Following the explosive conclusion to “Couples Therapy,” John and Jane’s mutual discomfort damages their relationship. This is evident as the two have returned to sleeping in separate bedrooms. Their daily routine is splintered: John goes out and Jane stays behind. After she gets ready, we follow Jane to the home of a stranger (Michaela Coel). After being let in and asking for something to drink, Jane pulls a gun, forcing the woman to sit through an interrogation.
The order of questioning reveals Jane’s suspicions: John has been seeing this woman, named Bev, behind her back. Bev reveals she’s been seeing John for about a month, but is adamant that they have not been intimate. Instead, they mostly watch movies and talk as Bev is a sounding board for John’s issues at home. According to Bev, John thinks Jane is controlling and makes him feel like a little boy. He also admits he didn’t think they were compatible personality-wise, referencing Jane as being kind but not friendly. Jane begins to cry as she comes clean to some of John’s accusations.
Just then John arrives. Jane goes and hides, threatening to kill Bev if she tells John she’s there. John appears relaxed, handing Bev a popsicle as they sit to resume watching a movie. After awkward small talk, John shifts tones and asks, “Where’s my wife?”
The secret lovers begin to fight as it’s revealed Bev is the target of their latest mission. Bev gets the upper hand, latching an automatic garrote around John’s neck. As he struggles to breathe, Jane steps in but to no avail. Bev escapes the brownstone as Jane rescues John, whose neck is bleeding from the wire. Luckily, John attached a tracker on Bev’s back, tracing her movement via his cellphone.
The Smiths chase Bev to the subway where they eventually lose sight of her. John resorts to the tracking device, but his phone has died. After a back-and-forth with a bodega owner, they begin to charge John’s phone. Here we get to the root of Jane’s issue with Bev. What was supposed to be a three-day mission, John has prolonged for a month. And while they both are permitted to take liberties with their targets – including sex – Jane views John’s certain freedoms with Bev have crossed a line. When John attempts to defend himself, Jane again denies his right to his feelings. The argument is cut short as John’s phone reveals Bev is in Flatbush.
As they stake out Bev’s current location, the disagreement resumes. Jane accuses John of having an emotional affair. Their bickering continues until the tracker shows Bev on the move. Her next location: the restaurant from the couple’s first mission. Jane believes she’s toying with them now, and she would be right. They find the tracker attached to a postcard on the wall of the building. Mission failed.
By the time they return home, Jane has caught a nasty cold. John offers to cook her soup, but Jane declines saying the hot neighbor already made her some. John immediately tosses the neighbor’s soup and gets to cooking in the kitchen. We see him FaceTiming with his mother as he prepares Jane’s dinner. It’s a beautiful scene as we see John with his guard down, being his full self with someone he loves.
John brings Jane the soup as they debrief and begrudgingly submit their failure to secure the target. Hihi responds confirming their third failed mission. Dejected, John admits he’s done. Jane tosses the MacBook to the floor, breaking it in two.
The next morning, a package is delivered to Jane. It’s a new MacBook.
As the shortest episode of the season, coming just under 38 minutes, “Infidelity” is one of its best. The writing is clever and intricate, never missing a beat between the dramatic and comedic tones. Coel is excellent as the elusive target and Dave Attell as the kosher food mart clerk delivers expertly. Glover and Erskine again take the cake as we witness Jane and John’s partnership crumble.
Rating: 9/10