THIS IS THE BEST SHOW OF ALL TIME 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 we’re so cooked bro i have not been so impressed by an episode the way this one did in a very very VERY long time. [SPOILERS] this is one of the most consistent episodes i’ve ever seen, both in quality but also thematically and conceptually. as 3x4 is titled “nobody sleeps”, an episode where none of our characters sleep, this episode is titled “everyone leaves”, showing one character per relationship literally leaving a space or figuratively leaving a relationship. what made 3x10’s gimmick so enjoyable is opposite to what made 3x4’s so enjoyable: where nobody sleeps’ gimmick of being committed to its title reveals itself at mostly the same time (roughly halfway in the episode), this episode draws out its gimmick throughout its runtime and almost baits you into thinking the commitment is over. at the very beginning, lisa literally leaves her and nate’s home to see her family. a bit later, roughly 2/5ths into the episode, ruth figuratively leaves her relationship with arthur and literally leaves the camera-frame upon coming to her senses. right after, claire literally leaves the building and figuratively leaves her relationship with russell after realizing he had sex with olivier. judging off of 3x4 i had expected the episode-title-commitment-gimmick to happen this episode as well, but due to the difficulty it would take, i did not expect the writers to, for all six relationships / plots, manage to have them ALL commit to this bit. it would be impossibly hard to have all of these different plots get written into being homogenous. AND SOMEHOWWW THEY DID IT, because roughly 2/3rds into the episode, brenda and billy’s slowly built-up plot this episode explodes with billy kissing her and once again revealing his mentally-ill side. brenda literally leaves billy’s house and figuratively leaves their relationship (for now, i would imagine). RIGHT AFTER, they dramatically turn around rico and insert wife name here’s plot and make her literally leave the dance building and figuratively leave the feeling of happiness and excitement provided by her anti-depressants. EVEN KEITH AND DAVID’S PLOT IS WRITTEN INTO THIS, with the two literally leaving keith’s parent’s house at individual times. the commitment to this episode’s gimmick makes this easily one of the most unique episodes i’ve ever watched and one of the best titled ones, along with episodes like long term parking, silence, postpartum, face off, . but even cooler than this is how, through so many relationships breaking apart, our characters rekindle old ones. coming off of the stress from billy, brenda arrives at nate’s house and they kiss, further developing their dynamic. during this, both ruth and claire’s relationships this season pay off with the two reflecting on said relationships with each other. by far one of my favorite episodic-plots in the show so far is claire and ruth’s bonding in 1x5. it’s objectively such a wholesome plot so seeing it be revived here was beautiful. everyone leaving was something i expected, but seeing the fallout of these relationships leading characters to bounce into one and other was something i absolutely did not see coming and is such a beautiful writing choice to make. absolutely beautiful episode, this is the first piece of media in a while to genuinely capture me and remind me why i watch tv. easily top 5 of the show hmm i wonder where it ranks maybe go look at my every six feet under ranked list hmm