This week’s episode of Casual season 3 wants to be a ‘Cake Walk’ yet it’s anything but. Here’s what happened in season 3, episode 10.
“Cake Walk” is anything but for the characters of Hulu’s Casual. It’s been some time since the previous episode, and everyone has gone their separate ways. Not well, either, as both sides take digs at the other.
Valerie (Michaela Watkins) is happy with Jack (Kyle Bornheimer) and thinks that her half-brother needs a warning label. Meanwhile, Alex (Tommy Dewey) is doing well with Judy (Judy Greer) but is clearly on tilt from not having his half-sister in his life.
And then there’s Laura (Tara Lynne Barr), who still can’t wrap her brain around the fact that she’s being pseudo-dumped by Casey (Nadine Nicole).
Everyone wants to feel like they can make it on their own when the truth is they can’t.
Alex can’t physically connect with Judy, which sends him back into therapy with Jennifer (Katie Aselton), who naturally thinks that there’s more going on with him than a failure to perform.
"Alex: I like all people that are smart. And funny. And attracted to me."
Casual also brings us back to Valerie’s storytelling class at UCLA only for her to leave when the teacher accuses her of being mentally checked out and Val uses that as her impetus to literally check out. So much for that idea, which could’ve been interesting but wound up getting left behind as Season 3 went on.
At least this means we get one more appearance from Austin Basis, as the classmate who’s there to semi-console Val about her departure.
And Laura winds up with a cake, hence the title of the episode. But she also ends up babysitting Judy’s son when Val tries to facilitate the most awkward double date ever. The nine-year-old is the sanest person in the entire episode.
"Laura: Try not to set yourself on fire while I’m here."
“Cake Walk” is actually quite painful for an episode named partly after dessert. In it, Casual gives us the complete divergence of these characters’ lives, even though we know it’s likely not for the best.
Valerie’s made Jack her priority, Alex finally has a real relationship with Judy, and then there’s Laura adrift yet again (although Tara Lynne Barr gets bonus points for her rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” that she performs at the start of the episode and over the closing credits).
What makes Casual work is that these people, despite their deep flaws and their differing paths, are a family and they always seem to find their way back to each other. “Cake Walk” really, truly is pulling them apart — and we’ll have to see if Season 3 continues to divide them or if they’ll find their way back to each other again.
Next: Curb Your Enthusiasm season 9 premiere date
New episodes of Casual stream Tuesdays on Hulu.