Straight Up 2020

Todd's OCD and early dating attempts

Todd, a twenty-something from Los Angeles, lives with OCD and has a strong aversion to bodily fluids. He dates men but avoids penetrative sex and struggles with intimacy. His fear of loneliness keeps him pushing forward to seek connection.

First woman hookup and panic

Todd attempts dating a woman after getting drunk and hooks up with her, but the moment her hymen breaks he freaks out. His psychoanalyst questions whether this experimental phase is wise, while Todd fears being alone and resolves to continue exploring relationships. The episode highlights the conflict between his curiosity and anxiety.

Meeting Rory in the library

He meets Rory in the self-help section of a library, and they instantly click with their shared offbeat humor. They spend hours talking and feel an immediate connection. Rory moves in with him and joins his various house-sitting jobs.

Friends oppose the relationship

Todd's friends oppose the relationship, viewing it as a sign of internalized homophobia and undermining its legitimacy. Rory agrees to pursue a romantic relationship with him, though sex remains off the table. The tension centers on how their circle perceives their coupling.

Introducing Rory to the parents

After introducing Rory to his parents, Todd worries they may like him more for dating a woman, rekindling insecurities about his own identity. He grapples with fear that Rory's presence will redefine how his family sees him. The moment crystallizes the pressure to appease both sides of his life.

Christmas party and meltdown

At a Christmas party with Todd's friends playing truth or dare, Rory discovers Todd in a compromising position with his gay friend and leaves. The sudden breach deepens Rory's dissatisfaction with their relationship. Todd is left to confront the consequences of his past and his desire for closeness.

Rory moves to Seattle

Rory grows unhappy with LA life and decides to move to Seattle in search of a fresh start. She envisions a life where emotional connections feel possible outside of Todd. Her decision marks a turning point that shifts the couple's dynamic from closeness to distance.

Todd's silence after the breakup

Some time after the breakup, Todd refuses to date anyone and isolates himself from potential relationships. He remains in Los Angeles, while Rory begins building a life apart in Seattle. The separation intensifies the emotional stakes for both.

Rory's Seattle life grows

Rory settles into an office job in Seattle but still struggles to connect with coworkers. She navigates professional and personal frustrations while adjusting to life away from Todd. The city becomes a new arena for her longing for intimacy.

A new interest in Rory and its realization

One of Rory's coworkers develops an interest in her, but she realizes they are too different to form a lasting relationship. This reinforces her ongoing reflection about love and commitment. The mismatch underscores the difficulty of finding compatibility after a breakup.

Rory calls Todd; leading to a rebound attempt

Rory calls Todd but hangs up before he can answer, and later she leaves work to find him waiting for her. The moment feels like a chance to bridge the distance between them. They try to reconnect in person, but the next steps remain uncertain.

Todd proposes; Rory declines

In a grand romantic gesture, Todd proposes to Rory, but she declines. He delivers an ardent plea, declaring he loves her and doesn't want to be with anyone else. The emotional clash leaves their future explicitly unresolved.