S01.E02: Deuce

[Snazzy Daisy]

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After an unsuccessful job interview, Coop pawns a stolen watch.

Air Date: Apr 11, 2025

 

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Edited April 16 by Snazzy Daisy
Added more images!

[Snazzy Daisy]

Lu is an interesting character. She’s smart to run a background on Coop. 

What? Mel is not happy with her current life with Mr. NBA? It serves her right. 😆

[NeenerNeener]

So what was Coop's actual job? I was multi-tasking and missed any discussion of what he was fired from; I only know what he was fired for. I did catch a few references to not getting out of tech soon enough, so I'm assuming he worked for a hedge fund and it's his commission account that they're refusing to give him. But we all know what happens when I assume....

And was Coop's ex-boss hitting on the woman he fired Coop over?

ETA: I googled some reviews and when they mentioned Coop's former job at all they said "hedge fund manager".

Edited April 12 by NeenerNeener

[QQQQ]

So all of the neighbors are totally lax about security (alarms, locks, cameras, safes)?

[Rickster]

On 4/13/2025 at 10:28 AM, QQQQ said:

So all of the neighbors are totally lax about security (alarms, locks, cameras, safes)?

They sort of handwave this away by explaining how safe neighbors feel with the private security and gated community.

I was wondering how cold everyone must have been poolside in those bathing suits when I noticed the were barely any leaves on the trees.

Watched the first two episodes last night. Liked the first episode more than the second, which got more soapier. Wondering if there’s more of a story behind why Coop was fired that will be revealed.

Edited April 15 by Rickster

[Kenz]

On 4/13/2025 at 7:28 AM, QQQQ said:

So all of the neighbors are totally lax about security (alarms, locks, cameras, safes)?

That bugs me too. They don't have security cameras and alarms, and they store extremely valuable jewelry and watches in drawers? I'm trying to let this not bother me, but it does.

 

[MCMLXXVII]

Totally agree on the unrealistic lack of cameras. If they were living on some old estates, I’d understand, but most of the homes look like large fancy new builds where I’d assume cameras would be integrated into the security system.

 

[Cool Breeze]

On 4/12/2025 at 7:18 AM, Snazzy Daisy said:

Lu is an interesting character. She’s smart to run a background on Coop. 

What? Mel is not happy with her current life with Mr. NBA? It serves her right. 😆

My speculation is that Coop and Mel sleep together at the end of Season 1 and, if there's a Season 2, Mr. NBA goes the way of the dodo.  And in Season 2, Mel is brought into Coop's robbery racket as a not-particularly-unwilling participant.

[Snazzy Daisy]

5 hours ago, Cool Breeze said:

My speculation is that Coop and Mel sleep together at the end of Season 1 and, if there's a Season 2, Mr. NBA goes the way of the dodo.

Your Friends & Neighbors has been renewed ahead of the series premiere on April 11.

Spoiler

And James Marsden has been tapped for a lead role opposite Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn in Season 2.

 

[So unbelievable]

I find the whole lack of cameras unrealistic too.  I live in a middle class area and so many have cameras.  At the least, a ring doorbell.  I get his explanation how they all become lax, but not that much.  
Not sure how long he's going to get away with stealing stuff that has serial numbers.  

[Hanahope]

Is Coop perhaps not as "rich" as his neighbors?  He had no idea that the super expensive watch needed a "box and certificate of authenticity" to resell, and he apparently never considered selling one of his own to get full value.  

I get the idea that his neighbors have so much stuff that they probably won't even realize that one of their super expensive watches is missing for quite some time, and by then, there's no way to pin point when it was stolen.  so even if there are cameras, it would be impossible to know when to look, i.e. these cameras just record, they don't have anyone actively looking at them, and likely record over every so often, 30 days, 60 days, something like that.  

obviously the death in the first episode is a whole different matter.  

[Elizzikra]

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He had no idea that the super expensive watch needed a "box and certificate of authenticity" to resell,

It's actually not necessary to have box and papers to resell to a reputable dealer. Many legitimate sellers don't. But you won't get as much for the watch. Coop not knowing this doesn't mean, necessarily, that he isn't as wealthy as his neighbors (though I find that to be an interesting theory). The luxury watch market is pretty niche and if that just isn't his thing, he wouldn't necessarily know that box and papers add to the value tremendously. 

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he apparently never considered selling one of his own to get full value.  

He might not have one. I imagine he has a recognizable luxury watch, like a Rolex. Depending on the model and condition, he would maybe get low five figures (especially if he didn't realize there was merit in hanging onto the box and papers). That's not an insubstantial amount of money but it was a drop in the bucket compared to what he needed. 

What I can't figure out is why he is still driving the Maserati. He could sell it legitimately (but maybe he is still making payments on it so he wouldn't get much) and he could drive something still pricey but less expensive, like a Porsche. I did read an article about how people living an uber rich lifestyle feel like they can't "go backwards" though. So having a Maserati would mean to someone like Coop that they can't ever have a less expensive car, even if it's still pretty upscale. So to someone like him, suggesting he go "back" to a Porsche would be akin to saying he should have a used Prius?

[Hanahope]

1.  

2 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

What I can't figure out is why he is still driving the Maserati.

Its sortof suggested in Ep 3.  everyone in his circle is a member of the super expensive tennis (golf?) club (with overpriced food) because to not be so suggests that they "aren't good enough" and therefore a social pariah.  i.e. have to keep up with the Joneses. 

also no one knows he's lost his job and he doesn't want to anyone to realize that.  he could sell a watch and no one would really know that, but the car is more obvious.  if he suddenly isn't driving the Maserati, people would ask why, especially if he "downgraded" to a Porsche or Mercedes.  

He has the 'excuse' of his sister as to the change in living arrangements, why he isn't renting the house anymore, so he's saving some money there.  

but i guess the writers came up with the "box and papers" bit in order to bring in the Lu character and a more shady criminal connection to play out later.  

Edited May 29 by Hanahope

[Elizzikra]

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but i guess the writers came up with the "box and papers" bit in order to bring in the Lu character and a more shady criminal connection to play out later.  

It's definitely a thing - a watch will resell for more if it comes with all the original stuff - box, papers, all the links to the bracelet, an additional band if it had one, etc. It's just not impossible to sell one without that stuff, nor does it mean that it is stolen.  But yeah - we had to get Lu in there somehow.

[heatherchandler]

On 5/11/2025 at 3:34 AM, So unbelievable said:

I find the whole lack of cameras unrealistic too.  I live in a middle class area and so many have cameras.  At the least, a ring doorbell.  I get his explanation how they all become lax, but not that much.  
Not sure how long he's going to get away with stealing stuff that has serial numbers.  

Yeah but he’s not in a middle class area, he’s in a wealthy area and they actually are very lax about security.  The house next to mine is a $4 million house and they never turn on the alarm, they leave the back door open, they don’t have a tacky ring camera but actual good cameras that they don’t bother to turn on.

[Elizzikra]

10 hours ago, heatherchandler said:

Yeah but he’s not in a middle class area, he’s in a wealthy area and they actually are very lax about security.  The house next to mine is a $4 million house and they never turn on the alarm, they leave the back door open, they don’t have a tacky ring camera but actual good cameras that they don’t bother to turn on.

Remember the whole “bling ring” thing a few years back. Major celebrities like Paris Hilton, who publicized it every time they were out of town, left their doors unlocked and no alarms on - it was shockingly easy for people to steal from them.

[KittyQ]

On 5/30/2025 at 10:49 PM, heatherchandler said:

Yeah but he’s not in a middle class area, he’s in a wealthy area and they actually are very lax about security.  The house next to mine is a $4 million house and they never turn on the alarm, they leave the back door open, they don’t have a tacky ring camera but actual good cameras that they don’t bother to turn on.

I don't live anywhere NEAR properties at that level, but for the first few years we lived in our house, we never set the alarm, although we did lock up. Until we were burgled. Not much of real value was stolen (as I told the policeman who came later, our cat was worth more than everything that was taken, since he was a breed that was pretty desirable for a while), but the fear I felt was terrible. Now we always set the alarm and have lights and cameras. It only takes once for you to realize your mistake.

Back to the show - Coop had better branch out, or at least space out his thefts, because sooner or later the neighbors are going to realize they are targets and do something about it.