harder and take chances. As Charlie tries to figure out his life, Sylvia will have to be his rock, and even though she wasn’t confident, maybe this will help her rediscover herself. Also, Will might either have to pay a small amount of rent, or he might be allowed to live rent-free because Sylvia definitely needs his help now more than ever for her business to thrive. And as a result, Will might finally end up opening his bar. Even though there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead, there is this feeling that eventually Sylvia, Will, and Charlie will figure out their lives, and all the complications will only help them understand themselves a little better.
