Ep 9. No Cure Part 1

Picking up from where Episode 8 left off, Breeders Season 1 Episode 9 titled "No Cure Part 1" follows the continued turmoil that the Paul and Ally family are facing. The episode sees Paul and Luke attempting to make amends in Gibraltar, while Laura and Ally are stuck in London with Paul's dad, who has yet to find out about his son's brand new heart condition.

The episode's opening moments feature Paul in agony from his hernia surgery that was shown during the last episode, and he's sent to recover in Gibraltar with his son Luke as his only companion. In classic Breeders fashion, the plot includes a series of highs and lows as Paul and Luke are forced to navigate their relationship in the midst of Paul's severe condition.

Meanwhile, Ally and Laura try to keep things together back at home, however, things quickly spiral out of control. When Ally’s mother contacts Ally to tell her that she has developed Covid-19 symptoms, as an immunocompromised individual, Ally has to take drastic measures and cancel a family lunch. This leads to a further miscommunication spiral between the two families, and it soon becomes clear that things are going to get much worse.

As Ally struggles to handle all her responsibilities, she tries to confide in her father, Michael, about her family's ongoing struggles, but he refuses to listen and instead lands in an awkward situation with their mutual friend, Sandy, which he manages to mess up entirely. The lack of support from Ally's father continues to put a strain on their already fragile relationship, and it becomes unclear whether they'll be able to move past it.

The episode also delves deeper into Paul and Luke’s relationship. We see Luke struggling with his father's sick state and his brand new understanding of his father's mortality. Meanwhile, Paul is starting to understand that he must also cope with his own mortality, and it’s an overwhelming thought. They push and pull against each other as they navigate these difficult emotions.

Ultimately, the episode serves as a catalyst for the show's most emotional and intense storyline yet. We see our protagonists pushed to their limits like never before, and it's clear that the emotional fallout will be significant.

Overall, “No Cure Part 1” perfectly captures the show's signature style of biting humor, alongside true-to-life moments of heartbreak and sadness. The episode serves as an emotional rollercoaster, and it's clear that the show has found a way to balance comedy and drama in a way that feels effortless and entirely true to life. As always, the characters shine, and the writing continues to be top-notch. Fans of Breeders will undoubtedly be pleased with this episode's direction and will be eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this two-part finale.