Ep 3. Plenty of Fish

Erica's attempts at online dating take a sour turn in episode three of Being Erica's debut season. After a series of unfortunate dates with unsuitable partners leaves her feeling down and disillusioned, Erica begins to question her approach to love and relationships. With the help of her therapist Dr. Tom, Erica delves deeper into her past and tries to understand why she keeps making the same mistakes when it comes to men.

Throughout the episode, Erica's experiences with online dating are juxtaposed with flashbacks to her teenage years, where we see her struggling to fit in and feel accepted by her peers. As Erica comes to realize that her online dating disasters are a result of her own insecurities, she begins to work on building her self-confidence and finding a more authentic way of connecting with potential partners.

One of the most poignant moments of the episode comes when Erica meets a man named Ethan on a dating app. Though their initial conversation is promising, Erica can sense that Ethan is only interested in her superficially and that they don't really have much in common. This realization triggers a flashback to her teenage years, when she was forced to confront a similar situation with a group of girls who only wanted to be her friend because she had access to drugs.

With Dr. Tom's guidance, Erica is able to make the connection between these two experiences and understand how her feelings of worthlessness and fear of rejection are impacting her relationships in the present. Armed with this insight, she begins to take a more proactive approach to online dating, recognizing that the key to finding a genuine connection lies in being true to herself and staying open-minded.

Overall, episode three of Being Erica is a powerful exploration of how our past experiences shape our present-day perceptions of love and relationships. Through Erica's journey, viewers are reminded that true connection is about more than just physical attraction or shared hobbies; it requires vulnerability, self-awareness, and a willingness to take risks. As Erica works to build these qualities within herself, we see her growing more confident and empowered, paving the way for a brighter future in both her romantic and personal life.