Ep 2. Friends

Casual Season 1 Episode 2, "Friends," follows the lives of Valerie and her younger brother, Alex, as they navigate their relationships and find their feet after divorces.

Valerie, still struggling with her recent split from her husband, decides to try to make some new friends and signs up for a painting class. Meanwhile, Alex makes plans to visit his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, in an attempt to win her back.

As Valerie attends her first painting class, she meets fellow student Judy, who quickly befriends her. However, Valerie soon realizes that she cannot keep up with the others in the class and begins to feel left out. Feeling like she doesn't fit in, Valerie tries to leave the class, but Judy convinces her to stay, and the two bond over their shared experiences of divorce.

Meanwhile, Alex meets Sarah at a local coffee shop, and they catch up on old times. However, when Sarah suggests that Alex come to a party at her new boyfriend's house, he becomes jealous and possessive, showing his true feelings towards her. Sarah reveals that she is happy with her new boyfriend and that she doesn't want to get back together with Alex. After leaving the coffee shop, Alex goes to his sister's house and drinks heavily, unleashing his jealousy and heartbreak.

Valerie, meanwhile, deals with her own emotional challenges as she tries to establish new relationships. She struggles with her attraction to her therapist Leon, and contemplates breaking off their professional relationship to pursue something more romantic. However, Valerie soon realizes that Leon may not be the right fit for her, and she decides to end things before it's too late.

The episode ends with Valerie and Alex finding some common ground and supporting each other through their respective emotional turmoil. As they sit in the park together, they acknowledge the difficulty of moving on from past relationships and uncertain futures.

Overall, Casual Season 1 Episode 2 "Friends" offers a thoughtful exploration of the complexities of adult relationships and the challenges of starting over after a divorce. With strong performances by the cast and a focus on meaningful character development, the episode promises to be an engaging and emotionally resonant installment in the series.