Apple TV+ ‘Platonic’ Season 2 Episode 4 Review - Finding the Emotional Groove in Dorky Choices

I watched “Fore!” and found myself smiling at how grounded the episode feels, even amid its absurd detours. At its heart, it’s a story about two people whose messed-up lives refuse to stay tidy, especially when their own best friend is the one stirring up trouble. Will has just broken things off with Jenna, and Sylvia, ever the reluctant ally, is thrust into the middle of his emotional tumble. No golf caddy clichés here, just two adults trying to make sense of betrayal, support, and shifting boundaries all exchanged through familiar, slightly awkward banter.

The episode opens by settling us into Will’s raw aftershock. He’s in San Diego, wrestling with guilt and confusion, and Sylvia is there because she’s not the kind to sit back. The pairing of her anxious “keep him from making a bigger mess” energy and his sloppy self-sabotage is a constant source of laughter and tension. Their dynamic in this episode rings true, unglossed: she’s the friend who can’t help but stir the pot; he’s the friend whose instincts are louder than his better judgment.

Soon they’re on a golf course aptly titled “Fore!” for its double meaning, and the absurdity ramps up. Will, in a fit of frustrated bravado, swings joylessly and sends the ball careening into someone else. I laughed not because it’s slapstick, but because it’s so genuine to his distracted character. From there, alarms get called, apologies tumble out, and Will starts to question whether this is the kind of chaos he wants to bring into a marriage. Jenna has already felt on the outside, and now this moment feels like salt in a wound that wasn't even healed. Meanwhile, Sylvia’s responsibility grows heavier. She planted the seed, in a sense, with her earlier conviction that he shouldn’t go through with the wedding.

This episode leans into the fact that adult friendship isn’t neat. Will’s confession of his crush on a stranger (echoed from earlier episodes) resurfaces, dissolving into panic. Sylvia watches him, conflicted: part of her wants to see him happy, part of her fears the fallout of this misguided honesty. The writing handles this with a light touch, not on the surface, but in the fine line of a pause between words, or her facial expression when he says something ridiculous. Subtle, but unmistakably there.

It also felt like the show continues doing what it’s always done best, finding the emotional groove in dorky choices. The supporting characters don’t hog the spotlight, but their presence deepens what’s already happening. Charlie, for instance, is preparing for his Jeopardy! Appearance. It’s a neat counterpoint: while Will’s heading toward emotional landmines, Charlie is stumbling through an identity crisis of his own, desperately trying to feel significant. Their arcs bounce off each other without distracting from Sylvia and Will.

What the episode does particularly well is stretch its runtime with purpose. There’s no padding here. Every moment, even when it veers into absurdity, is tethered to character: Will’s stumbling through remorse; Sylvia’s sneaking glances as she rethinks her role in his life; Jenna’s looming absence as her influence lingers in every uncomfortable look Will sends Sylvia. The pacing moves just fast enough to let tension simmer without boiling over.

In all honesty, the episode’s single biggest misstep is that it still occasionally lets scenes wander, dialogue sometimes circles topics rather than pushing the story forward. A few beats feel like extended setups that don’t pay off quite sharply. You can sense the writers stretching to fill the TV episode shape rather than sharpening the emotional beats. That bloat is minor, but in a 30-minute rhythm of genuine urgency, a fizzle stands out.

Still, those moments don’t derail the episode. This installment continues to showcase what critics are calling the show’s strength: the chemistry between the leads. Rogen is effortlessly goofy and regretful in equal measure; Byrne’s control of every anxious quiver settles Will’s chaos into something watchable. 

What I really appreciate about “Fore!” is how it handles the messiness of friendship, the hard choices, the moments of wanting to protect someone from themselves, and realizing maybe that protection is part of the problem. It confronts the question: when do you step back for someone you love, and when do you step on their toes by sticking too close? And it does it while cracking a joke about lousy golf swings.

In summary, this episode brings the laughter and the awkwardness in perfect tandem. Will’s inner wrestling is real, Sylvia’s sense of duty cut with exasperation is pitch-perfect, and the golf course moment is absurdly fitting as a place for swings both literal and emotional. Though it drifts occasionally, it stays true to its strength: illuminating the comedy in chaos, and the chaos in caring too much.

Final Score- [6/10]