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Created by Sharon Horgan, HBO’s ‘Youth’ travels with Alex, a talented literary agent who finds herself in her 50s. Divorced and emotionally detached, Alex tries to find new relationships and rejuvenate her romantic and sexual life. However, when her son leaves for college, an opportunity for a fresh start presents itself. There’s also her ongoing relationship with Patrick, who is constantly fighting for attention in her mind as life throws more trouble along the way. As such, the romantic comedy series charts whether Alex can overcome her loneliness and find the human connection she truly needs while simultaneously dealing with midlife dating issues and generational conflicts.
Alex becomes a partner just as Ruari secures a date
“The Young” episode 7 starts with Alex Shaw at the top of his game, and for seemingly good reason. Not only does she have the perfect romantic life with Pat, who moved in with her last episode, but she also has to be promoted today. When he gets to the Laville Agency, Sam is already there, and despite their previous agreement, he doesn’t seem too happy. The announcement speech is also messy as Sam keeps interrupting in a way that undermines his leadership. While it’s not yet clear which direction their dynamic is headed, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Sam’s anger is slowly boiling over and could come crashing down on those near and dear to him at any moment.
While Alex seems to be having enough fun talking to Pat in his luxurious new office, the arrival of a familiar face, Jaffa, throws things off. As it turns out, he’s had quite a bit of writer’s block for a while, and it fueled his paranoia about the stalker. When Alex tries to convince his would-be author that he is not, in fact, being followed by a stranger, he must use his mother’s health as an excuse for his own indiscretion. Although it does the trick, it drives him in the back of his mind to visit his parents for a while. Ruari is not ready for this trip, as it seems that she has made a date. It’s not surprising given their chemistry in the previous episode, but it still makes for a uniquely weird dynamic.
Alex leaves the relationship after making an important discovery
While Alex goes to visit her parents, Ruari and Plum get together at an old bar, only to be joined by their older brother. Although Ruari is not too happy about it, their conversations take a romantic turn anyway. As soon as they get the chance, the two kiss, and Alex finds his existential crisis slowly creeping up once more. The next day at work is no better, as Charlotte’s daughter, Livonia, arrives complaining that her mother never once mentioned her in interviews. As a corrective measure, she goes so far as to ask for a press conference, but Alex is able to calm her down by using her experience as a sweetener.
That night, Alex, Ruari and Pat are invited to dinner by Lorcan, who claims he has a big announcement to make. While Ruari agrees to go, she also has a date with Plum scheduled around the same time, which makes things even more complicated. Sam and Rob are invited too, and when they all get together, it doesn’t take long for their familiar problems to resurface. When Lorcan reveals that he and Teresa are trying to have a baby, Alex instinctively confronts him, telling him that he was a terrible father to Ruari and that he shouldn’t try anymore. When dinner descends into chaos, Ruari uses it as an excuse to make an early exit, where she heads straight for the plum.
Although it doesn’t take long for things to sour between Ruari and Plum, he can’t seem to get an erection. When he goes to the bathroom to take his Viagra pills, he gets more bad news because the pills take at least 30 minutes to activate. By the time he’s ready to leave, Plum is fast asleep and has to make the awkward journey home. It ends on a similarly bad note for Alex, who returns to Patty’s place, only to find a note in her kitchen listing the pros and cons of being with Alex. Although the professionals are full of pleasant and warm things, the villain has only one note: that Alex cannot give him his own family. Reading this stirs something inside Alex and she chooses to leave, leaving Pat confused about what happened and where things might go from here.
Read more: Is Youth Based on a True Story? Is Alex based on a real literary agent?
