Artemis Pebdani as Flo and Teddy Sears as Dr. Austin Langham. (Michael Desmond/SHOWTIME)
The psychology behind sex is the most fascinating part of this show, and we see it in other ways in “Below the Belt” as well. Despite a rocky “meet-cute” moment, I can see what the writers were going for the minute the put Lester and Barb in a scene together. It was way too easy, pairing off the two sexual dysfunction patients, but I can’t help rooting for them anyway. Flo and Dr. Langham wasn’t an easy pairing at all, and though I find the ongoing presence of both of these bit characters mostly unnecessary, this new plotline is creative. It’s a bit stereotypical that they’ve made plus-sized Flo a total business bitch, but her sexual demands for Langham — and how much he enjoys them — are a welcome turn of events. I expect it’ll go sideaways and the conventionally attractive Langham will have to “let her down easy” (again), but how great would it be if these two had a real relationship together and defied societal expectations?
I’ve been saying it for weeks now, but Robert and Libby is going to happen. Now that we’re getting closer to it, I’m sort of bothered by the idea that Libby’s racial activism will be written off as impure. She does seem to care for the cause in a real way, but it may be moot anyway. Will Libby even be in the picture a season from now?