Ep 7. Joey and the Husband

Joey season 1 episode 7, titled "Joey and the Husband," follows Joey as he struggles to deal with his feelings for his friend's wife, Alex, who is also his acting partner. Joey is conflicted as he knows that acting on his feelings would ruin his friendship and any prospects of ever working with Alex again. Meanwhile, Michael tries to impress his new girlfriend by pretending to be more cultured than he is and is forced to impress her artist husband.

The episode begins with Joey and Alex rehearsing a scene for their upcoming play. During the scene, Joey is supposed to kiss Alex on the cheek, but he can't help but pull her in for a full kiss. Alex is taken aback and asks Joey what's going on. Joey tries to play it cool, but Alex tells him she can't deal with a potential affair and storms out.

Joey is left alone in his thoughts, feeling guilty and conflicted. He seeks advice from his sister Gina, who encourages him to confess his feelings to Alex. Joey decides to take her advice and heads over to Alex's house to tell her how he feels. However, when he arrives, he sees that Alex's husband, Eric, is there and decides to wait until he can speak to her privately.

Meanwhile, Michael is trying to impress his new girlfriend, Tracy. During a dinner party at her house, Tracy's husband, an artist, asks Michael about art and literature, to which Michael fakes his way through the conversation. As the night goes on, Michael becomes more and more uncomfortable with the situation, but doesn't want to disappoint Tracy.

Back at Alex's house, Joey finally gets a chance to speak to her alone. He confesses his feelings but is met with a cold response from Alex, who tells him she's happy with Eric and doesn't want to risk their marriage. Joey is disappointed but understands.

As the dinner party comes to an end, Michael is about to leave when Tracy's husband asks him to come see his art studio. Michael reluctantly agrees, but once there, he accidentally knocks over one of the sculptures, breaking it. Tracy's husband becomes furious with Michael, and the two get into a physical altercation.

The episode ends with Joey and Alex awkwardly rehearsing again and Michael nursing his injuries at home. Joey realizes that his feelings for Alex will never be fulfilled and decides to move on, while Michael learns the valuable lesson that pretending to be something you're not will only end in disaster.

Overall, Joey season 1 episode 7 is a humorous and relatable depiction of the struggles one faces when dealing with unrequited love and the pressure to impress others. It's a great episode that showcases the talents of the cast and leaves viewers wanting more.