Being Erica - The 4th Season

[Agent Richard07]

I was looking forward to Erica getting time travel powers, so when Dr. Tom said "Welcome to couples' therapy.", I went... Ugh! I thought maybe the episode I was looking forward to got bumped or something. But you know what? This was it and it turned out pretty well. The story? I've seen it a number of times in my day to day life. The wife/girlfriend pushes the guy into "being better", and not necessarily in a bad way, but it's still a push. Hillary Clinton even said "If I didn't kick his ass every day, he wouldn't be worth anything." in reference to Bill Clinton. That's one of my favorite quotes. Anyway, I knew it would end badly when Erica tried to compromise, if not in this episode, then somewhere down the line. I also love how the time travel aspect of the show was worked seamlessly into the end conflict. We have a regular couple fighting and yet some time travel meddling was involved and talked about so matter-of-factly like it was an everyday thing, because for them it was. Good stuff.

Speaking of Erica's time travel, it was fun to see her play around with it. Not as fun as I thought it would be, but fun none the less. I guess I was looking forward to this a little too much. I wish it was permanent. I want to see the doctor stuff move forward, so I was disappointed when Dr. Tom said she'd have it for only 24 hours.

Oh, and how did they pay for that meal in Dublin anyway? They had to have used cash.

 

[Owain Taggart]

It will likely be permanent soon I think Dr Tom was just giving her a taste of what was to come. As for how they paid for the meal, with time credits? Or maybe cash just doesn't mean anything when time-travelling. Though they likely had wallets in their pockets.


I do wonder though if that bit was actually filmed in Dublin. I kind of doubt it though.

 

[Agent Richard07]

It will likely be permanent soon

I hope so, unless Erica's path takes her away from being a therapist. If she's really on track to becoming a doctor and gets time travelling powers, I hope they don't save it until the final episode.

I think Dr Tom was just giving her a taste of what was to come.

I did say that what I saw wasn't as fun as I had hoped, but I'm warming up more to what we got. Seems like she did have some real fun freezing time and going to Dublin, etc. It was nice to see her just play around with it, and bringing Julianne in on things, even if it didn't last was fun to see as well. Interesting how Dr. Tom never seems all that concerned about keeping this all a secret.

As for how they paid for the meal, with time credits? Or maybe cash just doesn't mean anything when time-travelling. Though they likely had wallets in their pockets.

I've thought about this in the past which is why I brought it up. Suppose someone could teleport themselves anywhere in the world. It sounds convenient, but how would they account for the use of a debit or credit card thousands of miles away? Or what if they were caught on camera in another country or something? They'd either have to account for these things or not teleport at all. In the case of Erica and Adam, I suppose regular Canadian currency would have worked out alright.

I do wonder though if that bit was actually filmed in Dublin. I kind of doubt it though.

I wondered about that at first too, but they weren't there long enough to bother shooting in Ireland. I'm guessing that they digitally augmented a Toronto street shot.

 

[spinnerlys]

I hope she doesn't get involved with Kai again, maybe she can be single for a while, to let her focus more on her training.

Anyway, when the time stopped and Julian reacted to the frozen coffee, I liked the little off-universe reaction to her in-universe reaction.
She sees the coffee and lets out a little scream:

She reacts to her scream, though only shortly, but noticeable when the images are actually moving:

And to it being really Dublin, notice the car on the right, and where the driver is seated. This is not SoA, where they actually go there, they just dressed up Vancouver, ahem Toronto, to look like a cliché Dublin:

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I guess it would have been a bit much to actually film in Dublin, but they did a good enough job dressing it up. They also probably filmed that pub scene in an actual irish pub.

I did love Julianne's reactions too, and I was a little sad that they didn't stick, but hopefully Erica will tell her eventually.

 

[Worf2DS9]

Last night's episode was indeed a winner, and Erin turned in a fantastic performance. I was actually happy when Adam ended things the first time with "We're done", but then was a little disappointed when she went back to try to reset that disastrous event. That didn't work either and Adam left again, though not with the same finality as before. I just never thought they were a very good match.

Somehow I missed the recent Dr. Tom episode which also featured Kai's return, so I'll have to check that one out On-Demand.

 

[intrinsical]

Last night's episode was indeed a winner, and Erin turned in a fantastic performance. I was actually happy when Adam ended things the first time with "We're done", but then was a little disappointed when she went back to try to reset that disastrous event.

This reminds me of a saying I once heard from a couples counselor, I can't remember the words but the gist of it is that "The only thing you bring to any situation is your own intent. If you bring the same intent, then always expect the same outcome. The only way to have a different outcome is change your intent".

Despite her multiple attempts, Erica never deviated from her basic intent of trying to make Adam "better". Dr Tom just learned the lesson last week. That's why he he did not even bother to try and stop Erica from attempting to fix things with Adam one last time... Dr Tom already knew the outcome would be the same.

While I agree with you guys that Erica and Adam are not a good match, I do feel a little sad for Erica's loss. Next week's episode is titled "Being Ethan", so it seems Ethan is coming back into Erica's life!

 

[Agent Richard07]

Adam is more of a bad boy type and Erica is more the girl next door. That woman Adam met last season would have been a better fit for him.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I agree. In fact, I'm surprised we didn't see more of her as she was good onscreen.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Still watching it.

but, Julianne and Erica playing with time...

Squee!

This must be what heroin feels like.

 

[Worf2DS9]

I watched the Dr. Tom ep I missed last night online and enjoyed it. The insight into Dr. Naadiah's full life outside the office was interesting, as well as the added look into Dr. Tom's backstory.

One thing I noticed: After Dr. Tom left his former fiancee's place that first time, then found himself in Naadiah's office, his clothes changed into his fancier work attire! Now, he wasn't returning from a time-travel jaunt -- he was just out on a date. When Erica steps through a door and find's herself in Tom's office, she's still wearing the same clothes. So why, and how could Tom's clothes change? Maybe the therapists have the advantage that they are already magically dressed for work the moment they arrive at the office?

 

[Guy Gardener]

You know how Doctor Tom knows exactly how to help Erica every week, as if he's done a million years worth of research into the woman that he's prepared no matter what she brings to the table?

It's more than possible that what we see is like the tenth time he's tried to help Erica after he's bollocks up the "therapy" 9 times, or at least he waits till a crisis erupts and then he rolls back a few hours to a likely trigger point.

How can Adam be surprised that lives are being overwritten when he was signing up for the job of over writing lives and after the effects of every therapy session there's a fair chance that his world will be a billion percent different and Erica will have no idea who he is?

Idjit.

 

[Agent Richard07]

One thing I noticed: After Dr. Tom left his former fiancee's place that first time, then found himself in Naadiah's office, his clothes changed into his fancier work attire! Now, he wasn't returning from a time-travel jaunt -- he was just out on a date. When Erica steps through a door and find's herself in Tom's office, she's still wearing the same clothes. So why, and how could Tom's clothes change? Maybe the therapists have the advantage that they are already magically dressed for work the moment they arrive at the office?

More time and space magic I suppose. They did the same thing in Star Trek: First Contact I think. Picard enters the holodeck and he's automatically clad in a tux. At least that's the impression I got.

You know how Doctor Tom knows exactly how to help Erica every week, as if he's done a million years worth of research into the woman that he's prepared no matter what she brings to the table?

It's more than possible that what we see is like the tenth time he's tried to help Erica after he's bollocks up the "therapy" 9 times...

Hadn't thought of that.

I also want to say something else... I like the show's portrayal of power. Usually power will be portrayed as something dangerous that people shouldn't wield, but this show hasn't done that. Erica was given power and with it, the freedom to learn, grow and have fun, all without judgement or punishment. That approach was a refreshing change.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Good episode tonight. It was fun to see Ethan again. However, I think it was more fun ...

Spoiler: Julianne & Brent

to see Julianne and Brent hook up together.

 

[Captain Fine]

Good episode tonight. It was fun to see Ethan again. However, I think it was more fun ...

Spoiler: Julianne & Brent

to see Julianne and Brent hook up together.

Really? I cringed at the J&B scenes.

And I always thought Erica belonged with Ethan.

Although Kai is a better choice than Adam.

Sometimes I wish I had three men vying for my attention!

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, I've always thought she belonged with Ethan too, but apparently the writers have different ideas and it's starting to get pretty clear now who she'll end up with. I guess that's kind of why I was enjoying the J&B scenes more, as Ethan's return was somewhat disappointing, though it was bittersweet. Definitely agree that Kai is better than Adam.

 

[intrinsical]

Wow.. Erica's been so accepting of her therapy over the years that I never thought she would ever be resistant. I guess we've finally hit one of her deep seated issues.

J&B.. Finally! I got the vibes all the way in season 1, it sure took them a long time. I'm happy for them.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Tonight was the first night I realized that I'm liking doctor training. The lessons and learning process are pretty good.

I cringed at the J&B scenes.

As did I, more because I prefer real chemistry and raw sex over these "tender moments" that TV and movies try to do.

Yeah, I've always thought she belonged with Ethan too, but apparently the writers have different ideas and it's starting to get pretty clear now who she'll end up with. I guess that's kind of why I was enjoying the J&B scenes more, as Ethan's return was somewhat disappointing, though it was bittersweet. Definitely agree that Kai is better than Adam.

I like Kai. Can't put my finger on why though. Maybe it's because he's got the right amount of bad boy and nice guy. Ethan and Adam were too much of one. Kai though, sure does have a lot of regrets in Erica's present. I wonder what will become of them. They've got a relationship separated by time. That and Erica isn't with him in the future. Can't wait to learn more and see where it all goes.

Wow.. Erica's been so accepting of her therapy over the years that I never thought she would ever be resistant. I guess we've finally hit one of her deep seated issues.

I felt the same way she did and took her side as I watched. It felt like she was just having a little fun while Dr. Tom was trying to cut her down.

On a side note, I watched last week's episode of House right after, and the exact same issue came up... Young woman dresses nice after being rejected by a guy.

 

[intrinsical]

Yeah, I've always thought she belonged with Ethan too, but apparently the writers have different ideas and it's starting to get pretty clear now who she'll end up with. I guess that's kind of why I was enjoying the J&B scenes more, as Ethan's return was somewhat disappointing, though it was bittersweet. Definitely agree that Kai is better than Adam.

I like Kai. Can't put my finger on why though. Maybe it's because he's got the right amount of bad boy and nice guy. Ethan and Adam were too much of one. Kai though, sure does have a lot of regrets in Erica's present. I wonder what will become of them. They've got a relationship separated by time. That and Erica isn't with him in the future. Can't wait to learn more and see where it all goes.

It is certainly possible that Erica will end up with Kai and I kinda like the idea, but I cannot imagine it happening. While this show has time traveling, time travel itself is not the focus of the show. For Erica to join Kai and live in the future or for future-Kai to permanently live in his past with Erica just seem to stretch the show's format a little too much.

Wow.. Erica's been so accepting of her therapy over the years that I never thought she would ever be resistant. I guess we've finally hit one of her deep seated issues.

I felt the same way she did and took her side as I watched. It felt like she was just having a little fun while Dr. Tom was trying to cut her down.

On a side note, I watched last week's episode of House right after, and the exact same issue came up... Young woman dresses nice after being rejected by a guy.

There is certainly nothing wrong with dressing nice as long as it doesn't reach Jenny's level of constantly seeking fun and men. And its more than nice to see Erin Karpluk dressed up.

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.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, there's an underlying issue there, and I guess Erica simply didn't want to discuss it at that point in time as it was just too recent. I think helping Ethan get back together with his girlfriend has helped her heal.