Netflix’s Human Resources season 1 recap guide: Episodes 1 to 10

Human Resources episode 4, “Rutgers is for Lovers”

Human Resources episode 4 introduces two new human characters, Nadja (Sabrina Jalees) and Danielle, a couple at Franklin High School on the verge of graduation. Rochelle and Petra the Ambition Gremlin are both on Nadja’s team, helping her through her relationship with Danielle, their impending senior prom night and her college enrollment.

Even though Petra and Rochelle are almost polar opposites, they start to bond while facilitating the first hookup between the couple. They even go out for drinks at The Mistake Factory afterward with Petra sharing how nice it is to have girl talk. Petra reveals that seeing Nadja and Danielle lose their virginity to each other made her realize how much she wants to have sex herself since it’s been over 200 years and she’s got her eye on Gavin.

But when Nadja finds out she got accepted off the waitlist to her dream school Berkeley, everything changes. Nadja and Danielle were originally planning to go to Rutgers together since Nadja had been waitlisted. The acceptance letter is everything she (and Petra) have been working toward for the last four years. Now Nadja has to choose between her dream school and her dream girl, which puts Petra and Rochelle on opposite sides once again.

As a Lovebug, Rochelle obviously wants Nadja to forget Berkeley and keep her plans to go to Rutgers with Danielle while Petra and Nadja’s family want her to go to Berkeley, Danielle be damned (or at least try long-distance dating). Everything comes to a head during prom night. Rochelle lets it slip to Gavin that Petra is interested in him so he takes her out on a date while Rochelle goes to prom to watch over Nadja.

She uses the event as an opportunity to get into Nadja’s head about Danielle, convincing her to choose Rutgers and her girlfriend over her ambition. Nadja wins prom queen and during her acceptance speech, she tells Danielle (and the whole school) that she’s giving up Berkeley to go to Rutgers after all. By the time Petra realizes what Rochelle has done and arrived at the dance, the damage has already been done. Danielle doesn’t react to the news the way Nadja would have hoped.

Danielle had assumed they would just break up before going to college and isn’t sure she’s even ready for the commitment of going away together. Nadja is understandably hurt and says they should just break up now. Why wait for summer? The whole evening ends in a tragic mess as the couple splits. But at least Rochelle and Petra kind of get back on the same page as Rochelle realizes she might have made things worse by getting overly involved.

Back at the office, Pete tries to help Emmy sort her inbox after seeing a horrifying number of unread emails on her system—enough to make her system crash and slow down. In the process of sorting her emails and installing his “Inbox Zero” system, Pete uncovers a long email thread between Emmy and Rochelle going back 700 emails.

It’s a string of jokes about someone in the office they jokingly call “The Chugger.” Of course, The Chugger is Pete but Emmy tries to cover it up and blames Joe, resulting in Pete making a joke to Rochelle in the break room. Rochelle is surprised that Pete is so okay with the nickname, making him realize he’s The Chugger and he doesn’t take the news well.

Emmy explains that it all started one day 50 years ago when Emmy and Rochelle happened to notice him chugging water at the water cooler. That’s it. That’s the extent of the joke that has spawned countless memes over the years. (“I just saw The Chugger looking thirsty, hide your Dasanis.”)

Pete is actually pretty hurt that Emmy and Rochelle have been laughing at him behind his back because he has a huge crush on Rochelle!

While the rest of their coworkers are dealing with human clients and bad office jokes, Connie and Maury find themselves stuck in a sex rut (and not the good kind). They’re bored with their relationship and eager to spice things up. Connie suggests they try some roleplay. The two come dressed in costume to The Mistake Factory, but before they can get jiggy with it Connie notices a completely hammered Sonya getting kicked out of the bar.

Realizing Sonya needs help, Connie calls off her sexy night out with Maury and attends to Sonya’s needs, taking her home and tucking her into bed. Sonya starts to reveal a secret she’s been keeping (I’m guessing why she got fired?) to Connie, but we don’t get to find out what it is yet. Connie agrees to spend the night with Sonya so she doesn’t have to be alone and steps out to let Maury know.

It turns out, Maury is a few steps ahead. He leaves Connie a gift basket with a note suggesting she spend time with her lady friend and make sure she’s okay. Wow, what a gentleman. And I just want to say seeing Connie rush to Sonya’s rescue and take care of her like a good friend was actually very cute. It’s nice to see the sweeter side of the Hormone Monsters from time to time!

Best jokes and stray observations from Human Resources episode 4

• “It’s community theatre but for sexually active people.”
• “I want to be someone brash and electrifying like Joan Rivers.” “Ooh! And I’ll be Melissa Rivers.” “Nope. Nope. That crosses a line for me let’s do something else.”
• “You clearly use your keyboard as a plate for many a croissant.”
• “Have you ever heard of Inbox Zero?” “Oh that’s the name of the abortion clinic I go to.”
  • “A clean box is a happy box. I’m sure they say the same thing at your clinic.”
• “You know what? Screw it. I’m getting both. I’ve got plenty of time for diarrhea today.” Here’s to all the IBS sufferers out there.
• Is it just me or is Pete in the flashback kind of…hot? Also just in general, I love Pete so much.
• The fact Maury decided on being a “Junior Blizzard Marshall at the Dairy Queen” for his roleplay session.
• Connie being a supportive friend to Sonya and also being willing to bury a body for her! That’s a real pal right there.
• Love the entire end-credits sequence with Pete narrating an actually helpful and great way to clean up one’s email inbox.