Wow... this show gets under my skin (in a good way). I think I could write a whole essay on just Paul and the envelope!
But first, I was surprised that Laura's so blatantly using Alex that even Alex can tell she's interested in someone else.
Back to the envelope... things I found interesting (from a symbolic pov) was how in the middle of the session with Alex, Paul moves the envelop off his endtable, to right next to him on the chair... as if he was trying to be closer to her.
I also liked that the envelop was not sealed but the flap tucked inside to keep the contents secure, as if to say that Laura is easily accessible to Paul if he makes the small effort. (And yes I took too many film theory classes in college)
Also at the end when he does open up the envelop he pulls out what looks to be a check but he looks inside again... what's Paul looking for? A note from her?
I was not at all surprised at Laura's seduction of Alex -- it is a way to take a slap at Paul, as she has done in the past with Andrew. This is how she operates with men. And it wouldn't have happened had it not been something she thought would matter to Paul.
Even though these discussions are no longer current -- the last comments having been made within a few days of each episode's original airing on HBO -- still, in case there are any others, like me, who've only just discovered this series through Youtube, I thought I might as well post and see if anyone else shared my reaction to the character of Alex.
The thing is, of the people that I myself have known who behave with the same insufferable arrogance as Alex, not a single one could fathom the notion that a woman who went to bed with him was stuck on anyone else... at lease so soon into the relationship. It's beyond the realm of possibility, to people like that, that anything besides their own personal magnetism could account for their sexual conquests.
The argument might be made that people with such inflated egos are actually insecure deep down inside. True enough. And yet, in no other aspect of Alex's personality at this point in the series do we see him giving ground and considering the off-chance that he's less than the 'most' honorable spouse for not stringing along his wife, the 'most' capable pilot, the 'most' astute purchaser on Ebay, a man with the 'most' delicate palate when it comes to coffee, etc., ad nauseum.
And it just seemed to me (I could be wrong.) that he'd have given ground on a minor issue before questioning himself in an area so crucial to a man's self esteem.
His insecurity is not conscious. The problem when working with someone like him is to work toward helping him see his behavior and not experience as "just so" or ego-syntonic. He has to become uncomfortable before he can see himself and make any changes.
I hope you will join us again when the second series starts later in the spirng.
I appreciate your helping me to understand this process called therapy. However, I don't exactly understand what you mean by "just so."
When something is ego syntonic, there is no conflict about the behavior -- "It's just the way I am" -- that is what I mean by "just so". He has to feel discomfort, conflict about the behavior before he can change it.
Commenting by HaloScan
