Ep 5. Consent

In Workin' Moms season 2 episode 5, titled "Consent," the show continues to follow four women navigating the challenges of motherhood, work, and relationships. This episode specifically focuses on the topic of consent, exploring how it can impact people's lives in unexpected ways.

The first storyline centers around Kate (played by Catherine Reitman), who has been struggling to connect with her husband, Nathan (played by Philip Sternberg), after the birth of their second child. She decides to organize a weekend getaway to try to reignite their romance, but things don't quite go as planned when Nathan reveals that he's uncomfortable with the idea of having sex without explicit verbal consent. This leads to a series of misunderstandings and debates between the couple about what it means to give and receive consent, as well as how to communicate effectively in a relationship.

Meanwhile, Frankie (played by Juno Rinaldi) is dealing with her own issues around consent at work. She's been feeling undervalued and overlooked at her job as a car salesperson, and decides to make a bold move by taking her top off during a car sale to try to seal the deal. However, this backfires when the customer files a complaint of sexual harassment against her, leading to a suspension from work and a conversation with her boss about appropriate workplace behavior. As she processes the experience, Frankie grapples with the question of whether or not she gave consent to the situation, and what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated industry.

The third storyline involves Anne (played by Dani Kind), who is dealing with her daughter's newfound interest in makeup and clothing. While at first she tries to resist the changes, questioning whether it's appropriate for a young girl to be so fixated on her appearance, she eventually comes around and takes her daughter shopping for new clothes. However, when her daughter later criticizes her for not wearing makeup and styling her hair, Anne realizes that she needs to model healthy boundaries and self-esteem to her daughter, and that consent also involves respecting people's right to express themselves however they choose.

Finally, the episode explores the experiences of Ian (played by Dennis Andres), a stay-at-home dad who compensates for his lack of work-related accomplishments by obsessively tracking his son's developmental milestones and achievements. When he learns that the other moms in his support group are also struggling with feelings of inadequacy, he decides to organize a group activity that involves swapping accomplishments and providing verbal support to each other. However, things get awkward when one of the moms thanks Ian for "giving her permission" to be proud of herself, leading him to realize that he needs to check his own biases and assumptions about what it means to be a "successful" parent.

Overall, "Consent" is a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of a complex topic, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise when people take responsibility for their actions, communicate clearly and honestly, and respect each other's autonomy and agency. The show continues to be engaging, relatable, and funny, balancing humorous moments with poignant insights into human behavior and relationships.