‘Anger Management’ Review: “Charlie and the Ex-Patient”

‘Anger Management’ continues on its 90-episode, two-year run with its 13th episode “Charlie and the Ex-Patient,” as Charlie reconnects with an old patient (Kate Reinders) that policy dictates he not date for several months, while a number of her past therapists attempt to put in time with her as well.

Previous episode  “Charlie's Dad Starts to Lose It” saw Charlie’s father Martin (Martin Sheen) beginning to display suspicious signs of Alzheimer’s disease, while Patrick’s efforts to improve Nolan’s wardrobe revealed a surprising fear, so what will the latest episode bring?  Are there more laughs to be had in the third half-hour of ‘Anger Management,’ or should we keep our professional distance?

Read on for your in-depth recap of everything you need to know about ‘Anger Management’ episode 13, “Charlie and the Ex-Patient!”

Charlie wraps up another session with his patients, as Kate enters ahead of schedule and fumbles an excuse for her presence there. Charlie attempts to use her to extoll the benefits of a committed relationship, but she shoots down his assertions to the group’s bewilderment. In a moment alone, Charlie complains that he thought they had made progress in their quasi-relationship, but Kate asks him not to rub her nose in it.

At a local coffee shop, Charlie runs into his beautiful ex-patient Hope (Reinders), whom he hasn’t treated in near of five years. She flirtatiously reminds him she once left a book at his house on purpose, and hopes they can catch up later. During a later therapy session with Kate, she reminds Charlie that therapist protocol demands he wait no less than five full years to become involved, but she agrees to drop by his rendezvous with Hope to supervise.

Charlie and Hope sit down to bar trivia, as Kate brings along phobia therapist Tom (Toby Huss) for her date. Tom and Hope embrace, having also been therapist and patient five years ago, though with less time to wait than Charlie. Tom too seems obnoxiously interested in Hope, despite Kate’s eye-rolling, and expresses his hope to get in good with her.

Against his daughter’s fear of them, Charlie lights candles around his place before Hope arrives, bringing another one of her ex-therapists (in this case psycho-pharmacologist) Leslie. Leslie too makes his intentions on hope known to Charlie, with his one month to go before cracking the five-year barrier. The situation quickly turns awkward as the three share wine, and Hope invites them to her karaoke birthday party.

Charlie vents his frustration over the situation to his prison therapy group, who urge him to forgo concerns about his career and make a bold gesture to show Hope his interest. That night at the bar, Hope has invited along yet another therapist, her “feminine” therapist Rita, who of course wants a crack at Hope as well.

Charlie preps to make his grand gesture of roses and a trip to Maui, but when Hope finally arrives she reveals that she recovered memories of her previous hypnotherapist taking advantage of her. Her gratitude to the others for making her feel safe gets the better of Charlie’s conscience, and he attempts to dissuade the therapists from their mutual competition. In the end, the others give up as Charlie gives Hope the trip to Maui alone for relaxation.

Back in therapy, Charlie expresses to Kate that he took the matter so far in search of someone who truly knew him enough to make a commitment. Kate coyly agrees to stay with Charlie until he finds such a person, but stops short of admitting it might ever be her. Roll the credits.

'Anger Management' got a tad more sitcom-y this time around, bringing in more and more ridiculous therapists to share an obsession over Hope, but as per usual, the writing provided a few snappy and risque one-liners along the way. At the very least, the relationship between Charlie and Kate continues to be somewhat sweet and balanced, while the prison scenes aren't adding very much to the proceedings overall.

Did you enjoy the latest from of ‘Anger Management’s ongoing run, or did it make you burn with rage? Join us next week for another all-new ‘Anger Management’ episode recap of “Charlie's Dad Breaks Bad” on FX!