The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey centers on one character prominent in Ptolemy's life. The opening episode focused on Reggie, Ptolemy's great-nephew and carer. In episode two, Robyn takes center stage as Ptolemy's latest friend and replacement caregiver. She's a young, quick-tempered individual. Through Robyn, episode two explores themes of sexism and toxic masculinity. We're introduced to Robyn fast asleep on Niecie's settee. Hilliard, the thief from the first episode, now adds sexual predator to his skillset. He heads over and strokes Robyn's leg. She bolts up from the couch and pulls a knife on him. Niecie (When They See Us actress Marsha Stephanie Blake) runs into the room to see what all the fuss is about. She instantly places the blame on Robyn, saying she's beautiful and it's her fault. Mosley is keen to address this dangerous, deep-rooted notion and returns to it later in the episode. Niecie is protective of Hilliard and tells Robyn to move out. The dynamic duo spends the night in a motel and then heads to Dr. Rubin's for Ptolemy's appointment. Dr. Rubin is played by Walton Goggins, marking a reunion for him and co-star Samuel L. Jackson, as they both starred in Tarantino's Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. Dr. Rubin seems like a friendly, genuine fellow at first. He explains that he works with specialists, who are attempting to cure dementia. They will inject Ptolemy with a dose of a new drug, which will cure his memory loss for 12 hours at a time. Ptolemy accepts the procedure and returns to his sparklingly clean flat. The investigation and the introduction of a miracle drug all play out a little silly in contrast to the seriousness of the first episode. Samuel L. Jackson is just as commanding as ever though and the addition of Robyn only strengthens the cast. The two work well together, forming an enjoyable pairing. The series has its pros and cons, only time will tell if the premiere was a fluke or the foundations of a great show.
