Okay, Patrick, what are you doing this to me for? You're a mean man.
This episode is the first time we've seen Al brought low by another person. We saw him get leveled by his kidney stones, but that was – to borrow a phrase from the show – a "turn of events" and something well outside his control.
This is different.

Hearst is the worst and I don't know what Al can do to beat him. I really don't.