What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
🖥 All I have to say is, don’t buy an HP. I have no idea what happened last night, but I finally decided to shut the computer off and back on, and it seemed like the problem was that it wanted to do an update, but wasn’t telling me that. Everything just stopped working. This thing has been a pita from the jump, and every single computer nerd I’ve talked to since I got it has said they’re horrible. Too bad I hadn’t talked to them before I got it. Moving on…
General Hospital
Elizabeth tells Franco, don’t try to play dumb, but he says he has no idea what she’s talking about. He’s been lying to her since when? She says since he’s been having secret meetings with Jason.
Jason pops into Britt’s office, and sees her looking at an article about Peter. He asks if she’s doing research, and she asks if he’s always this nosy. She wants to know more about her brother. Growing up, she had no idea he even existed. He asks what she found out, but she says, nothing yet. She’d barely started before he barged in with his questions and concerns. First, he tells her that she’s a horrible person; now, it’s Peter. He says he never told her she was horrible, but he wants to warn her about Peter. Peter is dangerous, and could turn on her without giving it a second thought.
Dante meets Maxie at Kelly’s, and asks how she’s feeling. She says, aside from having to pee every 30 seconds, she’s okay. He asks what their mysterious meeting is about, and Maxie says she had news that couldn’t wait she wanted to share with him. Peter joins them, and asks if she shouldn’t say they have news.
At the MetroCourt, Finn says, can Anna believe it? Before they met, he never had a cup of tea. She says she believes it, and he says he was missing out. This is a damn fine cup of tea. She asks if he’s mocking her, and he says he’d never do that. Not while she’s sitting there anyway. He’d never mock tea. She says, not if he wants this to work, and her phone rings. He says, if it’s Maxie, tell her they eloped and they’re on their honeymoon. She says, if only, and he says they can still do that, but she says, it would break Maxie’s heart. She just wants to get away, and enjoy the evening, and he says, what a coincidence; he does too. Finn’s phone rings, and she says, if it’s Maxie, tell her they eloped. He says, it’s Alexis, and she tells him to take the call. Alexis asks if he can come over, and he says, now? She says she really needs to talk, and he says he’s on his way. Anna asks if Alexis is okay, but he says he doesn’t know. He hopes this means she’s going to get help, and she tells him, go help his friend. He asks if she wants to walk him out, but she says she’s drinking tea. He wonders what he was thinking, and says he’ll see her at home. She looks at her phone and sees a text from Valentin, saying, we need to talk about Dante.
Doc sits down with Anna, and says he was going to return her message tomorrow, but they’re both there now. Anna says she needs some insight.
Olivia says Ned accused her of cheating with Robert in Monte Carlo while Brook was recovering from having her throat slashed. He says he knows how wrong he was, and apologizes again for jumping to conclusions. Tracy says, it was a terrible time for everyone, and Olivia holds up her hand. She says Ned begged her multiple times to forgive him, but there was so much more to forgive, wasn’t there? She’s so stupid. She was sick with worry when he didn’t come home. She thought he was face down, dead in a ditch. Meanwhile… She says she’s going to ask him a question, and he’d better tell her the truth. What happened between him and Alexis?
Alexis thanks Finn for coming, and he says he’s glad she called. She says she doesn’t know where to start, and he says, a meeting might be a good place. Isn’t that why she asked him to come? He asks if it has nothing to do with her sobriety, and she says, it does and it doesn’t. Valentin just left. He got Martin to fight the DWI for her. Finn says, and? She says, and he’s going to argue that Tracy is to blame for her driving drunk. He says Tracy was trying to help her, but she says she’s not so sure about that.
Tracy says, Sam is there for Leo’s celebratory dinner; it’s not the time. Olivia says she’s glad Sam is there. After all, it’s her mother they’re talking about. She thinks Sam deserves to hear the truth. Tracy says, tonight is about family. She doesn’t think Leo should wait any longer, so she’ll go get him. Olivia says if Tracy takes one step toward her child, she’ll knock her out. Tracy asks what’s gotten into her, and Olivia says, don’t try to make her feel crazy when they’ve been lying to her. Tracy says, there’s no evidence of that, but Ned tells her, stop. This ends now.
Doc says he has to commend Anna. The last time she needed something from him, she broke into his office. Calling ahead and asking to talk is progress. She says she’s grateful for his help. This time she doesn’t need access to his research material, but she needs his expertise. She’s worried about Dante. Since he returned to Port Charles, he seems off. She tried to find out about his medical treatment from the WSB, but there was a complete blackout. She thinks the WSB is using him for their own ends, and disregarding his mental health. Doc asks what Dante says, and Anna says, he told her that he was fine. He’s trying to act like his old self, but something is missing.
Peter brings Maxie a hot chocolate, and she tells Dante she would have waited for him to order, but… He says, the baby wants what she wants when she wants it. Maxie says, she’s going to spoil the baby, and Peter says, so is he. Dante hears, complete the mission, in his head, and Maxie says, hello? He says he was thinking about the last time he had hot chocolate, and Maxie says, as he knows, they’re having a girl. He says he can see their both over the moon, and Peter says, most definitely. Maxie says they’re hoping it’s okay with him if they name the baby after Lulu.
Britt tells Jason, let’s do it, and he says, do what? She says she’s heard from her mother ad nauseum about how awful Peter is, but she doesn’t trust Obrecht, not even a little bit. So far, Jason seems honest, so do the honors, and tell her who her brother really is. Jason says, okay, and sits down. He says he’s going to do it in order, not the way he discovered it, and she says, whatever floats his boat. He says, Peter was under Faison’s orders to facilitate the memory transfer between him and Drew. The plan was that when it was finished, Peter was supposed to eliminate him, but Peter didn’t kill him. Peter put him in a Russian clinic, and drugged him out of his mind. Britt says, Peter saved his life, and Jason says, that’s what Peter claims, but he thinks Peter was keeping him on ice, waiting for the day he could point him toward Faison and have him take Faison out. And that’s what happened. Britt says she’s aware Jason delivered the fatal shot, and she doesn’t blame him. He says, Peter has a plausible excuse for everything, but there’s always another objective, an underlying motive. She says, so the time came when he would kill Faison, and Jason says, the next part happened five years later. He finally figured out how to escape, and made his way home. They came after him, wanting to take him down and bring him back, but if that wasn’t possible, kill him. They went so far as to kidnap Sam. She asks who they are, and he says, the doctors at the clinic, but underneath, Peter was pulling the strings. She says, it didn’t work; he’s still there. He says, the doctors took the fall, and Peter was in the clear. Sound familiar? That’s what happened to her mom.
Elizabeth asks why Franco went looking for Jason, and Franco says he wanted to tell him the tumor was back. Elizabeth says, Franco was keeping it a secret, and thought he’d tell Jason? and Franco says he thought Jason could help him take care of it. She asks what that means, and he says if he starts reverting to his old self, Jason could help him out. She says Jason hates him. He’s more likely to kill Franco than help… Oh my God; that’s it. He asked Jason to kill him.
Doc asks if Anna has seen any indication that Dante could lose control, and potentially be a threat to Rocco and Charlotte, but she says, it’s nothing like that. Although Valentin is concerned about Charlotte. That’s why she started looking into it. If Dante is still suffering from PTSD, it’s an undercover problem more than a domestic one. Doc asks if she got any information from the WSB, and she says, only Dante’s doctor’s name, Warren Kirk. Doc says Dr. Kirk’s death was a shock, and asks if she’s learned any more about it. Was he targeted or was it an act of random violence? She says, the police say the latter, but she doesn’t believe it for a second.
Britt tells Jason, so her brother is the evil mastermind, and got off scot free. Then what? He says Obrecht started acting strange, and he found out she had a son with Faison who she was desperate to protect and was searching for. She says, Nathan, and Jason says, but she called him Henrik. Peter planned on killing Anna at the pier, but he showed up. Peter played on his guilt once again, and everything went away. Whether he really had a good relationship with Anna or he was playing her, it was another restart. Britt says, enter Maxie, and Jason says, yes. She and Peter started dating, and Peter built a nice life, until Shiloh came along. He had a past connection with Drew and Peter, and obviously knew something. He got busted and went to prison, and mysteriously escaped, taking Sam and two other hostages. Guess who showed up at the pier with $50K? She says, her brother, and he says Peter claimed to be buying an apartment, but come on. Shiloh knew something, and Peter was desperate to cover it up. Drew knew too, and had a plane crash. Franco and Andre were almost murdered, and it was stopped by Peter, who killed the gunman before he could talk. Peter is responsible for everything, but her mother took the fall, and Maxie will end up paying the price.
Franco tells Elizabeth, if he deteriorates, Jason will take care of it if he gets crazy or dangerous. She says, and Jason gets to decide? He asked a man who despises him to kill him if he’s acting some way he doesn’t like? It’s suicidal. He says, it’s his choice, and she says, it breaks her heart that he doesn’t get it’s their choice.
Peter tells Dante, they’ll call her Lu for short, and Maxie asks what he thinks. Dante says, it’s beautiful. He thinks Lulu would have loved it. Maxie says, when she wakes up, she will love it. She asks if he’s really okay with it, and he says, more than. He’s happy for them. Maxie asks how he’s doing, and Dante says, pretty good. He thanks Peter for the job again, and Peter says he’s glad it’s working out. She asks how Rocco is, and Dante says, hanging in. He tells them that he’s going to grab a coffee, and goes to the counter. Peter flashes back to Franco saying Drew’s memories are coming back, and Maxie says, it’s not going well. Dante is refusing to open up. Peter says it’s probably because he’s there; he should go. She needs one-on-one time with Dante, and he has work to get done. She thanks him, and says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. He leaves, and Dante comes back. He asks, what happened to Peter? and she says, he had something to take care of. Dante says, too bad, but she says, now she gets him all to herself.
Ned tells Olivia, he’s so sorry. He and Alexis slept together. It was just one night. It was a stupid mistake. Olivia says, which he chose to keep lying to her face about. He says he wasn’t protecting himself; he knew it would never happen again. Olivia says, then, no biggie, but he says, it is a big deal. He can see how much he’s hurting her, and he hates that. She asks why he didn’t tell her, instead of keeping his dirty secret, and he says he didn’t want to hurt her. She asks if this is where she’s supposed to say thank you. What he did was awful, but not telling her was worse. He says he was in a terrible place. He’s not excusing himself, but telling her where his head was at. Brook heard she’d spent the night with Robert. Olivia says, that’s not true, and he says he knows that now. He jumped to the wrong conclusion, drank heavily, and it was a recipe for disaster. Sam says he was drinking with her mother, an alcoholic?
Finn says Tracy didn’t want Alexis behind the wheel. That’s why she drove. Alexis ask if that sounds like Tracy, and he says, she does have a heart. She says she knows Tracy is his friend, but she wasn’t driving drunk. He tells her, Tracy says otherwise, and she asks if he remembers the night she cut herself. Something was nagging at her. Tracy’s version of the events wasn’t the truth. He says, say she’s right. Why would Tracy lie? She says, exactly. That’s what she’s trying to find out. They were at the MetroCourt, and Tracy pulled her away from Olivia, saying she wanted to catch up. She flashes back to telling Tracy that Olivia should know about her and Ned, but she had no intention of breaking up their marriage. She remembers Tracy saying that she was drinking, which leads to loose lips, misjudgments, and blackouts. Can she say there’s ever been a time when she had no recollection of what happened? Alexis tells Finn, it makes sense, and he says, what? She says, Tracy pulled her away from Olivia because Tracy thought she was going to tell Olivia that she’d slept with Ned. Tracy didn’t want Olivia to find out. He says, so she forced Alexis to drive, and put her own life in danger? Alexis gets up, grabs her coat, and heads for the door. He asks where she’s going, and she says, to the Quartermaine’s. She needs a car. He says he’ll drive her, and she asks if he’s sure. The truth is there, and she’s going to find it.
Ned says he was far from sober, and Olivia asks if he thinks that makes it less horrible. They’ve been married for four years, and he still doesn’t trust her. He spent his life in this house, with these liars and cheaters, surrounded by infidelity. He’s incapable of trust. He apologizes, and asks if they can talk in private. Alexis and Finn walk in, and Alexis says, no one is going anywhere until she hears the truth.
Elizabeth says Franco has no regard for the people he’d be leaving behind, and he says, all he could think about was, if he did anything to hurt them… She says, they’re not there, and probably never will be. He says, then he’ll tell Jason to stand down, and get on with his life, and she says, what about their life? The tumor has been diagnosed as fatal, but regardless, he’s still there, and she wants to spend every moment with him. Don’t rob her of that. He deserves a family by his bedside, helping him through his final days, which she hopes isn’t for a long time. Why does he want to throw that away?
Doc tells Anna, Kirk’s assistant told him that there was space in Kirk’s schedule. He was referring his patients to other doctors. She wonders what was taking up his time, but Doc has no idea. She tells him, what say they find out, and smiles.
Maxie tells Dante, it was everywhere; on every surface that could absorb marker. Thank God they were washable markers, or she would have put up James for adoption. He says James sounds like Rocco at that age. It didn’t matter how angry he was, if Rocco started laughing, he’d be laughing with him. Rocco doesn’t laugh anymore; maybe once in a while. Maxie says, it will happen more as time goes on. They’re still playing catch-up. He says Rocco is like a whole new kid, but Maxie says Rocco is still his son. He asks if she thinks Rocco is angry because he left, and she asks, does he? He says he doesn’t know. He thinks Rocco is confused, and a little resentful, and Maxie says Dante didn’t walk out on his family. He left because he wanted to protect them. He asks how she does that, and she says, what? He says, see the good in people. and she says, it’s easy when it’s right in front of her.
Jason tells Britt, now Maxie is pregnant, and about to marry Peter. Meanwhile, her whole life is a lie. Peter is now pretending to be a good guy, while he’s covering up, but he can’t sustain it. There are loose ends, and it’s going to eventually implode, with Maxie having the most to lose. Britt says, so how much is genuine concern for Maxie, and how much is hate for the man who kept Jason locked up for five years? She doesn’t believe Jason is that altruistic and immune to revenge. He says he doesn’t want revenge; he wants Peter stopped. She asks, what about Anna? She saw Peter pull this stuff, and covered for him? He says, Anna sees what she wants, and part of him gets that; she’s his mom. The question is, is Britt going to see what she wants to see, or see the truth? Peter walks in.
Franco says he doesn’t want to die, and Elizabeth says, then fight. Don’t ask to be put down like an animal. He says he got hope from a doctor, and went to tell Jason about it. She asks if he thinks Jason understood, but he says he doesn’t know. By the time Jason showed up, he wasn’t feeling well, and she says Sam told her he had a bad headache. He says he’s feeling better, and Elizabeth grabs her coat. He asks where she’s going, and she says she’s going to put an end to this.
Dante tells Maxie, he hates seeing Lulu lifeless; it’s the opposite of what she was. Maxie says, is. Does he want to go to visit her together next time? He says, that would be great, and she says he still doesn’t like Peter, does he? Where is that coming from? She thinks it would be easier if Dante talked to Peter. When Peter was there, they barely spoke. Now he can’t shut up. That’s why Peter left, to give them time together. Peter is a good guy, and about to be her husband, and a father to little Lu. He tells her that he said he was happy for them, and he means it.
Peter says he can come back another time, but Britt says, Jason was just leaving. Jason goes, and Peter asks if he was bothering her. She says, nothing she can’t handle, and he says, the guy is a bully. If he’s harassing her, Peter wants to know. She asks if he’s being a protective big brother, and he says, better late than never. She says if she needs back-up, she’ll let him know. She asks if everything is okay with Maxie. What brings him by? He says he was looking for her. They haven’t had a chance to spend time together. She says she’d like to get to know him better. Should they fire off 20 questions? He says, it’s not the best way to start a relationship, but… She says, uh-oh, and he says he needs a favor.
Tracy says Alexis is drunk, but Alexis says she’s seeing quite clearly. Finn says, she’s sober, and Tracy asks what he’s doing there. Alexis says he gave her a ride, since she doesn’t have a license. Sam thinks it’s not the best time, but Alexis doesn’t care. Tracy set her up. Sam says she knows; she believes Alexis. Tracy says, that’s absurd, and Ned asks, what’s going on? What did she do? Alexis says, Tracy lied; like they did to protect his marriage. Sam says, Tracy framed Alexis so it would look like she was behind the wheel. Tracy asks if she’s going to take the word of a drunk over hers, but Sam says, it’s not just Alexis’s word. They have proof.
Ned asks for someone to explain, and Olivia says they gave his mother the benefit of the doubt. At the time, she thought Tracy was her friend, and just trying to help. Ned tells Alexis that Olivia knows everything, and Alexis says she’s so sorry. Olivia says she doesn’t want to hear it now. She tells them, Tracy said she took Alexis home, and was going to make coffee, and when she was in the kitchen, Alexis snuck out. The security system proved they never got back to the house. Sam says, they called the company, and the system was armed from the afternoon Alexis left to go to the MetroCourt, and disarmed the following day. Alexis says, when she got home after her night in jail. Sam says, which means Tracy’s story isn’t true. Tracy says, fine; she lied. She drove the car to the side of the road, and put Alexis behind the wheel – with great difficulty, she might add – and called the police. Ned says, what the hell? and Tracy says, no one was in any danger, and she thought Alexis would go to rehab and get help. Alexis says Tracy doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her well-being. Tracy didn’t want her around them.
Doc thanks someone on the phone, and Anna says, he got the file? He says, they know him there. He asked if they could email the records. His phone dings, and he says, and here they are. She says, that was fast, and he says, according to the file, Kirk had exactly four patients in the last six months. Anna says, he used to have more? and Doc says, over the years, he’s had at least two dozen. Anna says, it sounds like more than downsizing, and thinks he was working off the books, maybe with Dante. She asks if Dante’s file is in there, and Doc says, it should be there. He scrolls, and says, it is. Let’s see what’s in there.
Dante says it blows him away how strong and resilient Maxie is. It doesn’t matter how many times she’s knocked down; she gets up. He’s seen it again and again, especially after Nathan’s death. She says Peter was there for her, but he says, something in her hangs on to hope. He admires that, and wants to emulate it, but he’s not doing a good job. She says she thinks he’s doing a wonderful job. When he’s unsure, come to her, and she’ll remind him how utterly amazing he is. He says, his personal cheerleader, and she says she’ll even get pompoms.
Peter tells Britt, he needs information for an Invader article, and she asks what she can do. He says, log in and walk away. She says, that’s a big ask. He won’t even tell her what he’s looking for? He says, it’s better if she doesn’t know. It could help secure him a position as a major publisher of a newspaper. She says, okay. She’s trusting him not to get her in trouble. He promises, and she says she’ll be back in ten minutes. She logs in, and leaves. Peter sits down, and starts typing.
Dante tells Maxie, sorry if he’s standoffish. It’s hard to see Peter with her. It will take some time. She says, that’s okay, as long as he keeps trying. She can’t stand to lose him as a friend, and he says, she won’t. He’ll be there for her, Georgie, and James. That’s a promise.
Doc looks at Dante’s file, but it’s heavily redacted. He says he doesn’t think they’re going to get much, but Anna disagrees. She had a hunch, but now she knows for certain. Otherwise, why the secrecy? She asks if Kirk’s assistant said anything else, and he tells her, have at it, handing her the phone. She looks at it, and says, whoa. One of his other patients was Obrecht. She shows him the file.
Finn says he’ll give Alexis a ride home, and she thanks him, but thinks there’s more that needs to be said. Sam asks if she’s sure about this, and Alexis says she may not have driven drunk, but she has to face what she did do. Sam says she’ll get a motion going to have the charges dropped. She’s so sorry she doubted Alexis. Alexis says she hasn’t given Sam much reason not to lately. Sam leaves, and Alexis asks Olivia if they can talk. Ned says he and Olivia need to sort through some things first, but Olivia says she’d like to talk to Alexis right now. It’s way overdue. Alexis nods, and Ned leaves.
Tracy starts to go upstairs, but Ned says she’s not going anywhere.
Peter hears footsteps, and Britt comes back in. She says she changed her mind. She doesn’t care how harmless it is. She can’t let Peter dig around. He says he understands completely. He’s sorry to put her in that position. She says she’s sorry she couldn’t help him, but he says he’ll find what he needs another way. He says he’ll see her later, and leaves. In the hallway, we see he has a flashdrive in his hand. Sitting at the laptop, Britt says, he can erase the history, but let’s see if this works. Franco’s file comes up, and she wonders what Peter wants with Franco Baldwin’s medical records.
Franco hears Peter’s voice saying, please be Drew Cane. He wonders what’s happening to him.
Jason punches the heavy bag at the gym, when Elizabeth walks in. She asks if he’s having fun. She called the warehouse, and they said she could find him there. He says they could have met at the house, but she says she’d rather have this conversation alone. He asks if something is wrong. Is it Jake? She says, it’s him.
Tomorrow, Tracy says someone needs all the help they can get, Olivia says the joke is on her, Ned says it’s not about him, Franco asks Scotty to represent him, and Elizabeth asks Jason what his criteria is to kill her husband.
Southern Charm
When we last left, the guys were being given a clue about Kathryn’s remarks. Everyone was eating, drinking, and being merry, and saying things like, olives are great. Shep went canoeing with Taylor, and she rowed, while he slacked off behind her. Whitney showed up, and there were many elbow bumps. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison wanted to see what he would do and how he’d react, but he wasn’t taking the bait. Leva said John had felt it was three against one when the girls approached Kathryn, and Craig repeated what he’d been told about Kathryn to Shep. In his interview, Craig said he couldn’t bee friends with Kathryn in good faith if she runs away from this, or pretends it didn’t happen. Madison wanted to know if Austen was looking, as she posed on a float, but it was a no. Shep and Austen went up in the treehouse, and Madison told Craig that she’d gotten a text from a friend about Austen. They said they didn’t know if she and Austen were still a thing, or if she even cared, but Austen had slept with a girl at her friend’s house. Austen told Shep that he was a good friend. Craig wondered why it mattered to Madison who Austen was hooking up with, which is a really good question. Shep suggested Austen tell Madison that he thought they were in a spot where they could see other people, and also be supportive of one another. Craig joined them, and said he wasn’t trying to start sh*t, but Madison had gotten messages about Austen, and was fired up. Shep told Austen, play it cool or she’ll go nuclear. It’s sad what an a-hole Madison turned out to be, and even sadder that they let her get away with being so nasty. She broke up with Austen. It’s not like he did something to her. (Oh wow. As I was typing that, there was a promo for the reunion, and Austen said he thought it was sad. Twilight Zone music…)
Madison levitated up to the treehouse using black magic, and showed Austen her phone, calling him a beta bitch, and demanding to know who the girl was. Did he think people wouldn’t tell her? Craig and Shep said to let him go, and she told them, zip it. In Shep’s interview, he said Madison was scary. She was always going to keep Austen handy, like a lap dog. They should both do their own things now. Watching from the porch, Leva and Venita wondered if Madison needed reinforcements. Obviously, they don’t know her very well. Craig said their attitudes were bleeding into everyone’s lives. Austen told Madison to stop it, and she screeched that he was a beta, and she was an alpha. He asked what the hell she cared; it was over. She said he was an effing joke, and he said it seemed like she was. Madison finally got on her broom and flew off, and Shep said she was like a wolverine, insulting wolverines everywhere and also Hugh Jackman. He suggested they just walk away. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison wanted to control him, but what he did was his effing business. Shep said it was up to Austen to get out of the hole. Back at the porch, Whitney picked up his guitar. Luckily, both Leva and Venita weren’t about to climb up a ladder to the treehouse, so they stayed out of it. I love how they only consider it outnumbered if it’s the guys doing it.
John said he missed his kids for the millionth time. In his interview, he said he thought it was the right decision to come to Charleston. His kids had an incredible summer with dad, and it left him feeling like could do it, but also respectful of their mom. In Kathryn’s interview, she said it had been devastating, and asked if she should just accept this label. Friends didn’t abandon you when you made a mistake, but her friends weren’t there. There were fins in the water, and a huge debate over whether it was a shark eating a dolphin, or dolphins having sex. It turned out to be the latter. Leva, Madison and Danni grouped together, and Shep said he believed Kathryn was joining them for dinner. Leva said she thought Kathryn needed to be accountable, and not be coddled. In Madison’s interview, she said she thought Leva was doing a lot of poking, which was rich coming from her. Shep said everyone was invited into his world. As though on cue, Kathryn arrived, and in his interview, Shep said, what happened, happened, and it didn’t look good. Let someone make a mistake, and learn from it. They all needed redemption now and then. Craig told Kathryn that they’d been watching either an orgy or a feeding fest out on the water.
Everyone sat down for dinner, and Madison made a huge deal about not wanting to sit near Austen, calling him this and trash. Shep said Madison loved control, and was good at it. Craig said if Madison didn’t like him, why did she care? which is the question of the season. Kathryn sat down, and John pointed out that it got quiet. He made a toast, thanking everyone for joining him, hanging out, and being his friends. In Austen’s interview, he said Madison was making it easier to walk away. If John wanted to pursue her, go for it, and good luck. Several of the guests threw blackberries at each other, and Craig announced he’d found fireworks in the house – big ones. Madison told John that he needed a button-down shirt, and Austen, probably hoping to unload Madison faster, took him into the house to find one. Madison asked Kathryn about an article she’d seen about Kathryn and Chleb, saying Kathryn was trying to salvage her reputation by dating him. She said, he and Kathryn had known each other for years, and now they were dating suddenly? Why is this so weird to everyone? I’m not even saying it’s not contrived – I don’t know – but I was friends with my husband for years before we started dating, and think it’s actually a good idea. Kathryn said that was why she hadn’t told people. In Kathryn’s interview, she said she had no reason to shout it out to people who’d clearly proven they didn’t give a f***. Madison said Kathryn needed to address what was going on. This was all a shame, since the food looked fabulous, and I can’t imagine enjoying it in the midst of this drama. Except for Shep. Shep can tune out anything. Leva said the last time she’d seen Kathryn, Kathryn had walked off. She felt disrespected and it had triggered her. Austen asked what the issue was, and Leva said she’d been trying to help Kathryn work stuff out, when Austen called her a bully. In Austen’s interview, he said Leva was still upset, and clearly had insecurities about feeling like a bully. Leva said she found Austen disappointing, and Madison seconded that. Austen ignored Madison, and told Leva that he was sorry he’d said it, and asked if they could move past it. Venita, pulling my how-about-them-Mets? move, asked if they could talk about how good the shrimp and grits was; the cook had crushed it. Leva said all she wanted was for Kathryn to have a dialogue with them. Kathryn told Madison2 that she’d f***ed up, but she’d expected her friends to know her better. Madison2 said, that was the problem. Instead of showing up as the person she wanted to be, Kathryn expected them to understand. Kathryn said she’s made a mistake, but it didn’t define her. Venita suggested she and Madison2 go somewhere more private, where they didn’t feel like they had an audience, and Craig said the treehouse was a good spot.
Up in the treehouse, Kathryn told Madison2, she was confused about the right thing to do. Her intentions were never racist or political. Madison2 said she understood, but Kathryn specifically said the woman needed to stop using her minority claim. Kathryn had to think about what she did to people personally, as well as to the business. Gwynn’s was getting blown up, and people were saying Gwynn’s was racist supporting her. If Kathryn wanted to move forward, she had to acknowledge she effed up, and hurt people. Kathryn asked what more Madison2 wanted her to say. Danni told Craig that she was waiting for her apology, and Craig said when he was talking to Leva on the beach, he’d only heard Kathryn’s side, and that they’d made Kathryn cry. Danni said they needed to have a serious conversation, and Craig said, if he could do it over, it would be different. Kathryn told Madison2 that she’d hoped her friends would know her better, and Madison2 said she couldn’t make excuses for Kathryn anymore. Kathryn said she didn’t think it was necessary for Madison2 to defend her, but thought Madison2 would have had more to say than nothing. Madison2 said Kathryn had to take responsibility, and Kathryn said Madison2 didn’t know what was going on. Madison2 said there was always something going on, and Kathryn asked, then why had Madison2 been her friend if that’s how she felt? Madison said, what about Kathryn? She was playing the victim to the guys, and minimizing everyone else’s feelings. Kathryn said, if she was such a bad person, why be her friend anymore? She was over it. It was bullsh*t, and she wasn’t doing this. Madison2 said she wasn’t either. Shep and Taylor floated in the pool, blissfully ignoring all this.
Madison2 told the others, it went nowhere; they were just talking in circles. Danni wanted to walk on the dock, and asked if Kathryn wanted to walk. She and Kathryn walked out to the dock, and Venita said Kathryn knew everyone was talking about her. They sat down, and Danni asked how Kathryn was feeling. Kathryn said it was difficult to make progress, and Danni said Madison2’s feelings were hurt, but she’d always cared about Kathryn. Why had Kathryn reached out to Leva over the people who know her? Kathryn said she wasn’t overlooking them; she was in her own world, keeping her head above water. Back at the table, Venita said she thought Danni was enabling Kathryn, and Madison wanted to go bother them. Venita said she didn’t chase. If someone came to the table to discuss their wrongs, and own up to them, fine, but Kathryn wasn’t going to do that because she was a child. In Madison’s interview, she said she was sick of all talk and no action. Say it to her face and get it over with. On the dock, Kathryn agreed with Danni, but said she was having a hard time. She wondered how she could manage to pick up where they’d left off. Craig set off some fireworks, scaring the bejesus out of everyone. A little guy with a parachute floated down at the end, which was pretty cool.
Danni told Kathryn that she couldn’t brush off the conflict; it was hurtful. Madison said she’d tell Kathryn the other girls wanted to talk, and she’d bring her to the table to hash it out. Venita was concerned that Kathryn might feel ganged up on, and Craig and Shep were like, uh-oh, as Madison sashayed to the dock. Danni told Kathryn that she’d made some bad decisions, and couldn’t blame the others for being upset. Kathryn said she didn’t want to blame them, and Danni said it seemed like Kathryn felt she didn’t do anything wrong as far as hurting them went. She shrugged things off easily, but an apology went a long way. Here’s where Madison stuck her big nose into things, and asked if she could interrupt, plopping herself in between them. She said she thought it best for Kathryn to speak her mind to the girls, but Danni didn’t think it was a good idea. They were already upset, and it wasn’t going to help. It would just make it worse. Madison said she knew Danni stood with Kathryn. Kathryn was the best friend Danni was ever going to have. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be an insult or Danni is just bad at forming a sentence. Danni said she was trying to be honest and diplomatic, and express what needed to be said. She didn’t want Kathryn to walk away, and it had to be done in a way Kathryn could hear it. Madison is such a moron, she said Kathryn shouldn’t be weak and needed to stand her ground, then told Danni it had nothing to do with her. Danni said she was about to smack Madison off the dock, and Madison said she’d like to see Danni try. Me too. I’d actually like to help her. Danni said Madison was a bully, and Madison called Danni a rat. WTF? Madison said all Danni did was s*ck Kathryn’s ass 24/7. Kathryn said that wasn’t true, and Madison said Kathryn needed to tell the girls she was innocent. She was sick of people talking. Kathryn and Danni just sat there, and Madison stomped back to the house, while it started to rain. In Madison’s interview, she said she didn’t kiss Kathryn’s ass; Danni did, and Kathryn walked on her. Danni let her because she had no backbone, and it was hard for her to respect a girl like that. Kathryn told Danni, she didn’t understand what that was, and Danni said she didn’t either. She said, that kind of behavior was what Kathryn didn’t want to be like.
On the porch, Danni sat on a swing, and Danni plunked herself on an adjacent one. She started squawking and pointing her finger at Danni, and Danni said she and Kathryn had been talking. Madison didn’t need to interject. Madison said she wanted to tell Danni why, but Danni said she didn’t care. Danni said a bunch of nonsense, ending with telling Danni to go s*ck Kathryn’s ass like a peasant. Danni wondered what Madison was talking about, and Leva said, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Danni said Madison was a stupid bitch, and Leva said she was just supposed to get them back to the table. Shep popped in and said he’d missed everything. Was everybody happy? Leva said, no, and Kathryn said she and Danni had been in the middle of a serious conversation. Danni said Madison went from 0 to 100, and Leva asked if they were able to finish talking, but Kathryn said, no. Leva said other people wanted a chance to speak with her. She wanted Kathryn to sit and have an honest, vulnerable conversation. John said they were pulling it again, but Kathryn said she didn’t feel bullied. She thought it was time to have the conversation, but didn’t know how. She didn’t know the right way to do a conversation like that. Venita said showing up was the first step, and Craig asked everyone to go inside. John said, let’s all have a moment, for no apparent reason, and Craig urged them to go upstairs. Kathryn asked Danni if she was okay. In Kathryn’s interview, she said she’d stayed quiet because she wanted to just listen, but now she thought she needed to clear her name.
Craig and the girls all sat at a table, and Madison got stupid about sitting at the same table as Danni. Venita said if she could sit there, they could sit down and shut up. She told Kathryn, most Black individuals wouldn’t have this conversation with her, take her by the hand, and walk her through it. Leva said, it wasn’t their responsibility, and Venita said they were tired. Craig said not many people could say they’d never done anything that wasn’t okay, and Leva suggested they start with the problem. Kathryn’s comments were deeply hurtful to her and people she loved. Kathryn said she understood, and didn’t want to offend anyone. Craig said she needed to show vulnerability, and Kathryn said she was sticking up for a cause. The girl was bullying her friend. Venita said there was nothing wrong with that, and Kathryn said she felt the need to defend her. Leva said Kathryn had made digs that were racially motivated, but Kathryn said she hadn’t known who she was talking too. Craig asked, then what did she mean by minority? and Kathryn said she wasn’t sure she used minority that way. Venita said there was no other way to use it, and Kathryn said she had no explanation. Leva said Kathryn had spent her life living in a bubble that’s called white privilege; things didn’t bother her because she wasn’t affected. It didn’t make her a bad person, but a person who lives on that side of the world. That could either wake her up, and she could make different choices, or do what they’d expect from her as a Calhoun. In Leva’s fairytale world, their sons would think it was cool what their moms did. One day they would say, thanks to the different conversations their moms had, they’re friends now. Venita said they could bring Kathryn to water, but she had to drink. Leva said no one owed this discussion to Kathryn, but they cared about her enough to be there. Kathryn said she understood, but wondered how to move forward, and Venita said Kathryn needed to take time to digest the conversation. If she commented on it tomorrow, it wouldn’t be authentic. Kathryn asked how she could show people that she wasn’t a racist, and Madison2 said, do the work. Craig said, the ball was in her court.
Six months later… We saw a picture of Kathryn and Chleb, and Kathryn came out of the bathroom holding a pregnancy test. She looked at it, and put her hand over her mouth.
Next week, the Reunion. Madison tells Austen to shut his Muppet mouth, and makes other equally delightful comments, Leva and Kathryn argue, and John tells Austen not to talk about his kids.
👌 To Their Credit…
Shep and Leva were guests on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and Shep made an excellent comment. He said when too many people hammered you on the head with a point, it might dull the message, and it wouldn’t get through. Leva also said she hadn’t known about the issues Kathryn had, like anxiety, and that running away and hiding was Kathryn’s defense mechanism. It shed a different light on things. Although I thought, on the flipside, she kind of expected Kathryn to be a mind reader, when clearly, they didn’t know each other all that well.
🐱 I Like It…
So when you’re watching GH, listen for, paging Dr. Hernandez.
📋 Sonny’s a Busy Guy…
Plus he has all those goats.
😲 The First Time Is Always the Hardest…
And they don’t make it easy. I’m sure intense is an understatement, especially where Jen is involved.
https://screenrant.com/real-housewives-salt-lake-city-heather-intense-reunion/
🤷♀️ So What Was It…?
I’m dying to know what the good stuff is.
https://screenrant.com/real-housewives-orange-county-braunwyn-drugs-teen-shannon/
🔁 Yes and No…
While I agree the struggle is real, I also agree Jen is scary. So maybe she should stop acting that way?
https://pagesix.com/2021/01/20/rhoslcs-jen-shah-on-dangers-of-calling-women-of-color-scary/
🍸 To the Cottage Born…
These two should have a spin-off.
🐊 See You Later…
Hopefully, no more glitches. I’ll have today’s GH and some tea for you later, but for now, stay safe, stay present, and stay not buying an HP computer. It’s true. You get what you pay for, and I did.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 