Ep 7. Mom

Alone Together is a show about two unlikely friends living in Los Angeles who navigate through life together humorously. Season 2, episode 7 titled 'Mom', follows Esther and Benji on their life journey. Esther and Benji are the kind of friends who tell each other everything, and in this episode, they confront the reality of parents. Esther's mom decides to surprise her with a visit, embarrassing her in front of her boss. Meanwhile, Benji's mom drops in and she and Benji get to interact with each other after years of estrangement.

The episode begins with Esther and Benji on their way to a job interview with a high-profile lawyer. Esther is nervous and keeps practicing her answering skills. She works as a barista and her mom's opinion about her status in life is not very high. When they walk into the lawyer's office, Esther's mom is waiting for her, with a misguided feeling that she would be able to 'surprise' her daughter. Esther tries to hide her embarrassment but fails miserably. Her mom stays at the apartment with them, invading their space, and sticking her nose in where it's not wanted. Esther gets annoyed and tries to make her leave, but her mom ignores her and insists on helping her be more successful.

Meanwhile, Benji is surprised by a visit from his estranged mom. He has never had the best relationship with her and hasn't spoken to her in years. Benji does not know how to deal with his mom's sudden appearance. He's awkward and hesitant towards her and unsure of what to say. However, as they spend time together, he learns more about the woman who gave birth to him after all of these years. The dynamics between him and his mom slowly begin to change, and their bond strengthens as they find common ground.

As the episode progresses, Esther and Benji deal with the cultural differences between themselves and their mothers. Esther's mom has a very different worldview- old fashioned and controlling- compared to Esther's more liberal values. Benji's mom is loud, colorful, and embarrassing, much to Benji's chagrin. Esther's and Benji's reactions to their mothers could not be more different. Esther is annoyed with her mom's constant advice, while Benji is surprised by how much fun he is having with his mom.

Towards the end of the episode, Esther and Benji face some harsh truths about their relationships with their mothers. Esther realizes that her mom may never approve of the choices that she has made in her life, and Benji realizes that his anger towards his mom has been misguided, and that, deep down, she was only trying to protect him from the harsh realities of life. They both resolve to have a better relationship with their moms in the future.

In the end, the episode is a bittersweet but touching exploration of the complexities of the parent-child relationship. We see Esther and Benji confront these issues from their unique perspectives and learn more about themselves and their moms. The episode leaves audiences with a warm feeling of resolution and hope for the future.