‘Me’ Recap: ‘Opportunity Costs’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Dilshad Vadsaria and Lucian-River Chauhan as Elizabeth and Ben in Episode 104 of ‘Me’ – ‘Opportunity Costs’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Me’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we are young, we firmly believe that life… is going to feature a perfect status quo. The kind where our friends will be with us until the end of time, and the same goes for our parents and we will grow alongside all of them and enjoy a real bliss in doing so, and well… that’s a belief that gets shattered when we reach our teenage years. For that is when we begin to see the world change around us. For some if not all of our friends, find a new path, we may lose some loved ones along the way, and our family dynamic may change. Which is confusing and scary, but this can be more to us that a shattering of our beliefs if we take a moment to think upon what’s happening.

Which is why the next episode of Me on Apple TV+ is of note. Simply because ‘Opportunity Costs’ took the time to explore how this kind of grand change can be good for us and teach us so much, if we take an objective look at the moment, and, in many ways, this lesson has been waiting to come to the forefront of the story because change is the constant for Ben’s life right now. Since he has a new family dynamic surrounding him, has no clue who will be his friends going forward and is of course, harboring incredible powers he does not understand. But those powers took precedence for the story, but with them in hand… the time was right for the series to focus upon this lesson, and doing so offered us so much.

Since this story pondered deeply upon how change and having new people come into our lives… can be a good thing and can make us stronger and help us to grow in ways we never thought possible. Take for instance, Ben’s relationship with Phil. Because Phil saw his new relationship with his stepson as an opportunity to do wonderful things for Ben. Such as support him, nurture him and fill that void in his life, and he worked to do so in a beautiful manner. Since he took the time to really support Ben’s love of photography. In fact, he even went so far as to assemble a darkroom setup for him; to help him lean into that hobby and this was beautiful to see and hammered home the point.

Not to mention, new people can also serve as an inspiration and improve our lives. For Ben was sick of Jason’s special brand of wicked in this tale and wanted to punish him. In fact, Ben wanted to use his powers for bad and impersonate Jason and wreak havoc through harm to expose him as a bully. Especially after he put on a show for Ben’s mom. But Max, another new person in Ben’s life, made sure to inform him that there are better ways to bring down bullies and bad people and that definitely inspired Ben to use his powers for good, and he inadvertently did so, while he was stuck in the body of the bully he hates. Since Owen was inspired by Ben and his father to slug Jason at last, and while he accidently hit Ben in that skin, the choice was made, and things will change.

Because everyone saw Owen, smack Jason up and that will do some good. Which in a way, made Ben a positive influence upon dear Owen and… this was a moment that moved him closer toward being a hero. But what matters more, is that once again, this series offered up an amazing story. One that provided adults and kids alike with an important lesson regarding change while still growing the mythos of this series. Since that strange threat continues to lurk. But what matters most, is that this was just a great and engaging story, one that has us eager to hit play and move the story along… to see what other critical life lessons await us. Until next time.

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