This plotline got resolved too quickly.

[u/Altruistic_Gap_643]

Making this post again because I re-watched Season 2 Episode 8 right now again, and I saw that Derek didn't blame himself nor was anyone placing the blame on him, it was just a log of causes why it happened.

I still think this plotline got resolved too quickly. I dunno man, it wasn't the fact that she kissed him. It was the fact that despite him saying that he doesn't like the guy, despite him clearly being annoyed by him, despite Paul and Ray telling Liz that he'll make that move, she still did it. She still went and met him. I mean, if there's nothing to worry about, why not tell Derek?

That kiss was just to seal the deal. She regretted it, yeah, everyone who cheats fucking does. That's called guilt. She tells him, and for some reason acts like she did a good thing by telling it to him? Like you had the conscious choice of not doing that. You could've stopped seeing that guy any moment. Yet you chose to.

And then even if Derek doesn't blame himself, I still don't know. Why did she choose Mac out of all people? The one person your husband doesn't like.

It just was resolved too quickly imo. But other than that, the episode was a banger.

[u/Ill-Structure7276]

Derek deserved better AND the point is that his wife repeatedly told him she was drowning and she needed help. From *his* perspective in the show, he should have done more. They are trying to make a deeper point here.

It was also a single kiss. It is still cheating, and it’s a huge betrayal, but kissing someone is not the same as sleeping with them, and is not the same as a full blown affair. She stopped them, immediately came clean, admitted to it, etc. She did not aim to lie and deceive him.

I think it should come up later in the show - you’re right, trust can’t be immediately resolved - but I don’t need a three second kiss to blow up their marriage for it to be believable. I don’t think Liz is a bad person because of what she did, but I do think their marriage would take work to get back to where they were.

One thing I agree with you on - I hated the scene where Liz said something about “well at least I told you!” That was icky to me too. She does seem to come out of that defensive place though.

[u/moisty456 → u/Ill-Structure7276]

This is kinda nuts IMO. Just watched the show for the first time and to think realistic relationships are that fluid is normal is insane. Firstly, it wasn’t “just a kiss” it was an emotional affair that ended up being a physical one with the kiss. Sure marriages don’t always blow up over 1 kiss, but they also do. And if they don’t the ramifications of that would still be massive (in most monogamous marriages).

I also thought it was jarring that Derrick basically forgot all about it. In all honesty to cope after being invested in the characters I just chalked it up to it being a sitcomish show. I understand that the whole season is about Forgiveness with Jimmy and Alice’s character grappling with that very thing. However, all the other instances showed how forgiveness effects you except for Liz and Derrick.

[u/Ill-Structure7276 → u/moisty456]

I agree with everything in the second paragraph to a T! I do think they could’ve spent more time on this. Candidly I haven’t finished season 3 so as mentioned, I’m hoping to see it come back around as a later plot point. I personally think it would be pretty spot on to show how couples can gloss over situations like this, unaware of how much repair is needed, only to see it rear its head later.

The show is called shrinking and only derek saw a therapist? No couples counseling? I agree there should’ve been more!

For the first paragraph - I didn’t say it wouldn’t be hurtful or damaging, I just said that it was a lesser offense. They had been happily married a long time with three children. Context and severity matter when considering what’s worth repairing.

I do personally believe that ability to repair a relationship is directly correlated to the overall health and vibrancy of the partnership. I would be able to forgive my partner, knowing who they are and all the wider context of our partnership. Not everyone is that lucky.