Younger – The Marshmallow Experiment

By: Taylor Gates

Josh (Nico Tortorella) texts Liza (Sutton Foster) a few funny, flirty pictures as she’s walking into a cafe before work. There she spies Charles (Peter Hermann), who coldly brushes her off to continue talking on the phone.

Charles, Liza, Kelsey (Hilary Duff), and Diana (Miriam Shor) have a Skype meeting with The Deciding Decade author Dr. Jane Wray (Camryn Manheim). Apparently, Ellen DeGeneres has read an advanced copy of her book and particularly loved the chapter Dr. Wray wrote about her 40-year-old patient pretending to be aged twenty-six. Ellen has agreed to have her on the show, but only if she’ll bring her patient. Liza panics, saying it would be unethical to break this patient’s confidentiality, especially since she was promised anonymity. Dr. Wray tells the group she will try to convince the patient to appear on the show, but Liza doesn’t think that’s going to happen. Despite Liza sticking up for the “anonymous woman,” the other three bash the source, calling her an opportunist and disturbed individual, which does little to assuage Liza’s anxiety. Charles tells the group to get on the ball, as preorder numbers are low. Liza accidentally forgets to turn her phone face down and peeks at a text from Josh while still in the conference room. Charles barks at her to put it away.

Liza runs into Charles on the way to get Diana some pressed juice. She asks him if they’re okay, saying how much she loves working at Empirical. Charles reveals that, while he is okay, Empirical is not. There might have to be some changes at the company soon.

Josh and Liza go for a walk, Liza fearing she is going to get fired. Josh points out that she wouldn’t have to lie anymore, saying he would help pay for Caitlin’s tuition. Liza would never let him do that, but is grateful for the offer. The two kiss, but Liza cuts it short. She tells Josh about the marshmallow experiment—researchers gave children the option of eating one marshmallow right away or waiting fifteen minutes and getting two marshmallows. She is the marshmallow in the situation and wants Josh to take their relationship slowly.

Kelsey meets Chad (Dan Amboyer) at a Chinese restaurant. He still hasn’t cracked the password on Thad’s computer and gives her the laptop back so she can try herself. He also asks for her engagement ring back, as it’s a family heirloom. He wants to take her out to dinner and talk everything out, but Kelsey tells him they are never going to have a relationship. Chad asks her why she’s acting like the barn at Gary’s wedding never happened. It turns out, Kelsey confused him for Thad and the two had sex. Disgusted, she throws the ring on the table and tells him never to contact her again.

Lauren (Molly Bernard) fills Liza and Maggie (Debi Mazar) in on Kelsey’s most recent dilemma. Once she leaves, Liza freaks out, telling Maggie it’s only a matter of time until Kelsey finds out her secret since she now has Thad’s laptop. Liza makes the snap decision to tell Kelsey herself.

Kelsey tells Liza that she’s having no luck getting into Thad’s computer. The hint—Kelsey’s favorite snacks—isn’t even helping. Liza wonders if Kelsey really wants to see all the iffy stuff on that computer, but Kelsey replies that for better or for worse this is all she has left of Thad. Charles tells the two an important investor is coming and he wants Millennial to deliver a short pitch to them. It’s a casual but important meeting.

Diana and Liza do some quick research on the investor. Bryce Reiger (Noah Robbins) is a billionaire who invented the popular app “Tap That” and is looking to buy prestige by saving a century-old publishing company. He talks to Charles about stats for the Crown of Kings series; since he’s on the spectrum, it’s easy for him to memorize things. It’s also easy for him to detect certain scents and calls Diana’s perfume pungent and repulsive. That relationship is off to a great start.

The Empirical crew has dinner with Bryce, who is impressed with Millennial’s brand and plan. Bryce also has a tattoo on his arm and Liza recognizes the artist. They talk about tattoos and Bryce is stunned that Liza knows Josh, as he is a huge fan of his work. He texts her and Kelsey to ditch Charles and Diana and attend a party at his loft.

At the party, Bryce tells Kelsey and Liza that he senses a real paradigm shift with Millennial and is committed to helping them modernize Empirical’s brand. He also offers them some shots of engineered water and cocaine. They pass on both, but ask him if anyone there can help Kelsey hack into Thad’s old computer.

Lin (Midori Francis) gets into the computer in record time as Thad’s password was “deez nuts.” (Classic Thad.) Kelsey is nervous about what she will find on the computer. She’s hoping for sweet, meaningful stuff but is afraid she’ll only find disappointing, sleazy things. Liza tells her she’ll support her if she opens it, but she doesn’t have to. Kelsey makes the rash decision to throw it in the pool and rid herself of Thad forever.

Kelsey wants to know why Liza didn’t tell her that she and Josh were back together, but Liza tells her everything isn’t fully resolved yet. There’s nothing he wants more than an open, honest relationship, but sometimes you can’t be 100% honest. Kelsey tells her that Josh could be gone just like Thad was. If Liza loves him, she should go be with him.

Charles announces that Bryce is officially going to be a minority partner for the company and a lot of it is thanks to Kelsey and Liza. Josh texts Liza a picture of him looking sadly at a marshmallow. Liza goes to Josh’s apartment and throws two marshmallows through his window. He invites her upstairs and the two make out.