On Saturday afternoon, I watched the season 2 premiere of High Maintenance and I wanted to write about it, so, I felt like I should check out some articles that already beat me to the punch. The first thing I noticed while going down the rabbit hole of High Maintenance articles is that every one seems to have to mention, with regards to Ben Sinclair’s character, that he plays “a weed dealer known simply as The Guy,” or some variation thereof. Hell, I used that phrase myself when I wrote about it when the premium Vimeo episodes were about to come out in 2014.

The thing that shocked me, though, is that the creators split up! The first article that I started with was The New Yorker article, High Maintenance: An Anthology Show that really Works. I freaked out in paragraph three when they mention Ben Sinclair’s “then wife, Katja Blichfeld.” What? No!

Look, I don’t know these people at all. I just liked the idea of this chill, pothead married couple making something cool together.

Apparently Katja is very happily out of the closet, so, great for her. Ben gets to go scuba diving again, so great for him. They still work on the show together, so, great for them both. But I’m still a little heartbroken for them. What was it about 2017? I guess it was just the year of the break up. I’m probably projecting but we can talk about that another time.

I got the gist of their current press push from reading other articles such as Katja Blickfeld Gets What She Wants, Ben Sinclair is Finding His Way, Brooklyn’s Favorite Pot Dealer Returns, and “Nothing’s Ever The Same”: Talking to Ben Sinclair About ‘High Maintenance’ Season 2. Here’s what I gather. They’re still co-creating the show despite the break up. They’re using other writers for the first time. This season’s last episode could work as a series finale if need be. They recognize that something was a little off with season 1.

It was validating to hear that because I was a little underwhelmed by their first season on HBO. I loved the Muslim character Eesha and her swinger neighbors. I also really enjoyed “Grandpa,” the episode from a dog’s POV. But the return to previous characters in “Meth(od)” (the assholes) and “Ex” (the agoraphobic Helen Hunt fan from the webisode “Helen” arguably the best of the original web series) didn’t really work for me. There was a cruelty to the former and a bit of an unearned bow put on the latter.

None of my friends talked about the show when it was on. I didn’t hear any news that it was coming back. So, I thought, well, two indie show runners made it to the big time and knocked out one high-quality season of their show. Well done. Then my friend Todd told me that season 2 was coming in January and I thought, “Well I didn’t see that coming,” and then, “Shit, now I can’t cancel HBO.” (I pay for my content and like watching shows on my television, that’s just how I roll.)

I liked the first episode. It starts with an unnamed tragedy, most likely a terrorist attack. The Guy, correctly assuming his customers will need weed to make it through the day, rises early for work. (If you want more summary, it’s in the articles above. Vulture, The New Yorker, The Times, and The Ringer got there first, I’m not going to repeat work.) I’ll just note this: there’s a pretty explicit sex scene in this one. It reminded me of another show that I’ve been recommending, Easy, which features an episode with a threesome and another of an escort at work. Are they trying to break barriers? Outdo Girls?

It’s funny because Emily Nussbaum – author of The New Yorker piece – mentions Easy along with other “anthology shows” such as Black Mirror, Electric Dreams, Room 104 and “the good episodes” of Master of None. (I had the exact same thought when I watched the “New York, I Love You” Master of None episode. “Damn, High Maintenance should sue.”) She finds Easy interesting, though, “because it’s terrible.” That line made me laugh out loud. I like Easy and think it’s worth watching but the tone is different and she’s right, story line about the brothers who brew beer just kind of sucks.

But back to High Maintenance.

My one concern is The Guy. One of the show’s writers, Rebecca Drysdale (Key and Peele writer and former improv coach of mine), wanted a seasonal arc for The Guy, which is new to the show. Last season, we got glimpses into his life. We saw him with a girlfriend and we also learned that he has an ex-wife (Blichfeld and Sinclair both say that this was written before the split was imminent). These details need to be doled out with precision, though. It needs to be like DeNiro and Pacino meeting and understanding each other in Heat. If you go back to that well too many times, you have Carrie and Brody in Homeland, whose relationship stretched my suspension of disbelief to the point of hatred for the show.

I don’t want The Guy to jump the shark. Don’t tell me his name. Keep him at the center but keep him somewhat mysterious so that, like the best plots in this show, we catch poignant glimpses into his life, not the full portrait.

So, one last thing. Apparently Ben used to get recognized all around Brooklyn while he was with Katja, who would not be recognized. It was a source of tension in their relationship since they were co-creators.

On one occasion, I was one of the people that recognized them – and I recognized both of them.

It was in the Gowanus Whole Foods. I know how tacky it is. I know it’s New York – Brooklyn no less! – and you’re not supposed to do that. But, frankly, I think the real rule is “pick your spots.” You get maybe two celebrity hellos as a New York resident. I once let Leonardo Di Caprio pass without a second glance. But I also let Spalding Gray pass me in SOHO without saying anything and I always regretted that one. So, I didn’t want to waste this one. I wanted to do it quick, get in and get out. Say something like, “Hey, just wanted to say love the show.”

I believe what came out was, “Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but I love you guys.”

Yeah. I love you guys. Not your show, you two people.

They both said thanks. They were shopping, a little distracted, so, maybe it wasn’t that awkward. Actually, you know what? Screw it. Ben and Katja, if you ever happen to read this, I stand by it.