The Chair Company Recap: You Gotta Calm Down

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This week’s episode of The Chair Company starts with a vibe that immediately reminded me of Succession. We see Ron’s boss, Jeff, hanging out with his equally wealthy friends in Sedona, basically showing off. It’s not quite the same level of extravagance as the Roys, but the energy is definitely there. Then, Jeff has a chat with his friend Danny, and he talks about needing a break from the daily hustle. But Danny smartly points out that this – these moments, this life – is real life, not just some escape from it. Danny argues that life shouldn’t be about work; work should be a way to live a good life. It really made me think – if all you have is your job, and it’s become your whole purpose, what’s the point?

Danny’s remarks clearly upset Jeff, who is very proud of his dedication to work. Back at the office, Jeff is determined to revamp the mall design. He shares some photos from a trip as inspiration, but refuses to explain his vision, dismissing everyone’s ideas and designs. The team is left feeling frustrated and exhausted, but Ron is particularly affected. After Jeff publicly criticizes him in a meeting and tells him to simply control costs, Ron feels intensely angry, recalling a recent injury and almost losing control. This dynamic feels like something out of a Horrible Bosses sequel.

You know, watching Jeff, it’s clear his problem isn’t just being difficult. He can’t pinpoint what’s wrong with the mall’s design, and honestly, no single fix would do the trick. Even bringing in the best expert wouldn’t help. It’s deeper than that. I think Jeff sees this mall as something more than just a place to shop – it’s tied to his own life, and he wants it to mean something. And it’s kind of amazing, Ron feels the same way. They both want more out of it than just commerce, you know?

The episode “Happy Birthday, A Friend” has a lot going on, juggling storylines from previous episodes while introducing new ones. It features some particularly quirky moments, like Douglas threatening to wear a chicken suit to boost office spirits. Dr. Stevens, who was brought in to observe Ron and Amanda’s everyday conversations (this time about muffins!), has practically moved into the office, even having his parents visit. Meanwhile, the episode also shows shadowy figures secretly entering the Canton site at night, appearing to damage the construction.

As often happens on The Chair Company, the situation turns out to be much less dramatic than it initially seems. When Jeff takes the team to the site on a Sunday, they discover the trespassers are just a group of hobbyists using the land as an obstacle course for their remote-controlled trucks. Ron gets angry and demands they leave, then overreacts by shoving Jeff when he tries to calm things down. This is a strange place to end this work storyline – it’s unclear if Ron will face repercussions for his outburst, or what’s even at stake for him at work right now. I’m not bothered by the show’s pace, though. It’s so engaging from scene to scene that I don’t mind if the overall plot doesn’t move forward in a typical way, but I did anticipate a bit more progress by this point.

With only two episodes remaining, the main storyline isn’t building tension consistently. Many of the most shocking moments happen during unrelated side investigations. In fact, the central investigation into Tecca takes a bit of a back seat in this episode. A new clue emerges: a man flees when Ron questions him in a recreational class about the elusive Maggie S. However, no one else is willing to help, not even a woman Ron recognizes as the model who portrayed Ronda Scott on the Red Ball Market Global website. The problem is, this man may not be involved at all, and Ron’s aggressive approach—accusing him and taking photos—doesn’t exactly create a cooperative atmosphere. Most of the students are already uncomfortable socializing. At this point, there isn’t much evidence to go on, and Ron is really reaching for answers.

Fortunately, the exterminator had plenty of straws available. He identified the bug found at Ron’s house as originating from Eastern Europe – the same region where certain materials used in furniture and a specific chemical are produced. His team had previously spotted the bug at government buildings in Delaware, Ohio. This discovery fuels Ron’s increasingly elaborate conspiracy theories, as he notices a matching color pattern between the Delaware website, a different website (RBMG), and a tattoo seen in a blurry photo. If it weren’t for a birthday party he needed to attend, Ron would be driving to Delaware with Mike immediately.

The party scenes are entertaining, especially with Jeff showing up uninvited and Mike awkwardly trying to get inside. However, the show is taking its time revealing the core of Ron’s problems at home. Natalie continues to go along with his beliefs, even encouraging him to go to Delaware City Hall tomorrow during the fair, hoping he’ll find evidence that the tattooed man designed the website – perhaps she believes this will help him realize his story is unfounded?

Seth isn’t doing well. He’s working on a project and has asked Tara’s friend, Richard—who always surprises Ron when he sees him late at night—for help. Despite this, Seth is secretly drinking and seems upset about his strained relationship with his father. Ron keeps pressuring him to focus on basketball, and Seth won’t even do his signature Pee-Wee Herman dance at his party. Eventually, Seth drinks some of his dad’s bourbon and throws up during the birthday song. But the strangest moment isn’t the vomiting itself—it’s when a guest decides to place the birthday cake on top of the mess, as if it’s too awful to look at directly.

Barb is frustrated that Ron didn’t deal with Seth’s drinking as he’d agreed, but these issues are developing slowly and seem separate from Ron’s other problems. While Ron can be quick to judge, he’s justified in being worried about the threatening calls he’s receiving – someone has warned they’re going to take action against him. Ron believes this is a serious threat, not a joke, and he’s focused on keeping himself and his family safe, especially at home.

I followed Ron as he finally headed to City Hall, but he barely made it to the file room before a cop – they called him “Greaser Cop” – started chasing him through the building. He ended up in a large room filled with rows of chairs, and I really hoped this was it – the proof he needed to expose a huge international drug operation. But honestly, it probably wouldn’t amount to much, maybe just a small cover-up. It even crossed my mind that someone – maybe even Mike, just trying to help because he’s feeling alone – was playing a prank on him, and that even the threats he’d received weren’t genuine. I think Ron might finally have to face the fact that this whole thing is a dead end, and that his seemingly perfect life isn’t as satisfying as it looks. Though, a complete vindication for him would be a real shocker.

Company Secrets

Honestly, as a movie lover, I’m still trying to figure out what’s funnier: Amanda completely destroying a muffin just to see if it has chocolate chips, or her somehow managing to eat in a really… noticeable way during an HR meeting. Both moments were just so unexpected and hilarious, I couldn’t help but laugh!

Ron recalled a terrible thing Seth’s friend did to his grandmother. His son explained that Todd Greys actually trapped her in a bathtub, covering the opening with a mattress.

One of the episode’s most darkly humorous moments involves Ron’s coworker nervously sharing a bizarre concern: she fears a doctor accidentally left a screwdriver inside her after her appendectomy. She noticed something shifting under her skin when she held a magnet near her stomach. It’s a truly unsettling image, reminiscent of the film Titane. The scene is made even stranger by the fact that we actually see a magnet on Ron’s desk being drawn toward her abdomen.

• “Seth, god dammit! Now the door has a little mark on it.”

• Seth joins Richard to deal with a “fang problem.” What the hell is going on down there?

During the birthday party, Tara surprisingly reveals she’s been experiencing very realistic dreams, which she attributes to eating pickles she believes are actually alive.

• “Crazy boring neighborhood. I feel like I’m in The Lego Movie.”

Honestly, I was really disappointed with how things turned out. It just didn’t have the impact I expected, and it felt…well, a little childish, like a kids’ party. It wasn’t what I was hoping for at all.

• Mike gives Seth a Chocolate Kong for his birthday.

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2025-11-17 06:56