Being Erica - The 4th Season

[Guy Gardener]

Dr. Tom's point is that she is in some sort of denial and has not grieved over her breakup with Adam. More importantly, she has not reconciled the deeper issue that she loved who Adam could become and not who Adam is right now.

According to 80s stand up comedy, which underpins my entire core belief system, that's how all women operate. They find a man and turn them into their fathers, unless they're lazy, and decide to find an already perfect husband some other woman has trained up and take him. Unfortunately the affair, the mere act of infidelity breaks this perfect man and suddenly he's not worth keeping or he understands that he doesn't have to be kept or monogamous because everything is meaningless.

It's been four years.

Why is Erica always wrong?

Tom hasn't fixed her at all.

 

[Agent Richard07]

While this show has time traveling, time travel itself is not the focus of the show.

I wonder if that's what's contributing to the continuing decline in the ratings. In season 1, the show averaged about 550,000 to over 600,000 viewers. Then in season 3 saw about 338,000 to 464,000 viwers. Now, it's down to 272,000 (source). I wouldn't mind so much if there wasn't the possibility of a 5th season, but I'd like to see one (if the story allows it) and these ratings don't help.

There is certainly nothing wrong with dressing nice as long as it doesn't reach Jenny's level of constantly seeking fun and men.

I actually like Jenny for that very reason.

And its more than nice to see Erin Karpluk dressed up.

Yeah, nice shot of her walking down the street in that red dress. It was used in one of the recent promos for the show.

 

[Owain Taggart]

You know, I have to say, this season so far hasn't been as good as season 3 or even 2. I think Season 2 was the high-point of the show. The high-point this season has definitely been her playing with her time-travelling powers so far.

 

[Agent Richard07]

^ I agree. Season 2 is probably my favorite because of how they played around with the show's format and introduced some interesting characters and elements into the mix. That and I didn't go in with big expectations like I did with this season. I think this season will ultimately end up being a mix of mundane episodes and really good ones. I've seen seasons like that on others shows where both the best and worst episodes of the entire series were in the same season.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, it kind of feels like they're just coasting now, which kind of lends credence to the idea that the show will end this season. Everything about it has the feel that they're tying up loose threads, revisiting people and tying up their stories. But on the other hand, if this were the final season, shouldn't they be trying harder to go out with a bang? Maybe I'm expecting too much out of this, but I kind of feel like they should have ramped up the time-travelling a bit and transition Erica from being a client to a therapist by now, so that by the end, she's a full-fledged therapist accepting her first real client. But everything about this season has felt like they aren't very concerned about that despite it being the concept behind the series. We've gotten a taste at what it could be, but I want to see them roll out all the punches and pulling out all the stops. Is that too much to ask for? It's gotten kind of frustrating to watch as it seems like it relies too much on Season 1 and 2 format and it feels like a step back a bit.

Obviously, the show's got a format to stick to, but Season 3 brought us the group therapy, and while it wasn't the greatest thing to happen, it at least gave us something new to explore. In the same way, I expected to see more of a focus on Erica transitioning, like giving her new abilities each episode, but it felt more like Season 1 and 2. I'm frustrated that they're not doing more with it and it seems to be moving slowly. We got a big tease with Erica getting her own office in last season's finale, and I can't see why they couldn't go more in that direction. It's as if they said, "We've got this really cool office that we want to show you, but you can't have it yet."

 

[Captain Fine]

While this show has time traveling, time travel itself is not the focus of the show.

I wonder if that's what's contributing to the continuing decline in the ratings. In season 1, the show averaged about 550,000 to over 600,000 viewers. Then in season 3 saw about 338,000 to 464,000 viwers. Now, it's down to 272,000 (source). I wouldn't mind so much if there wasn't the possibility of a 5th season, but I'd like to see one (if the story allows it) and these ratings don't help.

There is certainly nothing wrong with dressing nice as long as it doesn't reach Jenny's level of constantly seeking fun and men.

I actually like Jenny for that very reason.

And its more than nice to see Erin Karpluk dressed up.

Yeah, nice shot of her walking down the street in that red dress. It was used in one of the recent promos for the show.

Sucks the ratings have dropped so much

 

[Owain Taggart]

Wow, this was one of the best episodes tonight. So much packed in there, that it made me feel like it was a season finale, even though it didn't quite feel like one if that makes any sense. One of the stronger episodes this season.

 

[Agent Richard07]

4x08... What a phenomenal episode!

Here's my breakdown...

- Like most episodes, this one took about 15 or so minutes to get going, but once it did, wow!

- Nice to see Dr. Fred again.

- The episode did a great job of dealing with and wrapping up the 2019 mystery. Erica looked like she had a new lease on life once she knew that the future isn't etched in stone and that she can chart her own path from now on.

- Even better than dealing with the big 2019 issue was seeing future Dr. Erica. She really carried herself well as a time travelling doctor of sage wisdom. I never thought we'd see that and I have to say... I was impressed.

- It was nice to see Tom out and about with his lady friend. That was a far cry from the old days when he was shrouded in mystery. Oh, and I always imagined Dr. Tom running into a patient on the street. Never thought we'd see it though.

- I wonder what Dr. Tom will do about the secret he's keeping from the lady friend (can't remember her name). For a season or two now, I've been thinking that Tom would do something to either get himself kicked out of doctoring or he'd give up that life and it looks like he might have to do just that in order to stay with the lady friend. Future Dr. Erica crying after seeing Tom was a curious moment though. It looked like something is going to happen to him by season's end. Maybe he dies? I can see him quitting then dying. Can't wait to see where this goes.

- The passing of time is a bit wonky on this show. Samantha wasn't pregnant very long and we never see winter.

- Kai and Erica may not have a future since he's from a different one now. Not that they had an easy relationship to begin with. If they do make something work, I can't wait to see how.

- And finally, I liked that car at the beginning that parked itself. If that was a product placement, it had to be the best one I've seen to date.

Wow, this was one of the best episodes tonight. So much packed in there, that it made me feel like it was a season finale, even though it didn't quite feel like one if that makes any sense. One of the stronger episodes this season.

For me, this is the first episode that feels like things are finally being wrapped up and brought to a close.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I agree. Although, I've always felt they were leaning in that direction by tying up loose ends, but moreso with this episode. I do wish more episodes from this season so far could have been as consistently good as this. It's more along the lines of what I've wanted like I mentioned just a few posts ago. Do we know if there's an episode next week?

 

[Agent Richard07]

^ There is.

Spoiler: Next week's episode.

4x09: "Erica's Adventures in Wonderland"
Erica lives her relationship fantasies on Dave and Ivan's wedding day.

And just to expand on Future Dr. Erica... The more I think about her, the more I like the character of Erica overall. I have to admit, I've wondered for a while now about how our slightly flakey Erica could become a wise old doc. Erin's performance did seem slightly forced in Tom's office, but I don't mind. She pretty much nailed it the rest of the time.

Also, another quick thought about Kai... How can he become a time travelling therapist if he's a famous rock star?

 

[Captain Fine]

Did anyone else find the way Dr. Erica acted rather fishy?

 

[Owain Taggart]

Nah, not really. I think it's that as her future self, she's learned so much and knows things, so she she might be acting carefully for that reason as it's likely hard for her to relive.

As for Dr Tom, I don't know if he'll die, but Erica's reaction as she closes the door might be due to the fact that she hasn't seen him in a long time and maybe she's happy? She did seem a little restrained though, but that may just be due to an increase in age.

 

[intrinsical]

The way Dr. Erica acted in Dr. Tom's office, how she looked longingly at his office and how she broke down outside his door, it is almost certain that Dr. Tom died sometime in the coming 8 years. (talk about wierd grammar!)

I'm dreading to think of how Dr. Tom dies because I'm with Agent_Richard07, I see Dr. Tom giving up his secret profession as time travel therapist and dying like how future-Leo dies from time travel karma. After all, Tom would be dead now if Dr. Nadia had not saved him when he committed suicide so many years ago.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Dr. Tom should have had a "cover job", then he wouldn't be having this problem. How does he make money anyway? Does he play the stock market with knowlege of the future or something? Come to think of it, if he does, that's a cover job. Or if he's got money stashed away, it's something he could have told the lady friend (still haven't looked up her name).

 

[intrinsical]

Her name is Amanda. As for Tom's income, he used to be CEO of some financial company? Its a very well paying job and I would imagine he will still have at least a million or two in the bank.

 

[danellis]

The way Dr. Erica acted in Dr. Tom's office, how she looked longingly at his office and how she broke down outside his door, it is almost certain that Dr. Tom died sometime in the coming 8 years. (talk about wierd grammar!)

I'm dreading to think of how Dr. Tom dies....

Nothing solid, but I got the distinct impression he was at Union Station with Erica for the bombing. It felt pretty clear to me that the reason she was acting "fishy" in his office was because she was fighting herself to stop her telling him that.

Dr. Tom should have had a "cover job", then he wouldn't be having this problem..

Why not just pretend he's a super-exclusive therapist?

It really didn't feel like Dr. Tom to just give up on her the way he did. I could see him saying "this is above my head, but I'll do what I can to help," but never "you're on your own for this one." It just felt wrong for him.

dJE

 

[Guy Gardener]

No therapist, no good therapist would ever talk about hir patients with a spouse... In theory.

2011 + 8 = ...um?

was hot Doctor Erica messing with her younger self?

Just because a version of her is going to live it doesn't meant that that Doctor Erica isn't the Erica who died.

How old is Erica?

Hot Doctor Erica is 43.

43 - 8 is 35.

Okay, so the wiki says that she was born in 1976, so that tracks...

Barely.

This could still be the Erica who is 5 minutes from dying in 2019.

Course adjusting making sure that Erica dies to fulfill some greater good.

And that's if Fred wasn't lying about when or how.

They averted 911 on family guy the other night.

Bush lost the election to Gore because he didn't have all that fear to prey on, but he took over the south rebeginning a new Civil War atomically.

When Tom said that Erica is Strange... Did anyone one assume she was going to say "That's my name, don't wear it out?"

by the way.

Marvel comics.

Doctor Strange.

The Sorcerer Supreme?

How can't they run with that joke somehow?

At least some one get her a coat that looks like Stephens Cloak of levitation.

So frustrating.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Nothing solid, but I got the distinct impression he was at Union Station with Erica for the bombing. It felt pretty clear to me that the reason she was acting "fishy" in his office was because she was fighting herself to stop her telling him that.

I think you might be right on the money. It does make sense. So, there's the irony there in the fact that she told her younger self about her future, yet wasn't able to tell Dr Tom about his, and it does fit the theme of the episode.

 

[Captain Fine]

I wasn't sure about the ages/years but I was thinking maybe Dr. Erica is coming from the future, right before she's about to go to Union Station and die. She's accepted her fate, and she wants young Erica not to even think about it or something? I'm not sure. It's kinda illogical. Erica would still know to avoid Union Station in 2019. Although maybe she doesn't know the exact date.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Except that there was that whole talk about timelines, about it not happening in hers while happening in others depending on the choices everyone makes.