The New Client

Plot

Her assistant Stuart reminds her of a photoshoot for Manatee Fair magazine's "Hollywoo Women Who Do It All" issue. Initially declining due to baby duties, she changes her mind after Amanda Hannity recounts the story of Karen Kitada, a television creator whose career faltered after having a child. Todd, fired from What Time Is It Right Now, is asked to babysit; Princess Carolyn dozes off during his response and hears only "Sure, I'd be happy to," leaving the baby with him.

At the photoshoot, other guests propose an event supporting women like themselves, and Princess Carolyn reluctantly agrees, eventually handling all organizing duties. Exhausted by demands from the event, her career, and motherhood, she is mistaken as drunk and checked into BoJack's rehab facility. She sleeps on a porch for two days, then arrives at the finished event and converses with Vanessa Gekko about her maternal struggles; Gekko reassures her that the baby is just another job.

Before the event, Princess Carolyn calls Todd from the clinic; Todd had actually said he was busy, but she forced him into caring for the child. At a meeting, Todd mentions "Untitled Princess Carolyn Project" (the baby's temporary name), sparking rumors among television producers. Princess Carolyn leverages this by selling Pinky on the Birthday Dad script as a television show with Kitada as showrunner, and settles on the name 'Ruthie' for the baby.

Critical response

The episode received generally positive reviews. Les Chappell of The A.V. Club gave it a B+ rating, calling it an episode about trying to have it all that almost manages to have it all itself, and praised Princess Carolyn's lead, the visual effects, and the overall story arc. Hannah Giorgis of The Atlantic highlighted the scene between Princess Carolyn and Vanessa Gekko, noting potential changes in the former character, and wrote that the episode weaves Princess Carolyn's struggles into the show's ongoing critique of the capitalist entertainment industry, nodding to recent writers' strikes.