‘Trying’ Recap: ‘The Send-Off’ & ‘Ghosting’

5/22/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall as Nikki and Jason in Episode 401 of ‘Trying’ – ‘The Send-Off’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Four Premiere of ‘Trying’. To revisit the Season Three Finale, click here.
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One particular hope that each and one of us harbor when we set out into the world to find our person and start a family, is that when we get what we want… we will have that storybook ending. Where our new family is filled with happiness, joy, and love, and problems are easily solved. Because that would indeed, be the perfect life, one that nurtures and sustains our very souls. But alas, it doesn’t take long for us to learn that the storybook ending just isn’t possible. Simply because life is always in motion, for change is the constant and it is how we respond to all that change that matters most. Because that is what will truly sustain our souls and give us fulfillment and well, this lesson is top of mind today, simply because Nikki and Jason were forced to learn it in the season four premiere of Trying on Apple TV+.

A feat that ‘The Send-Off’ and ‘Ghosting’ accomplished, by taking us six years into the future. Wherein we came to learn that Nikki and Jason came close to having that storybook ending. For they did create a lovely home environment, where mom and dad loved and supported one another and where Princess and Tyler were thriving to say the least. But alas, change had come to the family’s doorstep when we finished catching up with them. For Bev, the kid’s beloved grandmother, had passed, and it was time for her funeral. One that was beautiful and heartwarming, yes, but opened up a can of worms for Princess in this tale. Simply because… losing a family member put her in quite the emotional state, one that left her wondering, what became of her mother.

Because Kat was all she had left, and with Bev gone, echoes were everywhere of her mother. In fact, she even inherited her mom’s car and that put her on a mission to find her mother that well… brought forth some mild shockwaves in the household. Because Princess wasn’t herself in this tale, and rightfully so with such gravity weighing upon her mind. But her quest here and her concerns spoke deeply to how… change finds us in family life, and how as our kids grow, they begin to understand what they want and how they want it and that will indeed rattle foundations. While it did not do that here directly, the thirst for knowledge, set the stage for greater conflict on the matter and a real challenge for Nikki and Jason to deal with.

Scarlett Rayner as Princess in Episode 402 of ‘Trying’ – ‘Ghosting’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Not to mention, they had some issues of their own to deal with here. Because while they appeared to be the perfect couple and found joy in all that they do, they too had found some measure of change in their relationship. In that, they settled in as parents now, and spent plenty of time at home over keeping things interesting and romantic. Something that Nikki did not know she needed, until she decided to help out Bev in death, by taking the time to follow up on a romantic date she scheduled before her passing. For the idea was to just inform that poor man that he wasn’t going to find romance in a kind way. But his need for attention and friendship led to a wild night for the trio, since Jason was dragged along in the matter, and that did bring about… an understanding that relationships can and will garner some measure of stagnancy.

The kind that does require a little work from the couple involved, and some communication as well. To ensure that awareness exists of the problem. Which Nikki handled in this tale, since she eventually made sure to tell her beloved that now and again, she needed to be wooed and needed those date nights to keep the fire fueled and thankfully, Jason agreed to making sure that Nikki felt special, felt loved and well, this was a brilliant bit to include in this story. Since it spoke to how sometimes monotony IS the change that we don’t expect, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean that the relationship has gone sour, not making time to romance and woo and keep the spark alive… most certainly can sour the milk.

If anything, all of these elements made for a delightful and beautiful season four premiere. One that was also supremely realistic in nature. For these are legit problems that couples and blended families in this manner can outright face. Because it is only natural for adopted children to want to know about their past and for couples to settle into routine after years of comfort and happiness. Not to mention, it was powerful for this premiere to point out, that we will lose people we love along the way, for that too just added to the realism of a story that wonderfully plunged us back into this heartfelt universe. One that we are ready to explore once again with gusto, because the stage is set for a powerful season of storytelling and discovery, regarding the wonder and folly of love. Until next time.

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