Looking heads to Dolores Park tonight to celebrate Dom’s birthday. But will everyone be accepting of Patrick’s date? Read our full recap to find out!
Nothing screams 40 quite like bashing a giant piñata made in the likeness of your face. Dom’s birthday party is not the only reflection the guys face on tonight’s Looking season 1, episode 6 “Looking in the Mirror.” Patrick and Richie look at how others see their relationship, while Agustîn and Frankie take a look at their’s through a quite different lens.
Luck and Labels: Patrick and Richie discuss a very important event approaching their relationship, meeting the friends. Richie is fine with the occasion, however, Patrick is nervous about introducing his “boyfriend” to the most important people in his life. Oh, and he just used that word… didn’t he?
Apologizing profusely, Richie brushes off Patrick’s attempts to diffuse the situation by taking on the title with pride. The next morning, after styling Patrick’s hair, Richie presents Patrick with a replica of his good luck necklace. Traditionally it is given to the wearer by someone else and Richie trusts that it will bring Patrick all the luck he needs.
Dolores, Doris, and Doritios: The night before his big day, Dom and Lynn host potential investors for a sampling of Piri Piri chicken and drinks. The dinner goes well, but Lynn advises Dom to be patient and let them come to him. He also advises Dom to stop dreading his birthday. 40, despite what Dom believes, is not a death sentence.
Frankie and Agustîn shop for some picnic goodies and discuss Agustîn’s earlier melt down about his project with CJ. The still photography may look great, but Frankie cannot see the artistic struggle Agustîn tackles in his mind. Luckily, Frankie and CJ are set to meet at Dom’s party and set Agustîn’s next phase into motion.
Patrick arrives with Richie to the park and introductions begin when Owen, Patrick’s co-worker, arrives with his girlfriend. Publicly, Patrick presents Richie as his boyfriend, much to Agustîn’s disdain. Richie tries to meld with the group early on, but Agustîn’s lack of interest presses on Richie’s bad side from the start.
Honey Boo Boo and Seattle: After Dom and Doris arrive, the libations begin to flow and everyone loosens up a bit. Especially Patrick, who struts around the group mimicking an exaggerated version of what his friends say he is like. That is until Kevin appears at the top of the hill and Patrick embarrasses himself, yet again, in front of his boss. Describing the scene as a “gay-hispter-drunk paradise,” Kevin is interrupted by a man shoving olive oil ice cream in his face.
The food-pusher turns out to be John, Kevin’s no longer long distance boyfriend. The interview John was in town for went well and he now works on the San Francisco Giants’ sports medicine team. Richie comes over and introduces himself, without label, to John and Kevin. Richie explains that he cuts hair for a living, but Patrick jumps in and adds that it is a “just for now” job, and Richie plans to open his own shop. (A bit of a lie…) Luckily, Doris provides a giant piñata to end the painful conversation and Kevin and his tight blue t-shirt disappear from the party.
Slummin’ for Money: After a few drinks Agustîn leaves Frankie to chat up CJ, while he offers Patrick some friendly advice. Agustîn believes that Patrick is leading Richie on to think that they are going to have a future together. While Patrick does not deny Agustîn’s accusations, he does not agree that he is leading Richie down a path where he has no intention of developing a meaningful relationship. Patrick retorts that his “meaningful relationship” with a man he pays $220/hr for, is not a great alternative.
As Agustîn mentions that Patrick is “slumming,” Richie sneaks into the conversation and picks a fight with him. Agustîn, catching himself in a bad place, ardently apologizes over and over, in more than one language. When Patrick and Richie leave, Agustîn sulks over to the picnic and calls himself an asshole. Over on Dom and Doris’ blanket, they discuss Lynn. Dom is clearly smitten by his new older man, but insists they are just friends. Friends, who apparently, send each other flowers in the park as a birthday gift.
Lights, Camera, Action: Richie tries to take a break from Patrick for the night to gather his thoughts, but Patrick wants him to understand that he does take their relationship seriously. In an attempt to do so, he invites Richie to his sister’s wedding in two weeks as his date. Later, looking at his reflection in the mirror, he looks at his necklace and finally processes the significance of the step he took in his personal life. A step for better or for worse?
CJ appears in Frankie and Agustîn’s bedroom that night filming the couple in bed. As part of his art project, Agustîn also films Frankie with CJ, but puts the camera down and watches instead of recording, taking in another perspective of his relationship with art versus his relationship in love.
Dom pays Lynn a visit, but does not receive the birthday greeting he hoped for. Declaring earlier that Grindr signs your death certificate at 40, Dom begins to look at the possibility of life with a man his own age. However, Lynn sees them as friends and now, due to a lack of interest from investors, as business partners. Lynn’s friends enjoyed Dom’s food, but did not agree to invest their money in his dream. Lynn cooks up a different plan that requires much less capital. A pop-up shop where investors can get a feel for the scene, sample the food, and potentially invest. However, feelings must remain tabled in order for Lynn and Dom to proceed.
Watch Looking season 1, episode 7 “Looking For a Plus-One” Sunday, March 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO