Still, a series that has the potential to be formulaic or rely heavily on clichés has turned out to be anything but, thanks to Horgan’s humor, emotional maturity—and immaturity at all the right moments—not to mention her raw reactions to the things life tends to throw at us once we reach a certain age. Our third act was supposed to be easier? Or so Alex thought.
As a woman who is also on the fast track to midlife, I found myself loving the depth of Alex’s relationship with her boss and friend, Sam (played by Sharlene Whyte). Also, the push-pull of wanting her kid to spread his wings, but also provide him with a soft cushion to land as he makes mistakes. (There’s a scene where he is officially college-bound and Alex is waving him off only to, moments later, find herself chasing after his car. She stops herself, then starts up again, offering a heartfelt moment that is also full of awkwardness. After all, there’s freedom on the other side of his departure, but it’s also hard? Horgan nails the complex emotions of the scene.)
