‘Trying’ Recap: ‘Home’ & ‘The Circle’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three premiere of ‘Trying’.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that everyone out there… has a dream of some kind. Some want to be the best football player to ever take the field. While others want to be a pillar of the community through government or perhaps want to do something quite creative. Such as say become the next big painter or artist in general or become the next Stephen King. Because each of us want to be more in this life and stand out from the crowd, and following a dream and achieving it, is one big way to do that, and that is why we work hard to find our calling and chase it. So we can find the happiness we know it will bring us, and the peace we’ve always wanted within our soul.
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But what we often forget when it comes to discussions about dreams or even stories about chasing them, is that not everyone’s endgame goal is grandiose in nature. In fact, sometimes the dreams that people seek are more intimate and personal in nature and don’t involve bags of money or seeing oneself up on marquees or on a screen. Sometimes… people just dream of having a life partner that they can share in memories with and enjoy the wonder of love with on a daily basis, and some folks… outright dream of having a family. Because they love the idea of caring for little ones and raising them right and that is why the Apple TV+ series, Trying, is such a beautiful and powerful show.
 
Because it is one of the few shows out there that actually takes the time to explore what that dream and the pursuit of having a family, looks like. Since it is everything that Nikki and Jason want in life, and they have spent the past two seasons fighting as hard as someone wanting to get into Hollywood, to obtain their dream. Since they’ve gone through treatments and set themselves up for a better future to invite adoptees into their home and well, after two seasons of struggling and fighting with every fiber of their being to have their dream, the season three premiere of this series rewards them at last. For when we catch up with Nikki and Jason in ‘Home’ and ‘The Circle’, their dream has seemingly come true after all this time, since Princess and Tyler are home.

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Which in turn allows for this two-episode premiere to explore… what it means for one’s dream to come true when one’s dream is to be a parent. Which in turn, leads to some beautiful moments. Because Nikki and Jason understand they finally have what they want and embrace it to the fullest. All by being there for Tyler and Princess in both big and small ways. Since they’re up early to make sure they’re ready for school and by making moves to ensure they have financial security and safety, and they even do whatever it takes to teach them important life lessons and to lift them up. To the point where Jason even created a beautiful little story and moment, regarding Tyler’s pet rock, to ensure he wasn’t bullied in class in the slightest. If anything, those sequences hammer home why we chase the dream, and all of that was indeed powerful and inspiring to watch.

But of course, this is a series that is always grounded in realism and contrast and well, for every perfect moment found here, there were trying ones as well. Such as the fact that social services nearly pulled Tyler out of the house because that’s their job, unfortunately, and that means that Nikki and Jason will have to fight hard to keep their family and the universe won’t make that easy in the slightest. Since there are work pressures for Nikki that come with her new title and Jason is making incredible moves to keep the home in their hands now that it is up for sale. Which are moments that just serve to remind us that life goes on when we achieve our dreams and sometimes obtaining it, means we still have to fight to keep it.

If anything, all of these ups and downs just serve to remind us of how honest and raw this particular series is, and it also reminds us of its wonder. Because there’s something to be said about finding a way to present the world in the raw and keep it lighthearted and inspiring. Of course the humor here helps, since the jokes are as spot on always in this show, and well… in the end, it’s just wonderful to be back in this beautiful universe. One filled with amazing performances and heartfelt moments and a reminder of what we’re fighting for when we chase a dream, and it will be genuinely fascinating to see what comes next for Nikki and Jason, now that they have the family they’ve always wanted, under their roof. Until next time.

To learn more about Season 3 of ‘Trying’, check out our interview with the show’s stars, Esther Smith and Rafe Spall.

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