While I agree this isn't one of the better episodes (although with how many of them tried too hard to be silly perhaps it IS) I think people are looking way too hard for an obvious explanation. A big word to keep in mind while watching this episode is "denial". Also pay attention to how the wife references how many jobs her husband has had, how many cities they've moved from all related to his drinking. Meaning this is not the 1st time he's been "sober, I swear!". As to what is going on or "what" Jerry is, I guess it depends.
On one hand, perhaps as another commenter said, it is because Alan was drunk the whole episode & Jerry was a manifestation of his drinking & he's so out of it he thinks his wife & older son are playing games with him when in fact there is no Jerry & maybe the real conversations that took place were far different than what we see through Alan's perspective. Alcoholics tend to remember things differently. Take note of when his boss is getting on his case about how 2 days have gone by without Alan calling back a client where as Alan seemed unaware that much time had gone by. I think that's important because Jerry had only shown up 1 day prior & was unrelated to that particular aspect of the story, seems to indicate that Alan was already off the wagon before his boss ever approached him with the drink offer.
The theory I subscribe to however (although I still agree with the smaller points from the 1st theory) is that this town & specifically that real estate office is some sort of "final stage" for the hopeless alcoholic. It's where the "I'm gonna change!" alcoholics that never actually intend to take care of their problem end up. The fact that the boss offers both Alan, & his also a "recovering" alcoholic replacement drinks seems to make that clear, also that Jerry shows up to "oh & who might you be?" introduction again. Alan ends up there so that he can meet his end & his family can break free of him. As for what I hold over from the first theory, I'm thinking the family was never aware of Jerry at all & the dialogue & scenes we see are just Alan's perspective as a drunk in denial. Maybe even the house was ALWAYS empty & his family had already left him prior to arriving in the new town (why would Alan's wife call his boss's office phone?) & everything is just the disturbing world & imagination of a drunk about to meet his end.
This is certainly a story probably best suited for Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock who maybe would have made it a point to clear up the confusion of "What did I just see happen?", but I think they decided to leave it more up to the viewer's interpretation. Like I said, with so many over-the-top silly episodes for this series, this may not be one of the best but it certainly isn't one of the worst.
On one hand, perhaps as another commenter said, it is because Alan was drunk the whole episode & Jerry was a manifestation of his drinking & he's so out of it he thinks his wife & older son are playing games with him when in fact there is no Jerry & maybe the real conversations that took place were far different than what we see through Alan's perspective. Alcoholics tend to remember things differently. Take note of when his boss is getting on his case about how 2 days have gone by without Alan calling back a client where as Alan seemed unaware that much time had gone by. I think that's important because Jerry had only shown up 1 day prior & was unrelated to that particular aspect of the story, seems to indicate that Alan was already off the wagon before his boss ever approached him with the drink offer.
The theory I subscribe to however (although I still agree with the smaller points from the 1st theory) is that this town & specifically that real estate office is some sort of "final stage" for the hopeless alcoholic. It's where the "I'm gonna change!" alcoholics that never actually intend to take care of their problem end up. The fact that the boss offers both Alan, & his also a "recovering" alcoholic replacement drinks seems to make that clear, also that Jerry shows up to "oh & who might you be?" introduction again. Alan ends up there so that he can meet his end & his family can break free of him. As for what I hold over from the first theory, I'm thinking the family was never aware of Jerry at all & the dialogue & scenes we see are just Alan's perspective as a drunk in denial. Maybe even the house was ALWAYS empty & his family had already left him prior to arriving in the new town (why would Alan's wife call his boss's office phone?) & everything is just the disturbing world & imagination of a drunk about to meet his end.
This is certainly a story probably best suited for Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock who maybe would have made it a point to clear up the confusion of "What did I just see happen?", but I think they decided to leave it more up to the viewer's interpretation. Like I said, with so many over-the-top silly episodes for this series, this may not be one of the best but it certainly isn't one of the worst.