Men in Trees Season 1 Episode 4 Sink or Swim

The episode Sink or Swim, from season 1 of the show Men in Trees, follows the main character Marin as she tries to settle into her new life in the small Alaskan town of Elmo. Marin is a relationship coach who has relocated to Elmo from New York City to get over a failed engagement and to complete her book. In this episode, Marin tries to help a couple in Elmo who are struggling with their marriage.

The couple, Cash and Phyllis, have been married for 30 years and have a daughter together. However, their relationship has become stagnant, and they are unable to communicate effectively. Marin witnesses them fighting in a local store and decides to intervene. She convinces them to attend her relationship workshop, where they learn how to listen to each other and communicate without getting defensive.

As Marin works with Cash and Phyllis, she also begins to see some similarities between herself and Cash. Like Cash, Marin has a fear of commitment and a tendency to push people away. She is reluctant to open up to Jack, the local pilot who has shown interest in her, even though she is clearly attracted to him. Marin begins to realize that she needs to work on her own issues before she can fully help others with theirs.

In addition to her work with Cash and Phyllis, Marin is also dealing with other challenges in her personal life. Her best friend, Annie, who lives in New York City, shows up unexpectedly in Elmo. Marin is happy to see her friend but is also worried because Annie has a habit of running away from her problems. Marin's other friend, Jerome, is also causing her stress. Jerome, who is gay, is having trouble finding a boyfriend in Elmo and is considering moving back to New York City.

As Marin tries to help her friends and clients, she also realizes that she needs to take care of herself. She enlists the help of Buzz, the town's resident handyman, to fix up her cabin and make it more livable. She also takes swimming lessons from a local woman named Theresa in an attempt to conquer her fear of the water.

As the episode comes to a close, Marin's hard work starts to pay off. Cash and Phyllis are communicating better, and Marin is starting to make progress in her own personal life. She agrees to go on a date with Jack, and she feels more confident about her ability to help others. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with Marin reflecting on the lessons she has learned about love and life in her short time in Elmo.

Overall, Sink or Swim is a heartwarming episode that tackles issues of love, communication, and personal growth. The characters are authentic and relatable, and viewers will find themselves rooting for Marin and her friends as they navigate the ups and downs of life in a small Alaskan town.