Will and Sylvia’s relationship on Platonic has always been intense, where they’re so enmeshed in each other’s lives and they’re co-dependent on each other.
I was relieved that Platonic Season 2 Episode 9 finally addressed Sylvia’s lack of boundaries in her relationships. She has always wanted control in her friendship with Will.
That has affected her other relationships, especially her marriage with Charlie, who often felt like he was playing second fiddle to them.
“Boundaries” addressed the core of the series because it can be challenging to balance work, marriage, and friendships. This was the most relatable episode, and it was packed with funny moments.
Implementing Boundaries Changes Will and Sylvia’s Friendship
I’ve commented previously that Sylvia and Will’s relationship needed better boundaries. She jumps whenever he needs help, which has hindered her marriage to Charlie.
It’s much more than that, though. Sylvia likes to give Will unsolicited advice, including who he should date and who he should use as investors in his new bar.
Granted, Mason Grand was a jerk, and it wouldn’t have been profitable to associate with him, but Will still realized that on his own.
Almost everyone, from Will’s buddies to Will and Sylvia’s partners, noticed the unhealthy boundaries in their relationship.
Andy had a valid point that if Will paid rent, then Sylvia could not butt in as much.
Implementing boundaries seemed challenging initially. They were both used to running to the other every time something went wrong. They had to learn to lean on other friendships.
I don’t think Sylvia wanted boundaries. She doesn’t seem like the person who enjoys change, especially when Will didn’t jump to hang out with her when she was upset.
He only invited her to join him and Katie, not to listen to her moan for hours. She was no longer the center of the universe.
Will and Katie Exhibited a Healthier Relationship
I love how much more we’ve gotten of Katie (Carla Gallo) in Platonic Season 2.
Hers and Will’s friendship has been an unexpected treat.
They’re both fun-loving and carefree, and I love that their friendship has deepened, especially since Will needs time away from Sylvia.
It worked since both Katie and Will have been hurt in relationships, so she’s the ideal person to analyze if Terry and Jenna were just friends or if he grabbed her butt.
I love how Will became invested in Sex and the City while drinking Cosmos. That was such a fun, heartwarming scene.
There is no drama with these two, only fun and laughter. No wonder they didn’t want Sylvia to join them on their kayak trip.
Even though the LA river was filthy, Will and Katie appreciated being able to let loose and seeing seagulls, while Sylvia kept bringing the mood down.
They were right. She should have stayed home to read Charlie’s book, not wreck the outing by complaining.
Watson’s Antics Showed the Cracks in Charlie and Sylvia’s Marriage
Watson the dog was hilarious, but his antics clearly showed the cracks in Charlie and Sylvia’s marriage.
Getting a dog was something they should have discussed, as training a dog would add to the chaos. I’ve had a dog, and you need to be on the same page about how to train it.
Watson hated that baby gate and being away from the family and the food, and barked incessantly.
You could see how frustrated Sylvia seemed, as she wasn’t used to attaching the gate. However, when she forgot, the dog climbed up on the kitchen table.
It was amusing and very typical of a dog, but she didn’t seem to like dogs or being woken up by Watson when he heard Will and Katie return.
She almost looked angry as she watched Will and Charlie with Watson in the pool. I suspect it was because everyone else had fun, but not her. She felt left out that Will and Katie were partying late at night.
Being married comes with responsibilities, something Sylvia often forgets. She says insensitive jokes, which may be funny, but hurt Charlie’s feelings, such as the comment about divorce.
Can Any of Sylvia’s Relationships Be Saved?
While Platonic was amusing, this episode also addressed some challenging relationship issues.
I’ve been married almost 20 years, so I understand that marriage is hard work. It involves communication and compromise, something that Sylvia and Charlie haven’t done lately.
I’m more Team Charlie because he has endured a lot of Sylvia’s antics and has come to her rescue, without asking for much in return.
Charlie only wanted Sylvia to read his book and take an interest in his life, but she seemed angry that he had quit his job without notice and begun writing without considering the impact on their three children.
In some ways, I understand her point of view, but Charlie supported them by himself for years. She accepted Carrie’s job offer out of spite, and she wanted Charlie to see what it was like to run the household without assistance.
Their marriage won’t survive with all this resentment and anger. It says something when others commented that every marriage has issues, and she needed to suck it up and deal with it.
Sylvia kicked Will out partly because she felt left out with him and Katie, but more so because Charlie dedicated his book to Will, too, mentioning that Will had suggested Charlie try something new.
Sylvia wants to control the men in her life, and while she wanted the men in her life to be friends, she never wanted them to influence each other.
I suspect she’s going to be lonely, and I’m curious how Platonic Season 2 will end.
Over to you, Platonic Fanatics. Do you think any of Sylvia’s relationships will recover? How do you think this season will end?
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