What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

On the phone, Portia says she needs Heather’s test results as soon as possible. Curtis walks in and says he thought it would be a good time to show her the Aurora Wellness Center, but she says, the lab promised Heather’s results would be ready any second. He says he knows she’s worried about Heather’s possible release, but is she sure she wants to put her life on hold for that woman? Does she want to give Heather that much power?

Ric spots TJ while he lifts weights at the new Wellness Center. Ric says, this place is amazing, and TJ says, that’s why he took advantage of the free membership Curtis gave him. If he doesn’t get his anger at Kristina out, he’s afraid of what he’ll do.

Molly arrives at Alexis’s house and says, Alexis didn’t tell her why she wanted to see her. Kristina comes out and says she thinks she knows why.

Sonny asks how long Anna is going to be, and she says, they’d take less time if he’d produce his 9-millimeter. He says, it was his understanding that he was innocent until proven guilty, and Jason says, that’s what he heard. There’s a knock at the door, and Sonny lets Diane in. He says, perfect timing. He’s having a conversation with the Commissioner. She thinks he’s dumb enough to kill a federal agent.

Lucky says he’s curious. How come Sidwell is so sure Isaiah isn’t coming back? Sidwell says, he may or may not, but it won’t matter. By then, he’ll have found what he wanted and moved on. He lays down his cards and says, four Jacks. Can Lucky beat that?

Sidwell’s thug is about to inject Isaiah’s IV tube with the syringe, when Jordan walks in. She asks what he’s doing, and he puts the syringe behind his back and walks toward her.

Lucky has the winning hand and says he’s sorry to disappoint Sidwell. Sidwell says, eventually, Lucky’s luck will run out. He asks the guard to see if there are any cards stuffed up Lucky’s sleeve, but the guard says, they’re asking for Sidwell at the mine. Sidwell says, this might be the news he’s been waiting for. Work calls. He has the handcuffs put back on Lucky, and Lucky says he thought they were friends. Sidwell says he got to where he is by never trusting friends.

Jordan tells Sidwell’s thug that she needs to see his hospital badge, or she’ll call security. He tries to move past her, but she blocks him, and he pushes her down and runs.

Portia says she knows Curtis is right, but she can’t let it go. He asks, why? and she says, things changed. When Heather was being represented by Scotty, she wasn’t happy, but she knew Scotty would probably never follow through with his promises. The case would never go to trial. Now that he’s gone, Ric Lansing is the one working on the case. Curtis admits he didn’t see that one coming, and Portia says she’s heard he’s a better lawyer. He’s going to use the tests results if they say Heather no longer has cobalt in her blood. As if he could prove how evil someone is. Curtis says, if Heather is no longer suffering from metallosis, she was the victim of medical malpractice, and Portia asks if he’s suggesting her daughter isn’t the only one who’s suffering, and that Heather is a victim too.

TJ tells Ric that Kristina promised they could trust her. She claimed she was the perfect candidate because she was family. They convinced themselves that she was right, and now the selfish princess decided to keep the baby. Ric says, TJ isn’t wrong for feeling the way he does, and TJ says he thinks what Irene’s life would have been like if she’d lived. He and Molly would have been in for the custody battle of their lives, but Irene could have come home where she belonged. Kristina did everything to steal her away. He’ll never forgive her. Ric wonders if Molly feels the same, but TJ says he doesn’t know. She’s a good sister and has a good heart. Ric says, and Kristina is going to call Molly to come help her pick up the pieces, and TJ says, and find a fresh way to hurt them again.

Molly says she wouldn’t have come if she knew Kristina was going to be here, and Kristina says, neither would she. Alexis says she’s asking them to remember who they are. Sisters. Molly says, it’s still too fresh. It’s better that they keep their distance. Alexis says, as their mother, she knows better. They’re both alone and suffering, and she’s just asking for five minutes.  

At the station, Chase says he thought Dex was searching Sonny’s, but Dex says, Anna told him to file the report. Chase asks what they found, but Dex says, nothing. That’s the problem. A gun was missing, but Sonny claimed he didn’t know it was gone. He didn’t seem worried, and it was odd. Chase says, maybe Sonny knows Anna is barking up the wrong tree.

Diane asks why Anna is shaking down Sonny over a registered weapon, and Anna says, Sonny was near the scene of the shooting. Clearly, he must have at least heard it. Diane says, conjecture, and asks if she has anyone who will go on record as a witness. Anna says, Michael, and Diane says she doubts that. A federal agent was persecuting the mother of one of Sonny’s children and weaponized the system against him. He has the right to be enraged. Anna says, that rage could easily turn to violence, and Diane says, speculation. Has she found anything? Anna says, nothing, but she has questions that need to be answered down at the station. Diane says, Sonny’s not going anywhere, but Anna says, Jason needs to come with her.

Holly walks in, and Lucky says, they don’t have much time. She sees he’s handcuffed again, and he says he needs her to find the keys so he can get the hell out of here. She’s more than welcome to come. She asks if he knows where Jenz is, and he says, Sidwell got excited and rushed out. They found something in the mine. She says, like what? and he says he doesn’t know. Gold? Diamonds? The Holy Grail? Sidwell bolted out of here like he’d hit the jackpot, and it’s his best last chance to get out. She has to find the keys. She asks if he said diamonds.

Curtis says he’ll never forgive Heather, and Portia says, then they’re on the same page. He says, but she was suffering from a medical condition, and she asks if that means Heather isn’t accountable for her actions. He says he met with Heather and even to his trained eye, she seemed to be a changed woman. She asks if he’s saying they should do nothing and let her go free, but he says, if it comes to it, they’ll fight her release. The cobalt poisoning may have influenced her behavior, but her actions were unforgivable and horrific. They were her choice, and she needs to pay for them. She says, when the tests come back, the judge and jury’s take will be that Heather is cured and no longer dangerous. He says, they can’t control that. He wishes there was more they could say or do, but they can’t take matters into their own hands. As hard as it is to say it, they just have to trust the system. He has to get back to the Wellness Center. She says she’ll be fine, and he leaves.  

Ric says, TJ isn’t wrong for feeling the way he does. There’s no question that if Molly is pressured, she’ll let Kristina back in. TJ says, and Molly will sweep her own feelings under the carpet, forgive Kristina, and smile, with Alexis leading the charge. She’ll hold Kristina’s hand while Molly is forced to deal on her own without any family support. Ric says, that’s why she needs them now more than ever. Molly comes first. She’s the most important and the rest is just noise. They have to care for Molly in the way her so-called family won’t, and he knows they will.

Molly asks if Alexis wants her to pretend Kristina didn’t betray her in the worst way. It was clear she was going to steal Molly’s baby. Alexis says, it’s more complicated than that, and Molly says, when she was at her lowest, Kristina came to her with this amazing gift, pretending… Kirstina says she wasn’t pretending, and Molly asks if Kristina ever thought about what this would do to TJ. He’s just been an afterthought, but he’s the baby’s father. Kristina conveniently forgot that and made it entirely about herself. She never once asked how TJ was doing. He’s devastated and buried in his own grief. He doesn’t know how to process and she’s not sure he’ll ever recover.

Chase tells Dex that Ric and Elizabeth saw Alexis Davis drop a gun off the bridge at Blackstone Canyon the night John was killed. Alexis said she dropped her phone, but Elizabeth seemed pretty sure it was a gun. Chase says he doesn’t know how Alexis would be involved. Maybe it’s not connected. Sonny’s motive is obvious. It seems like a stretch for Alexis to have killed John. Dex says, Chase didn’t see her when she found out Cates had arrested Kristina. She came in heated and screaming about how he needed to be stopped. He remembers thinking, that lady would kill Cates if she could. (As Diane would say, conjecture.)

Ric is on the treadmill when Curtis comes into the Wellness Center. Ric says, if Curtis is looking for his son-in-law, he just left for the hospital. They were talking about how amazing this place is. He’d like a membership for when he’s in town. Curtis says, the front desk can help him, and Ric says he’s so proud of TJ. He’s reminded how much TJ impressed him. TJ is the best partner for his daughter that he could have asked for. Curtis says, TJ is a good man, and Ric says, not just TJ. The whole Ashford family has been supportive of Molly, and he’s grateful for Curtis and his family. Curtis says, they love Molly, but he has a question. If Ric is so grateful, how come he’s representing the woman who terrorized Curtis’s daughter?

Kristina says she doesn’t know what Molly is talking about, and Molly says, Kristina had a custody agreement drawn up. Kristina says she was protecting the baby. Molly would have done the same in her position. There was so much tension between Molly and TJ, and if they’d split up, TJ would be the only one who could legally have custody. Molly says, the only thing they fought about was Kristina. TJ didn’t trust her and Molly kept defending her. TJ was right. He saw the real Kristina before Molly did. Kristina says, Adela was hers for eight months, and Molly asks if Alexis got what she wanted. Is she happy? Alexis says, it’s breaking her heart, and Molly says, get used to it. Kristina doesn’t think about anybody but herself and she’s done pretending it’s okay. Kristina says, she was protecting Adela, and Molly says, stop calling her that. Kristina says, stop pretending she and TJ have a perfect relationship, and Alexis says, stop it, both of them. She’s sorry. This was a terrible idea. Michael comes to the door and says he was in the neighborhood and thought he’d stop in and see Kristina. He can come back. Alexis says she thinks that’s best, but Kristina says, no. It’s perfect. Take her anywhere, as long as it’s away from here. She leaves with him and Molly sits down.  

Diane says, Anna has no right to take Jason in. His movements were accounted for. Anna says she thought he’d like to make a statement. A man is dead who he’s known since he was a teenager. Jason says he’s not going anywhere, and Anna says, it’s a shame. She thought he’d want to do the right thing and help with the investigation. Jason says he has no new information, and if she wants to arrest him, he won’t say anything without his attorney. Diane tells Anna, Jason had nothing to do with the murder. He has an airtight alibi provided by – wait for it – you. Anna says, conveniently, and Diane says she hopes Anna isn’t suggesting something nefarious. She has no evidence. Anna says she has a missing 9-millimeter and a motive, but Diane says, Cates was obsessed with Sonny and went after Sonny’s family because of a decades old vendetta. Sonny had no animosity against him. Sonny says, let him get this straight. He hated Jagger and he’s glad Jagger is dead.

Jordan stumbles out of Isaiah’s room and tells Elizabeth to call security. That man is posing as an orderly. She sees Sidwell’s thug slipping through a door, and says, stop him. He’s taking the stairwell. Tell security. She follows him, but he’s waiting and grabs her from behind. He tries to stick her with the syringe, but she gets the better of him, putting him in a headlock. She says, you son of a bitch. Try pushing me now.

Diane says, Anna had a search warrant, and a theft was just found out. Sonny did his duty as a legal gun owner and her client has nothing further to say. She’ll see herself out. Michael and Kristina come in, and Michael asks, what’s going on? Sonny says, a fishing expedition, and Anna asks if they know one of Sonny’s firearms is missing. Did either of them take it?

Security escorts Sidwell’s thug to the elevator, and Elizabeth asks if Jordan is all right. Jordan asks if this is the man Elizabeth found in Isaiah’s room, and Elizabeth says, he is. Who is he? Jordan says, good question. Start talking. The thug says he has nothing to say, and Jordan says, it will do him better if he tells her who he is and who he’s working for, but he says, screw you. She says, have it his way, and the guard takes the thug into the elevator. Jordan tells Elizabeth to let the PCPD know and request security around the clock for Isaiah’s room. She has the feeling he won’t be the last person after him. If there’s any change, let her know. Elizabeth says, of course (🍷), and Jordan goes into the elevator.

Lucky says, who cares about diamonds? He’s got to go. Holly suggests they think this through, but he says, it’s not the time for a strategy session. She needs to find the keys. She says she’ll cut him in, and he says, to what? Death? She says, diamonds. If Jenz found what she thinks he found, it’s the biggest score of her career and there will be plenty for both of them both. They’ll end up very wealthy if they play their cards right. He says, that’s no good if he’s dead. The only reason he’s still breathing is because Sidwell is mildly entertained by him. She says, he’s his father’s son and like Luke, endlessly entertaining.

Ric tells Curtis that he has zero interest in Heather’s criminal charges, but her medical condition was due to product liability. It doesn’t change what she’d done, but she didn’t choose to have a faulty implant. Curtis asks if there are other patients, and Ric says, they’re coming forward every day, and all of them had a negative impact. If he drops the case, another lawyer will just take it up. It’s front-page news and gaining steam. Heather will get her day in court no matter what, and when that day comes, does Curtis want a shark he doesn’t know representing her, or someone he knows who respects his family? He’ll do everything he can to make sure to do right by Curtis, Portia, and especially Trina. Can anybody else promise that?

Kristina says, Sonny is missing a gun? and Anna says, it’s the same caliber as the one used to kill John Cates. They need to run a ballistics test to make sure it’s not the murder weapon. Diane asks why she’s questioning Sonny’s children, and Anna asks if either of them took the gun. Michael asks why they’d take the gun without asking. No. Anna says, Kristina neither? and Kristina says, of course (🍷) not. Diane says, Anna got her answer. Please leave. Anna says she’s done for now, but don’t leave town without notifying the PCPD. John Cates was deeply flawed and his individual abuse of power unacceptable. She’s ashamed at his behavior, but nothing he did gave anyone the right to murder him. He did not deserve to lose his life this way (🍷) and she’ll devote all her energy to solving the case and bringing his killer to justice. She leaves.

Alexis says she knows Molly can’t see beyond her own grief, but family is so important. Please don’t give up on her sister. She’s begging Molly. Molly says she won’t give up on the memory of her daughter, even though Kristina decided to keep Irene for herself. Alexis says, no one could have foreseen or predicted how hard Kristina’s pregnancy would be, and Molly tells her, stop talking about how hard it is for Kristina. Kristina makes horrible choices and refuses to take responsibility for them. Alexis says, she’s not being fair, and Molly says, Alexis always takes Kristina’s side. Alexis says she’s not taking either side, but Molly says, be honest. She’s made peace Alexis always shows up to lift Kristina up, which she’s never done for Molly. Alexis says, that’s not true, and Molly says, she’s doing it now. Alexis says, Kristina’s not in her right mind and she’s all alone. Kristina needs her. Molly says, of course (🍷). Kristina is always going to need her. That’s how she knows she’s stronger. She can stand on her own two feet, and she’s going to get through it together with TJ. Alexis says she loves all of her daughters and wants Molly to need her and lean on her. Molly says she can’t count on that, so Alexis should do what she does best. Focus on Kristina and keep Kristina away from her. She leaves.

Anna says, Elizabeth and Ric saw Alexis dispose of a weapon, and tells Dex and Chase to set up an interview with Alexis. Chase says he heard they came up empty at Sonny’s house, and Anna says, that doesn’t mean the weapon doesn’t exist. Chase says, now Ric and Elizabeth have made it more complicated, and she tells him to keep her updated. Chase and Dex leave, and Jordan comes in with Sidwell’s thug.

Curtis says he slept better knowing Scotty was handling the case. He knew Scotty was more interested in his cut and less in cutting Heather’s sentence. Ric says, the first thing he did was lower Heather’s expectations. First, he’s going to make the medical supply company culpable for what they did to Heather and Trina. But it’s a civil, not a criminal case. Curtis says, when that happens, the criminal case will be reopened. How does he protect his family then?  

Diane tells Sonny that she’ll be in her office preparing for Anna’s next move. Don’t make it harder by telling Anna how much he hated Cates. Sonny says he thought she’d enjoy the challenge, but she says she enjoys winning and he’s getting in the way. She tells all of them not to open their mouths. Take Jason’s lead and zip it. She leaves, and Kristina tells Sonny that she needs to talk to him, but he asks her for a minute to talk to Jason. They go out to the hallway, and Sonny tells Jason that he knows what to do. Jason leaves, and Sonny goes back inside. He tells Kristina that it will be fine. Trust him. She says, he’s in trouble so much more than he thinks and it’s all her fault. She took his gun.

Ric says, Heather was the only one who committed murder because she gave into her violent tendencies. The medical supply company is partly to blame, but so is Heather. He won’t forget what she’s capable of. The important thing is that Curtis knows they’re on the same team. He wants justice for Curtis’s family and he’s going to deliver it. He leaves.

Portia does an internet search on Heather Webber.

Jordan tells Anna that it’s obvious he’s a professional, and Anna says, a hit man after the John Doe at GH. Jordan says she caught him before he finished the job, and Anna says, but they still don’t know his identity. She was just looking at the footage from the airport and there’s nothing suspicious. Jordan looks on the laptop and says, take a look at this. It’s John Doe exiting the terminal. Maybe he’s looking for a cab to go back… That’s him. The man who attacked her, the hit man. He wants John Doe dead.

Elizabeth tells Isaiah, they may not know who he is or where he’s from, but she’s sure of one thing. He matters to someone out there. Isaiah opens his eyes and sit up a little. He says, Lucky… Lucky…

Lucky asks Holly to get the key. He promises not to blow her cover. She’ll look like she was overpowered. She says, Jenz can’t be suspicious. She can’t afford to lose his trust when she’s so close to getting what she wants. He says, what about what he wants? and she says, name it. He says, how about staying alive? and she says, he doesn’t need her for that. Just be his usual brilliant self, keep winning at poker, and keep Jenz entertained. She cups his face in her hands and says, remember. He’s just as handsome and as capable as his father. She has every confidence in him. She leaves.

Kristina tells Sonny that she never meant to cause so much pain. She didn’t know what she was doing, and now he’s under suspicion. He says, they can’t touch him. Tell him where the gun is. She says, mom found it and was worried she’d hurt herself. She wasn’t going to do that and would never do that. That was not her intention. He says he’s glad. Now tell him where it is. She says, mom got rid of it. She said she put somewhere no one will ever find it.

Molly says she has to go. She’s said all there is to say. There’s a knock at the door, and Molly opens it to Dex and Chase. Chase says he has some questions for Alexis and asks her to come down to the station. Molly asks, what questions? and Chase says, Alexis was seen disposing of a gun the night of the murder and they need to know why.

Behind a warehouse, Jason takes the gun apart. He puts on gloves and opens a barrel filled with liquid. (I’m assuming it’s some kind of acid.) He slides the gun parts into the liquid.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth asks how Isaiah knows Lucky; Jack says he’s intrigued; Carly says, it’s a matter of life or death; and Jason asks Anna for a minute.

Below Deck Mediterranean

While eating in the crew mess, Aesha tells Nathan that the pressure has been alleviated by the extra experienced stew. Look at where she is right now.  He says it’s the first time he’s seen her sit for a meal. On deck, Joe once again micromanages Gael, who gives him monosyllabic answers. He tells Gael that he doesn’t want to upset her, and she says she tries to keep her head down and do her work, but sometimes he’s a pr*ck. In her interview, she says she realized that she’s trying to make another guy happy, and he asks how he’s a pr*ck. She says, he’s an a-hole, calling her a princess, checking her work, and making sure she’s working. We flash back to him doing all that, and she asks if he doesn’t think she works as much or that she’s treated differently. Joe says, they have two charters left, and she says, if he’s going to be a pr*ck, she’s not going to give him the time of day. In Gael’s interview, she says, people have a misconception about her because she did dance and a pageant, but she plays rugby and does deck work. She works her ass off, so she’s not labeled a princess. Joe asks if he’s ever raised his voice at her, and in her interview, she says, words don’t trigger her; intentions trigger her. He thinks she’s getting special treatment. Don’t characterize her like that. Don’t act like he knows her when he obviously doesn’t. Joe says, it’s not intentional, and she says, no more calling her princess. If he has a problem with her, just say it. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s trying to do a good job. He feels the heat rising and just wants it to calm down. He’s hoping Gael doesn’t hold a grudge.

The Greek dinner is prepared, and Aesha says, it’s (guest) Mike’s birthday dance party. She asks the stews to decorate. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Carrie is a yachtie. She wishes the girls would stop worrying about how much power they have. A guest says, the table looks very Grecian, which I think was the point, and in Carrie’s interview, she says she’s sensing Ellie wants to prove her authority. She’s not here to take Ellie’s job. She’s here to help. She’ll let Ellie have her stage. You, go. Good job, little buddy. In Jono’s interview, he says he feels deflated and bummed out from the last charter. He’s always figured out how to bounce back. He’s going to be a phoenix rising from the ashes, and everything from now on will be amazing. The starters are served and… ooh pretty! The dock manager texts Captain Sandy that the inflatables have arrived, and the captain wants to get them on the boat for tonight. Guest Rob wonders if it would be rude of him to lick his plate, but the other guests support it.

Joe tells Nathan that Gael hates him. She thinks he has something against her, and he wonders if Nathan knows what the problem is since he’s her boyfriend. Nathan says he’s not her boyfriend and doesn’t even know what’s going on. Iain tells Joe and Nathan that they need to fetch everything, and the DJ calls saying he’s ready to be picked up. Aesha radios Iain and asks him to get the DJ too. Jono visits the guests’ table and says he hopes they’re enjoying the food. The feedback is fantastic, unbelievable, and as good as it gets. Guest Beth gives Mike a calendar that’s mostly blurred, but I think it’s a Grecian Kama Sutra situation. In Aesha’s interview, she says, there’s a little bit of kink going on in Ohio. I could have told her that. She suggests they go downstairs for the afterparty, and the guests put on headphones for the silent disco. I don’t get the point of that, and it looks stupid. In Joe’s interview, he says, Carrie is showing signs of being interested. He learned something from Ellie and Bri, but it’s easy to fall into old habits. Jono and Gael talk about what they’re doing after the season, and Gael says, there are no concrete plans, but she’s in talks.

Aesha sends Carrie down to see if the guests need anything, and they ask for tequila shots. Carrie goes to the bar and Ellie asks her to help clear the table, but she says, Aesha asked her to check on the guests. She brings the tequila, and they put headphones on her, then ask for more drinks. Ellie asks if Carrie minds doing dishes while she does service, and in Ellie’s interview, she says she was under the impression that Carrie was here to help with odd jobs like housework and laundry. She wonders if Aesha is seeing her as the weak link, even though she’s felt like she was carrying the team the whole season. We hear the sound of one hand clapping as the disco ends. Ellie radios that the DJ’s set is done, and he’ll need a ride shortly. In Carrie’s interview, she says she knows what drama does to an interior team. She’s seen it and she’s not here to cause it. The DJ thanks them and says, it was fun. He heads out on the tender, and Ellie radios the crew that the guests have gone to bed.

2^nd day of charter – Moni Island, Greece. The captain points out that the wind is picking up, and Bri’s color beads arrive. In Bri’s interview, she says, at school, she used colors for her study notes to help her learn and remember. She wishes she’d thought of it earlier. Aesha tells the guests that they picked up more inflatables last night, and we see a monkey bar type thing called the tower of power. In Joe’s interview, he says he’s never run an obstacle course. He’s got to take over the platform on a communication level and he’s all for it. They create a course using the trampoline, slides, and tower of power. In Nathan’s interview, he says he’ll do anything to win. He doesn’t like losing. Captain Sandy watches as the teams go through the course – Nathan versus guest Murphy, Aesha versus guest Beth, Gael versus guest Michelle, and Joe versus guest Mike. Joe misses the trampoline, which looks like it hurt, but he says he’s good. The guests are the winners, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, if they want a nice tip, they have to let the guests win. That he wanted to whip them wasn’t on his mind. Carrie visits Bri in the laundry and Bri shows her the new system. One of the guests gives Aesha a medal and says, they’re impressed with her competitiveness. She says she has four brothers.

In Ellie’s interview, she says, Carrie is taking the spotlight from her. It’s definitely a bit hurtful to be tossed on the sidelines. She doesn’t understand why. She’s done her best this season and it makes her not want to care. She doesn’t have to prove herself to anyone and it’s very insensitive. In Aesha’s interview, she says, Jono has been a yo-yo performer this season. He’s hit rock bottom and bounced back. She hopes he stays up to the end. The wind is at 30 knots, and Captain Sandy says, they’re heading back to port. Nathan and Joe link arms and dance around, singing, heading back to port. Carrie tells Aesha that Ellie likes to do things by herself. She asked if Carrie minded if she did service. In Aesha’s interview, she says she’s grateful and happy Carrie is here. It takes the pressure off of her and her team. Carrie says she doesn’t want to cause any rifts, and Aesha says, at the end of the day, it’s about the guests’ experience. In her interview, Aesha says, she needs a cohesive team, and Ellie is making things less efficient to maintain her status or her ego.

In Jono’s interview, he says he lost his mojo and knows he needs to step it up. Yes, bitch. In Ellie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know what it is about Joe, but he keeps sucking her back in. She knows it’s not good for her, but here she is. In Iain’s interview, he says, docking at night is harder because… it’s nighttime. He laughs realizing how stupid that sounds. The boat docks, and Aesha asks Gael to pitch in serving dinner, since they’re doing synchronized service. Captain Sandy asks the guests, how’s dinner? and they tell her, delicious. Jono is top notch. In Aesha’s interview, she says, her goal was to maintain really high Med standards. Now that they finally have a fourth stew, she thinks they’re doing a good job, and it feels really good. She congratulates the guests on their respective anniversaries. In Gael’s interview, she says, Joe has her on an emotional rollercoaster with his fake niceness. The closer she gets to Nathan, the more of a d*ck Joe becomes to her. In Carrie’s interview, she says, Joe is her cheeky wee boy. She takes banter one step too far and it may be problematic. Gael tells Nathan that Joe wondered what he’d done, and she told him that he’d been a pr*ck. She’s going to be honest. In Nathan’s interview, he says he feels the situation is good for Joe, since he’s new to the lead deckhand role, but he’s never been in a situation where a friend didn’t like the girl he was dating. He wants to keep them both as friends, but doesn’t know if he can.

It’s time for the guest departure, and one guest asks if his shoes make his butt look big. The guests say their goodbyes and tell Jono that he killed it. Guest Murphy says, Captain Sandy’s entire team was amazing. It was the trip of a lifetime. The guests leave and the captain tells the crew to meet in the main salon for the tip meeting. While they strip the beds, Ellie tells Carrie, with the exception of Nathan and Gael, no one is seeing each other. She and Bri had tension between them caused by Joe. He was leading them both on, but she cares about him, so it’s hard to be mad. The crew gathers for the tip meeting, and the captain says, they’re almost finished. The deckhands did a great job with the toys. She’s glad Bri got her colors. Now they’ll see how it works. Carrie makes her smile, and she thanks Ellie for her table décor. The chef is killing it. The last charter begins at nine tomorrow. The tip is $20K – 27,000 euros – or 1300 euros each. Captain Sandy calls Leah and asks if she’s excited to be coming tomorrow. In her interview, the captain says she’s nervous about Leah coming for the first time to charter when they land. She can be put in the middle of a storm and she’s not nervous, but a proposal to Leah? She’s shaking from the inside out. Aesha tells Carrie that they want to finish smashing it, and Carrie says, Ellie keeps trying to hurry her along. Aesha says, Ellie doesn’t tell Carrie what to do unless it’s coming from her. The only time Ellie should be telling Carrie what to do is when Aesha is on break.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and the captain reads that the primaries are Stacey and Brad, who are Virginia based and celebrating 27 years together. Aesha says, they’ve been on charter with her before and they’re a lovely couple. She reads that they want disco bohemia the first night, and Jono reads that they want a tapas lunch. Iain says, they want an afterparty based on the crews’ suggestion, and Aesha thinks they should get real drag queens. Me too. Is Trixie Mattel available?

The crew gets ready to go out, and Aesha asks Gael about her and Nathan traveling together. Gael says, you never know how it is when you travel with people. They can put up a front for a long time. She doesn’t think he’s like that though. In Gael’s interview, she says, the way she grew up, you’ve got to look after your people and have each other’s backs. She didn’t have that in her last relationship. We flash back to her boyfriend harassing her, and she says she wants to know that she’s a priority. That’s what she saw with Nathan. We flash back to her with Nathan throughout the season, and she says, he’s looking out for her in ways she wishes her ex had.

The crew goes to Modern Asia restaurant, and in Joe’s interview, he says, Carrie has a sense of humor. She’s not stuck up and he doesn’t have to tiptoe around her like some other girls he knows on board. They toast to the last charter, and Joe tells Carrie that her laugh is the cutest thing. In Ellie’s interview, she says, it’s hard to fault Carrie. She’s trying to do a good job, but she’s triggering Joe’s awful behavior. He’s a player. Why risk burning a bridge with a random person who just got here? Jono and Iain decide to go back to the boat, and Jono says he wants to come out to the club, but can’t afford to make another mistake. They go to club Che, where they’ve been before, and we flash back to Joe kissing Ellie there. Joe’s shirt is wet, so he buys another shirt off of a guy at the club. Carrie says she likes to let loose, and she dances – if that’s what we want to call it – with Joe. In her interview, Ellie says she’s had it with Joe. He chooses the person who gives him the most attention. No man in his right mind would turn down an incredible night with her. Come on. I actually once knew someone who was both egotistical and had an inferiority complex. Just sayin’. She and Bri sit outside on a bench, and Bri says, Ellie is too gorgeous to be worried about such a prawn. In Ellie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why she went there again, and she tells Bri that she just wants to get off the f***ing boat and go home.

In Bri’s interview, she says she imagines Ellie is feeling fire inside. The more she goes through this sort of situation, the more she learns how to deal with it in a more mature and better way. Carrie tells Joe that Ellie told her, ew, not Joe, and he says they had a drunken kiss, but it didn’t seal the deal. Gael tells Nathan that Carrie is too smart to fall for Joe, but she’s falling for it because she’s horny. Nathan gets to wait. They kiss, and in Nathan’s interview, he says, Gael surprised him. He’s not the kind who settles. He’s like Joe, but he really likes Gael. She’s the exception. In the taxi on the way back, Joe wants to book a trip to Ireland with Nathan, and says, Nathan is going. He books the flight, and Nathan says, Gael is coming with him. In Gael’s interview, she says, Nathan told her that he wanted to travel with her. We flash back to that, and she says, she thought they had plans, but they’re easily to be scribbled over.

Back on the boat, Ellie says her dress should be in a Lamborghini. Her dress deserved a better night, not in a taxi next to a deckhand. Aesha says, Nathan should have told Gael his plans, and Gael says she can’t expect anything from anyone. He booked his flights before she booked hers. Aesha asks if she’s upset because of Nathan or is she still processing the breakup? and in Gael’s interview, she says, her ex didn’t prioritize her. Holy sh*t. She just went through a tough break up and she’s just going to be treated like sh*t again. She tells Aesha not to feel sad for her. She doesn’t trust anyone. Aesha tells her to let it out, and Gael says, it’s hitting her harder than she thought. She’s been trying to hold it in, but it’s been so hard. Every day it breaks her heart. Carrie, Joe, and Nathan swing upside down from a top bunk, and Gael tells Aesha that she can’t. Aesha holds her as she cries.  

Next time, Captain Sandy has a special treat for Leah; Aesha and Ellie clash; and Aesha says, Ellie is overstepping, and she can’t have it.

🎭 He Was Luke’s Father…

One of the greatest of the greats. I saw him once on stage and he looked like a giant. And that voice.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/37271/james-earl-jones-dead-at-93-stars-pay-tribute

🎬 This Weekend’s Watch…

I love a good murder mystery, and if it has a wealthy family in it, so much the better. Not totally mindless entertainment, since you’re trying to figure out whodunnit, but a fun diversion. Only six episodes, this is the type of story we’ve seen before, beginning with a murder and backtracking until we discover who the murderer is. It was hard to find an article that didn’t give the ending away, but here you go.

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/07/nx-s1-5103908/the-perfect-couple-netflix-nicole-kidman

This was also one of those rare series where I didn’t skip the opening credits after episode one.

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-perfect-couple-opening-credits-dance

🐾 Power Of the Paw…

My own dogs influence me to get them cheese.

https://blog.mandalasystem.com/en/pet-influencers

🧋 Pumpkin Spice This…

Join me tomorrow for soap and Reunion receipts in Dubai. Until then, stay safe, stay releasing old expectations and setting new goals, and stay taking Jason’s lead and don’t say anything without your attorney being present.