Can we talk about Younger for a second? Cause I need to talk about Younger for a second.
The biggest red flag people are throwing up involves Charles being resentful of Liza down the road. It’s possible; he’s only human. Empirical was his family legacy. But, even though he’s not running it, he still gets to be apart of it. He was a huge part of it becoming the powerhouse that it was. The only reason that they were in the hole so deeply is because they refused to work with a sexual harasser. That shows that the company, and by proxy its leader, has integrity beyond that of many other businesses and individuals.
Ah yes. Integrity. When Charles found out about Liza’s age, he was upset. He felt betrayed. And understandably so. As a lover, friend, or employer, that kind of thing would be upsetting for someone in any one of those positions; think about someone who was in all three. But once he processed it, once he understood why she did it, it was old news. He never mentioned it again, unless they were both making jokes (like about her reading glasses). He never threw it back in her face. He never pressured her to come clean. In fact, he did a lot of work on his end to make sure she could keep up the charade, and he did so because he knows how much her job means to her, and because he loves her and wants her to be happy. Then we have Josh, who, since finding out about the lie, has thrown it back in Liza’s face basically every chance he gets. Any time he is upset with her, both when they were together and when they were not, that becomes the barb with which he strikes her. He’s allowed to feel hurt and betrayed also, but nothing was at stake for him like it has been for Charles. But time and time again, he has rubbed salt in that wound; he’s never let it heal.
Now then. Back to Charles turning over his company to Quinn, Kelsey, and the other good people of Empirical (side note: can Diana also get some kind of promotion? Homegirl deserves a raise or something). His declaration to Liza in the park touched me in a big way:
“It was my life. But maybe it’s time for a new one with you and my kids. My father’s company is still alive and I get to watch you help run it. I have got everything I want.”
So besides the fact that it’s romantic as hell, it takes me back to when we first met Pauline (side note: I am so surprised she didn’t make an appearance…to quote Rory Gilmore, she’s “like a pop-up book from hell.”). Forgive me for paraphrasing or if I am over simplifying, but Pauline always said that she left Charles and the girls because she lost sight of who she was…and part of that had to do with Charles being a workaholic who cared more about his job than his wife’s happiness. He shut down emotionally when things got tough. He was unwilling to communicate with her. He just expected her to play her part and be happy with what he was doing.
So let’s flip the script. Charles passed his company on to a wealthy businesswoman and one of his employees so that it could stay afloat. So that the woman he loves could keep the job that she loves, with the people she loves. So that he could have more in his life besides his job. He and Liza are not perfect communicators, but they aren’t afraid to say how they feel, even if it’s hard and even if it’s not what the other person wants to hear. Their ability to be completely vulnerable and honest with each other is charming, intoxicating, and sometimes a little heartbreaking. She sees him and he sees her. He is happy that Liza gets to continue playing a part in running Empirical/Millennial even though that means he has to step away. And we covered some of the “resentment” factor already, but I don’t think it will be a huge issue because even though he lost something, Charles is gaining a lot more. He made that choice because he truly wants those other things. Nobody forced his hand; nobody made him give it all away. He easily could have denied his relationship with Liza (I actually thought he was gonna say, “It’s completely false” instead of “consensual” tbh), and I’m almost willing to bet that she would have understood. She would’ve been pissed, but I think she would’ve understood, especially based on her reaction when he starts to tell her the truth of it all.
We do know that Charles is impulsive when it comes to following his heart, by his own admission, but this isn’t the first time that he’s had to make a choice between his relationship with Liza and something else important. He always chooses Liza. Everything Charles has ever done over the course of the series has been for the good of Empirical. And even still, he’s making big changes for the good of the company. But this time, he’s also doing it for the good of Liza…of their relationship. So she can succeed. So their relationship can thrive. He’s putting her wants and needs before his own. He’s putting their relationship before his job.
Charles and Pauline’s relationship didn’t work out because Charles was a self-obsessed workaholic who always put work first. Charles and Liza’s relationship will work out because he’s a compassionate, benevolent human being who has begun to put work second.
The ending of the episode has me a little concerned about what is to come, but I am cautiously optimistic. People have said that they look unhappy. I disagree. I think that’s the first moment that the magnitude and reality of what has transpired in the last 24-48 hours (or more) for them has really sunk in; and the reality and magnitude of what’s next. Darren Starr himself said, “It doesn’t mean that they don’t want to be together. It doesn’t mean unhappily ever after, just realistically ever after.”
Anyways, Younger is the best show and I am so grateful for it.
