Ep 8. Joey and the Sex Tape

Joey season 2 episode 8, titled "Joey and the Sex Tape," follows our titular character, Joey Tribbiani, as he must deal with the fallout of a sex tape being released online.

The episode begins with Joey and his girlfriend, Alex, enjoying a quiet night in. However, their intimate moment is interrupted when Joey receives a call from his agent, Bobbie. Bobbie informs Joey that a sex tape of him and Alex has been leaked online, and it's quickly spreading across the internet. Joey is in disbelief, as he had no knowledge that the tape existed.

Joey and Alex immediately spring into action, trying to limit the damage of the tape. They begin by calling the website that's hosting the video, but the website operator refuses to take it down. Joey and Alex then decide to confront the person who they believe recorded and released the tape – a former roommate of hers named Greg.

Joey and Alex go to Greg's apartment and demand to know if he released the tape. Greg denies it, but it's clear that he knows more than he's letting on. Joey and Alex leave the apartment in frustration, feeling defeated and embarrassed.

Throughout the rest of the episode, Joey is forced to confront the reality of his situation. He starts to see how the tape has impacted his career, as he's dropped from an upcoming film and his public image takes a significant hit. Joey starts to worry that he'll never be able to recover from this incident.

Meanwhile, Alex is dealing with her own set of issues. She's worried that the tape will ruin her future career prospects and leave her with nothing. She's also upset with Joey for not taking the situation more seriously and not taking the appropriate steps to prevent the tape from being released in the first place.

As Joey tries to figure out how to move forward, he receives some much-needed advice from his friend and fellow actor, Zach. Zach tells Joey that he needs to take control of the narrative and use the situation to his advantage. He encourages Joey to embrace his embarrassment and turn it into something positive – such as a charity fundraiser or a public appearance where he can speak out against cyberbullying.

Joey takes this advice to heart and decides to take action. He organizes a press conference where he speaks out against the invasion of privacy and urges fans to be more mindful of what they share online. The conference is a success and Joey is able to regain some of his lost reputation.

The episode ends on a hopeful note, with Joey and Alex reconciling and promising to work through their problems together. While the sex tape incident may have caused some damage, it ultimately brought the couple closer together and allowed Joey to grow as a person.

Overall, "Joey and the Sex Tape" is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that explores themes of privacy, reputation, and celebrity culture. It's a testament to the show's ability to tackle serious issues while still maintaining its signature light-hearted tone.