Summon Your Witnesses – The episode begins with Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) looking through images of women immediately upon waking. The narrator (Lizzy Caplan) tells us that Toby believes he’s highly sought-after by all kinds of women. Toby views the women as his heroic mentors that would teach him how to live after his 15-year marriage with Rachel Fleishman (Claire Danes) ends. Toby has a new apartment while Rachel continues to reside in their “much nicer home.”

Rachel informs him that the children will stay at his place while she goes to Everglade yoga. He scolds her for springing it on him when he already has plans. She suggests contacting Mona (Talia Castro-Pozo). He tells her that he doesn’t want them with a babysitter when they’re supposed to be with him.

Toby informs Hannah Fleishman (Meara Mahoney Gross) and Solly Fleishman (Maxim Swinton) that they’ll be with him a day earlier. Hannah says her clothes aren’t for camp, but for the Hamptons.

The narrator tells viewers that Toby’s apprehensive about visiting 92nd Street Y, the “locus of a late-capitalist society.” A woman asks where is Rachel. Another woman says, “Working as always.” He sarcastically says it’s Rachel’s life. Solly points out that a “swear word” was on the woman’s shirt. Toby suggests ignoring it.

Cyndi Leffer (Joy Suprano) assures Toby that they’re still friends. He has a flashback of having sex with a woman, he already forgot her name. She asks if it’s been difficult. He assures her that the divorce wasn’t “spur-of-the-moment” when he remembers the woman was Jenny (Jhordan Munn). She suggests they get together for dinner because the last time was so much fun. He recalls Cyndi’s routine guests, Sam Rothberg (Josh Stamberg), Todd Leffer (Eric William Morris), and Rich Hertz (Zach Robidas). Todd asks if he’d be okay with his children being a doctor. When he informs Rachel, she asks if he would.

The narrator tells viewers that Toby’s medical career never supported Rachel’s desired lifestyle.

Toby informs a group of St. Thaddeus Hospital interns of his divorce. Joanie (Ava Yaghmaie) asks if he’s subscribed to any dating apps. When she tells him how it works, he reminds them that they have patients to see.

The narrator tells viewers that Toby’s dating profiles received no engagement for several weeks. While Solly and Hannah are with Rachel in the Hamptons, he works on his profile. After payment is made, he’s flooded with engagements.

Toby suggests people need to be more like the liver which forgives and nearly forgets.

David Cooper (John Patrick Hayden) tells Toby that his wife, Karen Cooper (Julie Tolivar) had slurred speech before passing out on the ride to the hospital. With David being escorted to the ER waiting room, Toby asks the interns their medical opinion. Phillip (Ralph Adriel Johnson) suggests Karen has alcoholic cirrhosis. Joanie informs him that Karen has been taking Zoloft for a month.

Toby asks Karen’s internist if her AST level was high when he prescribed Zoloft. The internist admits to having no idea. Toby warns that her liver is failing before disconnecting the call. He stresses to the interns, the importance of “give a sh**.” After an eye assessment, Joanie says Karen has Wilson’s disease.

After informing David of his wife’s condition, Toby warns it only takes a night of drinking. David says Karen attended a bachelorette party in Vegas last weekend.

Toby informs Elizabeth “Libby” Epstein (Lizzy Caplan) of his divorce. Libby admits to always hating Rachel. Toby tells her that they haven’t seen each other in 10 years. She reminds him of skipping her wedding, 12 years ago.

Toby tells Libby that he hates the weekends without the kids before showing her images of the women who responded to his dating profile.

Seth Morris (Adam Brody) suggests they go to yoga. Toby reminds him of it being Saturday night. Seth says girls do yoga. Toby says he’s supposed to be dating. Seth assures him that it’s not for him before asking what is his problem. Toby says Rachel banned peeing standing up.

Libby describes Toby’s new apartment as “delightful.” Seth says it reminds him of their dorm room in Israel. Toby suggests that married couples cannot completely understand the meaning of “forever.” Seth tells them that “marriage is for suckers” because he’s seen couples outgrow each other. She asks if he’s still in therapy. Toby says dating apps are similar to group therapy except at the end, the therapist takes your penis in her mouth.

Toby admits to thinking Rachel would make a good “divorce partner.” Libby reminds him of Rachel being a bad wife.” Showing them an image, he says this 39-year-old was my date for tonight. Seth and Libby assure him that she’s not 39. Toby claims she wanted to be choked. Seth suggests women are “emancipated.” Toby says he has no interest in dating young women because they may want to have children. Seth says, “May the townsfolk know of her promiscuity and stone her in the square.” Libby says maybe Rachel’s next lover will sneeze into her vagina so she’ll get an embolism.

Hannah tells Toby that she’s not taking the bus because it’s embarrassing. He warns her that if she refuses to get on the bus, he won’t let her hang out with Lexi tomorrow.

On the bus, Toby tells Hannah that it isn’t a good value to not want to take the bus. Solly asks if he can take golf lessons. Toby assures him that he’ll check it out.

Solly asks Toby if he can get a dog. Toby suggests he talk it over with Rachel. Hannah informs him of Toby’s date. Toby assures him that dating is normal when Mona arrives.

Tess (Tara Summers) says when her husband returned from a $10K survivalist weekend, he wanted to have threesomes but not with her. Toby asks where did they meet. She tells him that she was one of his threesomes.

Hannah answers the phone to hear Tess on the other line. Toby says she’s his new patient. Tess suggests he’d like would like to remove her new lingerie. Hannah asks if she can have her own phone. He says when she’s twelve. She reminds him that her birthday is only four months away.

Cyndi says they would’ve invited him to the club but since he doesn’t play tennis or golf. He tells her that he plays basketball.

Toby tries to contact Rachel to no avail. On Sunday, a text from Cyndi alerts him that Rachel didn’t pick up Hannah.

When Toby tells Hannah that she and Lexi Leffer (Abbey Hafer) can go with him because Rachel’s running late. Hannah says she’s not taking Lexi to his apartment. He warns her that she won’t go anywhere if she keeps it up.

Libby asks Adam Epstein (Josh Radnor) how was his day in the real world. He assures her that it’s highly overrated. She receives a Smoke vape starter kit with the message, “A Legend Neers Fire To Breathe,” from Seth.

Toby admits he doesn’t have any idea where Rachel is when a knock at the door gets their attention. Hannah answers the door to Tess wearing a negligee. He warns Tess that it was a change of plans. She tells him to (fu** off) before leaving. Toby tells Hannah that the woman got the wrong apartment. Lexi points out that she knew his name. Hannah demands to know where Rachel is while he consoles a crying Solly as the episode comes to an end.

 

Fleishman Is In Trouble Synopsis

At the end of a 15-year marriage, Toby Fleishman found himself living alone in an apartment much less grand than the home he shared with his then-wife, Rachel.

Rachel imposed her new life on him, changing their custody schedule without notice and at will. Toby isn’t too fond of Rachel’s friends because he felt they look down on his medical profession.

Joanie, an intern at St. Thaddeus Hospital, introduced Toby to dating apps, which changed his life.

Per his therapist’s advice, Toby reached out to old friends, Libby, and Seth, after a 15-year hiatus. Libby never held back about her dislike of Rachel. Toby confided in his friends about the difficulty of co-parenting with Rachel. Libby told him that he should have expected it since she was a terrible wife.

Toby builds his list of one-night stands while juggling his career and children.

As his weekend with the kids nears an end, Toby invited Tess over to his apartment. Little did he know, Rachel wouldn’t pick up Hannah and Lexi for a planned event. With Hannah becoming frantic and Solly sobbing, someone knocks on the door. Excited, Rachel finally arrived, Hannah opens the door to a woman in a negligee. His apologies fall on deaf ears as a humiliated Tess flees. When he claimed the woman was at the wrong door, Lexi says she knew him.

 

Fleishman Is In Trouble Review

What’s up with the constant spinning and upside scenes? Several times, I had to look away to avoid getting sick.

The t-shirts with custom prints, much of which was provocative, were cliché at best.

The dialogue failed on so many levels. Funny, maybe, but not funny ha-ha. Cringeworthy, absolutely.

The over-used narration took away from the show. Instead of letting Toby’s story play out, the narrator told his story. The narration provided important information but it would’ve been better if it came from Rachel and Toby. At times, it was quirky to the point of annoying.

The one-night-stand dating was raunchy. The sex and nudity scenes were fairly graphic. When children are involved, graphic content should be avoided at all costs

Most of the characters played a minuscule role in the show. Only Libby seemed to be sympathetic to what Toby was going through. However, her constant belittling of Rachel felt insincere.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Fleishman Is In Trouble recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.

 

Where was Fleishman Is In Trouble Filmed

The filming took place in New York City.

Where to watch Fleishman Is In Trouble

The pilot episode aired on November 17, 2022, on Hulu.

Fleishman Is In Trouble Cast

• Libby Epstein – Lizzy Caplan
• Seth Morris – Adam Brody
• Cyndi Leffer – Joy Suprano
• Toby Fleishman – Jesse Eisenberg
• Hannah Fleishman – Meara Mahoney Gross
• Rachel Fleishman – Claire Danes
• Sam Rothberg – Josh Stamberg
• Solly Fleishman – Maxim Swinton
• Todd Leffer – Eric William Morris
• Joanie – Ava Yaghmaie
• Adam Epstein – Josh Radnor
• Phillip – Ralph Adriel Johnson
• Clay – Brian Miskell
• Mona – Talia Castro-Pozo
• Lexi Leffer – Abbey Hafer