‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’ Recap: ‘Live Free or Die’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’.
​
There is a prevailing belief in modern America, that if we aren’t happy with our current situation, it is up to us to quickly change it and there is some merit behind that line of thinking. Because this is indeed the land of the free, a place where job opportunities are endless, and if that’s what is eating at you, shifting gears and changing gigs shouldn’t be a problem. And of course, if we’re in an unhealthy toxic relationship and/or friendship, it shouldn’t be all that hard to finally bid that person farewell for the sake of our mental health. But what we truly need to keep in mind, in regard to this notion, is that all of these scenarios and decisions are driven by the belief that everyone is completely cognizant of their current situation and that’s really where this line of thinking is faulty. Because for some folks, it’s not about being clueless, it is that sticking in a bad situation is part of survival.

For where they live, the job market isn’t what they’d hoped and they’re scraping by paycheck to paycheck and leaving a garbage job would cause them more harm than good and in the case of rotten relationships… sometimes escape just isn’t possible. For if the situation is abusive and supremely toxic, leaving might mean great physical harm or in some cases… they simply have nowhere to go. For if they have no savings or friends or family to rely upon, they’re stuck in a stupid relationship that eats at their soul and this is the worrisome and unhealthy part when it comes to our ‘change it quick’ mentality. Because these are the folks that become so desperate to just snap a finger and be in a new place, that they will go to extremes to make that happen. All because they can handle it no more and that unfortunate scenario and how it comes to fruition, is of note today… since it served as the focal point of last night’s episode of Kevin Can F**K Himself.

For ‘Live Free or Die’ finally gave us an idea of how desperate and eager Allison McRoberts is to escape her marriage with Kevin and how few options she has in doing so, and it accomplished this particular feat, by taking us on the road for a special adventure. One where Patty drove Alison north to meet with Patty’s super supplier so that Patty could get her hands on the last Oxy, she’d ever need as a dealer and so that Allison could get her hands on the pills that she now claimed were to save her life from a fictional stalker. And once they finally hit the open road and conducted their search for the drugs, is when the show finally helped us to understand just how toxic her relationship with Kevin truly is. Because Kevin was basically calling her every five minutes to cater to his whims and have her solve simple tasks, he could have accomplished had he bothered to look around the house.

---

Which is a reality that took Patty by surprise and led to a touch of positive encouragement for Allison to turn her phone off so she could focus on the mission at hand and have a touch of clarity. A request she complied with, which in fact allowed for her and Patty to bond and it also helped Allison to take advantage of a key moment. Wherein she was able to get what she desired long after this road trip ended in failure and that’s really when this episode hammered home the desperation factor and how broken Allison truly is at this juncture in her life. Because her beloved husband, actually called the cops and claimed his car, the one the ladies were driving on this day because he happily loaned it to them; was stolen. All in a gambit to get Allison to finally call him and check in with her proverbial warden and this revelation was simply powerful and heartbreaking.
​
Since it truly helped us to understand the hold that Kevin has upon her, and how hard it would be for her to just walk away since she has no one to turn to, and no money with which to escape, and that is why she thinks that murder is the only real solution available to her and well… this sad reality changes the tone of this series going further. Because now we know… exactly where Allison is at mentally and that’s scary, simply because she is hell bent to have her freedom and all we can hope for now, is some kind of twist or beautiful moment that will allow for her to have just that without resorting to murder. All so she can enjoy a Kevin-free future without guilt or consequence for crossing the reddest line imaginable. But while we wait to see where this episode takes us next in regard to that, we can bask in one powerful tale.

Because this one, truly made it clear why people turn to dark acts to escape a bad situation and the importance of having good friends and a real support network in our lives. So, we don’t turn to those kinds of options and now one has to wonder, if Patty is going to become that particular support line or if she won't be able to, since she too is about to deal with some dark times of her own since the police have questions about the bust at the pharmacy. But what matters more, is that this really was a raw look at something we don’t discuss enough, and it did a fine job of reminding us to never judge a person or push them to follow quick lines of thinking, since we simply don’t know what they’re truly going through. Either way, it is obvious now that Allison is quickly reaching a point of no return in her wild quest and hopefully, she gets the support she needs to keep her from crossing it. Until next time.

---