High Maintenance Web Series Season 1 Episode 9 Elijah

High Maintenance Web Series season 1 episode 9, titled "Elijah," follows the series' usual format by featuring a variety of characters who loosely connect over the course of the episode. However, the central focus of the episode is on a man named Elijah, a middle-aged African American man who starts to go through an existential crisis after his girlfriend of five years breaks up with him.

At the start of the episode, viewers see Elijah fighting with his now ex-girlfriend over the phone while he is in a Lyft ride. He's clearly upset, and when he arrives at his friend's pharmacy, he confides in him about the breakup. His friend tries to offer him some comfort by suggesting that he should date a younger woman, but Elijah dismisses the idea, saying that he's too old for that. His friend then puts on some music and invites Elijah to dance with him, which he reluctantly does.

From there, the episode moves on to other characters, but each scene still relates to Elijah in some way. For instance, viewers see a woman named Gigi, who is a former student of Elijah's. She has gone through a similar experience to Elijah, as her husband recently left her, and she's trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She seeks out Elijah's advice, but he's not much help. He's still too preoccupied with his own problems.

As the episode progresses, Elijah continues to spiral and feels increasingly disconnected from the world around him. At one point, he wanders into a store and sees a man playing chess by himself. Elijah approaches him and asks if he can join in. The man agrees, and they start playing. But as they play, Elijah becomes increasingly agitated, and eventually, he flips the board over and storms out of the store.

Later, Elijah meets up with his friend who is part of a dance troupe. The group is performing that night, but they're down one person. When Elijah's friend suggests that he should join in, Elijah laughs it off, saying that he's too old, but then he thinks it over and decides that he'll give it a try. He practices with the group and ends up performing with them, which seems to lift his spirits somewhat.

Overall, "Elijah" is a poignant episode that tackles some weighty subjects. It deals with themes of aging, loneliness, and the search for meaning in one's life. However, it's also leavened by some moments of humor and some great musical performances. The episode is noteworthy for the sensitive portrayal of Elijah's plight and the nuanced depiction of the other characters he interacts with. Ultimately, viewers will be invested in Elijah's journey and will be left wondering where he goes from here.