‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’ Recap: ‘Sensia’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’. To revisit the previous two episodes, click here.
​
It is definitely safe to say… that we tend to forget to appreciate, a great deal of the wonder and beauty that life surrounds us with, and it makes sense as to why. For our lives can be quite chaotic in nature and filled to the brim with busy moments and stresses that more or less force us, to let the wonder of the moment slip through our hands. Take for instance, our morning route, a ritual that we often see as a grind, simply because we have kids to get ready, and sleep to shake off, and a job to mentally prepare for... when in fact, the morning is quite the beautiful affair. Where the sunrise reminds us of the endless opportunity ahead and where there are moments of silence that help us to find the energy, we need… to get through more majestic moments we don’t appreciate all that often.
​
After all, we make incredible memories throughout our day, and take part in conversations that mean the world to some. Not to mention, when the workday is over, we take part in more magic moments. The kind that allows for us to share in joy with our families and fulfill what our souls crave though hobbies, before we get to sleep gently and do it all again. If anything, it is important to recognize the wonder of life and the moments that we more or less take for granted. In part because it provides us with newfound appreciation of the journey, but to also remind us of how lucky we are. For some folks don’t get to enjoy those moments or worse yet… they’re robbed from them when their mind goes and the importance of appreciating what we sometimes see as ‘mundane’ is top of mind today, simply because it was one of the many focal themes present in the next episode of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

For ‘Sensia’ saw Ptolemy emerge from the wild dreams and fevers that his first dose of the miracle cure for his memory wrought upon him… to find himself back in a world where the mundane surrounded him again. Since he felt up to a shower and a shave and dressing to the nines to see the doctor and watching him find utter joy in being able to make the decisions to do just that, alongside enjoying a meal and conversation with Robyn and Billy and the enchanting Ms. Wring… truly made it clear how much we take such things for granted. Since those with dementia or Alzheimer’s no longer understand the small pleasures those moments bring and having that become a subtle focus of this story, reminds the audience to enjoy every moment that comes our way and savor them to the fullest since they will never come again and may fade whether we like it or not.

But while that did indeed make for some fascinating commentary on the precious nature of life and what it means to truly enjoy the moment, there was so much more for this story to explore. Such as Ptolemy’s past. For the drug and its second dose did what was advertised and unlocked just about everything for him. Allowing for the audience to learn that Ptolemy has seen a great deal of beauty and misery in his day. To the point where he watched Coydog be lynched by a group of brutal jackals resembling men… because he took justice into his own hands, in a nonviolent manner no less. Making quite the impression upon young Ptolemy as to what the world was like, and we also gained some insight into what his love affair with Sensia was like.

---

As it turns out, it was what one could call… the perfect love affair. One grounded in raw emotion that surged through both parties, as evidenced by the connection they shared on the fateful day they met in 1976, and through Sensia’s wild actions when her former lover came bursting into Ptolemy’s apartment. Because it takes true love to see through the anger and fury that Sensia exhibited over someone trying to control her and her life, and it takes that same love to forgive and forget such passionate behavior, and while this sequence was brief, it told us so much about their connection and what it did for them in life and it also played a big part in the ending of this tale as well.
​
But we will return to that in just a bit. Because we would be remiss and foolish to not talk about the commentary on race relations in America’s past and now, that is present in this tale. Because Coydog’s horrific fate, one that absolutely and rightfully feels uncomfortable since it is wrong, speaks volumes to how we aren’t that far removed from an era in our history when lynching was commonplace. Since Ptolemy hasn’t even reached a century in age yet, and saw this happen in his early years, and making that point… serves to remind us that while we have indeed made progress, we have a long way to go and that wasn’t the only poignant message and experience that the show made a point to immerse us within.

Because seeing Black people come in and out of Dr. Rubin’s facility, had an eerie and familiar feel to it and rightfully so. Since it harkens back to America’s dark history regarding medical experiments involving Black people. Such as the Tuskegee Study and placing that commentary deep within this sequence is supremely important, since it is imperative, we never forget of such acts and teach others about them often. So that they aren’t repeated and so that equality reigns and there is genuine comfort to be found in knowing... that these uncomfortable moments in this story, will inspire others to seek out such knowledge and keep the lesson alive.

If anything, all of these elements, make this another brilliant chapter in an already brilliant story. Since this episode dove into so many powerful and meaningful concepts, the kind that leave us in deep silent thought when the end credits fade to black and that’s a wonderful thing. Because that is what great storytelling should do and this is storytelling at its finest and once again, the performances were riveting, and of course, this story found a way to leave us ravenous for more of Ptolemy’s journey. Since we also came to learn, that his greatest treasure of all, is buried within his home and it will be incredible to see what that treasure is and what it means for Ptolemy’s second chance at the wonder that is life. Until next time. 

---