Flow of Madness

This is my take on what happens with Rich in this episode. 

Everything I wrote in my Rich’s Psychology post still stands. I still believe that all of that is true. One of those things that I still believe is that Rich feels lost. His actions are being dictated by the Grace that lives inside his head. I think he constantly has conversations with her and she is still a huge part of him. He has not let go yet, because of that he has not reached that point where he can break down. Because Rich is him in many ways right now. 

He is studying and the main reason why he is studying is because Grace cares about her grades. She would be studying like mad and fretting about her grades. So he is doing it on her behalf. He is taking his schooling seriously in honor of her. He is smiling and trying to help his friends, because that is what Grace would do. He does not lash out at Liv when she tries to goad him, because Rich knows Liv is hurting. Then at the end of the episode sitting next to Grace’s grave he smiles and shakes his head at Liv, Maude, and Doug dancing like Grace. Then joins in. Celebrating Grace and how amazingly positive she is in everyone’s life. 

This episode did not necessarily give me closure, but it gave me understanding. Understanding that my desire for Rich to cry and get mad is not what is best for Rich, but instead what I need. I do think though Rich will crash and be challenged especially in Episode 10. I am was convinced that suicide was not an option and now I am undoubtedly think that suicide is off the table. Rich is stable and Rich has Grace whether she is here physically or not. 

Basically what I got from this episode is that Rich has Grace in his head. This has kept him strong and smiling. Though it is an empty form of happiness. He can’t explain this to his friends, because it sounds insane. However Rich is celebrating Grace. He is being her knight. He is doing what she would do. Trying to chase her memory. Eventually he will need to stop chasing and realize that she is gone. Not from his heart, but eventually he will need to let go of her and take back his life in his own way. 

Rich is a beautiful man. A beautiful man who loved a beautiful woman. He lost his beautiful woman to tragedy, so he is embracing everything about her in order to keep her close. Though he must learn to keep her in his heart, but learn he needs to be him.  That’s the journey Rich must take in Episode 10 and if not in Episode 10 then the special in 2013.