Ep 4. Pop Up

Two millennials Esther and Benji are trying to figure out their lives in Los Angeles. Being young and driven, the two are struggling to establish their careers while trying to keep up with the responsibilities of adulting. In Alone Together season 1 episode 4 titled Pop Up, Esther and Benji explore their friendship and the life of entrepreneurialism in LA.

The episode begins with Benji, who is now working as a Lyft driver, picking up Esther after she spent her day at a job that she hates. During their ride, Esther receives a call from her friend who informs her of an upcoming pop-up shop, which will be a great opportunity to network and move forward in her career.

Upon arriving at the pop-up, Esther quickly becomes flustered by the competitive environment and goes into an anxiety-inducing mode. Meanwhile, Benji plows through the vendor booths, looking for the perfect gift for his budding relationship. In the midst of their exploring, they both stumbled upon a "make your own juice stand," which sparked them to talk about their ideas for a business.

As they wait for their juice, they discuss their dreams for a food truck. However, Esther’s anxiety takes over, and she abruptly walks off. Benji, figuring out that Esther feels out of place, finds a way to bring her back into the game. He bought Esther a floral headpiece from another vendor, which immediately boosts her confidence.

The dynamic duo splits up, with Esther attending a workshop about how to sell products and establishing a brand while Benji continues to explore the rest of the stands in search of his perfect gift. Esther begins to feel comfortable and in her element during the workshop, but her focus is interrupted when she spots a familiar face across the room. The face belongs to Lila, a popular influencer that Esther has been attempting to connect with for years. However, Esther is hesitant to approach her.

As the day comes to an end, Benji races to catch up with Esther. Esther shares that she saw Lila but was too nervous to approach her. Benji, sensing the opportunity at hand, furthers Esther’s confidence by urging her to take the initiative of introducing herself.

With newfound bravery, Esther introduces herself to Lila and swiftly puts into practice everything she learned from the workshop earlier in the day. And it worked. Esther and Lila hit it off, and Lila becomes interested in Esther’s ideas.

As the episode comes to a close, Benji is still searching for the perfect gift. While wandering, he stumbles upon his own calling – a booth that creates unique and personalized mementos.

Pop Up takes viewers on Esther and Benji’s journey of discovering who they are and what they want to do in life. They both may be struggling at the start of the episode, but by relying on each other and stepping out of their comfort zones, they both found ways to move forward in their respective careers. The episode’s message is to embrace change and find a support system that will fuel their aspirations.