(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Due to unexpected business, this week, it’s just GH and one quote, but it’s a good one.
General Hospital
Jason tells Sonny might be going out of town. Carly tells them that she has to go to her old house to meet the inspector.
Nelle gets there first, checking to see if anyone is around. She’s sorry she had to steal a key from Josslyn, but it’s for a good cause. Let the haunting begin.
Kim asks how Oscar’s return to the outside world was. He tells her about meeting Josslyn at Kelly’s, and how he told her about the evening with Drew. Kim says it was a nice time, that’s all. He thinks it was more than that. He heard her talking to Julian, saying she never loved anyone like she did Drew and hasn’t gotten over him.
Drew wants to get the doctor, but Betsy wants him to get Bobby. She needs to tell him about Jim. Drew asks if she can tell him. He really needs to know.
Franco wants Doc to hypnotize him right now, but Doc says not until he’s totally calm. Franco says he is; why won’t Doc help him? Doc says it won’t work until he’s ready. Franco says he is, and would do it himself if he could. He wants his life back. Doc tells him that he can’t force it; they’ll give it a go again tomorrow. Franco says tomorrow might be too late.
Jim tells Elizabeth to do as he says, and they won’t get hurt. She asks him to let Jake go, but he says, no, and takes her purse. He says she’s going to drive out, keeping her eyes straight ahead. They’re looking for him on his own, and won’t look twice at two adults and a child.
Carly asks Jason what’s going on with Sam. He tells her, good news. Sam took Danny and Scout on a trip. Carly wonders how that’s good news, and he says she needs time away to focus on herself and the kids; time away from him and Drew. Carly says Sam doesn’t need time away from him, but she’ll follow her heart back to him, the sooner the better. Jason says maybe she’ll realize she needs to be alone. He’s okay with anything, unless she goes back to Drew. He says she’s not herself with him. She lacks confidence, and is always waiting for his approval and smoothing things over. I’ve actually never gotten that from their relationship, and wonder how Jason made this judgement after only being on the scene a short time. He says it’s not his place to interfere; it still isn’t. Sam has to figure out what’s right for her. He tells Carly to promise not to interfere; no set-ups, no pressure, nothing. That’s like asking one of my dogs not to covet my dinner. He says if Sam comes back, it will be the happiest day of his life, but if it doesn’t happen, as long as she’s strong, confident, and truly happy, it will be okay. Carly agrees Sam should do what makes her happy, and is sure she will when she comes back and runs into his arms. When that happens, Carly is going to need him to tell her she was right, and wants a witness. Sonny comes back in, and asks, a witness to what? That’s probably a touchy word with Sonny. Carly has to leave, and says she’ll let Jason tell him. Sonny asks if he really wants to know.
Nelle plugs a home control device into an outlet in Carly’s living room. She messes with the app on her phone, making the lights blink.
Oscar tells Kim it’s what she said. She tells him the thing with eavesdropping – besides being rude and invading privacy – is that it’s out of context. He heard the tail end of a conversation that was personal, and it’s none of his business. Oscar asks how, when Drew is his dad? She tells him to get some rest. He understands if she’s not comfortable discussing Drew with him, but says she shouldn’t be talking Julian either. She should be talking to Drew.
Drew asks what scared Betsy? She says she was dreaming. She saw Jim a moment ago in her room.
Franco tells Doc that Elizabeth came to see him. She brought Jake, and it tore him up. He wants to go home, and needs to remember. Doc knows patience isn’t Franco’s strong suit, but if he tries to force he memories, he might undo everything that got him to this point. Is he willing to risk that?
Jake tells Elizabeth they were told in school to never get in a car like this. As Bo Deitl told us: never go to crime scene number two. Jim tells Elizabeth to shut him up, and get in the car. Elizabeth asks Jake if he trusts her, and tells him to do exactly what she says – run! Jake takes off, and she pushes Jim back.
Jason tells sonny that Spinelli is in Europe, hoping to gain access to Faison’s safety deposit boxes by posing as Henrik. Sonny asks if he doesn’t think Spinelli will screw that up. Jason tells him about Spinelli’s contingency plan. Sonny assumes the plan is if Spinelli gets in trouble, Jason picks him up. Jason says it’s more elaborate than that, and might not come to it. Sonny says Spinelli is a genius in the computer world, but in the real world, he’ll blow it. He tells Jason that he should bring along Anna; she wants Henrik more than anybody. Jason says she’s cooperative, but there’s definitely something she’s not saying. Sonny says anything to do with Faison is personal to her, and Jason says it’s the same with his son. He doesn’t know why, but she seems too close.
He asks how Mike is, and Sonny says there are good days bad days. He tells Jason about Mike recording some old times on Michael’s phone. He say everything was great, then he went on a tangent about a field in Croton, and something that happened years ago, Jason says, so? Sonny says, Mike was never there. He couldn’t possibly know what happened.
Carly gets to her house, and leaves a message for the inspector. The lights start to flicker. Carly wonders when this started. Hiding upstairs, Nelle smiles.
Betsy tells Drew that it felt real; her mind must be playing tricks. He tells her that Jim is a fugitive. If he comes back, he’ll be arrested on sight. He says they haven’t found him, but there’s no way for him to get past them. She’s safe. She says she’s not worried about herself; she’s afraid for Bobby.
Doc tells Franco that they’ll try again tomorrow. If he wants success, go home, and get some sleep. Franco says he has no home until this is resolved, but can stay in Kiki’s spare room. Doc doesn’t think he should drive, and says he’ll call Franco an Uber. Okay, Franco is an Uber. BA-DUM-CHH!
Jim says that was a big mistake. Elizabeth says it’s all over for him, and he tells her to get in the car. Jakes shows back up and tells Jim to get away from his mom. Great move, kid, instead of running to get help.
Sonny explains to Jason that when he worked for Joe Skully and was moving up in the organization, he was proving his loyalty. Joe said there was a problem with a guy who wasn’t trustworthy, and he asked Sonny to meet him. He just said there was problem. It was as simple as that. He got there, and Skully wasn’t mad; he was casual, and didn’t even stop watching TV. He told Sonny he was going to be driving to Croton, and don’t forget to bring his shovel. There was a body wrapped in plastic in the trunk. He took care of the problem in a field. There was no one and nothing around for miles. Jason asks if that was the end of it, and Sonny says, until Mike brought it up, it didn’t even exist. His dad wasn’t there. How would he know?
The inspector calls Carly, saying it will be an hour. The lights blink and go out. Wouldn’t she think it was a problem from the earthquake? I guess not. She asks if anyone is there, and hears something upstairs. Nelle makes sounds with the app, and smiles.
Drew tells Betsy that Jim tried to hurt Bobby and failed; he’s running for his life. She says he doesn’t understand, and he asks her to help him. Tell him what happened. She says she raised them like brothers. You’d think two boys would be a handful, but not them. They were rambunctious, but sweet. They hardly fought, and would play for hours together. It was all her fault, bringing in Jim. He seemed so nice and charming, and then Bobby started acting out. At the time, she didn’t know why, but looking back, realized what happened, and what caused the fall down the stairs. She continues to talk, but we don’t hear the rest of what she says to Drew.
Elizabeth tries to run. Jim tries to get Jake to come, but he won’t, and Elizabeth pokes him in the eye. He pushes her down, and tells her to get in the car. Franco is suddenly there, and Jim says, looks what he did. He calls Franco Bobby, and says it’s all his fault. Hmm… I don’t know if Franco is taking the bait this time. He looks pretty staunch.
Jim tells Elizabeth and Jake to get in the car. Franco rushes Jim, causing him to drop the gun, and Elizabeth and Jake run. Jim reaches for the gun, but Franco pulls him back. They tussle on the ground.
Sonny tells Jason that Mike came and went. The times he saw him, Mike lectured him that Skully was bad news. He thought, who was Mike to tell him how to live his life? It was his business. He knows now that Mike was trying to stop him from making a choice he couldn’t take back. Maybe if he’d listened, he’d have a different life. Skully was offering what he was offering, and he took it with both hands. He’s not complaining; look at what he built. Jason asks if Croton was the only job like that. Sonny says there were a few others, but Mike wasn’t there. He’s sure he never told him. Jason wonders if Mike knew someone else who worked for Skully. Sonny says, maybe, but who knows what he remembers these days?
Carly goes upstairs, and asks if anyone is there. She goes into Morgan’s room, and closes the door. She gets nostalgic, like this is the time, and picks up a baseball glove. She holds it to her chest, and says, Morgan, my baby. She hears creaking, and picks up the bat. She looks in the closet, and there’s nothing there. Not much in the way of clothing either. Did he live there?
Kim is glad Oscar is getting to know his father. Oscar says having him there felt easy, like they all belonged together. He never knew how much he wanted that. Doesn’t she feel the same way? She say the Drew she was talking about, the one she knew, the Navy SEAL, doesn’t even remember being that person or spending time with her. When talks about not being over Drew, she means the Drew of the past, not the one here the other night. The one she was in love with is gone, and he’s not coming back. Oscar says he left her something, and she says, yeah, him. Oscar says besides him, and takes out the CD. He says she can’t seem to throw it away.
Drew leaves Betsy’s room. He sees Doc, who asks if he’s all right. Drew doesn’t think so. He felt guilty about Betsy freaking out. Doc says he doesn’t think Drew was the cause, but Drew says he went to apologize. She said she needed to talk to Franco about Jim, and he asks if she could tell him instead. She told him how he fell down the stairs, and how it relates to Jim. Elizabeth and Jake run in. Elizabeth tells them that Jim was in the garage, and had a gun. He tried to force them into the car, but Franco stopped him. They were fighting, but she doesn’t know what happened.
Franco punches Jim out. Jim says he’s his friend. Franco puts his hands around Jim’s throat.
Sonny tells Jason that the other day, Mike said remembered him as a kid, kicking the can. He got the day right, and the other kid right, but Sonny doesn’t remember him being there. Jason says maybe he wanted to be there or wished he was, and convinced himself. Sonny says Griff told him that Mike’s mind would play tricks. One day he forgets what he had for breakfast, but remembers a sandwich from the 80s. Jason asks what the harm is. At some point, Mike won’t remember anything. Let him have his memories now. Sonny says he told Mike that he remembered him being there. Maybe he was there. Memory is unreliable, but he can tell Jason for sure that Mike was not anywhere near the field in Croton.
Carly goes back to the living room, and texts Bobbie, saying the inspector was a no show. Bobbie texts back, saying she’ll reschedule. Carly is about to leave, and hears footsteps. She picks up the bat again, and the lights come on.
Oscar says the CD is special; Drew made it for her. She says not the Drew he knows; he’s different now. Oscar says there must be a reason she kept it. It should have been recycled. He says if she doesn’t care, he’ll take it right now, but she doesn’t have to pretend like she doesn’t have feelings about it. Kim tells him, that’s enough; it’s late. She already told him how she feels. She hugs him, and he goes to his room. She looks at the CD.
Elizabeth says the police are on the way. She asks Doc to stay with Jake; she’s going with Drew. Jake asks, what now? and Doc says the police have been called. Jake says what if it’s too late? Jim had gun. If he shoots Franco, it’s all his fault.
Jim tells Franco, you know me. Franco says, he does, and Jim will never hurt him or anyone he loves again. He continues to punch Jim. Jim says he’ll turn himself in, and when Franco pauses, he punches Franco in the face, and grabs for gun.
Sonny says that his dad enjoyed himself at “Luke’s.” Jason thinks everyone has a good time. Sonny says some of them don’t like him, or even despise him, but they came for Mike. Jason says he never understood the value of memory. He couldn’t miss a childhood he didn’t know. The other night, he realized how much he’s been through, and how much people mean to him. He sees their faces, remembering the good and bad times, and knows they share that. It’s good Sonny was able to give Mike back some of his missing history for a little while. Sonny says they had a good conversation afterward. Mike was lucid, and it was good to see him in the present. Now it’s a guessing game as to which Mike is coming into the room. Maybe he did see Sonny kicking cans, but the Croton thing worries him. If Mike knows something, what does he know, and what has he said without realizing?
Carly goes back to Morgan’s room. Nelle sneaks back to the living room, unplugs the device, and leaves. Carly picks up the mitt, and tells herself to pull it together. She says the earthquake messed with the lights. She sees a framed photo of Morgan, and the glass is broken.
Kim looks at the CD, and puts it in her laptop. She listens, and smiles.
Jake tells Doc that Jim is big and mean. His mom tried fighting him, but she was too little, and he threw her on the ground. He wanted them to get in the car, but they wouldn’t. Franco show up. Jim called Franco Bobby, and said weird stuff. For a minute, Franco didn’t move, then he tackled Jim, and they ran away. Doc tells Jake that he doesn’t think he messed up; he had no control over the situation, but kept his head. He did everything he could to help his mom, and it was brave of him. Jake says his mom and Franco are the brave ones.
Drew and Elizabeth get to the garage, but there’s no one there, and no car. Elizabeth wonders what happened to them.
On Monday, Josslyn tells Michael he should get back together with Nelle, Elizabeth goes to Jordan about Jim, and Carly raises the bat.
🔉 Quote of the Week
We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. – Martin Luther King, Jr. Now if only the people who claim to follow his teachings, would actually listen to what he had to say.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
In the hospital parking garage, Drew asks Jake, how about that earthquake? like it’s the Mets. Jake says some of his friend’s houses got wrecked, but he guesses they’re okay. Drew asks what brings them by. Elizabeth says they’re visiting Franco, and Jake says he’s been sick. Drew says that’s why he’s there.
Inside the hospital, Jim acts shifty, and avoids David.
Josslyn and Oscar go to Kelly’s. He orders an incredible amount of food, telling her that he’s going crazy, since he just got loose. Josslyn tells him not to go too crazy. She promised his mom they’d be low key.
Julian brings Kim flowers. He says it’s quiet, and she says Oscar couldn’t wait to escape. Putting on his Captain Obvious hat, Julian says, so she’s alone.
Jake wonders why Drew would be seeing Franco, since he doesn’t like him. Elizabeth is like, hey, but Drew says it’s a fair question. He tells Jake that sometimes feelings change when you understand someone more, and you shouldn’t judge until you’ve walked in their shoes. He’s actually there to see Franco’s mom. He hopes she can help him understand Franco more. Jake says Franco is seeing Doc, and hopes they both help. He wants Franco to come home.
Franco cries, and says he can’t. It doesn’t matter; no one would believe him. Doc tells him to take a breath, and remember that Doc can bring him out any time if it’s too painful. He asks if Franco can continue. Can he tell him why he’s so afraid of Jim? Franco cries, saying, he hurts me. Doc asks what Jim did to hurt him.
Jim slithers around, and grabs some scrubs.
Jake wants to show Franco his award. Elizabeth says they’re surprising him in a good way. He runs off for some kid reason. Drew tells Elizabeth he wants to help, and hopes Betsy is more forthcoming; her stories go back and forth. Elizabeth says she could be reacting out of fear. Drew hopes he can make her feel safe and she tells truth, especially about what happened with Franco and Jim. Elizabeth is a little freaked out because Drew is being so amazing. He supposes she knows about Sam. Elizabeth knows she hurt Drew, and never wanted him to feel that pain again. He says they’re good. He doesn’t want his wife to be confused about who she loves. They both deserve better than that.
Kim suggests some wine. Julian says he can’t fault Oscar’s style, getting locked in a freezer with his girlfriend. Kim says she wants to pull her hair out. Even now, she’s anxious. Julian says she can’t protect him forever or blame herself if something goes wrong. If it hadn’t been for crooked Jim, they’d have had the party at his place. Kim asks what’s up with Jim? The last she heard, he was accused of trying to kill Drew and Franco. Julian says she just saw Drew, and wonders why the subject didn’t come up. What were they talking about that he’d forget something so important?
David meets Kiki at Kelly’s. He’s glad she called. He assumed she was avoiding him, and hopes this means she’s over being upset.
Doc tells Franco that he’s going deeper; total relaxation. Franco puts his head on the desk. Doc says, twice as deep… three times. He’s in a state of total relaxation. He’s being taken back to a time in his childhood, when he instinctively knew something wasn’t right. He’s safe. Franco says his mom isn’t around, and Jim is scary when she’s not around. He’s just pretending to be nice, and says they’re friends. Doc asks why he’s frightened, and Franco says because they’re not friends. Andy is his friend; Jim is phony, bringing toys. Andy feels left out, but he can have Franco’s toy. Uncle Jim is bringing Andy a toy, but he tells Andy that he can’t take it. Jim says he’s jealous, but that’s not why. Doc says he’s safe, and asks him why. Franco says, stop it… no… no… he’ll tell mom. Doc asks what’s happening, then tells Franco to close his eyes, and slowly come out. I wonder, why now? He tells Franco to open his eyes when he feels ready. In his mind, Franco sees Jim in the hotel room.
Elizabeth tells Drew that she heard about Franco’s panic attack at the hotel, and that Drew rescued him. Drew says he just wants to know the truth too. She tells him that Betsy is under sedation, and pretty fragile. Jake comes back from wherever he disappeared to, and Elizabeth tells Drew that she knows he’ll get through the rough patch and find happiness.
Kim tells Julian that Drew was there to visit Oscar. Maybe he didn’t want to talk about it in front of his son. Julian says after their time in his office, they promised to be honest. She says she’s trying to. He tells her if it has nothing to do with Drew, maybe it’s him or her. She asks what he’s talking about, and he says, her hesitation. He didn’t expect her to be walking on stars, but would love to continue to be friends, and possibly more.
Josslyn tells Oscar there’s no way he’s going to finish the mass quantity of food he ordered. He suggests she help him. Josslyn says he’s back to his old self, and Oscar adds, but better. He has her, his mom, and for the first time, his dad.
Kiki says upset doesn’t begin to cover how she feels. Try furious. David knew what he was doing. He said he was the final vote, and then kissed her like it was payment due. David says he misunderstood. She doesn’t want his explanations or the book, and she’s turning down the program. He says he was under the impression she wanted more than friendship. He read the signals wrong.
Franco hears Jim calling him a bad boy, and saying everyone knows it. If he tells, it will kill his mother and Andy will hate him. Franco doesn’t care; he’s going to tell. Jim says he’ll cause more trouble for his mom, Andy, and himself. Is that what he wants? Franco says, no, but he has to do something to make it stop. Doc tells Franco to look at him, and asks if he can hear him. Franco says Jim wants to hurt mom and Andy. He has to do something. He says, no! and ducks away from Jim.
Betsy tells Francesca that she wants to see her son. Drew asks for a visit, but she wants to see Bobby. Francesca offers to see if he’s still there. Drew asks if she’d mind a few words, and Betsy nods. Francesca says Betsy is not to be upset or agitated. Betsy asks if Jim sent him. Drew says he knows Jim had her locked up, and he’s sorry. Franco was desperate to find her; so was he. He tells her that Jim is long gone. She asks who he is, and he says Andrew Cain. Andy. He’s the boy she took in; the boy she gave away.
Francesca says she has some samples she’s about to send out; she’ll go get them. We see she was talking to Jim, who’s now wearing a lab coat.
Doc tells Franco he’s counting backward, and to realize that it was the past; there’s no reason to be frightened. He begins to count, and tells Franco to recognize he’s in a safe place. Doc is with him, and no one can hurt him. The memories are in the past, and are no threat in the present. He’s fully awake and aware; safe and unafraid. How does he feel?
Betsy says Drew looks wonderful; all grown up. She’s so sorry. He says from what he hears, she treated him like her own son. She took him in, and gave him a home when she didn’t have to. She tells him that he was a delight. A sweet, dear boy; affectionate, generous, and smart. He was on his way to reading. He was a joy to have. He thanks her. He says he doesn’t want to upset her, but has some questions for Bobby’s sake. There’s no blame, and he’s not ungrateful. She’s the only mother he ever had. He needs to know what happened. Why did she send him away? Because Franco pushed him? Jim peeks into the room.
Julian senses Kim’s shift has something to do with Drew. Kim says he might want to know because Sam is his daughter, but Sam and Drew aren’t together. She thinks it has something to do with Jason, since Carly said it was only a matter of time. Julian thanks her for telling him. He wishes Alexis had told him, but he’s been excommunicated from the family. He asks what happens next, and she says nothing needs to change between them. Julian says he’s not talking about them. What about her and Oscar’s father?
Oscar tells Josslyn that he made Drew feel better; at least that’s what he said. Josslyn asks what happened. He says he doesn’t know everything, but Drew said he and Sam broke up. Josslyn says, that’s huge. Did they say what happened? What did his mom do? Oscar says she served them ice cream.
David tells Kiki that he thought they had chemistry. She says, no. She told him that she didn’t want to be touched. Does that sound like chemistry? He thought she was denying her feelings. Last night, she said she’d overreacted and apologized. She says she thanked him for the Shadow Program, and he tried to kiss her. She never sent out signals, and never wanted him. She’s going to the board, and telling them to choose another candidate. David says, absolutely not. She can’t do that.
Drew asks Betsy why she felt the need to send him away. Was it dangerous for him there? Was she trying to protect him. Betsy nods. He thanks her, and asks if it was Bobby or Jim. She sees Jim outside the door, and yells, nooo!
Doc asks Franco if he knows where he is. Franco says in Doc’s office. Doc asks how he feels, and he says he’s going to kill Jim. Doc says it’s better than being terrified like he was a few minutes ago. Franco doesn’t understand what’s happening to him. Doc sits on the floor with him, and says what he’s experiencing is abreaction. Reliving a traumatic event can be therapeutic, cathartic, and helpful, but sometimes it can lead to more harm. He took him out of it because he was suffering. Franco says he was close to figuring it out. Doc tells him that his well-being is more important. It’s not going to happen in one session. Franco says he was right there, and he has to do something. Doc asks, like what? Franco doesn’t know. Doc thinks putting him under again today could be detrimental or dangerous, but if they do it again, he needs to know Jim can’t hurt him. I’m not sure how Doc can say that, considering Jim nearly just buried Franco alive.
Betsy yells, no; don’t let him in, and Drew says he’s sorry. Francesca runs in. Drew tells her he doesn’t know what happened. Francesca says she’ll get a doctor, and Drew tells Betsy to breathe.
Doc tells Franco it’s not a race get to his memories, but a way to do it safely. Franco wants to do it now. Doc says it’s exploratory not experiential. Instead of reliving it, he wants to explore the events. Franco has to remove himself from his feelings. Franco says he has trouble with that, so how? Doc says they’ll work together – safely. Doc checks his phone, and says something urgent came up. He asks if Franco will be all right alone for a while; he’ll be back. After he leaves, Elizabeth comes in, and asks if Franco is okay. He says he’s better now, and she says she has a surprise if he’s up for it. Jake runs to Franco and hugs him. Franco says Jake has no idea how glad he is to see him, and they have a group hug.
David tells Kiki that rejecting the Shadow Program will be a slap in the face of the committee. She’ll look ungrateful and unfocused. Kiki says it’s better than owing him something. He says it’s not worth throwing away the chance of a lifetime. She suggests maybe he’s more concerned about how it looks for him. He thinks she has potential. She’s gifted; he believes that from the beginning when she was just a nurses’ aid. He encouraged her to do more, but she got into pre-med and med school on her own. She deserves the compliments, and he never wants her to think he didn’t mean them. The only one who doesn’t believe in her, is her.
Josslyn says Oscar’s mom found out the love of her life is free, and all she did was serve ice cream? Oscar says it was awesome being to together like a real family. He never knew how much he wanted it until then. He wishes it could be like that all the time. Josslyn says now that Drew is single, he might get his wish.
Julian tells Kim that Drew just lost his wife. Not to just any man, but his brother. Kim thinks the only thing he can handle is putting one foot in front of the other right now. He and Oscar bonded, and they had a nice time. That’s all there is to it. He says he’s accepted that he and Alexis have gone their separate ways when he found out she and Finn were serious. It was like a door slammed in his face. Now a door opened up for Kim. Is she not going through it? Is there no hope for a future with Drew?
Franco complements Jake, who says Franco is the one who taught him. Jake wants to paint with him, and Aiden wants to play his new video game with him. He tells Franco that his prize was a gift card to the art supply place he likes, and wants them to go together. Franco tells him to say the word. Jake asks when Franco is coming home. Elizabeth says they can’t put a time line on it, and Franco says he wants to, but can’t right now. He says he’s trying. He wants to get better and show them he belongs there, and hopes he’s welcomed if he ever gets there.
David tells Kiki to promise she won’t turn down this golden opportunity. She can think of him as a jerk, but keep her position. She knows it’s an incredible opportunity, but if she keeps it, she doesn’t want any favors. David says it’s all good, and hopefully, they can get back to the productive work relationship they had. They had an easy rapport. He asks if she forgives him, and she says she has to get to work. She leaves, and I take that as a no.
Doc comes to Betsy’s room, and Drew tells him that he clearly said something to upset her. Doc says, maybe, maybe not, and asks what transpired before her outburst. Drew says she tried to apologize, but he told her that she didn’t have to. He thanked her, and said he didn’t blame her. Everything was calm, and he asked why she needed to send him away. Was it because of Franco or Jim? She lost it, and it looked like she had a panic attack.
Jim creeps around the parking garage. He looks at his phone and hyperventilates. He hears Elizabeth and Jake coming.
Drew tells Betsy he didn’t mean to upset her, and he’s sorry. He starts to leave, and she tells him to wait. She asks him to get Bobby. She has to tell him about Jim.
Julian and Kim make out. He accuses her of changing the subject. She tells him that he doesn’t give himself enough credit. He says Oscar will be home soon, and he should be on his way. She hopes he’s not upset with her, and he says he’s not. He’s no one to judge, and he enjoys her company either way. He asks if she still has a glimmer of hope about Drew, and she says she never felt love like she did with him. After all these years, she guesses she never got over him. Outside the door, Oscar overhears.
Francesca tells Kiki congratulations on getting in the Shadow Program. She says David stepped up, so she must have made quite an impression. Kiki says she’s lucky to have him on her side.
David listens to the message from Kiki again, like the weirdo he is starting to become.
Franco tells Doc that he needs to get back in right now. Long enough to find out about Jim. Good or bad, he needs to know now, and not just for his family.
Elizabeth tells Jake not to rub it in with Aiden about his visit. Jake says, why not? It’s so much fun. There’s the bad seed Jake that I know and love. Jim comes up behind Elizabeth with a gun. He tells her to do as he says, and they won’t get hurt.
Tomorrow, I don’t know because I had a hair appointment, missed the show, and watched a bootleg video that didn’t include a preview.
Southern Charm
We’re at a black-tie Christmas party. Patricia says there’s no craziness coming on; maybe she missed something. Kathryn and Thomas’s new girlfriend Ashley have words, ending with Kathryn telling Ashley eff you, and calling her an entitled gold digger. Ashley had hoped she and Kathryn could be cool, but Kathryn says that will never happen. Ashley calls Kathryn nothing but an egg donor.
Three months earlier…
Kathryn uses sage to get the negative stuff out, and protect her place from a-holes. If only that worked.
Cameran is HUGE, and getting ready for the new baby. She reminds us about the psychic telling her she’d be pregnant before the end of 2017. She’s been blessed with an easy pregnancy, except for the last two weeks – she’s over it. Shep brings her some fast food. Palmer Corinne is the upcoming baby’s name, and Shep asks if he can touch it. He tells Cameran he went to New York, but was on a different wavelength from his RelationShep pick. He says he put his chips on the table, but she wasn’t in the same headspace. She only spent two nights with him out of the five he was there. Cameran tells him he’s not young, and suggests dating women his own age, which is 38 today. He thinks they should go bowling, but she thinks a party at his beach house is in order.
Danni visits Kathryn in her new apartment. Kathryn thinks Thomas always doubted her ability to take care of herself, and this is showing her independence. Even though she hasn’t failed one in a year and a half, Thomas has the ability to ask for a drug test at any time, and her arm is totally black and blue. She says if it means more time with her children, she’ll do it. Danni tells Kathryn that she realized she and her fiancé weren’t meant for each other, so they broke it off. Kathryn says the one thing Thomas agreed to was getting rid of the nanny, who she thinks stands between her and the children.
In his interview, Thomas says he has a new kid-friendly house, but misses his downtown compound. Soon to be ex-nanny Diedre shows him some learning games he’ll need to do with the kids. New girlfriend Ashley shows up. Thomas met her in California and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
Danni asks if Kathryn has met Ashley, but she says, no. Her three-year-old told her about a woman sleeping in daddy’s bed. She thinks it’s clear what Ashley’s intention is. She tells Danni that it’s lucky Ashley is a hospice nurse. It will come in handy.
Naomie comes by Chelsea’s salon. She also has a new house, and we see Craig moving stuff into his. They gave it their best shot, but it didn’t work out. He says nothing was ever good enough, and we flash back to how mean she was to him. He’s now sharing a house with best friend Sean. They celebrate by having a beer.
Naomie says she misses Craig, but then remembers how bad it was. We flash back to her airing their dirty laundry. She says the good ones are either already taken, work too much, or have an STD. She asks about Austen, and Chelsea says he quit his job and hasn’t been working. He still lives a frat boy style. She was constantly picking up the tab for dinner, and he was totally okay with it. She says he and his friends were out at a bar, and met up with a bachelorette party. Then he showed up at her house at 3 am, and thought she’d be cool with a booty call. That was a no.
In his interview, Austen tells us he quit his job because it wasn’t working out. They wanted him to move to Savannah, and he wasn’t down with that, but he’s getting a lot done being unemployed. We see him napping, drinking, and playing with his phone. Shep joins him on the balcony of a bar. Austen tells him, happy birthday, but Shep says he’s not into birthdays – starting now. Austen says that he thought he and Chelsea were getting along great. He told her they should be exclusive or move on, and thought it was cut and dried, but it wasn’t with her. He met up with another girl, who turned out to be a friend of hers, and she wasn’t comfortable with that.
Chelsea tells Naomie that she’s not mad, but she and the friend are not homegirls anymore.
Austen says he ended things with the friend, and thinks clearly something is holding him back. Shep asks if he has any residual feelings for Chelsea, and Austen says the door is ajar.
Whitney meets Shep for lunch. Shep guzzles a water, saying he was out late last night. Whitney tells Shep that Patricia has a gentleman caller, and he thinks an engagement is coming. We see Patricia admiring a ring with a rock the size of Rhode Island, and telling Whitney it’s a promise ring, but could be bigger. Whitney says he found out about one of Patricia’s marriages by telegram. He suggests having a grown-up birthday at Shep’s house. Shep says he has a friend who’s a party planner, and wants to recruit Craig for the food department. Whitney asks if Shep thinks Craig will pick up. Shep says they’re good, and we flash back to the party where they called each other drunken a-holes, and Craig pounded Shep on the leg. Whitney bets Shep twenty bucks that Craig doesn’t pick up. Craig picks up on the first ring. Shep tells him about the party, and Craig is psyched to be the chef. Shep tells Whitney not to forget his twenty bucks.
Thomas visits JD (bleh). We see a headline about him ditching the rent bills for his bar. Ha-ha-ha! He tells Thomas he’s back in the guest house, and they have drink. JD says technically, he and Elizabeth have been separated for a couple months, but he doesn’t want to talk about it until he knows what’s happening. He says the stress made their problems apparent, and he didn’t get her support. He whines about her saying she didn’t love him anymore, and says it snowballed. A week went by, and he didn’t hear a word. Thomas asks what that tells him, and JD says she took off her ring, and he took off his.
Craig meets Shep at a butcher shop, and they pick out meat for the cookout. Craig says Shep is doing his best to adult. He’s glad they’re friends again, since being at each other’s throats was exhausting. Craig asks who’s coming, and Shep says Naomie will be there. It’s the first time Craig is going to see her since they separated. He’s not sure what to do. In his interview, he says you can’t google something like that. He amends that, saying you can, but he doesn’t know what would come up. Shep says Thomas’s new girlfriend is coming, and Craig doesn’t think Kathryn has met her yet. Shep is like, oh great.
Party planner Katie is making Shep look like he knows what he’s doing. Craig arrives with trays of ribs, chicken, and other meat. He’s also embroidered an apron for Shep. Shep shows him the grill, which is mammoth. Like all of us, they have a problem getting the fire going. Shep suggests using the gas, but Craig holds steadfast.
Ashley babbles to Thomas about what to wear, and gives him a fashion show. In his interview, Thomas says Ashley is very different from Kathryn. She has beautiful manners, which he doesn’t see with Kathryn. She puts on booty shorts, then says she doesn’t want to look like a hoochie while meeting people for the first time. Thomas votes yes on the shorts. I’m wondering how long this could possibly last.
Katie and her staff are taking a half hour before dinner happens, leaving Shep and Craig alone to argue over grilling. Austen walks in with two beers in a six pack carton. He gives Shep a book for his birthday, and Shep is all excited because it’s something he’s watching on PBS. Craig googles some stuff about grilling. Austen explains that they’re going to need some appetizers, and wonders what kind of sh*t birthday party this is without Tostitos and salsa. Austen is sent to store for cheese cubes.
Naomie goes to Chelsea’s place for a kiki before Shep’s party. Danni and Kathryn arrive next. Chelsea asks Kathryn if she’s had sex with Shep, and my mouth falls open. Not only is Kathryn now getting along with this group, apparently, they’re pretty close. Or very rude. She doesn’t remember it too well, since it was long ago – which doesn’t say much for Shep’s skills – but he made her shower beforehand because he’s anal about his sheets.
Austen brings back a crudité tray and some other finger food.
Naomie tells the girls that Elizabeth isn’t coming because JD roped her into watching the kids. They all talk about what a sh*t JD is, and Kathryn compares him to Thomas. Naomie says the good old boys band together and have the power. She’s hoping Craig doesn’t bring anyone.
Thomas – being the juvenile that he is – wonders what Kathryn’s reaction will be seeing Ashley in the shorts. She wonders if she’s dressing for Kathryn. She asks if Thomas will protect her from Kathryn, like there might be a throw down.
Shep calls the bartender over for advice about the grill, even though he tells Shep that he’s no cook. Craig babbles irrationally, and tells Shep not to do sh*t he doesn’t know about. Shep uses the same tongs on the ribs that he used on the chicken, and Craig nearly has apoplexy. In his interview, Shep is incredibly chill about Craig, attributing it to the break-up. Craig continues to ramble. Shep asks if he can put paper plates in the oven.
Pasta salad has appeared. Shep says Craig is frazzled, although I think the word insane might fit him better right now. Austen thinks they should test the ribs, but Shep says the tongs are now radioactive.
Chelsea says she and Austen are seeing what happens. Naomie asks Kathryn is she’s cool about meeting Ashley, and Kathryn says, Ashley who? Thomas hasn’t even told her that he has a new girlfriend. They all think it’s weird to move across the country to be with someone you don’t know. Chelsea says, some girls are thirsty. Kathryn adds, dehydrated, making them all laugh. She says she’s not involved in drama anymore. She’s into her life and kids and girlfriends. Chelsea says she has her side chicks.
Shep says they’re getting there, despite the friction.
Naomie tells the girls that at the end of the day, they’re all they’ve got. They drink to women [sic] empowerment.
Thomas and Ashley arrive at Shep’s party. We hear the honey bee theme song, It’s Easy, while everyone gets up and leaves for the party in slow motion.
To be continued…
This season, polo, Cameran has the baby, Craig wonders what Naomie finds wrong with his sewing, Kathryn realizes she has a support system, and Ashley doesn’t go over too well with the others.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Doc startles Franco, who says he has stealthy feet. Doc says he had a cancellation, and there’s no time like the present. The sooner he recovers his memories, the sooner he can get on with his life – unless he’s having second thoughts.
Ava thanks Nelle for bringing some contracts by. Ava is weeding Julian’s stuff out of the bathroom, and finds Morgan’s cologne.
At the MetroCourt, Bobbie tells Carly that after days of browbeating, cajoling, and fake crying, she finally got an inspector to look at the house. Carly is busy thinking about the scarf that was left on her desk, and Bobbie asks where she is.
Mike tells Sonny and Michael a story about the bar fight of the ages that didn’t happen. Sonny tells him to keep going, and Mike says he knows what they did. They thought if they recreated one of his old haunts, he could piece together some of his past. Michael says it seems like it’s working. Mike says a little, for now, but he needs them to know that he knows it’s not going to last. Sooner or later, he’ll have a bad day, and after a while, the bad days will outnumber the good until there are no good days anymore. Sonny says they’ll cross that bridge when they come to it. Michael says, until then, they’ll take any good day they can. Mike apologizes, saying by the time his great-grandchildren are old enough, he won’t be able to share his stories or infinite wisdom. Michael says maybe he still can.
Jason sits next to Anna at the bar. She says it’s not a coincidence; he wants something. She hopes they’re not at a crossroads. He says he needs to know if she’s keeping something from him about the night Faison died.
Peter comes to Griff’s office. He says he can’t do this. Griff violated his privacy. He wants to know if Griff is going to keep his identity a secret, or sign his death warrant.
Carly tells Bobbie she’s been thinking about BJ. Bobbie says the anniversary is coming up; she’ll be gone for twenty-four years. Every once in a while, she forgets BJ isn’t there. For the longest time, Bobbie imagined her everywhere. She would hear her, but it would turn out to be some other child’s voice. Sometimes, no one was there. It’s just what her heart needed; the laugh or the the image. As much as she wanted BJ to be there, she wasn’t. She asks why Morgan is hitting Carly so hard right now.
Ava tells Nelle that she always loved Morgan’s cologne. She’s surprised he wore it. In some ways, he was naïve, but in others, he was sophisticated. Nelle offers to take the stuff out, and we don’t need to be rocket scientists to guess why. Ava tells her it’s not necessary. She looks through the contracts, and says Nell is very thorough. She asks if Nelle has given any thought to her advice. Nelle says there’s no way she can back off Carly. Ava says it’s simple; just do it. Walk away from the table before she wagers what she can’t afford to lose – Michael. Nelle says there’s no way she and Michael can happen unless Carly is out of the way. Ava tells her to make sure he has no reason to take Carly’s side. Nelle says it’s not that simple, but Ava insists it is. She has the ideal situation with Michael around her all the time. Soon, his feelings for the baby will be overwhelming, and he won’t be able to separate them from how he feels about her. Kill them with kindness. Nelle says he’s already moving on. She has to act or she’ll lose him forever.
Michael shows Mike a new prototype of a phone that allows recording of HD video and audio. Mike is worried that the kids won’t get a chance to know him, so he can record anything he wants to say to them, and it will last forever. Mike doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t have much in the way of good life advice – just do the opposite of what he did. Michael says tell them about his life. Start with a good day. When and where did he hit his first homerun?
Griff tells Peter that his identity will remain between them. Peter wonders how he’s supposed to believe that, and Griff says it would be a breach of ethics. Apparently, he can’t make up his mind about that. He says the only way he’d be justified is if the harm doesn’t stay confined to the past. He has no reason to believe Peter will harm someone else, but if that changes – if he has reason to believe Peter is going after Jason or someone else – he’ll be ethically bound to out him. Maxie doesn’t deserve to have her trust betrayed. Peter says he wouldn’t do that; it’s his only shot at survival. Griff says his father killed her husband, who happens to be Peter’s brother. If she finds out he knew… Peter says he’ll think about it, but Griff tells him not to take too long. He needs to get ahead before someone else figures it out on their own.
Anna tells Jason that she wants Henrik alive. He slides the book over to her, saying Aurora had an advance copy, complete with the ending. She reaches for it, but he takes it back, and says, first, he needs to know what happened to Faison’s personal effects.
Franco asks Doc what if he finds out something he doesn’t want to? You can’t unknow something. Doc says either he pushed Drew or didn’t, and he wanted to know which was true. The best way is to do this. His mother is in no condition to share. Franco says Jim tried to bury them alive. He sees no reason Jim would come back to town. We see Jim looking at an article about Franco on his phone.
Franco says it has nothing to do with Jim’s fracking or whatever. Why would he take Betsy? It has to do with what happened when he was a kid. Doc can’t promise happy answers, and Franco says none of this is headed toward a happy ending. Doc says it won’t take hold unless he’s 100% on board; maybe they should reschedule. Franco says, no. He has to do this. He needs answers, mostly for Elizabeth. He tells Doc, let’s do it.
Griff tells Peter that Anna, Jason, and he WSB know he’s out there, and they’re searching. He needs to make sure they don’t find him. Peter thanks Griff for his time and discretion. Griff tells him it’s only a matter of time. His best chance for mercy is to come forward on his own.
Carly tells Bobbie about the scarf. Bobbie wants to see it, but Carly explains it’s gone. Bobbie says she had something like that happen, thinking she saw BJ’s costume. Carly says this is different. She held it in her hand. She tells Bobbie about the phone calls, and how they traced them to a phone booth on Angel’s Bluff. Bobbie says grief can play tricks on your mind and heart, but Carly says she’s not imagining any of this.
Mike records a story about a cousin with fast sucker punch, saying not everyone in the family are brutes. The cousin actually started working hard, did well, and became a doctor. His parents had nothing but love for him. He suddenly looks at the clock, and says he has to go. He has to catch the bus and get home. Sonny says he’s not going to Brooklyn tonight, but Mike says his parents will be worried sick.
Mike says he can’t miss the bus, and Sonny says, there is no bus. Mike tells Sonny that he has to go, but Sonny insists he’s staying; they agreed. He says Mike is confused, and Mike says he doesn’t understand. His parents will be worried. Sonny harshly says his parents are dead, stabbing me in the heart once again.
Ava tells Nelle to do what she needs to do when it comes to Carly, but be careful. Actions can have unintended consequences. Nelle is grateful for her advice, but says everything is working out for her. She hopes it continues, and Ava says that makes two of them. Nelle says it’s wonderful that Griff trusts her, and as time moves on, he’ll trust her more. She and the baby don’t stand a chance until Carly is out of the way. Nelle opens the door to leave, and Griff is standing there. chain collar – earrings diamond with straight dangle
Anna tells Jason that she offered Faison’s things to Obrecht for Britt. She didn’t want them, so she gave them to the WSB. I’m wondering why the WSB didn’t take them after the “autopsy.” Jason points out the passage that mentions the lighter. Anna wonders why she didn’t notice it was missing, and he says now they know who took it.
Franco asks if Doc has a pocket watch. Doc tells him hypnosis is very effective in helping remove memory blocks, but second thoughts hinder the process. He has to be ready, and mean it. Franco says he is. Doc tells Franco to close his eyes, and focus on sound of his voice.
Mike asks how Sonny can say something like that about his parents? Sonny says they passed away before he was born. Mike tells him to shut his mouth. Michael steps in, saying he knows Mike is worried. Sonny is confused, and his parents are fine; they know he’s staying with them a while. Mike offers to call and remind them. He tells Mike to sit while he does that. Michael puts his hand on Sonny’s shoulder.
Carly tells Bobbie if the calls weren’t real, she wouldn’t have been able to trace them. Bobbie says she thought Carly was questioning things. Carly says if it was just phone calls, she could write it off, but a scarf like Morgan used to wear? Someone put it there and took it away.
Griff asks Ava if he’s interrupting gallery business. Ava says he lives there; he can come and go as he please. She tells Nelle that she’ll see her tomorrow, and to remember what she said. Nelle says, her too. After she leaves, Griff asks if it’s anything he should know about, but she says just advice for the lovelorn. Just asks what she would do, and do the opposite (that makes two people who said that today). Griff thinks she’s doing okay in that department, and she says she has no complaints. He feels the same way, but had an exhausting day. Ava asks if he’s still thinking about the test results. He says he is, and asks where the envelope is. She takes it out of the cupboard, telling him that she didn’t open it. He didn’t think she had, but says thanks. He tells her that he trusts her, and she says, just not enough to tell her what it’s about.
Doc tells Franco to slowly open his eyes, and focus on an object in his direct line of vision. Franco picks a sculpture on the desk. Doc says his eyes are getting heavier. Franco gives him a look, but closes them. Doc says he feels contentment, and is alone with his thoughts and mind. Doc tells him to feel himself go into a state of relaxation as he counts down, saying deeper and deeper between each number. He’s now in a deep trance, and will remain there until Doc counts down again. Doc asks where he is, and Franco says, in his house, playing with Andy. Doc tells him to find the door to the basement, open it, and stand at the top of the stairs. He tells Franco to go to the night of accident. Franco says, Andy is standing with him. Doc asks what’s going on? What happens next? What does he see?
Sonny tells Michael he thought Luke’s would pay off, and Michael says it’s called sundowning. Alzheimer’s patients often get riled up and confused when the sun goes down. it doesn’t mean there won’t be good days. Sonny asks how Michael knew what to do. Michael says it’s not uncommon for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia to think they’re parents are alive. It’s going to happen over and over, and they have to just try and keep him calm. Sonny says, the exact opposite of what he did, but Michael says he didn’t know and not to beat himself up. Mike seems agitated, and Michael says he talked to Mike’s parents. They send their love, but want him to get some rest. Mike says he can’t rest. He remembered something he needs to tell someone. Honestly, this storyline is killing me.
Griff tells Ava if he could share, she’d be the first. Ava says he’s entitled to his life with its thoughts, secrets, and wishes, but when something bothers him, she wishes he could share it with her. He says it’ not his secret to share. She doesn’t like it, but understands. Griff says the only thing he has left to do is destroy the document first thing in the morning. Ava asks my question, why not now? He says he’s already made a rash decision, and doesn’t want to make the same mistake. Meanwhile, he needs to was the day off of himself.
Anna says, Henrik stole the lighter, and is keeping it as a souvenir. If they find the lighter, they find him. Jason says it won’t be easy. Finn wasn’t even sure what was there. Anna says maybe he took it when Faison was shot, or it dropped during the struggle at Crimson. She’ll talk to Peter. She’d rather not bring Maxie into it, but there’s also Finn. She tells Jason about an epigraph at the front of the book; something that resonates with the work, or gives the reader a sense of theme or purpose. She reads, Rot comes from both ends; together, the branches must be severed.
Doc tells Franco to stay in the moment. Andy is at the top of the stairs; what happens next? Franco says, Jim. He remembers Jim calling him Bobby, and asking what he did. He says, Andy is at the bottom, and Uncle Jim is next to him. Doc says he went too far back. Go forward a few seconds; he’s almost there. Franco remembers Jim saying nobody going to believe him. He tells Doc that he can’t because he’s scared. Doc asks why? Because of what he did? Franco says, no. He’s scared of him.
Mike says, a field in Croton. Sonny says, he knows, and not to worry; he’s taken care of it. Mike says, he has? Michael says he has nothing to worry about. He tells Mike to lie down and rest, and he’ll check on him later. Mike goes upstairs, and Michael asks if Sonny has any idea what he’s talking about. Sonny says, not a clue, but I have the feeling he’s lying.
Bobbie wonders why someone would deliberately put a scarf in Carly’s office just to take it away. Carly says to mess with her, and Bobbie tells her not to give them what they want. The hospital calls Bobbie, and Nelle spies from around the corner. Bobbie tells Carly there aren’t enough nurses to cover the shift, and she has to go in. Carly says she’ll meet with the inspector; she’ll be fine by herself.
Ava stares at Griff’s back as he walks into the other room. She takes the envelope out, and holds it up to the light. Since that’s good for nothing, she opens it, and reads it.
Jason says he’ll have Spinelli do some research to find out where the original quote came from. Anna thinks it’s something original, and that Henrik is also gunning for his mother. Peter walks in.
Doc says Franco is perfectly safe; no one can hurt him anymore. Franco starts to cry, saying, he can. Doc tells Franco to help him stop them, and asks who it is he’s so afraid of. Franco says, it’s Harvey. It’s Uncle Jim. He’s scared of Uncle Jim. Doc says he’s very brave. Now tell him why.
Jim walks into the hospital looking sneaky.
Tomorrow, Kiki tells David that she never sent out signals, Jake wants Franco to come home, and Betsy screams no in her hospital bed. How much you want to bet she’s getting a visit from Jim?
The Real Housewives of New York City
Ramona helps some workers lay a carpet. Sonja tell us that you never know when you might need a Marie Antoinette costume. Did I just see a red poodle go by? And I mean red, not like an Irish Setter. Bethenny is getting ready for an event. Tinsley’s dog makes weewee on the floor. Celebrities! Their dogs are just like ours! Carole is on a run.
So begins season ten of my favorite Wives, with the exception of Lisa Vanderpump, who can do no wrong.
Dorinda opens a package containing a Lady Gaga bubble dress. In her interview, she says she’s having a Halloween party to get the girls together, and show she’s an equal holiday opportunist. The theme is famous people, alive or dead. Her costume turns out to be a kit, which is what she gets for drunk shopping, so she calls the designer of the original dress. Must. Be. Nice.
At the Museum of Natural History, Bethenny is the keynote speaker for Delivering Good, a New York charity partner of her company. They started Hurricane Harvey in Texas, then Puerto Rico happened, and it got real. She began by chartering a plane, and ended up with a warehouse. She doesn’t know how they did it, but they did, and they’re still doing it. She invited Tinsley and Ramona because they donated a lot of money. Ramona thinks it’s strange that Carole isn’t there.
Bethenny says it’s her first award ever. She’s grateful, but didn’t do it to be recognized. She did it because it’s something she’s good at, and it changed her life in an incredible way.
The CountessTom’s wife LuAnn visits Dorinda. She never thought she be there, but here she is, divorced. She was in love with Tom, and it was a whirlwind. We flash back to that. She says she did everything she could to make it work, but sometimes love isn’t enough. Dorinda thinks Tom got worse after they got married. LuAnn says she had blinders on (really?), and when she looks back at the warning signs, what Bethenny said hunts her. She didn’t want to believe it, but what the girls were saying was true. It was ultimately a lack of respect. Meeting with his ex-girlfriends, being caught kissing, going out all night; she couldn’t breathe and was drowning. Dorinda asks if she hears from him, and LuAnn says they text. but at end of the day, a leopard can’t change his spots. Dorinda doesn’t think he’s a bad guy, but shouldn’t be a married guy.
LuAnn says she’s in the Hamptons for the most part, but looking for an apartment in NYC. She tells Dorinda that Sonja has been telling people she’s dating, and Carole is the only one who didn’t reach out – not one word. Dorinda says they’re not really friends, but LuAnn thought they were in a good place. In her interview, Carole says the reasons LuAnn got divorced are understood, but she never understood the reasons LuAnn got married. We flash back to everyone warning her about him. In her interview, Sonja compares the relationship to LuAnn’s camel ride, and we see the camel ride fail. She says maybe it was something LuAnn was supposed to experience, and get right back on the next camel. Pondering this… LuAnn says she’s keeping an open heart and mind.
Carole visits Tinsley. She tells us they spent week in Spain together with Adam and Scott. A room service waitress brings a charcuterie tray to the hotel room, and Tinsley says she’s Eloise all grown up. She’s happy to be in a hotel room all her own, and is feeling like herself again. A tiny Chihuahua comes in, and we’re introduced to Tinsley’s dog, Bambi. Bambi! Carole says she talked to Scott. In her interview, Tinsley says she and Scott were inseparable from the moment they met, and had dated for eight months, but he lives in Chicago. They broke up, but it wasn’t that anything specific happened. Carole says she feels like Adam is a person in her life, but not a boyfriend. In her interview, she says a lot of words when what she means is they’re now friends with benefits. She says people tell her that Adam is having his cake and eating it too, but she also likes cake. Tinsley wants to be with Scott, but it’s just too far.
At the Abracadabra costume store, Sonja meets Ramona. In her interview, Ramona says they had a great time in Mexico, but Sonja hasn’t wanted to get together. It’s sad because they’d been close at one point. Sonja says now that her daughter is in boarding school, she’s been on the go. She needed summer for herself. She’d been taking antidepressants for her anxiety (hmm…), and sat around eating croissants. After that she went to Cost Rica, and got into herself. Now, she’s happy again. They talk about LuAnn. Ramona thinks she and Tom loved each other, but Tom doesn’t understand commitment. Sonja says he was never more than great time, and you can’t turn a party playboy into a husband.
Carol goes to the gym. She says she never exercised a day in her life, and at fifty-four, felt scrawny. She needed to have a goal, or she wasn’t going to continue, so she chose the New York City Marathon. Everyone is telling her she’s crazy, and she tells herself that she can’t do it, but when someone says she can’t do it, that’s all she wants to do. The trainer puts her through her paces. She says her longest run has been twenty-one miles, and she’d never even run across the street to get a cab. Every hat I’ve ever owned is off to her. I had a two-year flirtation with running years ago, but I never really enjoyed it – I’m still waiting for the endorphins to kick in – and the longest I’ve run is 5k.
Bethenny’s driver brings in her dogs, Biggy and Smallz. She asks Kevin if he thinks they miss Cookie, who passed away. He says her spirit is there. He believes in the hereafter, and they probably miss stealing her food. I start to tear up when they show clips of Cookie throughout the years. Bethenny is weeping through an Instagram post after having put Cookie to sleep. She says it’s rough and she’s drained, and I want to bawl with her, since I have an old girl here who is my best girl forever. Bethenny says Cookie had a great run, and was much loved. She had Cookie longer than her child, her homes, or her business. Cookie was her family. She says people tell her about the Rainbow Bridge, and she wants to go there. If I was by myself, I’d be totally losing it.
Pre-party, Carole gets her makeup done with Dorinda. She’s dressed as Amelia Earhart, with a red teddy underneath her flight clothes. In her interview, Carole says Halloween is when all women dress like sluts and feel good about themselves, at least in New York. I think back on my costumes, and I’m not so sure about that. Dorinda says no one has seen Sonja, and it’s like Where’s Waldo? She says that LuAnn was surprised she didn’t hear from Carole, and Carole says everything she does is wrong in LuAnn’s eyes. In her interview, Carole says she half-expected a call from LuAnn apologizing for calling them all jealous bitches for the past two years. She’s still waiting. Dorinda’s dress arrives, and she squishes into it. I don’t remember exactly what that dress looked like, but I don’t think this is quite it.
The venue is the Dream Hotel, and no surprise, the décor is amazing, and everyone made a huge effort to get dressed up. Sonja comes with Rocco as Lucy and Ricky Riccardo. In her interview, Sonja says that Frenchie was fun, but Rocco is consistent and playing the long game. Tinsley arrives as Madonna during her Boy Toy phase. Ramona is Britney Spears, in a skintight red catsuit and sparkly boots, wearing a headset and holding a mic. Sonja and Rocco head immediately to the bar, ignoring everyone. She claims she needs to entertain Rocco, who has to leave early for work, then she’ll deal with the bitches. I have to confess, I have never once called one of my friends a bitch or a ho as an endearment. Tinsley wonders if it’s something she did, thinking it’s strange Sonja hasn’t stopped by to say hello. LuAnn appears as Diana Ross, with the biggest afro ever. Huge. Ten times taller than Kid’s (Christopher Reid, Kid ‘n Play) in his heyday. I can also tell you right now, she is going to make Twitter mad over cultural appropriation. Carole thinks it’s a little off, which is being charitable for Carole. Luann says she’s feeling liberated without Tom in tow. It’s been a while since she’s felt her girl power. In her interview, Carole says LuAnn is disrespectful. She’s being tone deaf to a cultural stereotype, and is just plain tone deaf. Now there’s the Carole I know. Bethenny thinks Sonja is at the next level of strangeness, and Dorinda says she didn’t just wander in; she was invited. Why isn’t she saying hello? Passive aggressive maybe?
Dorinda is getting more riled about Sonja ignoring them, saying she’s supposed to be a woman of etiquette, and she’s not greeting the host. Sonja comes over, and Dorinda says, finally. She says Sonja has been clinging to Rocco, and Sonja says he had to leave early. In her interview, Dorinda wonders if Rocco is afraid to be polite. LuAnn tells Sonja to stop talking about her to their friends. She talks as if she knows what’s going on, when they haven’t even talked to her. It’s like a bad game of telephone, and it’s not cool.
Bethenny walks in wearing what she calls, a Barbie costume gone awry. She had two drag queens doing her glam and hair, and ended up as a drag queen/Texas prostitute Barbie. She sees LuAnn and says she has to hand it to her for giving zero effs. On the other hand, she does. She thinks Carole’s aviator costume is a retread of the zookeeper outfit she wore to their gangster dinner. And if Ramona can show her boobs and camel toe, she’s happy. Carole says Amelia was a chain-smoker, and smokes without inhaling. Dorinda, who is already slurring her words, says that after the marathon, she and Carole can chill together. She’ll roast some chickens and get wine, and they can share secrets and have a sleepover. Carols is like, okay… In her interview, says on a scale of one to drunk, Dorinda is an eight. Dorinda says the orange bubbly drink was not nice. She leaves early without her wig and losing bubbles.
LuAnn wants to do karaoke. She gripes about two years of defending Tom. In her interview, Bethenny says LuAnn married the disgusting pig she told her was a disgusting pig. LuAnn says Carole didn’t even text, and she was upset. Carole says it’s not like LuAnn called when she and Adam broke up. She respected LuAnn by not saying I told you so. It’s not her business, and she’s happy to be in a club of one. In her interview, Carole thinks it would have been insincere, and she doesn’t do that. She wishes she could be insincere; her life would be easier. I hear her on that one. LuAnn says Carole could have been a woman with a heart and soul. In her interview, Carole says she knows should have reached out, but didn’t. They were friends, and then they weren’t. She wants it to go away. She doesn’t want to live in the past. She wants to be moving forward.
Bethenny talks about an investment property she bought in South Hampton. Since she has to turn down her nose at something, Ramona says she’d never buy on the highway, but she’s not being negative. Bethenny says she’ll be sure to consult her next time. Sonja says, get the boxing gloves ready. Bethenny says Ramona can’t help being unkind. She knows real estate, and has five properties (plus, she worked with Fredrik!). Ramona babbles about the highway, and Bethenny says when Ramona is successful, ro call her back. In her interview, Bethenny says Ramona can’t help herself, and they just wait for next stupid thing she does. Ramona would wear a meat suit in front of a tiger cage. Ramona insists she believes in and empowers women, and Bethenny has enough, saying she doesn’t. Ramona says she’s being crucified for no reason, and Bethenny says there’s every reason. No one believes her bullsh*t.
This season, Dorinda drives like a maniac, Adam goes on a date, Bethenny goes to Puerto Rico, Carole runs the Marathon, another costume party, Jill Zarin’s husband dies, LuAnn gets arrested and goes to rehab, and Dorinda purposely faceplants in a cake.
🌟 On Star, Charles said he owned the girls, and Alex was going on tour with Noah. Jahil wanted Andy and Angel to go, so Charles suggested a sing-off, like in the old days. This prompted Simone to marry Angel on the sly, telling him it was the only way to keep her from going back to foster care. Star was singing her mother’s song in a club, and flashed back to a murder. She got sick and ran out. Later, the guy playing the keyboards (Jackson) tracked her down, telling her there was pain in her voice and he was looking for a lead singer. She said that’s why he doesn’t want to know her. Noah also confessed to Alex that he’s the reason their song was on the radio.
Carlotta told Ayanna that she was fighting for her girls against Ayanna’s father. Ayanna was a mess, but got it together, and they toasted to payback. Ayanna told her father that that she knows the CEO of his sponsoring company. She was one of the women he ass-grabbed back in the day. She told him that he’d be taking the girls on tour, or face a P.R. nightmare. Omari – who I thought was dead – cornered Cotton, asking her to leave town with him, telling her nobody else needs to get hurt. This came back to bite him later, when he really almost died. A bunch of guys jumped him and put a plastic bag over his head, but Cotton called it off after watching him struggle. She told him he might have saved her life in prison, but she doesn’t belong to him. And Miss Lawrence told him not to come back. This was fun, but the real treat was the trio of Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, and Brandi, singing in an empty church.
The best of Queen Latifah’s hair this week was a dark magenta, nearly purple, modern twist on the shag, with long bangs. Next time, Arlene’s body is found, Brody tells Jahil that they have a problem, and Take 3 is going on tour.
🔊 Jackie Hoffman – whom I love – was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight. I’d seen her in Hairspray on Broadway, and she’s always a delight. Although I often find him annoying, Andy accurately pointed out that Bethenny was not on theme at the Halloween party. Barbie might be famous, but she’s not a person, alive or dead. Next week, the show is going to LA.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Franco paints a picture of Betsy’s basement stairs. Elizabeth stops by the art therapy room, bringing Jake’s painting. Franco tells her that Jake is talented, and she says Jake misses him. He misses Jake too, and asks her to tell Jake that he knows he made mistakes, but he’s doing what he can to fix them. Elizabeth hopes so.
Maxie arrives at the station. She looks at Nathan’s desk, which now belongs to Chase, and sees the Red Sox cup. Ned comes in and she asks if he’s there on mayoral business. He says he’s there for the same reason she is, to honor Nathan. He asks if she’s okay, and she tells him it’s the first time she’s been there since Nathan died.
Curtis meets Nina at Kelly’s. She wants him to investigate Peter.
Anna tells Andre the boarding school information isn’t narrowing the search as quickly as she’d hoped. She asks if he can use his profiling skills, and he says he’ll do what he can. Anna says she’s in a race of time against Jason. If he finds Henrik first – Andre says, things could get violent. Anna says she really couldn’t blame him.
At the hospital, Jason asks Finn for a minute. He has questions about the night Faison died.
Griff barges into Peter’s office, and Peter asks if there’s a problem with his test results. Griff says there’s a mistake with the paperwork regarding his name. He wrote Peter August, but his name is Henrik Faison. He tells Peter that he ran a DNA test, and he’s the son of Caesar Faison.
Jordan didn’t think Maxie would come, but is glad she did. She knows it’s hard enough being there, and asks if Maxie wants to skip the ceremony. Ned tells Maxie that they can forego the presentation, but she says Nathan is being given the Medal of Honor. He’d be proud, and she is too. Jordan asks if she’s ready, and Ned suggests they head up together. She takes his arm.
Elizabeth asks Franco how it’s going with Doc. Franco says he hasn’t seen him; he’s been busy. Elizabeth doesn’t understand. He seemed motivated to get to bottom of it. Franco says, he is, and she asks why he isn’t seeing Doc then? She tells him he can’t do it to please her, and she can’t push him. It’s his process to go through – if he goes through it. He says he will. She tells him to show her, takes the picture out of his hand, and leaves.
Doc knocks on the door, and asks Franco if it’s a bad time. Franco says, no; it’s an awesome time. He asks if there are really any good ones, and Doc says there can be. He’d expected Franco to come by. Franco says he’s been busy. Doc says from looks of things, he doesn’t seem busy now, and suggests they sit and talk.
Jason tells Finn that Faison left behind – Finn suggests misery. Jason says, that, and unanswered questions. Finn tells him that Faison died on someone else’s watch; he can only tell him what happened in the ER. Jason asks if there was anything out of the ordinary, and Finn asks if he means like kicking Jason out of the room. Jason asks if there were objects or people who shouldn’t have been there. Finn says he doesn’t know what Jason is looking for, but it better not blow back to Anna. He adds that Jason is the only one he saw that night.
Anna tells Andre if Jason finds Henrik first, and he’s doing something questionable – Andre says, a perceived threat – he won’t hesitate to take him out. She’ll never know if her son has any of her in him.
Peter says he came to Griff as a doctor for medical help. Griff apologizes, but Peter says he violated his privacy, the Hippocratic Oath, and the law. It is rather unsavory. Griff says he was at the clinic, and witnessed firsthand the lives affected by Faison’s plan. Peter says, his father’s plan, not his. Griff says his victims are still looking for answers. Peter says he kept Jason alive, but Griff says Jason was there five years. Peter tells Griff that he has no idea what he’s done. Griff says he thought long and hard about Peter’s privacy versus the patients’ rights to heal. Peter asks, what’s the plan? Is Griff going to turn him in, and make him pay for his father’s sins? Griff says Peter isn’t blameless. He knows. You don’t learn at knee of Faison and walk away with no issues. Griff suggests he face them, and turn himself in. Peter say his father would love that, and laugh in his grave.
Jason tells Finn that he has no interest in causing Anna more pain. Finn says it was just him, and a nurse named Cindy; there was no one else hanging around. Jason asks at what point were Faison’s personal effects taken, and Finn has a vague memory of Cindy taking them. He says she goes by the book, so they would have been bagged up. Jason asks what happens to the bag, and Finn says it goes upstairs. Whoever took over might give him more insight. He hopes Jason finds what he’s looking for.
Jason sees Elizabeth, and asks, what’s wrong? He’s really starting to annoy me. Is there anyone whose business he can keep his nose out of?
Franco suddenly remembers he has an appointment, but Doc tells him to sit; he doesn’t have an appointment. Franco says he might have left the oven on. Doc says he stated how important this was, but when push comes to shove, he does everything to avoid it. Why? Franco says he’s an enigma and fascinating. Logically, he knows he’s a ticking time bomb, who no one wants to be around. Doc tells him if he wants to be around Elizabeth and the boys, he has to examine his past, especially the scary parts, or the cycle will never end. Franco knows what he has to do, but doesn’t want to do it. Doc says let’s see if they can figure out why.
Curtis tells Nina that Peter’s digital footprint is pristine. By all accounts, he’s the picture of a successful media CEO. Nina tells him to do some digging. Prove she has nothing to worry about, so she can sleep at night. Curtis jokingly asks if it’s about her beauty rest.
Peter tells Griff the evil didn’t take. Otherwise, why would he defy his father’s orders and keep Jason alive? Griff says he kept Jason captive, but Peter says he had no choice. He kept him in the to clinic recoup. Griff says for five years his family grieved and his children called another man father. Peter says he had no other choice. Griff asks what about letting him go, and Peter says he thought about it, but it would have been worse. Jason was still weak and recovering. How long does Griff think he would have survived?
Ned tells Maxie she did great. Jordan knows it wasn’t easy, and Maxie says that’s a relative term at this point. Jordan tells her what was said was true; they don’t make them braver or better than Nathan. She says if Maxie needs someone to vent to who can take it, her door is always open. She leaves, and Ned asks if Maxie wants to go to brunch. She says she’s going to hang out for a while to take in the new normal. He tells her that what Jordan said goes for him too. He leaves, and Maxie touches Nathan’s desk and chair. She sits in the chair. Chase comes out and asks what she’s doing. She tells him it was her husband’s desk.
Andre knows Anna doesn’t want it to be true, but what if Henrik was conditioned to take Faison’s place? She says she thinks about it every day. For all she knows, he has Faison’s catalog of dirty secrets. She has no way of knowing, but has to find him first to prove there’s good in him before Jason decides otherwise. Andre asks what if Jason is right; what happens then? She says it could be whatever good in him is long gone, but she has to know for certain. She has to find him. Andre says, before Jason. Then that’s what they’ll do.
Franco needs to justify Elizabeth’s faith in him, but just messes up over and over. Doc asks what’s the worst-case scenario, and Franco says, losing Elizabeth. Doc asks if that’s worse than finding out he had violent tendencies from the beginning and it wasn’t the tumor, just him. Franco says when he puts it like that, he’ll lose her no matter what. Doc asks what’s holding him back, but he doesn’t know. Doc suggests they start with his panic attack in Jim’s hotel room.
Elizabeth tells Jason that she’s fine, and asks why he’s there. He says he had a question for Finn about the night Faison died. He asks if anything was off or unusual, and she says everything was off and unusual with Faison. He’s looking for something more specific, and asks if she knows what Faison’s personal effects were. She says she can ask someone. She tells him, just so he knows, Franco moved out. She knows he wants Franco as far away from Jake as possible. Jason says if she wants him to say he’s sorry, he can’t. Yeah, yeah, we know you can’t sugarcoat.
Nina tells Curtis that Peter is suddenly with Maxie all the time – at her apartment, at her appointments, looking at her bank statements. To be honest, he’s good too her. Curtis asks if she’s thinking, too good, and she says Peter is Maxie’s boss. There are all kinds of lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Curtis says, especially today, but Maxie is cool with it. Nina says she isn’t. Valentin thinks she’s overreacting, and she hopes she is, but Maxie is pregnant, and leaning on Peter. Curtis says, a guy who’s not her brother. Is it possible that she just resents Peter is there and Nathan isn’t? She says that’s 99% possible, but she doesn’t know him. She wants to make sure there’s not a skeleton in his closet that’s going to pop out and hurt her family.
Chase apologizes to Maxie, saying he should have left her alone. She says she doesn’t blame him, since she’s a complete stranger. He says he has big shoes to fill; Nathan was one helluva detective. He bets Nathan was a great husband too. Maxie says the baby was about to hit jackpot, and Chase says the baby is still lucky. He asks if it’s a boy or girl, but Maxie doesn’t know. He’s sorry for her loss. He tells her that’s one of the first things he should have said, but she’s glad it wasn’t. They introduce themselves. Maxie tells Chase that Nathan cared a lot about people. He gave more than he got, so if he really wants to fill his shoes, he needs to be kind, generous, and trustworthy. If he can do those things, he might do right by this desk. She leaves, taking a last look before going out the door.
Peter asks if Griff honestly thinks he hasn’t thought of revealing himself? Griff asks why he hasn’t, and he says he’d be signing his own death warrant. He removed himself as far as possible from who he was; he’s Peter August, CEO of Aurora Media. Griff asks why Port Charles, pointing out he works for Drew. Peter says his goal was to make sure his father’s victims were okay. He thought if he could look out for them, he’d be kind of making amends. Then the opportunity at Aurora opened up. The company was in bad shape. He had his pick of better jobs with more money, but he chose to keep Aurora afloat. He also wanted Jason to have a semblance of a good life. It’s not enough, and never will be, but he can’t tell them. They won’t believe he wasn’t in on it, and hates everything his father stood for. He knows he’s made mistakes, and isn’t blameless. He knew what he was doing is considered complicit, but he defied his father, broke ties, and tried to make it right, just not publicly. Griff asks what good it is if no one knows who he is and that he wants to change? Peter says he knows. Griff isn’t sure that’s good enough.
Elizabeth tells Jason that Franco has been twisting in knots, trying to find answers to what happened in the past. Jason says she knows he has zero sympathy. She says it’s ironic, considering his own situation. He tells her it’s never going to change, but hopes she’s okay. She tells him she’s been separated from a person she loves, and not because she wanted to; she’s not okay. She refrains from calling him an unfeeling lout.
Franco tells Doc about Jim saying Betsy would never believe him, just like back then. The way Jim kept calling him a liar, and said he’d been bad, he just froze. He couldn’t breathe. It was like he was there, but also someplace else. Doc asks where, but Franco doesn’t know. Doc asks if Franco thinks Jim is right, that he’s a liar and a bad seed. Franco says he did twisted things and remembers them. Maybe Jim is right, and that’s the whole story. Doc asks if he believes that, and Franco says, no.
As Andre looks over some records, Anna says it seems that Henrik was at private boarding school all year round. Andre says, vigorous academics, extreme physical activity, and a stern code of ethics. They can start with those. Anna tells him that his help is invaluable. He says that’s how he feels about her friendship. He asks how things are outside of the hunt, and she says, fine. He asks if she’s taking care of herself, and she says she just came from a phlebotomy appointment. He says, what about emotionally? Is she getting out to see people? She wonders if he means Finn. She wasn’t thrilled with Andre’s advice. It was an unmitigated disaster followed by embarrassment. Andre sees Finn walking into the restaurant, and says that’s his cue. They nod to each other. Finn walks over to Anna’s table, and says, always a mysterious exit with Andre. He asks how she is, and she says, great; him? He says never better, and continues on. She mumbles about Alexis being right, and he says, what?
Doc tells Franco that he’s repressing the memories. Franco says his gut tells him that Jim is involved, or at least knows what happened, but his brain won’t remember. He adds it doesn’t exactly scream good times. Doc asks if he’s considered hypnotherapy, and Franco says, hell no. Doc tells him it’s effective in helping patients through blocked experiences, but only with full commitment. He has to be serious about it or it won’t work.
Elizabeth gets it; Jason hates Franco, and thinks he’s unworthy. Jason says it doesn’t matter, nothing is going to change, but Elizabeth says it does. The joy Franco has brought Jake alone is worth it. Jake loves him. Elizabeth says it’s frustrating. Love is precious, no matter who is giving it. She wonders when he’s going to know that, considering Sam loves him, but shouldn’t.
Griff says he hears Peter, but how is it any different than keeping Jason alive and hidden? Is Griff stupid? It’s a lot different. Peter says there’s no easy solution when a life is hanging in the balance. He’s building a life difference from his father. He’s different. He has friends, and people who count on him. Right on cue, Maxie walks in. She says she’s totally interrupting, but Griff says he was just leaving. He says he has a lot to think about, and Maxie tells him, good luck with that. She asks Peter if everything is okay, and Peter says he thinks so.
Finn asks Anna if she talked to Alexis about him. Anna is surprised Alexis didn’t tell him. She says they had a face-to-face conversation about him. They wanted to be straight. Women like the two of them say what they mean. Finn is like, oh yeah, you’re good at that, and Anna says, maybe not. He asks what they were being direct about, and Anna says Alexis wanted to know if she’d be stepping on Anna’s toes if she dated Finn. He says, wow, and asks if they sorted it out. Anna says, absolutely. Her toes are fine.
Nina gives Curtis a check to help convince him to take the job, and he says she has herself and investigator. She says he won’t regret it, and he says he won’t, as soon as he deposits the check. She tells him to start with the untraceable money wiring. She wants to know everything. Who Peter’s parents are, his shoe size, his prom date, right down to the socks he owns. She wants to know his agenda where Maxie is concerned.
Maxie tells Peter that she’s always barging in, but he says she’s always welcome. She jokes about her promise to lean on fewer shoulders. Peter says she’s just keeping him posted. He asks about the ceremony. She says she met the detective who took Nathan’s place, and he seems bearable. She didn’t scream at him. Peter says that’s progress, and she says there might be hope for her yet.
Elizabeth asks Jason if Sam has told Drew. He says she’s gone. She took the kids on trip for a while. She decided she need time to think and figure out what she wanted. Elizabeth asks if he thinks she should take a page out of Sam’s book, and says she doesn’t need him to tell her who she is or who to love. She knows those answers. He says he wasn’t going to tell her anything. Her phone dings, and she tells Jason that Faison’s things were signed over to Anna. Yeah, those ended up being a hot potato.
Franco tells Doc that he needs a hint, like, what you will find out will suck, but not break you. Doc says nothing gets better until you do the work. It will suck. It’s difficult and scary, but unless he does it, he’ll never get out of the place he’s in now. It’s his choice; Doc can’t make it for him. Franco says he needs to know what happened to him, no matter what. Let’s do it.
Tomorrow, Jason wants to know if Anna is keeping something from him, Nelle can’t back off Carly, and Sonny tells Mike that his parents are dead.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Still in Berlin, the ladies split into groups for the day Teddi, LisaR, and Kyle head out to see some sights. Kyle talks about the mix of old and new architecture. Erika, LVP, and Dorit go to a mall. Erika thinks they can do some damage there. The sightseers stop for coffee, and it’s a project discussing soy milk with the waiter. Kyle ends up sending back whatever it is she ordered, asking for it to be more well done. I hope they leave this poor guy a big tip; they’re really running him around. In her interview, Dorit says she loves shopping with friends on an international trip; it bonds you. Erika says they’re high maintenance, and a little nuts; these poor Germans. I’ll bet the personal shopper is happy with his commission though. He seemed to be having a lot more fun than the waiter.
Teddi says shopping is boring for her, and is glad to be in her element with the horses. The others join her for a ride. The stables are old and beautiful. LVP says it reminds her of when they lived in the countryside in England, and it’s like going back in time. LisaR says she rode a lot growing up. She had a horse until she realized it was a lot of work, and got a tennis racket instead. Kyle says she developed an allergy to horses a while back, but still loves them. She’s given a smaller horse, and in her interview, Erika compares Kyle’s legs hanging down to the Flintstones’ car. The dirt road is flanked by lush green fields, and wind turbines spin in the background. It’s gorgeous and peaceful, until LisaR’s horse decides to take her for an unscheduled ride. Teddi tells us a horse can tell a nervous rider.
Maybe this horse only knows German. Teddi comes to the rescue, instructing LisaR on what to do. She tells the others that LisaR should not have been in front. Kyle says she’s done; she’s not feeling so good. Erika says she had different plans for this excursion, and wonders if they’ll ever get it right. LVP says she’s used to Kyle making a big deal out of nothing, but her eyeballs are totally red. Her allergies have gotten the better of her, and her chest is tightening. She dashes off with the camera people to where the caretakers live, and gets something similar to an EpiPen. LVP puts on her fuzzy bejeweled hat, and Teddi wonders if Kyle is allergic to the hat. The ladies have champagne on the way back. Erika thanks Teddi for handling the situation, and Teddi says they were a team. In her interview, she says if it’s not Erika yelling at her, she’ll take it.
Getting ready for her dinner party, Erika gets dolled up like a 40s movie star. She’s going for a combination of Marlene Dietrich and a little Catherine Deneuve in The Hunger. I like it. Everyone is impressed with the presidential suite. Kyle should be in bed sleeping, but the FOMO would have been too strong. Most of the ladies pass on veal tartare, and in her interview, Erika accuses them of being afraid of international cuisine. I don’t think that’s it. I think because it’s a baby cow that’s still mooing. LisaR talks about Delilah being agoraphobic as a teenager. She says it was a freaky time. She’ll always have anxiety, but has the tools to deal with it now.
LVP tells them some hurtful things were said in New York, but she thinks they’re in a good place. Dorit interrupts, saying Kyle hurt her feelings by going to LVP about their private conversations. Kyle thought they were past that, and LVP says apparently Dorit feels hurt. Kyle is annoyed at LVP defending Dorit. She’d apologized for the last time, but actions speak louder than words. LVP thinks Kyle is still pissed about what happened at the Bella party. In her interview, LVP says Kyle is like a petulant child. She just wants Kyle to see Dorit’s side. Kyle says it started with her defending LVP, but LVP doesn’t return the favor. She says she’s never telling LVP anything again. She felt bad when Dorit made an issue about her at the beach house. Teddi says they’ll talk in circles, and never move on. Dorit says they don’t need a moderator, and starts yammering about the beach house, losing Kyle, and probably everyone else. Then she brings up pantygate, saying Erika wasn’t mad until Kyle got involved. Kyle says she had nothing to do with Erika’s reaction. In her interview, Erika says she never blamed Kyle for anything, but it’s difficult to follow Dorit’s line of thinking sometimes. No kidding. Dorit says she’d never do what Kyle did to her. LVP suggests they sleep on it. In her interview, Erika sighs, and says she might have to use the panic room. Dorit says they’re not fighting; they’ve cleared air. In her interview, Kyle says she expects non-supportive behavior from Dorit, but not from LVP.
Teddi leaves a message for her clients. She says her job doesn’t stop on vacation, but it doesn’t feel like a job. It keeps her in line too, so it’s a win-win. Dorit thinks Kyle is jealous of her relationship with LVP. Erika calls LisaR, and says she wants to see cultural stuff. She wants to get everyone together, not split into groups, and asks for LisaR’s help. LVP calls Kyle, and asks if she wants to go to the park. She says Kyle doesn’t sound happy, and Kyle says she isn’t; why would she be?
Erika tells the girls that LVP and Kyle have stuff to work out, and will be meeting them later. LisaR thanks Erika for dinner. She says she’s frustrated by the whole thing, and Teddi says that’s why it’s good LVP and Kyle are hashing it out with just the two of them.
Kyle hopes LVP listens, because up to now, she hasn’t heard her. Kyle says she and Dorit had a disconnect, and LVP went out of her way to make Dorit’s point clear, but didn’t clarify Kyle’s side. Kyle feels taken for granted.
Teddi explains to Dorit that LVP shut her down when she tried to get in the conversation. In her interview, LisaR doesn’t think Dorit was ever in a place where she actually looked at herself. In her interview, Erika says there’s a lot of history between LVP and Kyle, and we flash back to some of that. Dorit awakened the division between them, and the unfinished business.
Kyle tells LVP that friendship is a two-way street. LVP says if Kyle is upset, she’s always there; Kyle knows that. Kyle says she wasn’t getting that last night. She feels it’s important enough to say this, and fix it. She’s worked things out with Dorit, and LVP will have to do the same for herself. LVP says they’ll deal with her individually, and she’s keeping out of Kyle’s friendship with her. Kyle says if she didn’t love LVP, they wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Erika likes experiencing the energy of different cities, and says it opens your mind and heart. Teddi asks a passerby to take a picture. Dorit says this is the kind of trip you should have with your Fräuleins. It’s thrilling and steeped in history. LVP and Kyle catch up with the group. Dorit asks LVP if she and Kyle are good. LVP thinks they’re fine, and Dorit needs to make sure she is too.
The Holocaust Memorial is massive. LVP says it’s just a portion of those who died. Kyle explains that Mauricio was born in Mexico, but his blood is Russian and Turkish. When his grandparents fled, they went to Mexico. Before they got married, Mauricio wanted her to convert because they lost so many. She says being reminded of the loss and sadness is overwhelming. Erika explains why the stones vary in height. The smallest signify when the Holocaust could still be ignored, and as they grow, it gets more overpowering. It represents the escalation of it. In her interview, Dorit tells us about her great-grandparents being thrown in a concentration camp, and how her grandfather came to reunite with his mother thirty years later. LVP says it’s like the entire population of England.
Next is the Berlin Cathedral. Another picture is taken, and they move on to what’s left of the Berlin Wall. Erika says it’s important to remember that freedom is fragile, and to see it in person. The presence of something like the Wall makes their differences feel insignificant. Kyle suggests German casual, and Erika says, coming right up. They’re going to Oktoberfest it.
The ladies start talking pretend Swedish again. Kyle FaceTimes with Portia, and the others contribute to the conversation. It’s on to Hofbrau Berlin. Erika says they can’t go to Berlin without going to a beerhall and having a pretzel and a beer. LisaR and Kyle start dancing around, even before dancing starts. Pretzels with mustard are the appetizer, and next is a variety of sausages. I’m reminded of the OC trip to Iceland, but without the yelling, crying, and trips to the hospital.
The Road to Yulin and Beyond is getting an award, so LVP is leaving Berlin early. Erika says she’ll miss the boat part, which I’m sure breaks LVP’s heart. Everyone gets up to dance. The do one of those circle dances where people bust out into the middle and do their own thing. Kyle says they argued last night, but tonight, they’ve put it aside and let their hair down. They’re having a good time, even if it involves eating carbs and drinking beer. The music stops, and everyone applauds. They’re having he time of their lives, but I’m sure it won’t last long.
Next time, the zoo, LisaR says bad things happen on the boat, and the ladies go to the new hot spot through an alley.
⛅ Summer House had their reunion, which consisted of a lot of weepy and/or angry, muddled conversation. Andy said he wouldn’t be in a house with them, and I concurred. His comment was followed by him asking one of the interchangeable blonde girls why they were crying. That about summed it up. It was also what I call a cheap reunion, since it took place in the clubhouse.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Alexis meets Finn. He shows her parking tickets. She says, hi, Alexis, how are you? He says, hi, and asks how to fix this. She can’t believe he got so many in three weeks, and parked in a handicapped spot. He tells her about helping an old lady with her groceries in the snow, and being invited in for tea. He was all of fifteen minutes, and when he came out, had the tickets. She asks if he has medical plates, and he says he does. She tells him that she’s expensive, but he says he’d rather pay her than pay the man. She tells him no one says that anymore, and he says he’s bringing it back. She’ll try to make the tickets disappear if he makes their fake relationship go away.
Griff looks over an anonymous letter to Jordan, saying that Peter is Henrik and she should investigate. Anna walks in, and says he’s been keeping secrets.
Lulu goes to Peter’s office. She tells him she’s working on something, and could use his help. She needs assistance in atoning for Nathan’s death.
Nina sees Maxie at the hospital. Since she was late for work, Nina checked Maxie’s calendar, and she had an appointment. She can’t believe she forgot and didn’t put it on her own calendar. Maxie says she didn’t forget; she didn’t tell her.
Spinelli gives Jason a fat manila envelope, telling him everything he needs is in there. He says it’s prudent to prepare for every eventuality, however remote it is. Jason says Spinelli should be with his daughter, but he says she’s already back in Portland. She doesn’t understand the situation, but comprehends the importance of coming through for friends. He tells Jason if he’s successful, Sam won’t feel obligated to be with Drew and can follow her heart. Jason says he’s going to a lot of trouble for something that already happened. Sam and Drew broke up.
Sam drops by Drew’s office. He didn’t think she was coming in when he saw she’s cleared her schedule. She says she came to say goodbye.
Peter asks if Lulu hasn’t made any inroads with Maxie. Lulu tells him that they were both invited to a gathering, and Maxie didn’t even make eye contact. Peter says she’s grieving, and will eventually realize Faison killed Nathan, not her. Lulu says she’s the one who brought him to Port Charles, but Peter says he shares that responsibility for encouraging her. He’ll do what he can to help. She hoped he’d say that, and asks if he can get her an advance copy of The Severed Branch. He asks what she’s going to do with it, and she says, expose Henrik.
Nina tells Maxie that she gets it; hormonal forgetfulness. Maxie asks, what if it didn’t slip her mind? Nina says, an appointment without her birthing coach and sister-in-law? Is Maxie over her or something?
Finn asks which part of their relationship Alexis wants to disappear, and she says, the romantic part. She didn’t think her life was any of Julian’s business, and thought he’d stop dogging her. She’d rather be honest than find herself having to explain how everything isn’t related to her feelings for him.
Anna tells Griff that she was making an appointment, and thought she’d pop into the lounge to see if she could persuade him to stay with her. A little bird told her he’d already moved to better digs. He says, Amy. Anna says Amy told her that he’s living with Ava. He tells Anna that his apartment was condemned. It sped thing things up, but he’s really just a guest. She asks if he’s sleeping in the guest room. He says he sees her hunt for Henrik hasn’t distracted her from her mother hen tendencies. She says apparently, her concern was unwarranted, and Griff says, enough about him; how is the search going? She explains she’s working with Jason, and they both have leads. Griff says from what he’s heard, Jason is a killer. Anna believes he’s selective about his targets. In her profession, he’s considered an asset. He asks if she’s willing to stand aside and let him kill Henrik.
Spinelli asks Jason, what led to this welcome occurrence? Jason tells him that he and Sam were trapped in the earthquake. Spinelli interrupts, asking if when they made it out, they confessed their depthless, passionate, abiding love. Jason says Sam said she loves him, but she also loves Drew. She has to be honest about what’s going on with her, and when she told Drew, he left her.
Drew asks if Sam is really leaving Port Charles. She says for a few days, maybe a week. She needs time to figure things out and clear her head; she’s leaving in a few hours. He asks what about the kids, and she says she’s taking Danny. If it’s okay, she’d like to take Scout, but she doesn’t want to make assumptions. He says he doesn’t know if it’s his place to ask anymore, but is Jason going?
Nina asks Maxie if she did something wrong. Maybe she’s not good enough. Maxie she’s doing everything. It means world to her that Nina cares. She doesn’t know what she’d do without her. She loves Nina; they’re sisters. She just needs space right now. Nina asks if she’s been smothering Maxie, and Maxie says no, but sometimes when she looks at Nina, all she sees is Nathan.
Lulu tells Peter that she already cleared the story with her editor. He asks what she needs the book for, and she says maybe she can find a lead or research the material. She thought he might be able to snag a review copy. Peter says he has one already, and asks if she’s sure she wants to do this. It could destroy any chance of reconciliation.
Griff asks if Anna leads Jason to Henrik, won’t she feel responsible for his death? She says she won’t let that happen. Griff says their goals are different. Isn’t there anyone else she can trust? She thinks about Finn telling her that she saved his life. She says no one she’d risk getting hurt.
Alexis tells Finn that her sobriety was easier when she lied. Sometimes a fib can be useful. He says she is a lawyer. He’s concerned that taking the high road with Julian will end up dragging her down. He says, when there’s a lie, make it the truth. She tells him she doesn’t speak fortune cookie. He says she told Julian they were serious, so let’s be serious.
Maxie asks if Nina doesn’t feel the same way, seeing Nathan when she looks at her. They’re close, and she’s grateful, but with closeness comes something else. Nina says, sadness. She feels it too; she’s just trying to make her happy and make everything better. Maxie says Bobbie told her, no one person can do that; only time. Nina asks where do they go from here? It feels like she’s getting dumped. She asks if Maxie wants to be left alone, but Maxie says, not at all. Just a little less time. Maybe four nights a week instead of six. Nina says, five, and Maxie says it works for her. They hug. Maxie tells Nina that she couldn’t get through this without her. Nina says Mac and Felicia had better pick up the slack, and Maxie says, they will. She also has Spinelli, Bobbie, and Peter. Nina says Peter is her boss. Maxie says Peter is a friend who happens to be her boss. She tells Nina about him crashing at her place, and explains that it’s important for her to spend time with people who aren’t so connected. Nina says she just wants Maxie and the baby to be happy. Maxie says, one day they will be.
Peter tells Lulu that the last time she tracked down a mystery, it blew up in her face. She says this time it isn’t to catch anyone, but unmask them, so someone else can catch them. She doubts Maxie will forgive her, but it might give her some measure of peace. If it wasn’t for Henrik, Nathan would be alive. Peter says she’s making assumptions. What if he’s only guilty of being Faison’s son? Lulu says, then that’s the story she’ll write. Peter gives her the book, and tells her to keep him in the loop If she finds something, he wants to hear about it.
Alexis asks if Finn wants her to take a lie, and make it the truth by really having a relationship. He’s not suggesting moving in, but they both hate the word dating. She says seeing each other doesn’t work, and going out sounds like high school. He says if they choose to elevate the relationship, they’ll find a new adult word. She says it wouldn’t be horrible, and they don’t mind each other’s company. She’ll check her calendar. He says, in the meantime, and points out the tickets. She asks if he knows it’s the same bade number on all of them. That means they were issued by the same officer. Finn takes the tickets, saying never mind; he’ll deal with it himself. He has free time now that he’s not bringing down drug dealers with Anna. He leaves, and he and Anna literally bump into each other as she’s walking in. Anna goes to the bar, and makes a phone call. Alexis watches her.
Jason tells Spinelli about going to the pier, and getting into a fight with Drew. Spinelli says that’s not like him. He’s normally cool and collected to a fault. He’s never seen Jason fight unless someone else throws the first punch. Jason says he cops arrested both of them. Sam came to the station to pay Drew’s fine. He left, she stayed, and they had a chance to talk. Spinelli says, about? Jason thinks back Sam wanting to find out who she is, and the possible reality of ending up without wither of them. Jason says for the first time since he came back, it feels like Sam is making her own decisions, and following her own instincts. Underneath, she’s starting to trust herself again. Spinelli asks if they talked about future plans, and Jason says she was thinking about taking Danny and Scout on a trip. When she comes back, it’s for her to figure out. Spinelli has to get to the airport. He says if he’s successful, he’ll come back with what they want. If he fails – he pats the envelope – the contingency plan is in Jason’s hands.
Sam tells Drew that she needs time by herself to figure things out. He gets it, and she thanks him for understanding. He says they have a lot to discuss when she gets back. He doesn’t know if it’s too soon or inappropriate, but they have to figure out how to divvy up everything they worked so hard to build.
Anna talks on the phone to Frisco, saying Obrecht told her that Faison raised Henrik. She’s looking for his last known whereabouts, and if Obrecht was with Faison at that time. She hasn’t turned up anything regarding boarding schools. Alexis approaches her, and she tells Frisco to hold on. Alexis says she’d like to have a chat when it’s convenient. Anna asks if it’s quick. Alexis says it doesn’t need to be, and to call her about Finn. Anna tells Frisco that she’ll call back.
Chase finds Finn at the hospital, and says he sees Finn got his messages. Finn says it’s harassment. Chase says he calls, but Finn doesn’t pick up, and there’s no response. Finn tears the tickets up, and says, here’s a response. Chase tells him destroying the tickets doesn’t make them go away. He just wants some of Finn’s time. Why is that objectionable?
Lulu sits at Kelly’s lunch counter. Jason sees her with the book. He says he didn’t know it was ready for publication. Lulu says she borrowed an advance copy from Peter.
Peter plays with a Zippo lighter. He thinks about Maxie telling him how she got through the night because she wasn’t alone. Maxie asks if she’s interrupting, but Peter says he’s just daydreaming. He tells her that she looks rested. She says she is, and he’s glad to hear it. She asks if he’s glad he doesn’t have to scrunch on her couch again. He asks if she’s feeling smothered. She tells him that Nina tracked her down at the hospital. She’d checked Maxie’s personal calendar and found out she had an appointment. Maxie had to let her know she purposely didn’t tell her, but thinks they had a good talk.
Nina stomps around the hospital, and remembers Peter going to the appointment with Maxie. She flashes back to when Peter and Maxie made up the story about his vasectomy, and when they were picking up food at the MetroCourt. She starts kicking the wall. Griff tells her she’s going to break her foot, and she says she’d rather break Peter’s face instead.
Sam agrees she and Drew have a lot to sort out. There’s also the custody of Scout. He says he doesn’t want to fight, and they both talk at once. He guesses there’s really not a whole lot to discuss. The apartment is hers and everything it. She says what about the company? It’s theirs.
Jason says Henrik finished the book, and Lulu says PK Sinclair did, but if they’re right, he’s Henrik. She hasn’t read it yet, but from the inside flap, she got that the hero was under the thumb of his cruel, repressive father, and is out for revenge. Jason says he had the original, unfinished copy, and Spinelli wrote a program to predict the end of the book, but it would help to see the real ending. She hands him the book, and says, be my guest.
Peter tells Maxie that he isn’t surprised Nina took it so well. She’s a generous, loving person. Maxie says his name was brought up, and Peter gets that Nina is protective. Maxie says she doesn’t need to be, and she tried to convey that. He asks how that went, and she thinks it went well. Nina isn’t thrilled that they’re friends, but is understanding that he’s not a threat. She doesn’t think Nina will get in the way of their friendship.
Griff ices Nina’s foot. He guesses she’s not a fan of Peter’s. She asks what he knows about Peter, and Griff says he helps Drew and Sam run Aurora. Nina wonders how he’s in town this long and all they know is what he does for a living and that he’s a good friend. Griff tells her that she’s saying it like it’s a fault. She says it is when the object of his friendship is an expectant mother and widow leaning on him too hard. She thinks there’s something they don’t know.
Chase says he’s seen more of Finn in the last three days than the past ten years. Finn says he’s spent the bulk of that arresting him, and it’s harassment. Chase says he just wants to know Finn. Why doesn’t Finn show him around? He doesn’t know anyone and gets lonely. Finn hears there’s an app for that. Chase suggests they get a drink, but Finn says he doesn’t drink. Chase says he should know that, but doesn’t. Can’t brothers do better? Finn says they can, but not these two.
Alexis says she and Anna have to talk, since she and Finn have gotten closer. Anna says she’s been deep into an investigation, and isn’t on top of the social calendar. Alexis says she and Finn are good friends, and she’s fine with keeping it there if it would be getting in the way of something he and Anna have. Anna thinks if she and Finn have something, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. They agree they respect each other, and Alexis asks if Finn is available. Anna tells her to ask him, but Alexis thinks she should ask Anna, and repeats the question.
Peter tells Maxie that their friendship could be construed as a conflict of interest, since he’s her boss. In the hallway, Griff listens in. He’s getting good at that. She says he’s Nina’s boss, and Nina is her boss. He says she’s also Maxie’s sister-in-law. Maxie says she’s known for speaking her mind, and doesn’t hold things back. She doesn’t think their friendship is a problem, and told Nina it’s valuable and she has to respect that. Maxie leaves, and Griff looks worried. His main talent.
Nina calls Curtis. She tells him she wants to hire him for a priority investigation.
Anna tells Alexis that she doesn’t need to ask for permission. Alexis thinks she does. They’re not dating, just getting to know each other better. Anna says, by dating. Alexis asks if it’s a problem for her, and Anna says it would only be a problem if she didn’t make him happy. Alexis says that’s a tall order; he’s not exactly bubbling with joy. Anna says, it’s fine; have at it, and good luck. She leaves, and Alexis puzzles over this.
Chase says Finn doesn’t make it easy. They have the same father; it must count for something. Finn says he was gone before Chase was in the picture. They had no relationship then, and there’s no reason to have one now. he gets in the elevator, and the door closes.
Drew asks if Sam thinks they can work together and not be together. She says they don’t have to figure it out now. She doesn’t trust making a giant life decision after another one; she needs time to think. He says it’s fine. She tells him that she has a plane to catch. He tells her to be safe, and she says, him too.
Lulu tells Jason she already inquired, and PK Sinclair has little or no contact with the publishing company. Everything was finalized by email. He has to get paid, so maybe they should follow the money. She asks if the ending matches, and Jason says there are some variations. In the epilogue, he says all that’s left of his father is him. That, and a memento he took before their final goodbye; a lighter. He knew the day might come when he’d burn his own life down, as he brought his father’s to ashes.
Peter plays with the lighter. Griff knocks at the door. Peter asks if there’s a problem, and Griff says, you could say that. Peter wonders if there was a mistake on his test results, and Griff says there was a problem with the paperwork – his name. He wrote Peter August, but that’s a lie. His name is Henrik Faison.
Tomorrow, Franco knows what to do, Griff wants Peter to turn himself in, and Nina wants Curtis to investigate Peter.
Vanderpump Rules
The girls head to the beach early. Stassi says life is better today. She actually got some sleep after taking a sleeping pill. Kristen says she came in at 8:30, and Stassi didn’t even wake up. Katie tells Kristen that the guys said she and James hooked up.
Twelve hours earlier…
At a club, Jax is angry with Scheana for showing Brittany there are guys other than him. James invades the DJ booth and tries to explain house music. In his interview, he says he’s never without a thumb drive with music on it. He says, it’s a See You Next Tuesday Mexican edition. Or as I would call it, a James takeover. In his interview, Jax admits James is good at getting the party started and turning it up. In her interview, Kristen says James has the potential to be really talented, and does a great job as DJ. Lala says he slays life. Apparently, these people don’t get out as much as they claim to. Kristen tells James that she’s fun, and that they’ve dated. He’s confused, since he knows she’s fun, because they dated. Stassi thinks it’s freaking weird seeing them drinking and laughing together, and we flash back to some hateful moments between them. Kristen says their time together reminds her of a bad mushroom trip, and James drinks some more. The group heads out. Jax has a bottle of vodka in his pants. Some things never change. Jax is one of them.
In the morning, both Kristen and James’s beds are empty. Jax tells Brittany that Scheana is bullsh*t, trying to set her up on a date. He doesn’t go to Rob and tell him to explore other options. He says Kristen has to be kept at arm’s reach, because she’ll talk sh*t behind your back. He tells Brittany about seeing Kristen and James drinking in the pool at 7 am. She’s not believing they hooked up, but he tells her to look at the pillows. In his interview, he presents the evidence of the case. He tells Brittany about James grabbing a bottle of tequila and finding the pillows – the smoking gun – oddly arranged later. He knows what he saw. Brittany says if he’d put half the effort of this reenactment into their relationship, they’d be fine.
Giggy! Ken brings a dog to Lisa. Her name is Monroe, and someone dumped her at the rescue center; they didn’t want her anymore. I can’t even imagine that. Lisa says she can’t have another dog, and he suggests just a few days. She says some of their strays are doing well. Look at James, and how well he’s doing. There’s hope for lost causes. Her personal rule is not falling in love with every stray and bringing it home. She thinks Monroe should meet other people. She doesn’t like the name Monroe, but Ken says she can’t change it unless she’s going to keep her. She thinks she might be in trouble.
Tom drinks I-don’t-know-what the second he gets up. Ariana says he has the most on point golf outfit of all time. He says he might suck at golf, but he’ll look good doing it. Schwartz tells Katie he’s going golfing. In his interview, he says last night is a blur. He remembers tequila shots, James shirtless, penis flutes, dancing, and kissing Katie. From there, he doesn’t know what happened, and he’s not feeling too good.
Lala receives roses from her boyfriend with a note saying he loves and misses her. She asks if Rob gives Scheana flowers, but Scheana says she’s not a flower person. Lala asks what kind of gifts he gives, and she says she doesn’t like gifts; she prefers affection to presents. In her interview, Lala says Scheana still feels the need to pretend when they all know it. She’s not getting affection or gifts. Lala says her man loves giving gifts. Scheana says she doesn’t need all that; she’s simple. Lala sucks on her baby bottle, and we both refrain from making jokes.
Jax says he’ll be happy just to get the ball on the tee. James says he and Schwartz are wasted. They were drinking until sunrise, and still are. These guys golf worse than I do, and I suck. Tom says he’s golfed on many courses, but they’ve all been the miniature kind. Schwartz and James stay in the carts, while the other three drive holes into the lawn. James drives off the road, and Peter tells him that he can’t do that. In response, James gives him the finger and crashes into another cart. Jax says they’re a motley crew. James couldn’t find the hole if a shiny arrow pointed to it. Jax tells the guys about his theory on Kristen and James, saying they weren’t braiding each other’s hair at that hour in the hot tub. Tom asks James if he knows how Kristen is today.
He asks if James hooked up with Kristen, but in his drunken state, James interprets it as hanging out, and says, maybe a little bit, but not really. Jax says they were destined to be friends. Tom asks if they brought cushions to the hot tub. James says no, but Jax has pictures. James accuses Jax of focusing on him because his own relationship is in turmoil. Peter says they have two deflectors, deflecting against each other. Jax shows James a cushion picture, and James says he took a nap. In his interview, James defines hanging out versus hooking up, and says the latter didn’t happen. James tells them his girlfriend is sexy AF, and about to be Miss USA. I try to figure this out, since she’s from Australia. He claims he’s never cheated on her. He says Jax hurt his feelings, and everyone laughs. Jax says no one will narc on him, and just be honest. James says Jax is bringing him back to an old place, and he doesn’t like the bullying. Jax calls him hungover and emotional. In his interview, James says he woke up in a Mexico in a hellhole of lies. He’s upset Jax would do this to him, after he outed Scheana trying to get Brittany interested in another guy. He gets all weepy.
Brittany and Scheana get massages. Scheana tells Brittany that Tom was pissed about her trying to set up Brittany with Adam. Brittany says Jax wouldn’t leave her alone, but she’s glad he feels insecure. In her interview, Scheana says after what Jax did, she’s glad to set Brittany up with someone else. Brittany tells her about Jax claiming James and Kristen hooked up. Scheana says Carter will be pissed if he finds out.
Kristen doesn’t remember last night totally, but viva la Mexico.
Ariana and Lala join Scheana and Brittany at the spa. Ariana didn’t get to bed until 7 am. Brittany says she passed out while everyone was still in her suite. Lala says Kristen and James seemed to be connecting. Brittany says it was only them and a pillow left at the end. Lala wonders if there was kissy-kissy. Scheana is sure Carter must have been happy about the shirtless James Snapchat. In her interview, Lala believes something happened, instructing us that once a hole has been entered, it’s easy to have reentry. She said this, not me.
At the TomTom site, Lisa discusses logistics with handyman Santi, who says it looks good. Wearing a pink hardhat, Lisa goes up on a lift. Ken arrives, and isn’t thrilled about her being up there. Lisa says the bar isn’t sexy yet, but will be. It’s starting to feel like a bar. It will be an unusual combo; romantic industrial. She talks about having velvet booths juxtaposed with steel. Ken says she’s stuck on the building site, and Lisa says she’s having fun. They talk about the kids being in Mexico. Lisa is waiting for Brittany to see the light. Ken says she’s a girl from the country and he’s a man of the world, although that wouldn’t be my term for him. Lisa feels an analogy coming on, and says she wouldn’t have put up with that kind of bullsh*t. In her interview, she says Ken owned clothing shops where women came to get dressed, and wine bars where women came to get undressed. She tells Ken she would never have put up with him stealing or shagging one of her friends.
We’re back to the beginning on the beach. Katie tells Kristen that when Schwartz came back from golfing, he said James told him they hooked up. Stassi tells Kristen that she can’t put herself in these situations. She asks Kristen if she blacked out, and Kristen says, don’t you dare, but Stassi says it’s happened before. Kristen says she’d never, ever, ever, ever cheat on Carter. Stassi reminds her that she lied for an entire summer about hooking up with Jax. We flash back to that, and I shudder. Kristen says she won’t have sh*t made up about her. In her interview, Stassi says she’d be an idiot not to ask questions. She tells Kristen that they’re not the bad guys. In her interview, Kristen says she’s grown since then. She tells them she’s about to knock someone’s ass out. Yep. Totally grown.
The rest of the group arrives, minus James, who’s sleeping it off. Kristen says, let’s effing talk, and asks if James said they hooked up. Jax tells her that’s what he said. Tom says James told them maybe a little bit. Tom says that Schwartz did a disappearing act. Schwartz says he ended up in a different resort, but he’s not sure how he got there. The workers brought him back. Katie says his not knowing where he was concerns her. In her interview, she says he’s still going to the point of blacking out, and has a lot at stake – his marriage and TomTom. She doesn’t want him to jeopardize that. He says he almost remembers everything. Katie tells him that he’s not drinking for the rest of the day. Stassi suggests he act like a bar owner.
James is still lying in bed, and Peter asks how it’s going. He says he’s feeling better, and Peter notices the open bottle of vodka next to the bed. James asks where Peter went, and Peter tells him, the beach, where James and Kristen were the topic. He tells James about what Jax said, and James says Jax is obviously insecure, and gets joy out of other people’s relationships crumbling. If he’s spreading rumors, Kristen must be livid. Peter says she was.
It’s suit night, but Jax is passing on polyester; it’s 110 degrees outside. James texts Kristen not to listen to that nutcase saying he’s done anything; it’s a lie. She thinks it’s a lame attempt James fitting in with the guys at her expense. Stassi tells her not to be impulsive.
Tom is pissed off, since he went to the effort of getting short suits for the guys. Now Jax and Schwartz won’t wear them. I have news for him. I don’t know anyone who would wear them, and if I was a guy, I wouldn’t wear them. Tom is wearing a leopard print pair of knee-length shorts and a leopard short-sleeved jacket, with a matching tie and white shirt. Jax says it’s so awful, it’s awesome, but its 800 degrees. I’d say it’s just awful, and he’s probably exaggerating about the heat. James compares Kristen to a Venus fly trap. You get caught and stuck, and have to pretend you’re dead, then slowly leave. They sit down at a restaurant for dinner, and Schwartz tells Brittany he wants food from Chili’s. He’s been drinking all day, he’s barely alive, and needs hangover food. He’s not craving ceviche, but the unlimited breadsticks sound good.
In her interview, Stassi tells us that she and Patrick are in a text fight. She forgot to text him when she got there, but doesn’t want to be on the phone fighting in Mexico. She says she hasn’t FaceTimed with him since he got mad at her. Why FaceTime with someone who’s just going to yell at her? Brittany tells Kristen that James said it, and everyone heard it. Kristen says he’s going down.
James claims that’s not what he said. Kristen tells him that Brittany claims he definitely did. Tom stands up, thanks Brittany, and wishes another happy birthday to Jax. He hopes they can all come and see where he and Schwartz are at with TomTom. They all toast. Kristen wants to make a toast next. She says, cheers to TomTom, thanks Brittany, and wishes Jax a happy birthday for the fourteen-millionth time. She adds that James said she hooked up with him, and James tells her that he never said that. She says four people here say he did. Tom says he told them, maybe a little. James is adamant that he didn’t say that. Jax tells him to own it. Schwartz chimes in, and James is annoyed that he’s getting ganged up on by the old men. In his interview, a lot is bleeped, but he calls both Jax and Brittany fat, which makes me scowl at the TV. I don’t care what he says about Jax, but he has no business commenting on Brittany at all. Kristen wants to throw him across the room. Katie is like, no, you can’t do that. In her interview, Katie says she’s not sympathetic to people who act like children. I hear you, Katie. Kristen says James is exactly who she thought he was. He says he doesn’t give a flying what she thinks. Stassi says he should, and he doesn’t give one about her opinion either. He calls Kristen an attention seeker, and tells her to shut up. Kristen throws a drink at him. Lala is like, wtf?, since half the drink went on her, and jumps up. James calls Kristen white trash, and walks out; Lala following. In her interview, Lala says it’s the lowest of low to throw a drink. She’s pushed people down, but never throws a margarita with salt, because she’s not a bitch. I don’t even know what to say, except I guess that makes sense to her. James insists if he said anything, it was a joke. These people need to stop drinking to blackout level. Or just stop drinking.
Next time, Lala gets an injury from her baby bottle, Kristen tells Carter about the James rumor, Jax confronts Adam, and Lisa tells Jax to leave.
🍑 A Halloween/Eva’s birthday party happened on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. I love a costume party, and the ladies did not disappoint. The venue was impressive – a decommissioned church, and all of the costumes were fabulous. I gave the award for Most Amusing to NeNe and Gregg, who went as an exterminator and roach, respectively. If you’re out of the Atlanta loop, this was in answer to Kim’s posting a video of several water bugs in NeNe’s newly renovated bathroom. They keep calling them roaches, but after twenty years in New York, I know what a roach is, and we call the gargantuan ones from the South, water bugs. In Florida, they’re palmetto bugs. We did occasionally get them in NYC, but they’re about 65,000 times bigger than the average roach there. And they fly. Sorry. I didn’t mean to get off on a roach tangent, but it’s irritated me that Kim is intimating NeNe does not keep a clean house, when that has nothing to do with these mammoth mofos. Anyway, Kim was not down with this humor, once again hanging a question mark over my head. How is this nasty, petty, humorless woman the same one joking around with chef Tracey, and running from possums, on Don’t Be Tardy? It’s like she’s two different people. She and Kroy came as a Playboy bunny and Hef, btw. I loved Kandi’s costume as well. She was the clown from It, but in a white lacey confection. Holding a red balloon, she looked both pretty and pretty scary. Next time, the reunion. Porsha wearing a tiara ought to be worth the price of admission.
🏨 No pun intended, but I highly recommend Abandoned on Viceland. Professional skateboarder, Rick McCrank, finds abandoned places to display his talents, but the show is much more than that. It’s rich in history of the local areas, and the places themselves. All of the episodes are constantly in rotation, but my favorite is the first one, Ghost Mall, where Rick tours northeastern Ohio, mecca of abandoned shopping malls. An area where I’m originally from, the closest mall to my hometown wasn’t featured (I have no idea if it’s dead or not), but there was one mall I was familiar with. The show was a heartstring-tugger, interviews with locals who spent time there when the malls were alive, contributing to the melancholy. I’m very drawn to abandoned places, and if you are too, this is the show for you.
🚤 Summer House mercifully had it’s finale. Kyle said they’ve come a long way since last year. Not really. The reunion might be interesting.
😐 Something to ponder…
Petulant is a great word, especially when said with a British accent.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
At the trash heap, Tardis Jadis hears shooting, and covers Negan with a bunch of material. She plays dead, and several people run past. A guy stops and spits on her. Lucky for her, he keeps moving. When it’s over, she removes her boots and coat, and is in the nightgown she wore when she killed the other Heapsters.
Wearing normal clothing – a plaid flannel shirt and jeans – Jadis retreats to a long, narrow bedroom that’s in amazingly pristine condition, and even has a skylight. She picks up a now clean Lucille, and checks her watch. She goes to the container. She goes to the container. Negan says, what the sh*t? He’s tied up, and she pulls him out on a dolly.
Carol chops wood. Ezekiel wants to look for Henry, but she says Maggie needs her. He tells her that she’s choosing not to leave; why? Does she believe Henry is already dead? She told him to pretend until it’s so, yet she can’t. He thought she was the bravest person he’d met, but no. She’s being stopped by cowardice.
Tara tells Daryl it’s been over a day, and she’s still not sick. He says she got lucky. She says Dwight shot her with clean arrow. Everyone else who got hit, got sick. It can’t be an accident. Daryl asks if Dwight gets a pass. Tara reminds Daryl about telling her that they might need Dwight. If she’d killed him, now she’d be dead. She thinks it’s personal with Daryl, and he’s not looking at the whole picture.
Michonne asks Rick if he wants to read it. He gets his coat, and says they need food. She asks what he wrote to Rick. Rick doesn’t know; he can’t. Michonne says he has too. Someone stopped her, and now she’s stopping him. Carl wrote it because he wanted Rick to read it. It was one of his last wishes. She tells Rick that he’s staying. She takes his coat and bag, and leaves the room. Rick looks like he has a headache, and takes out the letter.
Morgan sees Carol, and she asks if he’s looking for him for the Saviors. She says he doesn’t have to, but he says he does. He was supposed to do it before. Carol says fine, but she’s coming with him.
In Maggie’s office, Rosita says if the Saviors come back, they can’t defend a sizeable attack. Daryl thinks hand-to-hand combat is the way to go. Maggie asks if he thinks they’re running out of ammo, but Rosita says they have their bullet-maker; they’ll never run out, but she knows where to find him.
Negan tells Jaundice Jadis that whatever happened, he can smell it. He told her that he thinks people are a resource; he doesn’t throw that away. He’s confident that most people can be put on the right path; his own path. He wouldn’t have done this. It’s the work of someone not following the program, but it’s his mistake; he’ll own this. He took a chance, and thought he was doing the right thing, and punched himself in the d*ck. He’s sorry. He really is sorry. Jadis says she lost all she had. He tells her that he can help get it back. She brings Lucille down about an inch from his face.
Carol tells Morgan it makes sense that they stayed near the road. She finds a partially eaten turnip, and says, they were here. Morgan sees something and runs, calling Henry’s name. Carol follows. Morgan sees Henry, who turns around. He looks like death, and says, you know where it is; you were supposed to. Morgan says he’s not there, and tells Henry he’s not there. He tells Carol that Henry is dead. Carol says she didn’t come to look for Henry, but keep an eye on Morgan. She saves people, but she can’t save the dead. Morgan says he’s not dead. He doesn’t die; he just sees them – again and again. Even when he looks away, he still sees them. They continue to walk, Morgan in the lead. He sees a zombie whose head was cracked open with a rock. He says they came through here. Maybe it was a shortcut.
Rick watches Judith play. A single tear rolls down his face. He goes out with his gun, and asks Alden where they went. Alden says his best and only guess is the Sanctuary. He says they talked about getting out, but he hadn’t given their plans too much credit. Rick asks how he would do it, and Alden tells him about an old dive bar Negan talked about turning into an outpost. He asks Rick to do him a favor, and if Rick finds them, not to kill more than he has to. He says it went bad last night. They made a wrong choice, but it probably hasn’t hit some of them yet. He says Rick could bring them back and show them. Rick says he could.
Jadis’s watch beeps. She tosses Lucille, and walks off. Negan says, let’s talk about this. He had nothing to do with it. He moves himself along on the dolly with his feet. Jadis slides out a luggage cart with a zombie attached to it. It’s super weird, like the zombie is part of the cart. Negan says if she really wanted to harm him, she wouldn’t have left him near a bag full of guns, along with pictures of her nearest and dearest. She looks out, and he has a gun in one hand, and a lit flare in the other. Nearby are several photos. He suggests they have a chat.
Down the road, Carol and Morgan see a herd of zombies crossing. Carol thinks they should wait, and let it pass. Morgan says they could lose the trail, but Carol is afraid of losing more than that. A zombie stumbles toward them, and Morgan pikes it in the head. He starts to walk down the road, and Carol says maybe they can find them by another road. Morgan says he knows what they’ll find. She says he won’t know unless they keep going, and she won’t know unless she tries. He can try too. Morgan says he can’t. She saves people; he watches them die. He’s supposed to. Carol says he found her. He saved her. He knew she could come back, and he can too. He says it wasn’t him. He’s not strong like her. He was there watching them, knowing something would happen, and then it did. He has to kill him. He walks off. Carol calls to him, and then walks in the opposite direction.
Gimcrack Jadis tells Negan to leave the pictures alone. He says he figured they meant something to her. Considering the way things are, she can’t just pop around corner and order friends. He’s asking her one more time, what the sh*t is this? Is this how she kills people? Jadis mimics him, saying people are a resource. She asks him to put the flare away. It’s all she has left. He took her world; her everything. He tells her that his wife’s name was Lucille. She got him through. He didn’t give her sh*t, and she got him through regular life. The bat got him through this. He named the bat after her. It’s the last piece of what he has of her life, like Jadis’s photos. Jadis says, yes, and her watch beeps. She pushes the cart toward him, jumping around it. She knocks the gun out of one hand, and tries to grab the flare, but it falls into a puddle. A helicopter comes by, and she runs inside. Negan says, what the sh*t? for the fifteenth time. Jadis runs back out with a lit flare, but it’s too late. She walks over to where Lucille is, amid a pile of kindling, and is about to light it on fire. Negan says he didn’t burn her pictures. What will she have after she burns Lucille? Just a pile of ashes. She says she gets to hurt him, and he says he didn’t do it, but he can settle it. She puts the flare down, and cries.
Rick runs through the woods. He and Morgan see each other. Morgan is about to whack Rick with his staff, and Rick says Morgan knows him. Morgan says he’s not right, and Rick says out here for them and they’ll finish it. He and Morgan go out to the road, and see a car with fresh body parts next to it. The screen goes to black, and we hear shots.
In the dive bar, the Saviors are talking about two guys who are lying there. Jared wants to get rid of them, saying they don’t look too good. Another Savior says maybe that’s because they hacked part of them off. I guess these are the guys who belong to the body parts. Jared says, even if they make it, who’s waiting? They need to make their own way. If they deliver Rick to Negan, they’ll win big and be recognized. He asks if Rick is ready to walk. They’re ditching the dead weight and moving on. Jared is about to kill the two wounded men, and one Savior says they can get them to the doctor at Hilltop. Rick suggests they come back with him. He says they chose wrong, but it’s not too late. Cut them free, cooperate, make a fresh start, and become part of a community. He’s giving his word. There’s not a lot worth much anymore, but a man’s word means something. Jared looks skeptical. He asks if Rick thinks they’re dumb enough to believe him. He asks Jared to hear him out. They don’t have much time. They’re headed this way. They need to make a choice now.
The Saviors start to get nervous, and Jared says, there’s no herd, and there’s no deal at Hilltop. Rick didn’t come to save them. He came for blood. He says, this one here, indicating Morgan, strangled one of his own men with his bare hands. Jared accuses Rick of saying bullsh*t. Morgan says he came here to do what he was supposed to; kill every last one of them. Jared holds a gun to Morgan’s head. Morgan smiles, and tells him to save his bullets. He’s going to need them. The herd is coming, and after, when he’s just torn skin, loose teeth, and blood – stuff the zombies didn’t eat – it will be a damn shame, because there will be none of them left to kill. Now tell us how you really feel, Morgan. Jared tells the Saviors, let’s dump and bounce. Morgan says it never changes. He doesn’t die. No one does. Everybody turns. Jared is about to shoot Morgan, when another Savior stops him.
They hear the herd. Zombies begin to flow in. Jared is like, WTF?! and shoots at them. Rick yells for someone to cut them loose. Someone knocks Jared down, but it backfires, and they get eaten. Jared takes off. Morgan and Rick get loose, and get their weapons. Rick shoots, and Morgan uses his big stick. There are several Saviors helping them dispatch the zombies, and they kill them too. I’m like, he-e-ey. Rick throws the last one to a zombie. Wow. He’s harsh. Morgan looks around in the rooms behind the bar. He sees Henry by the pool table. But not for long. Jared pops out, and attacks Morgan with some pointy thing that looks pretty dangerous. He almost stabs Morgan in the throat, but Morgan throws him off and out, closing a metal gate that separates the rooms. It’s a kind of chain link, so Morgan watches Jared trying to grab through the openings. Jared screams as zombies tear his flesh from him. Morgan shows no emotion.
A dying Savior tells Rick this isn’t what he said, and Rick says, he lied. He shoots the guy in the head. Hmm… I don’t know how I feel about this. Morgan says, everybody turns, and walks out. Rick says Morgan saved him; he would have died. Maybe on the street in front of Morgan’s house. Morgan didn’t know him; why did he do it? Morgan says they should go. Rick says, just tell him. He had his son then. Morgan says, because his son was there. I forgot all about that.
Negan has Lucille back. Anthrax Jadis looks at the pictures. Negan asks what happened there; what was that was all about? He tells her to come with him and he’ll follow a new path. She’s not interested, but he says, the offer stands. Maybe he’ll swing by again. Who knows? Maybe she’ll want to share. He leaves, and I’m disappointed she didn’t go with him. And it seems Negan is better at keeping his word than Rick is.
Carol annihilates some zombies, after seeing Henry is trapped in a tangle of roots along a swamp. She pulls him out, and he says he’s sorry. She hugs him, and he cries. She says she was wrong; he can survive.
The wall guards at Alexandria bang on the sheet metal, and hoot and holler. Jerry runs to get Ezekiel. Carol and Henry walk in. Henry runs to Ezekiel. Carol nods, and keeps walking. Henry and Ezekiel hug. Nice welcome, but way to draw a crowd of zombies.
Carol tells Ezekiel that he was right, she was afraid. He says, but she’s no coward. Carol says she had a daughter. After she lost her, Carol was nothing. The people she was with saw a better version of her, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t find herself down at times.
A wind blows through Alexandria. Morgan and Rick come in. Morgan touches Henry, making sure he’s real. He tells Henry that he killed the man who killed his brother. He smiles, And Henry says he’s sorry, putting his hand on Morgan’s shoulder. Morgan tells him, don’t ever be sorry. Rick walks past everyone, and goes inside. Michonne sees Morgan crying.
Matrix Jadis brings her rolling suitcase to the bedroom. This must be her safe space. Her clean place too. She lies down on the bed.
Negan drives. He pulls over, and opens the passenger door. He says, if sh*t could sh*t, it wouldn’t look as sh*tty as you. Get in. I think this is probably his record number of sh*ts in one episode. Definitely in one sentence.
He drives to the Sanctuary. The guard says he knew Negan was alive. Negan says, hell yes, but not a word.Daddy is home, but it’s going to be a surprise. Hell, he has all sorts to roll out. We hear zombie noises from the car. See? He’s fun. He brings some life to this show. I know that sounds oxymoronish, but it needs some fun.
Daryl and Rosita watch Eugene through binoculars. They make a plan to take him out.
Rick changes into a comfortable t-shirt, and takes out the letter from Carl. Michonne comes in, and he thanks. Her he says he’s sorry, and she tells him that he doesn’t have to be. He says he loves her. She loves him too. They kiss. She leaves the room. He sits on the bed and reads. He cries a little.
Next time, Negan surprises Dwight, Simon wants to gather the like-minded, and the Saviors plan to take the Hilltop.
✝ My Late Slip
Tonight, I hate Walking Dead even more than usual, since they screwed up my entire evening by being on at all. Bravo decided to show new episodes as well, but not for any Wives who are important to me, so I’ll catch up with Atlanta and Potomac later. So how did they screw up my night, do you ask? (Or maybe not.) I’m going to be up half the night watching the late rerun, since I wanted to see Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. I mostly wanted to see it because, Alice Cooper. Alice was my first real concert that my sister took me to. An hour in, I still mostly wanted to see it for the same reason. Did Chrissy Teigen fund this production? I have nothing against John Legend, but no. He looked like he was having difficulty getting through the score and moving around at the same time. I’m sure he moves around during his concerts, but this is a different kind of moving around. I don’t know if he wasn’t used to it or wasn’t up to it or what, but next to Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas), who knows his way around a Broadway stage, he was a total lightweight. Like vinyl, the concert format of this musical was touted as something new, but isn’t. That’s how the show was first presented. I saw the original on tour. Quite young at the time, I thought they were just really loose with their staging. Especially when Jesus came out and started slapping hands with everyone. At first, I thought he was an actor who showed up late.
It’s always annoyed me that the two most lackluster songs were given to Mary Magdalene. Although I did love her dress, an orange ombre maxi sheath number. The audience was apparently made up of 12-year-olds and/or Legend fans, since they cheered every time he actually made it through a difficult note. Thankfully, they did change some of he score to suit his vocal range. Except for one they forgot. He thought he’s sad and tired? He should have been me watching this. Every once in a while, they also changed a word or line, leaving me with a question mark over my head, because it did nothing to improve on the lyrics or make them more relevant. The lighting was also a problem, most likely looking abstract and cool from the audience, but it wasn’t made for television viewing. During Peter’s Denial, some dude was taking his pic with a cell phone, which also left me wondering. If they were modernizing this, why wasn’t the rest of it like that? Was that supposed to be ironic or something?
Alice gave me a thrill and a smile. Not bad for a seventy-year-old. Thank God (heh-heh) the audience obviously knew who he was. His costume rocked. If a suit could be called psychedelic, this one would be it, again in an orange pallet. (The color scheme in general was in the brown-yellow-orange family.) He also held a walking stick/scepter topped by a small skull. I’ve seen several different Herods – from an Ohio summer theatre Herod, who was downright frightening, taking the apple he was eating and smushing it into Jesus’s face, to the silly film version with my old NYC neighbor Toby’s brother, Josh Mostel (both, sons of the late, great Zero Mostel). Alice was enjoyable and milked it well. I also loved his harem of dancing girls. The choreography as a whole was good.
Oh yeah. Could We Start Again. The third Mary Magdalene song. There’s a reason this one wasn’t even on the soundtrack.
I always feel a little sorry for Pilate, who was really a little fish in a big, Roman political pond. Ben Daniels worked for me here. I love how he seemed like he got a migraine when Herod dropkicked Jesus back to him.
The biggest hit out of the show – the title song, Superstar – was spot-on, again Dixon knocking it out of the park, in the appropriate sparkly outfit, the backup dancing reminiscent of Janet Jackson in the 90s, with some obvious freestylin’ at the end. The crowd went wild.
John Legend is probably a really nice guy and a good singer, but this was out of his whatever. I don’t want to say league, because he’s just in a different one. Lane perhaps? This role was not for him, not at this time anyway. Legend, maybe; Superstar, no. He got lucky though, with a solid supporting cast, winning choreography, and interesting direction.
👠 The Real Housewives of Potomac has a new girl – Candiace. What is wrong with parents?
🎭 I also checked out Your Husband Is Cheating On Us. Multi-talented, JD Lawrence, brings his urban theater circuit play of the same title to NYC. Besides being let in on the rehearsal process, we follow the actors living in the same house. It’s a worth-watching show within a show, and definitely something different.
🏅 Quote of the Night
Rick and Morgan walk into a bar… there is no punchline… just death. – Talking Dead
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 