Because the politics of sex in the modern American family unit were not already bizarre enough, Wednesday night’s edition of NBC’s The Mysteries of Laura introduced a new and even more disconcerting male-female arrangement. Or, male-female-male arrangement, I should say.
After going to a woman’s apartment to talk to her about the death of her husband, Detective Laura Diamond (Deborah Messing) and her partner and ex-husband Jake (Josh Lucas) find the woman with her husband. Her…other husband. Ladies and Gentleman, allow me to introduce you to the “Throuple”:
Wife: Can I help you?
Jake: NYPD. Is this Peter Drake's apartment?
Wife: Yes. I'm his wife. Is something wrong?
Chris: Babe, who is it?
Laura: I'm sorry. And you are...
Wife: Oh, this is Chris, my husband. My other husband.
Chris: The state didn't recognize it, of course. But this was a marriage... We both lost a husband.
Laura: I'm so sorry. I just need to understand. So this was a three-way marriage?
Wife: The Post mentioned us in an article last month. They called what we have a "Throuple".
Jake: So just to clarify the three of you...
Wife: Live together. Sleep together.
Laura: Wow. Sorry.
Chris: It's okay, it's a new concept for most people.
So, a “Throuple,” which sounds like a dog breed that a Manhattan socialite might stuff in her purse, is actually a disturbing living arrangement between three highly confused adults.
I’m going to step away and weep for our future now.
