‘Ten Percent’ Recap: ‘Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Ten Percent’. To revisit the previous episodes, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the plucky and delightful new comedy series, Ten Percent, the situation was quite rough. For this Sundance Now series went to some bold places in its opening two chapters, to the point where the Nightingale/Hart agency watched its patriarch and guiding light disappear from this life by way of a sudden and powerful heart attack. Leaving both the characters and us to wonder… what would become of this agency, and its agents, without their leader and their heart and well… it didn’t take long for ‘Episode 3’ to answer that all-important question in the most unique ways possible.

In part by showing us… that the end of one chapter will undoubtedly empower others to make bold moves to bring forth a prosperous new chapter. As evidenced by Rebecca’s actions in this tale. For she finally sat down with the writer she’d been hunting down and of course, love was in the air for the two of them. But when faced with the reality that this writer’s book was brilliant and could in fact, accomplish wonders as a film… she doubled down regardless of her feelings… and did whatever was necessary to option that book and take a chance on a story and a project she’d never touched before and well… her efforts paid off in spades. For she locked up the option, and a potential long-term relationship, all because there was freedom in her job now and a chance to do something new. 

As for others in the agency… well they just… mostly went about their about their day, and worked to keep their clients happy and make it appear as though life would be normal going forward. Jonathan and Stella for instance, found themselves at the center of a tedious and routine battle royale between Dominic West and a plucky new director that had a powerful vision. Which was a battle so intense that Dominic almost walked and ended the show and potentially could have brought forth some bad press regarding his career in doing so. But thanks to these dynamic agents and an assist from Simon, who oddly… bowed out of the play out of fear… the show did go off without a hitch and everyone was seemingly happy.

But there was mention that not everyone was ready for business as usual and the one person that had concerns about a giant paradigm shift within the company, was Jonathan. Who saw the books and realized his dad might have put the future of the firm at great risk. Which meant action had to be taken and, in his mind… that involved inviting in others to potentially buy the firm or offer up a partnership, much to the chagrin of his other fellow agents and well… the fate of his concerns was left up in the air here. Since the details of a strange phone call between the American agency that dropped their name into the ring to flush the firm with cash and Jonathan, was left to our imagination, but Stella’s reaction made it clear… it might be a bad result in the end.

If anything, this episode spoke to the fact… that losing the heart of Nightingale/Hart… brought forth nothing but outright chaos. Since every direction and option is on the table for the agents, and they will clearly do what they must to get what they need and that leaves one to wonder… if there is long-term hope for this firm or if strife awaits when the chaos settles, and the only way to know… is to continue the journey. So, we can see what came out of that phone call and if a new leader will rise to the occasion in this time of need and to also see, if Zoe will ever recover from that disastrous audition where she beat the living hell out of the casting director. Either way, at this point it is safe to say we are all invested in what comes next for the firm… and it will be a real treat to see what surprises and moving and hilarious moments await us as this saga continues along. Until next time.

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