Necessary Roughness 2.01 ‘Shrink or Swim’ recap: HOLDING – PTSD, Automatic 1st Down

Welcome to Season 2 of Necessary Roughness.

If you’ve got 3 minutes and can watch video, I suggest watching this recap:

If you don’t, what you need to know is that this show centers around Dr. Danni, a therapist who is restarting her life after being cheated on by her husband.  She meets a hot guy in bar who ends up being the athletic trainer, Matty D, for the Hawks, the local NFL team.  Not only does Matty D end up asking her out (and ultimately sharing her bed by the end of season 1), but he gets her a job!  Suddenly, she’s therapist to the team’s resident bad boy wide receiver, Terrence King (TK).  Working with Hawks means that Nico, the team’s private investigator and enforcer, is all up in her business.  She also has two teenagers, who alternate being amusing and annoying.  But the main center of this show is Dr. Danni, All American Trainer Hottie, Bad Boy Football Player Hottie and Man of Mystery Who Solves Everyone’s Problems Hottie.  Got that?   Oh, another important thing to note, after battling many personal demons last season, TK overcame them to get the Hawks to the playoffs.  At a celebration after, he got shot in the chest by a crazed fan.

“I ain’t dead yet…bitches”
Dr. Dani goes all Meredith Grey on us when she starts out via voice over as a little girl splashes into a pool (I was undecided if she was drowning or learning how to open her eyes under water, but apparently it was the former).  We continue with a Grey’s Anatomy vibe as TK is rushed to the emergency room and into surgery.

Despite a montage of cuts between TK’s surgery and his worried friends/team members in the hospital waiting room, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the cocky football receiver will make it through the surgery.   Not even when they try to pull a bait and switch and have a nurse deliver the heart breaking news that he didn’t make it.   Of course TK does make it though; the nurse was delivering news about some dead old guy because she thought Dr. Danni was his daughter.   The nurse does give residents at Seattle Grace and Port Charles’ General Hospital a run for their money on most unprofessional medical conduct though when she mutters and smiles “My bad!” after learning they are looking for TK.  She may have won line of the segment, had TK not been wheeled over, and tossed an “I aint dead yet…bitches” to Dr. Danni and the Hotties worried about him.  Oh, TK never change.

This of course means he will. In six weeks time TK goes from cocky and self absorbed to cocky, self absorbed and embracing crazy.

“Sneaking around is always dicey…” 
Six week later and Dr. Danni has spent the off season getting it on.  Dr. Danni has Matty D in her bed and her kids on an overnight with their dad.   About to get a little morning “something, something” before Matty D has to go to work; the kids come home because Lindsay’s father bought her a fish that eats frozen blood worms.  It needs to be put in a bowl.  Why a bowl at Dad’s house is never explained, but basically, the kids have totally blocked Dr. Danni’s morning getting some.  I may never have kids.

Matty D is super understanding about it, noting that she doesn’t want him around the kids unless he’s a permanent fixture, and he’s right, but man….when All American Hottie wants to give you a little morning “something, something”, you shouldn’t be forced to wear the Mom of the Year crown and pass it up because the kids came home early!!  No nookie after they’re on their way to school because Matty D had to get to work.

Sad for you, Dr. Danni, sad for you — and about to get sadder.  Her lawyer stops by with the last set of tax papers to file with her ex, but her ex hasn’t been paying taxes in a few years so now the IRS is auditing them and they owe the government like 90K.   Ouch.

“Whole new season….whole new set of crazy.”
Over at Hawks headquarters, we find out the team owners, the Pittmans, have filed for divorce and it’s going to go the way of the real life Dodger divorce last year; ugly, embarrassing and financially ruinous for the team.   When Dr. Danni shows up for work, Nico commiserates about her audit, lets her know that he knows that she’s bed buddies with Matty D (serious sexual tension alert) and then goes back to business and explains the Pittman divorce means the teams up for grabs.  Dr. Danni takes this moment to ask Nico if he talked to Mr. Pitmin about his past relationship with the soon to be ex Mrs. Pittman, Gabrielle. Nico puts her off with a “we have more important things on our plate right now.”   Oh Nico, there is never anything more important than sleeping with the boss’ wife and this is going to come back to haunt you.

Coach Purnell calls the Holy Trinity (Nico, Matty D and Dr. Danni) of Hawks Problem Solving into his office and demands answers.  Where’s Marshall Pittman? Nico’s got nothing. How’s TK?  Now it’s Matty D and Dr. Danni’s turn to have no answers.  Yup, that’s right.  TK has been recuperating from his gun shot in Florida and while they’ve heard he’s been back for a few days, he hasn’t returned calls.   Coach Purnell points out that they need to find out – even if that means breaking down the door.  It’s too bad Nico took off during the TK update because he’s the guy who generally breaks down the doors.

Nico meets up with a guy named Devon, who is apparently Marshall Pittman’s new point guy.   Devon just wants Nico to know Marshall’s in the wind.  Nico would care, but he’s more concerned about the SOS emails he’s getting from Marshall’s troubled wild child daughter, Juliet.  Last season, Nico’s ex-Gabrielle Pittman hinted that maybe Juliet is Nico’s daughter and not Marshall’s.  Regardless, Nico has always been the paternal figure in her life, bailing her out of trouble, and he’s beyond pissed he can’t find her.  Devon lets Nico know that Marshall wants Juliet to dig herself out of the hole this time; no help form Nico.  Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.  Devon suggests that Nico “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” because there are big changes coming.

“TK is practically the Dalai Fricking Lama”
Over at TK’s there’s no door breaking necessary. The body guard lets Matty D and Dr. Danni in and we find TK in the hot tub with three ladies.  Dr. Danni and Matty D take this in like it’s somewhat of a shock, but get real; this was TK’s MO last season except for the one episode where he had a girlfriend.

TK lets them know that he’s great, very Zen.  Also, he’s no longer TK.   Lest you think he’s got some sort of Dissociate Identity Disorder, don’t worry, it’s just his narcissism.   He’s King Terrence or KT now.   We know that Dr. Danni is gonna nip this in the bud eventually, so I’m gonna keep calling him TK.  Dr. Danni looks like she may hurl and it’s probably what causes TK to take it a little further by revealing all of himself (and a very nice ass shot which I tried to find a screen shot of for you guys but came up short)!  Dr. Danni and Matty D are looking anywhere but at King Terrence (okay just this once because…well that body is royally appreciated by me right now.  Long live the King!) As he struts over and gives Dr. Danni a naked hug.  See where I was feeling badly for Dr. Danni earlier? I’m over that now.  Damn.

TK shows up at Dr. Danni’s for his therapy appointment and he’s high on life.  He thinks getting shot was a gift; he no longer needs words to communicate because he knows what the earth is thinking, etc.  TK lets us know that during his time on the other side, he saw an angel with a trash bag.   We all think that’s odd, but TK decided to make good use of the bag and throw all the pain and suffering of the past in it and into a spiritual dumpster.  He’s now clean.    Dr. Danni tries to get him to talk about his pain, but the most he’ll admit to is some physical pain.  All righty then…we’re all on board with this is gonna go badly for TK right?

“Diddy would never put up with this!”
Over at Hawks Headquarters, TK’s agent is outlining how TK plans to make his big entrance into a fan convention – he’s gonna zip line in to “The Bitch is Back!”  Of course he is!

The agent sees that this could be an insurance or security problem, so he suggests rising through the floor with air canons of confetti and Dr. Danni shoots this all down because she’s convinced TK may end up with PTSD.   TK’s agent tries to romance Coach with the idea that TK can cure the PR cancer the Pittman divorce has spread to the team and generate revenue, but Dr. Danni’s work with TK is proven and the Coach backs her up.  TK will not attend the fan convention.  The agent declares this not over and tells him that he’s going to the GM.   Did anyone else hear the voice of Sam Ax; from the USA sister show Burn Notice, in their head going “You know agents…bunch of whiny little bitches!”  Yes, I know he says spies, but it was perfect for this moment!

Not sure what the GM said to him, but it must not have went well because our whiny bitchy agent runs off to TK to tattle on Dr. Danni & Co.  TK is on the field, rehearsing with the cheerleaders whom he now calls T-Kettes, and as you can imagine, he’s pretty pissed at the idea of not being able to have his big come back moment.

Poor Dr. Danni.  We know TK is gonna be pissed but she doesn’t.  She’s off meeting with the IRS alone, which is pretty odd considering her ex is in this also, and it doesn’t go well.  They’re gonna audit them for the last seven years.  Ouch.  Life lesson people…Uncle Sam always gets his cut.

“I read books that don’t have pictures. You think Two and Half Men is funny.  There is no chance you and I will hit it.” 
Back at Dr. Danni’s house, her son RayJ is getting tutored by a hot girl from his class who is smarter than him.   Still, RayJ is a popular, good looking, football playing red blooded American male.  It would never occur to him that she’s there to teach him or that he’s out of his league.  So he leans in for a kiss, she gets insulted and goes off on him.  She swears off hitting it with him “now, tomorrow or a100 years from tomorrow” and so we know they’re gonna be in bed by the end of the episode.  And so does RayJ because the only thing he heard was that she thinks he’s hot.

And in other domestic worries, Nico is still looking for Juliet.  Turns out Marshall Pittman is mortgaged to the hilt and now has more debt than money.  What that means for Juliet or the team is unclear but not good and Nico is concerned.

“Everybody waiting for The King to cry!”
As expected, TK shows up in the middle of the night at Dr. Danni’s and freaks out.  Dr. Danni explains to TK that he went through something very traumatic and it’s normal to be rocked by that.  TK refuses to cry (oh but you look so pretty when you do TK) and insists he is a rock. He’s from the hood! THAT is hysterical because last season TK, his girlfriend and Dr. Danni’s kids hid in a closet when they thought there was a robber in the house.  And I’m not judging, I’d be hiding in the closet too, but I also don’t shout “I’m from the hood!” when people suggest I may be traumatized.  TK doesn’t remember that – it’s apparently in that angel garbage bag – and insists no one is going to stop him from going to the fan event.

It’s like Dr. Danni has three teenagers, really, but she tries to make the best of it and get some sleep.  Instead she has a nightmare about the little girl in the pool and the IRS floating on a blue float above her.  Yikes.   All those hot guys and she’s dreaming of the chubby IRS agent on the floaty?  Oh Dr. Danni, maybe you need a therapist?

She thinks so too and gets up to have a heart to heart with Mr. Fishy while making biscotti and worrying about her kids, losing the house, TK and the fact she’s not getting some with Matt right now because she doesn’t want to burden him with her problems.

TK also can’t sleep.  He’s doing some reps with weights while chatting with an all night sports radio show.  Man all these people are very productive when they can’t sleep.  Me – I’m a slacker.  I pour myself a vodka lemonade and watch some TV, but hey, it takes all kinds.   While doing PR, TK promises he’ll be at that event and has a flashback.    Dude, if you’re not going to go to Dr. Danni and get some meds for that, maybe you should do the Jenners method, pour yourself a drink and watch TV till you nod off.

“Whatever happened to deferring to the expert?”
The Hawks have decided that TK gets to go to the fan event and Dr. Danni is feeling frustrated that no one is deferring to her expertise.  Not as frustrated as the people who just got laid off because the Pittmans’ can’t afford payroll though.

I hope Nico knows he’s working for free when he goes to break some kid’s arm to get information on where Juliet is.  Nico is hot, but he’s scary and an expert at what he does, so the kid gives it up easily.  He hasn’t seen Juliet, but he was asked to score a lot of drugs on her behalf.  Nico lays down the law, Juliet makes contact, he better call Nico first.   Then he gets on the phone and tells Marshall that Juliet may be in real trouble and to stop being a dick and call him back.

Dr. Danni follows her meeting with the Hawks to more auditing with the IRS and brings along the biscotti she was baking last night.  Ah, bribery bakery.  I’d fall for that.  Unfortunately for her, so does the IRS agent, cept she nearly kills him as he’s allergic to one of the ingredients in the biscotti.   Oops.  Looks like you’re gonna be paying that bill after all.

Tutor girl shows up at Dr. Danni’s to pick up her check for the half session with RayJ, where they accomplished nothing.  RayJ apologizes and tutor girl finds him dreamy and they go off to his bedroom to study the kama sutra for a while, which is how Dr. Danni finds him when she gets back from nearly killing the agent.

Dr. Danni fires tutor girl and RayJ is pissed.

RayJ:  Am I not entitled to some privacy?
Dr. Danni:  Excuse me? I just found you in bed with your tutor.
RayJ:  I’m not talking about this right now.
Dr. Danni:  There’s a few things to talk about.
RayJ:  But I just said we’re not talking about this.
Dr. Danni:  And I just said we are!
RayJ:  Mom, if you say one more word – I’m leaving.
Dr. Danni:  RayJ —
RayJ (picking up his car keys):  Yup, thank you.

AND THEN HE LEAVES!  Way to go, Dr. Danni!  She’s great at teaching athletes to be better players, but I don’t see teaching parenting classes in her future anytime soon.

“Bring Me Back a Venti Maalox”
Despite the parenting problems, Dr. Danni has to go do her job at the fan convention which is just chaotic and filled with people.  The Coach is doing press, reminding everyone that they’ll get to see how TK is tonight.  Yup, this isn’t gonna go well.  Dr. Danni runs into Matty D and blurts out everything – her run in with TK, trying to kill the IRS and the RayJ issue – and he offers to be there for her.  She admits it’s not easy for her to ask for help and he points out it’s not easy for anyone.  Seriously? I’d ask for help all day long if it meant I ended up in those arms.  Dr. Danni’s a therapist.  She should know better.

They go back stage to check on TK, who is sweating and nervous, but playing it off by being cocky.  Dr. Danni isn’t fooled and asks Nico to keep an extra eye on TK.  Nico assures her no harm will come to him that the facility is secure, but gives her his word.  And here starts the show…

TK comes out, still introduced as Terrence King so I guess we dropped this King Terrence thing faster than even I thought we would, and he swaggers a bit on stage, but sadly this is no Magic Mike audition.  The confetti canons go off and set off his PSTD.   I guess we’re supposed to take his earlier “I’m from the hood” comment into account because he has a glock in his waistband and is about to take it out and let loose on the imaginary shooter, but Nico grabs him and whisks him off stage.  I can only imagine what’s gonna be written about that.

The agent is apologetic and Matty D gives him hell for not listening to Dr. Danni.  Aw…that was sweet.   TK is upset he nearly did that and Dr. Danni tells him they have to work on this.  We finally tie in all the little girl in the swimming pool scenes.  Dr. Danni nearly drowned when she was 5.  Her mother’s hand appeared above her in the pool and all she had to do was grab it, but when one is drowning, it’s hard to see that.   Dr. Danni’s got a bad mother.  Your kid starts drowning in the pool, you JUMP IN, you don’t just reach a hand into the water.  No wonder RayJ just walks off.  Still, TK understands what she means and agrees to work with her so he can get better.

One of Nico’s guys has found Juliet and get this, she’s in the hotel on the 15^th floor.  So Nico leaves TK to Dr. Danni and goes to make sure Juliet’s okay.  Instead, we finally meet Marshall Pittman.  And remember when I told Nico that sleeping with your boss’ wife is always your biggest problem? Well, I was right.  He set up this entire thing to drive Nico a little crazy as payback.  Marshall claims that they’re almost even now…can’t wait to see how he gets back at Nico next.

I loved this episode and not just for the eye candy (though let’s be honest, it helped.  I could make tight end jokes for days about Mehcad Brooks’ ass).  While I don’t think Dr. Danni’s IRS problems are going to break her, I do think RayJ may as he asserts his independence.   But at least she’s got Matty D on her side and in her bed.  Sex and the City’s Evan Handler makes a great Marshall Pittman and I’m looking forward to watching him tango with Nico after all these years.    I go back and forth on Juliet’s paternity – I’d like Nico to have a family, but it may kill the man of mystery angle for me.  Tell me what you’re thinking and who your favorite Necessary Roughness Hottie is!