Hank ends up in jail at the end of Episode 4 of “Lucky Hank,” just like Lily had predicted, thanks to a fight with a Railton College gardener. Meanwhile, Lily gets kissed by her former flame, Tom, in New York, where she had gone for an interview at Arlyle School. The episode ends in uncertainty as Hank wonders why Lily decided to remain in New York for the night while Lily is rather bewildered at her own experiences and feelings.
Spoilers Ahead
To New York Or Not To New York
“Lucky Hank” Episode 5 begins with little Hank staring at the pendulum clock in his house. From the adjacent room, his parents can be heard having a heated argument, one of the many quarrels that ultimately led to his father abandoning him and his mother. Hank has invited all the faculty members of his department to a party at his house. As he and Lily are prepping the food, Lily gets a call from Tom telling her that she got the job. She tells Hank about it, who is happy, but it seems that he has taken for granted the fact that the offer is just leverage for her to use at Railton. They wouldn’t want to lose her, so they will look after her wants. After all, that was always her plan. Or was it?
Hank’s colleagues arrive, and the party begins. Hank texts Tony to come over as well. Lily tells June about the job offer, and the news makes the rounds in the room. Hank and Lily, too, have a little chat about it, and Hank appears to believe that there’s no way Lily is going to New York, or at least that’s what he wants. Lily, on the other hand, tells him that they can have a conversation on the subject later on. For the time being, it’s still debatable. Hank doesn’t like this. However, news of Gracie being published in The Atlantic becomes the new topic for a few minutes. Hank is in the kitchen and checks Lily’s phone, which has just pinged with her not around, and finds a text from Tom apologizing for making a pass at her. He asks Lily about it, and she makes it clear that it’s nothing. Hank believes it. We know that even if he believes Lily, a part of it is because this is how he is trying to convince himself that he is wrong for doubting her. Needless to say, he cannot help but wonder that whatever happened between his wife and another guy, whom he barely remembers and even hates, can act as the catalyst for her shifting to New York. But he smiles at her and decides to forget about the whole thing. While everyone else is busy drinking or eating, Hank goes outside, calls his daughter Julie, and tells her that her mom is leaving.
The Last Supper
At dinner, Hank raises a toast to Lily for her latest achievement. Then, all the guests start telling Lily how she needs to move and not pass on this great opportunity. This also brings up the question of who will be the next chair when Hank leaves and moves to New York with his wife. Hank tries to change the topic. That’s when Julie arrives and asks Lily if they can talk privately. They go outside, and Hank excuses himself, intending to overhear. He barely can, but he does see that the mother and daughter are having a sort of argument. He returns to his chair, and a few minutes later, Lily comes back to her seat as well. From this point on, Hank notices a change in Lily’s behavior in the way she tries to convey the message to everyone that she is going to New York. She mentions places where she can afford to stay in the new city; she listens to Paul’s offers for their house, which implies that she is thinking of moving with Hank; she mentions that Julie has decided to move with her; and she even agrees to talk to a friend of Emma’s who is looking for a flatmate in New York. While everyone is glad about her decision, Hank states that even if Lily goes, he is staying in Railton.
Long Distances
The conversation then moves toward June explaining her long-distance relationship with Teddy, followed by Paul telling the story of how he met Joanie. Everyone is smiling, and so are Lily and Hank. However, the stories don’t have the intended effect on Hank, as he asks Lily, in front of everyone else, about Tom and tells her that she can perhaps stay with him in New York. He then goes on to ask her if she has any other boyfriends in New York. This is more than she can take, and she asks Hank to come to the kitchen so that they can talk. Hank instead asks about Tom’s wife. He is way over his head with Lily’s job offer clearly.
‘Lucky Hank’ Episode 5: Ending Explained – Do Hank And Lily Find A Common Ground?
Hank’s friends tell him to join Lily and speak to her. But Hank isn’t registering anything anymore. All he wants is for Lily to stay with him in Railton. Why? Because he doesn’t want to leave Railton. Lily states clearly that even if she leaves Railton, he isn’t the reason. But Hank thinks that since Lily has decided to leave him, it has to be about him [his memory of his father leaving him keeps playing in his head]. Hank ultimately breaks down in front of everyone, crying like a child [little Hank tried to hang himself from a chandelier, but it came off the ceiling, and he fell to the ground].
Hank walks out of the room, sobbing and sniffing. His colleagues decided that it would be better that they leave. Tony tells Lily not to worry because Hank will be back to normal the next day. After the house is empty, its occupants, Lily and Hank, do the dishes together quietly. Hank imagines telling Lily that they won’t talk about whatever happened again [just like her mother did after taking the rope from around little Hank’s neck]. But this doesn’t materialize. Once they are done, they go to bed hand in hand.
Lily will most probably shift to New York with Julie. Hank will stay back. We only have to wait to find out how he copes with his loneliness. His outbursts have nothing to do with Lily but with his fear of being left alone or of abandonment, first by his father and now by his wife. We cannot judge him for it, but he does need to talk about it with Lily. Only she seems to understand him, and he knows that only she can calm him down. The sixth episode of “Lucky Hank” will have more of this.
