Dear Glen, Peggy, and Joel,

Everyone was a victim last night, momentarily coupling in their own transient Rainbow coalitions. Their faux alliances quickly collapsed, however, into arguments over who is really entitled to Rodney Dangerfield's lament, "I don't get no respect!"

So, what's the point? I think it's that victimology on the level of group politics is tedious. Victimhood is really only relational. Last week, Adriana felt it in the hands of Daniella, and this week, a random act of violence steals from Bobby his precious wife Karen. These are the real victims.

Fortunately, Bobby can wear his grief openly. Poor Adriana must conceal hers, becoming yet another set of staring eyes taking in those surrounding her, those whom she too may soon have to betray.

The final and perhaps ultimate victim portrayed last night was American psychotherapy, which is becoming little more than an evangelical tent show in the hands of Dr. Phil, Dr. Laura, and all the other Dr. fill-in-first-names spewing cheap advice over understanding. Dr. Sandy's pablum sounded frighteningly similar to Father Phil's privately administered "sermons" during the first season. (Maybe this is why he was finally reintroduced after essentially a two-season hiatus.) His similarities to Meadow's Dr. Wendy and Janice's Dr. Sandy reflect a collapse of church and "state." Ours was once a practice bent on enabling individuals to understand what they really feel and really stand for from the inside out—the only basis for real participation in a democracy—versus being indoctrinated from the outside in. In this context, Dr. Jennifer is looking better and better.

Phil