A big shoutout to the Duplass Brothers for crafting a role in Connection that truly showcases the talents of Emma Hart. As the vivacious and unpredictable Sarah, she embodies the friend we all know and envy—a bit chaotic, yet radiating a carefree spirit that makes her infinitely more fun than the “responsible adults” around her.
This week, Sarah has taken on the role of life coach for Mark, introducing him to the Beachbody “Insanity” workout DVD. If the intense jumping jacks don’t wear him out, Sarah’s enthusiastic pep talk—“Do you want to be a star?”—certainly will. Sarah’s on a mission to whip Mark into shape, both physically and mentally, to help him chase his long-buried dreams of stardom.
When the mailman arrives with two tickets to Jake’s TV show premiere that evening, Sarah excitedly declares that she and Mark will join Jake and Lisa, fully confident in her charm to waltz onto the red carpet without an invite.
Jake and Lisa are hesitant to attend, as they are deep in discussion about their 5-year-old daughter, Mia’s, kindergarten options. They’re torn between private and public school; Lisa believes a public school will offer a richer cultural experience for Mia.
When the sitter cancels, Lisa bravely steps up to stay home with the kids, leaving Jake with the task of babysitting Sarah and Mark at their first glamorous premiere. Sarah shows up in a stunning one-shoulder silver sequined dress that straddles the line between glamorous and prom queen, while Mark has squeezed himself into a pair of jeans Sarah chose for him, helped by some well-placed Spanx.
Once they reach the premiere, Sarah drags Mark onto the red carpet, where he fumbles with the cameras and lies to a reporter about his role in the show, claiming he plays a villain. “She’s a wild one,” Jake mutters about Sarah to Mark. “Crazy as she is, it seems to be working,” Jake muses, clearly smitten by Sarah’s confidence. And yes, she’s wild—like a crafty fox.
Jake and Mark decide to split up for the evening; Jake intends to smooth things over with the director he previously clashed with, while Mark aims to introduce himself to his idol, producer Larry Kinsley.
Sarah and Mark embark on their “Lucy and Ethel go to Hollywood” escapade, unsuccessfully trying to chat with Larry (played by the ever-charismatic Richard Grant) in the buffet line and even the men’s restroom before they sneak into the VIP section to meet him. Larry is surprisingly down-to-earth, and Sarah beams with pride when she sees him connect with Mark.
Meanwhile, Jake’s attempts to reconcile with the director go awry. The director pretends not to recognize him and launches into a tirade, only to reveal it was all in jest, howling like a coyote as Jake stands there, bewildered. We’ve all been in that spot—feeling small in front of someone more powerful who’s just a bit of a jerk. Yet, Jake finds solace when he spots a crimson-breasted bird perched on a lamppost and captures its song on his phone. He may not need the director’s validation; this is his art.
Unexpectedly, Lisa gets a reprieve when the babysitter shows up, but instead of attending the premiere, she swaps her outfit for fishnets and a leather jacket, heading to a local bar. She tries to flirt with the bartender, suggesting she’s ready for an adventure, only to be met with indifference as he offers her hummus toast instead.
On her way home, Lisa bums a cigarette from two teenagers, Adam and Miguel. When Adam jokingly comments on Lisa’s looks, she playfully calls him over and exhales smoke in his direction, saying, “If you get cancer, I’m really sorry.” Not the sharpest comeback, but Lisa feels victorious as she walks away with newfound confidence.
She eventually stumbles upon a community meeting led by David Miller, a divorced dad working to establish a charter school. In him, Lisa sees a shared vision of creating something meaningful for their children’s education. David drives her home, and as he talks about parenting, Lisa envisions a life without Jake, igniting a spark of attraction in her. We leave her in bed, Googling “Eagle Rock Charter School David Miller”—clearly intrigued.
As for Sarah and Mark, they share a moment of disbelief at the end of the night, thrilled that they actually spoke with Larry. Mark, smitten with Sarah, eagerly accepts her invitation to help her gather her belongings from Houston. However, the thrill dissipates when he spots Sarah cozying up to Larry. The night concludes with Jake and a disheartened Mark driving away, waving goodbye to Sarah and Larry. Jake offers a pep talk, comparing Mark to the “Tom Sawyer” of a Rush song, someone who lifts others’ spirits without embarrassment. The episode wraps with the two of them air-drumming and lip-syncing along, embodying the idea of “bros before” as the credits roll.
Summary
Connection beautifully captures the chaotic yet joyful moments of friendships and the unpredictable paths of life and love. With Sarah guiding Mark towards his dreams and Lisa discovering new aspirations, the series portrays the complexity of adult relationships, aspirations, and the humorous misadventures that come with them.