Self-Awareness & Growth Mark 'Professor T's "A Little Drop of Poison"

We teach best what we most need to learn; this week, Jasper is the perfect example of this idiom, gaining wisdom and (eventually) embracing humility in Professor T's fourth episode. He haunts his old lecture hall – both when empty and when occupied by his replacement, Erik Haiden (Cornelius Booth), whose students look bored. In his first session with Dr. Goldberg since his release from prison, Jasper is rude, dismissive, and superior. He declares she cannot be impartial about the assessment the police requested before he’ll be allowed back as a consultant.

He scoffs when Dr. Goldberg worries about suicidal ideation, which she says often accompanies a loss of status. When the hour is over, Jasper ends their relationship, claiming there’s nothing more he can gain. Dr. G says he hasn’t progressed enough, but he argues it’s her failure, not his. In a fascinating moment, Dr. G provokes Jasper enough that he sits down without first laying out his handkerchief – something that might otherwise be an OCD breakthrough, but he is too bull-headed to notice.

When Jasper discovers he isn’t getting his professorship back, he returns the box of chocolates Ms. Snares gifted him: “Since I am neither welcome nor back, these cannot be mine.” Ms. Snares is angry about Jasper not returning and shoves the chocolates at the Dean, telling him not to choke on them. He then regifts the chocolates to Adelaide. (This odd bit of hot potato comes back into play later.)