Amia’s sad ending isn’t that sad after all.
Louie is still trying to figure out why Amia was so sad after they had sex. He thought that sex would make them more serious, but nothing was ever going to be so serious that it would make her give up her life with her son in Hungary. The seasons changed along with their relationship, very subtly; the leaves that were blowing around during their first date when autumn was fresh are now firmly on the ground, the rapidly cooling weather matching the final breakdown of their time together.
When Amia quietly turned and ran into a church, Louie followed, but not without a ton of hesitation. He’s steadily tackled his issues with God, particularly in the super-esoteric episode 11 from season one, so it’s neat to see him carry that line throughout the show. He’s never going to get right with God, just like longtime friend Jim Norton will never not find a way to talk about his penis in the most uncomfortable ways possible, always in a public setting. Hurricane Jasmine Forsythe eventually pushes Louie into the church, but he mostly sits behind Amia and wishes they could communicate. Hairdryer charades and smiling at each other across tables are no longer enough to mask the real issue at the center of their relationship, which is that they have no idea about each other’s inner lives.
Amia freaks out in a plate-smashingly bombastic way when Louie tries to get Evanka to translate and suss out the post-sex problem, but nothing really gets solved before Hurricane Jasmine Forsythe rips through town in a destructive way that threatens Janet, Lily, and Jane. His screaming “I love her!” to a Hungarian woman that doesn’t understand him while the Emergency Broadcast System blares behind him and sheets of rain slash the windows is the best metaphor we’ve seen for Louie’s love life so far.
He idiotically, heroically makes his way downtown to save Janet and the kids after the mayor says he’s trying to evacuate; they’re in the part of town that’s getting hit the hardest, and Louie somehow manages to talk the Hertz rental place into giving him an SUV after he duct-tapes plastic bags to his feet, grabs two birthday candles, a candle, a banana, and a flashlight, and goes out into the night. His hurricane-preparedness is on par with most of ours — nonexistent, but hopeful. You have to wonder why he thinks he can save anyone, but also simultaneously admire his willingness to try.
After he steps into the river of rushing water and makes his way up to Janet’s apartment, he carries everyone to the SUV, dodging half-naked screaming men and a torrential downpour the entire time. Jane was smiling and super-excited about the hurricane; she probably thought it was all part of her waking dream. The usually composed Janet was a total mess. It was weird to see Louie as a hero, considering all of the strife the family has been through, and how many layers he’s peeled back in this Elevator Series to show the barely sustainable foundation underneath them. He’s literally carrying his family in this scene, even though just last week he was taking the blame for the divorce and most of their problems.
We have to assume the family makes it safely uptown, because the end of the episode is all about Amia. She’s taken Louie to a Hungarian restaurant, and after much reluctance, a server agrees to read something she wrote down on a card. She laments that she is unable to stay, but this is not her world, and she’s homesick for Hungary even though she had the best time with Louie, a “beautiful unexpected adventure.” Louie addresses the server directly at first, then turns to Amia and says, “I feel the same. I’m going to miss you. I wouldn’t trade it for anything — only that we could actually talk to each other and live in the same place.” We’re used to him saying good-bye to women, often in the most maudlin ways, but this ended on a sweet note, with two adults acknowledging the end of their fleeting romance, feeling like each of their lives is a little happier for having the other person in it.
Moments of Brilliance
- I liked the Elevator Series; it felt dreamy and absurd, but totally romantic and strange, all at once. Louie’s dating life is better writ large.
- Evanka cheering when she realizes they finally had sex. Even though mass chaos ensued, that part made me chuckle.
- I still can’t get over the Hurricane Preparedness Kit of Ultimate Jankiness.
- Louie slowly rolling up the car window on the guy who came screaming out of nowhere, shouting, “I don’t have a dog, man, I’m looking for a dog.”
- “All ten people died in the fire, which was too hot for their bodies.”
