Necessary Roughness – TK makes a breakthrough

Necessary Roughness shows us this week how fragile the mental health of people involved in the high-pressure sports world can be. I mean, the show is usually about that, but it was an especially prevalent theme as TK makes a breakthrough with his PTSD, Marshall narrowly averts a mental breakdown, and Dani’s patient of the week deals with the reasons behind his current slump. As a result of this theme, the episode comes together pretty well. I am sure a psych major would say that this is all surface level analysis, but I am enjoying it nonetheless. I guess I like a smidgen of depth with my lighthearted summer TV.

In this week’s installment of Pittman v. Pittman, they go to court and each tries to claim the other is mentally incompetent. It’s true in Marshall’s case, as he even talks to himself and — gasp! — fires Nico! I was wondering why he hadn’t fired Nico sooner, but I think it’s the reason he was re-hired at the end. Nobody does that job better than Nico could. So he seems to be left in charge while Marshall goes off on a mental health break. Considering that he invades Dani’s house mainly to raid her fridge, he seems to really need it. Marshall may be gone for now, but the team is still in trouble. The issue of TK’s bonus check has not been resolved yet, for one thing. The question the next few episodes have to answer is whether Dani, Nico, et al can keep the team afloat.

The TK situation is starting to get better at least, aside from the money issue. He is also dealing with a fragile emotional state. The pressure of trying to recover from his injury and his PTSD is tough on him. The scenes with the masseuse Simone are cute, even if the symbolism of TK’s wound standing for his emotional pain is on the nose. Fortunately, Simone helps him to be ready to truly face the fact that he was shot. Will his recovery speed up now, or is this just the beginning of a long road for him?

Aside from his rampant sexism, I didn’t mind the Gonzo plot since it did tie in thematically with the rest of the episode. As Dani points out, being a public figure, Gonzo is prone to narcissism which makes it hard for him to express his love for his “slumpbuster.” This may be pop psychology, but I think we all have seen enough reality TV to acknowledge the connection between fame and narcissism. The show does at least demonstrate how fame in the sports world, as attractive as it seems, does have its downside for these people.

Notes and Quotes:

• Thankfully, the show swerved away from the Matt-Dani breakup I thought had occurred or was about to occur. I prefer this not to be a show about heavy romantic drama for some reason. That being said — Matt likes her kids?! Why? No one else does, except Dani.
• Dani, about Gonzo: “He slapped me. On my rumpus maximus.”
  Matt: “Well, I’m gonna kick his rumpus maximus.”
• Marshall: “Scotch would never taste so good if it were any other color.”
• TK to Simone: “That is a touch that has been honed by Communism, girl. You do what you do!”
• Denise the “Slumpbuster”: “It’s not on my business card or anything, but hey, if the thong fits.”
• Gonzo, about Denise: “When she opens up her legs it’s like a rainbow that comes out of there. It’s a magical hitting rainbow and I need it.”
• TK on why he wants to stay with the Hawks: “Number 88 has a Hawks tattoo on his ass!”

Clacked by Christina Furtado
on Jun 28, 2012 @ 10:03 EST5EDT