Well, Nicholas's exile was a brief one, wasn't it? Ever since Loot confirmed his return with the Season 3's standout episode, it was clear that he would be back sooner rather than later. Left to their own devices, Molly and Arthur managed to unravel their relationship, and it was evident that the show's dynamic was off without Nicholas. Episode 7 predictably brings him back, but it skims over several subplots and resolves them mostly off-camera, using the joy of his return as a convenient shortcut.
Ignoring the fact that Nicholas's time in Korea has occurred without our knowledge, his circumstances there offer a glimpse into his mindset, but the abrupt shift from "this is my dream" to "been there, done that" in just two episodes feels odd. It seems that whenever Loot ventures abroad, things go terribly wrong or at least significantly worse than usual.
The contrivance to weave Nicholas back into the show is that Molly is struggling in her relationship with Arthur and needs Nicholas's support. Ainsley serves as a less-than-adequate personal assistant, although the recurring gag of her pretending reality doesn't exist is hilarious. Howard, too busy with Destiny, is unable to offer any meaningful support. Going to see Nicholas – a ruse organized by Howard – is almost like a cheat code to take Molly off everyone else's hands.
It's a bit too convenient that Nicholas's career is proving to be deeply unsatisfying for him. Initially, he dances around the issue and pretends everything is fine, as does Molly, who doesn't want to burden him with her problems in case he has truly moved on and doesn't need her anymore. But Nicholas's show is a facsimile of the office dynamic at the Wells Foundation. He has essentially uprooted his life and created a Korean TV version of it to prevent himself from being lonely.
While this works in theory, it doesn't hold up in such a condensed form. There is some validity in Nicholas realizing that his dreams aren't all they were cracked up to be, consistent with a character who has learned over three seasons that what he really values is love and connection (however much he might try to deny it). But the fact that we're only discovering this because of Molly's arrival makes it feel inauthentic, just another way to appease her neediness, which, in a roundabout way, is what Arthur correctly identified as the problem in their relationship.
In the seventh episode of Season 3 of Loot, there is an attempt to address the intricate relationship dynamics, albeit with a lack of substantial backbone. The ongoing conflicts between Sofia and Destiny serve as a contrived catalyst for a forced reconciliation, shrouded in the shadows of everyone's agendas. I was particularly pleased with an early instance where Molly made an effort to reconcile with Arthur by pretending their argument never happened—a move emblematic of a rich individual's emotional stunting, and Arthur's rejection granted him a sense of genuine autonomy. He spends the remainder of "Billionaire, Beautiful and True" engaged in board game shenanigans with "the guys," a development that inadvertently entangles Sofia, who secludes herself in the office to avoid attending a party hosted by Destiny at her residence.
While I am not averse to the insight into Sofia's backstory, it's Michaela Jaé Rodriguez's masterful performance that truly elevates the scene. I also appreciate the connection she shares with Arthur, given their shared humanity. However, the personal revelations that emerge during game night allow her to reconcile her feelings about Destiny without actually having a heart-to-heart conversation with her. And to further complicate matters, Arthur, in a move that feels inspired yet ultimately disingenuous, texts Molly on her way home, expressing his longing for her and his desire to have the conversation they've been avoiding. I would have liked to see them actually have that conversation, but it seems destined to be brushed over in favor of maintaining the status quo upon Nicholas's return to the office.
As with many of its characters, Loot's biggest hurdle lies in basic communication.
