The episode "Literal Dragons," Season 1 Episode 4 of Your Friends & Neighbors, begins early in the morning with Elena, the maid working in Nick’s house, waking up and going about her routine of cleaning and tidying the home. She even takes a moment to relax with a hot bath upstairs. Meanwhile, Cooper (Coop) is preparing to steal Nick’s ring that night. However, as Coop attempts the theft, Elena unexpectedly confronts him at gunpoint, stopping him from taking the ring.

Elena and Coop then sit down to talk. Elena warns Coop that stealing the ring will have consequences, reminding him of a previous theft involving a sterling watch that led to Brad’s maid being fired. She reveals that Brad thought the maid was "getting too comfortable" and replaced her with "fresh blood." Elena admits she has been keeping secrets, including knowledge of Coop’s affair with Mel. She proposes a mutual agreement: Coop keeps her secret, and she will keep his, revealing that she is also a thief.

Later, Marley and Ron encounter Mel at the supermarket. Their initial polite exchange quickly turns hostile due to the recent breakup between Mel and Coop and the infidelity involved. The tension between them is palpable, highlighting the fractured relationships among the characters.

Barney checks in on Coop while he is out golfing, expressing concern not only about a mysterious brown bag of cash that has appeared but also about Coop’s lack of steady work prospects. Coop dismisses Barney’s worries, but Barney remains uneasy about the situation.

Coop’s criminal activities escalate as he teams up with Elena, who becomes his partner in crime. Elena acts as the getaway driver and strategist, using her insider knowledge from working as a housekeeper to gather information that aids their thefts. Their partnership initially runs smoothly, with Elena guiding Coop through the process via earpieces during a burglary attempt at a neighbor’s house.

On the night of Mel’s party, Coop attempts to steal a Birkin bag from a neighbor’s closet. He successfully bypasses the first alarm, but a second alarm inside the closet unexpectedly triggers. The code that Hector provided does not deactivate this alarm, causing panic. Coop loses his earpiece during the chaos and is attacked by a vicious dog guarding the house. The police are alerted and arrive on the scene. Coop tries to flee but is forced to leave the stolen bag behind. Elena arrives in a car and picks him up just as the police spot him, narrowly escaping capture.

Meanwhile, Coop’s legal troubles deepen. He discovers that Massey, the lawyer he hoped would help him win a case against his former employers, is cozying up to those employers instead. Liv notices this suspicious behavior at the office and warns Coop by showing up at his door. Initially skeptical, Coop becomes convinced that Massey is working against him.

Coop visits Mel at a trampoline where they used to play with their children. Mel is alone, jumping on the trampoline, and Coop joins her. They reminisce and share a moment of fun, but the mood soon shifts. Mel appears conflicted and emotionally torn. Later, at the party, Mel sees the expensive gifts her friends have brought and then finds the brown bag Coop left for her. Inside are her favorite candies, which she eats while crying. This moment reveals Mel’s mixed feelings about her relationship with Rick and her reconsideration of past choices. Coop’s newfound kindness after years of neglect complicates her emotions further.

Throughout the episode, Coop’s personal and criminal lives become increasingly entangled and precarious. His alliance with Elena brings both opportunity and danger, while his relationships with Mel, his daughter, and his ex-wife continue to deteriorate. The episode ends with Coop narrowly escaping the police after the botched burglary, his future uncertain and fraught with escalating risks.

During Nick's surprise birthday party for Mel, Mel connects with Coop, and the party is interrupted when one of Nick's friends suffers an open fracture during a basketball game. Additionally, Coop robs an expensive bottle of wine from neighbors Dom and Kat Resnick and witnesses Kat having sex with her daughter's boyfriend.

Coop's criminal activity escalates as he robs his neighbors, steals an expensive bottle of wine, and later sneaks into Nick's house to steal Nick's NBA championship ring. However, he is caught and held at gunpoint by Nick's housekeeper Elena. Coop's remaining stolen cash is then taken by Elena to pay off another character's debt. Coop also faces personal consequences as his crimes strain his relationships and he refuses to take a plea bargain.

Coop's personal relationships become increasingly strained: his ex-wife Mel refuses to let him see their children, Mel inadvertently reveals her hookup with Coop during a confrontation with Sam, which becomes public online, leading to fallout including Mel being put on leave from her job, Nick leaving angrily, Tori breaking up with her boyfriend, and Bruce refusing to see Ali. Coop also apologizes to Hunter for their fractured relationship.

Elena catches Coop during his attempted theft at Nick's house and holds him at gunpoint. She later steals all of Coop's remaining cash from his thefts and uses it to pay off Chivo's debt to Félix. Elena's involvement complicates Coop's criminal activities and adds danger to the storyline.

Coop, Barney, and Nick drown their sorrows with a wild night out, during which Coop and Barney admit dissatisfaction with their materialistic lives. Coop attempts to confess his crimes to Barney, but Barney passes out before hearing it. This night highlights their personal struggles amid the chaos unfolding around them.

The TV show "Your Friends & Neighbors," Season 1, Episode 4 "Literal Dragons" (2025), is not family friendly and is generally recommended for viewers aged 15 and older. It contains content that may be objectionable or upsetting for children or sensitive viewers.

Potentially upsetting or objectionable aspects include:

• Frequent strong profanity, including the f-word used extensively (37 times in the episode), along with other strong language such as the s-word, a–, and taking God's name in vain multiple times.
• Moderate sexual content and nudity, with some scenes coming close to male nudity on screen.
• Drug and alcohol use, including characters drinking heavily and smoking marijuana.
• Mild violence and intense scenes, including some hostile behavior and tense moments.
• Themes involving adultery and complex adult relationships, which may be emotionally challenging or inappropriate for younger viewers.

Overall, the show is aimed at mature audiences, particularly adults in their mid to late 30s and older, due to its emotional complexity and adult themes. It is not suitable for children or those sensitive to strong language, substance use, or mature sexual content.