The second episode of HBO’s Looking explores the troubles in paradise for Patrick, Agustîn, and Dom. Check out our full recap below!
Every experience does not lead to a revelation, but that does not mean people shy away from taking risks. Tonight on Looking season 1, episode 2, “Looking for Uncut,” Patrick, Dom, and Agustîn tackle relationships from a new angle. Dom reconnects with an ex-lover, Patrick’s and his MUNI encounter go out, and Agustîn begins a domestic partnership with Frank.
Over the bay: Agustîn is not only leaving Patrick alone in the apartment they shared for eight years, he is leaving San Francisco all together. Although Oakland is only a short twenty-minute train ride under the bay, Agustîn’s move places both guys in new territory.
On the car ride over, Patrick listens to his friends mock his “lack of experiences” in love and sex. Patrick tries to defiantly stand up to their comments, proclaiming he is going to acquire a “fuck buddy,” but this only results in a fit of laughter. The conversation shifts to Agustîn’s new form of domesticity that includes inviting another person into the relationship. Patrick believes that blurs the lines between intimacy and sex.
Patrick’s attempt to understand where the line is drawn between Agustîn and Frank’s open relationship hints at his own struggle to define what he wants from his sexual encounters. Patrick and Agustîn bid their goodbyes through the fitting words of the Golden Girls title song. On the drive back, Dom gives them three months and Patrick, optimistically, gives them six.
Patrick and the Chulo: Patrick returns to find Agustîn left him one final reminder of their time together. Spray painted over the mantle reads, “Patrick and Agustîn 4 ever.” Patrick tries to get some work done, but Google image feeds his interest in studying the anatomy of an uncut man. Dom and Agustîn’s teasing leads him to research the possible uncharted territory that may await him at the end of the night.
Watching Patrick fumble through his night with Richie is both awkward and extremely frustrating. Not only do you want to take Patrick by the shoulders and tell him to shut up at times, you feel sorry for him as you watch a perfectly interested guy get turned off by Patrick’s lack of observational skills.
Patrick starts asking about Richie’s family, but flubs that by assuming they are all in another country. The non-stop train wreck continues when he brushes off questions about his own family and keeps feeding Richie drinks. If they are both drunk, the conversation will turn out to be the last thing Patrick has to worry about.
Patrick, a little tipsy at this point, begins to rant about his friends making fun of his “fresh off the bus” demeanor, but he argues he is more experienced than they think. When Patrick drops a mention of Colorado, Richie tries to latch onto that detail and push for more information about Patrick. Once again, the cue flies right past him.
Finally making it back to Patrick’s place, they head into the bedroom where Patrick makes one final mistake. As things are heating up, Patrick laughs at Richie’s body and blames his friends for putting expectations in his head. Richie does not understand what Patrick is expecting from their hook-up but feels that they want two different things.
Pornographic Unicorns, Debts Repaid: Agustîn and Frankie begin their first weekend with some cleaning and unpacking. Meshing two homes and lives means some things have to go. Agustîn wants to get rid of a unicorn canvas that is made of nude male photographs. Frankie wants to stay in on the weekend watching Netflix on the couch sharing a pizza. Adjusting is a bit harder for Agustîn, who tries to hint that his city nightlife might not be something he is willing to trade in.
Dom heads to his coffee date with a “refreshed” Ethan. After eight years, Ethan’s venture into real estate turned his miserable life around. Ethan immediately launches into an apology, which turns out to be part of his 12 step program. Sincere, or not, the apology does not make up for the trouble Ethan brought to Dom. After putting up with threats and an abusive meth habit, Dom gave $8,000 of his personal savings to send Ethan to rehab.
The lunch leaves Dom feeling a greater void than he had going into it. Dom grabs his phone and has a young lad from five floors below in his bedroom before he can hit send on Grindr. Doris returns home to find a strange young man in her shower belting out Wicked tunes and a distressed Dom.
In the end we have friends: Dom and Doris sit on the couch talking about the meeting with Ethan. Doris understands that Dom needed to see him as part of “his process,” but she would have neck punched the bastard. Her pep talk is what gives Dom the boost to get off the couch and confront the real problems lurking with Ethan. In front of his client meeting, Dom takes the chance to ask for his money back and give his two cents on their relationship.
With Patrick’s date officially a bust and Agustîn moving towards adapting to his new life, the two talk late that night. Patrick sits at his kitchen table, devouring a bowl of mac and cheese, telling Agustîn that not only did his date go up in smoke, but he may also be a racist. Patrick thanks him for the wall art and decides to keep it that way. It is a reminder of the end of an era. An end indeed, as Agustîn hangs his own artwork in his new apartment.
Watch Looking season 1, episode 3 “Looking at Your Browser History” Saturday, February 1 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO
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