Episode Title: 'It's Not Even Like That'
Writer: Seth Zvi Rosenfield
Director: Julian Farino
Mark Twain once said "denial isn't just a river in Egypt." It's also not just a street in the East Village. As evidenced by the title of this episode, just about everyone needs a serious reality check.
Rachel (Lake Bell) and Domingo (Scott Mescudi) each try to suss out the offensiveness rating of their relationship among their group of friends, in particular Ben (Bryan Greenberg). After telling Rachel their own relationship made him ill, it would seem Ben would be fine with it. Problem is, he clearly still has feelings for her despite whatever bouts of nausea their prior relationship induced.
Meanwhile, Rene (Luis Guzman) banks on the sudden success of Rasta Monsta and the fruition of his dream to go legit, by gifting Debbie with diamond earrings. But with one foot still in the hood, he's not ready to give her the Ivanka Trump treatment, just yet.
On the other side of the coin, Cam's (Victor Rasuk) earnestness has him leveling up with Lulu (Nicole LaLiberte) and forming a valuable friendship with her artist father, Felix (Joe Pantoliano). And Kappo (Eddie Kaye Thomas) finds his best man duties go a lot smoother when he speaks from the heart, with a little help from some THC laced breath spray, courtesy of Domingo.
While Ben and Rachel danced around their feelings for each other, literally and Cam and Lulu got closer, there was plenty of comedy in the mix. Yes, some people are just too honest. Case in point, Rachel's uptight boss commenting on her "hostile listening face." And then there was Rene's hilarious confrontation with the son of a Korean deli owner.
As a New Yorker, I can attest to the accuracy and honesty of "How to Make It in America's" portrayal of life in the city. But even if you've never pushed through a turnstile or bought a soda at the corner store, there's humor to be found in the big city microcosm in which Ben, Cam and their friends exist. Denial played right isn't just a river in Egypt, it's also one very funny half-hour of television.
Crave Online Rating: 8 out of 10.
