What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sam comes into Dante’s room, and finds him getting dressed. She asks if he said anything about checking himself out, and he says he has a job to do. Sam says, he means to tell her that Peter can’t live without him for a couple of days, Franco or not? Suddenly, Dante keels over. Sam catches him, and calls for help. Franco and Elizabeth run in.
Walking into the MetroCourt, Jason tells Carly, they have to figure out a way to tell Martin about Florence, without them losing their leverage on Cyrus. She says, then she can concentrate on the other million and one things that need her attention. He asks if she’s sure Nina isn’t going to be a problem, and she says, Nina isn’t going to be a problem. She just wants to get this Martin thing taken care of, so she has one less fire to put out today. Scotty comes in, and says, trust him. Today’s not the day. Jason heaves a sigh.
On the phone at the bistro, Jax leaves a message for Nina, saying he knows she’s upset. They should have let her know they minute they realized Nelle was her daughter. Can they talk about this in person? If not, send him a text to let him know she’s okay. He’s worried about her.
Nina walks into the cemetery, and sees Maxie. She says she knew she wouldn’t have this place all to herself, and Maxie says, where else would she be? Nina puts her arm around Maxie.
In the ring at the gym, Chase tosses Gregory a headguard, but Gregory says, it won’t be necessary. They’re doing a little light sparring; emphasis on the light. Chase says Gregory has to protect that face. He doesn’t want to give his mom any reason not to get back together with him.
Finn tells Anna, he doesn’t know if he can do this. She says he can. As operations go, it’s pretty simple. All he has to do is get a DNA sample, and they’ll have the means to determine whether Chase is his brother or his son. She thinks he can pull it off. He says, if he even wants to, and she says he doesn’t have to run the test; nothing has to change. He can go on living like before. He says, never knowing whether Chase is his son? and she says, he has to ask himself, can he live without knowing?
Maxie says she wasn’t sure she was going to see Nina for a little while, and Nina asks, why not? Maxie isn’t the one who lied, and she’s the fool who shunned the only child she’ll probably have. Maxie tells her, don’t say that. Nina had no idea Nelle was her daughter. Nina says she didn’t come there to talk about her issues. What kind of sister would she be if she let her problems get in the way of honoring her brother? Britt arrives, and says, what kind indeed? Room for one more?
Finn says, if someone had told him a couple of years ago that he and Chase would be on speaking terms, let alone Chase would be his best man… Anna says, he would have laughed out loud. He says, he and Chase have nothing in common. Chase likes ice fishing. She says, don’t knock it until he’s tried it. Watching him and Chase interact is moving; the respect and trust. He wonders why he’s risking that. What does he have to gain by knowing? She asks what he has to lose, but he says, what does his dad what have to lose? Gregory loves being Chase’s father, and Chase is excited to reunite the family. What does Chase have to lose? Anna says he’s asking all the right questions, and Finn says, the problem is, there are no answers that lead to a good decision. She says, it’s his choice. It’s not so much about getting to the truth, as what he does with the information when he has it. No one is saying he should upend his life. Just because he knows the truth, no one else has to. He says, if Chase is his brother, he doesn’t need to know. If it turns out he’s Chase’s father, is it worse to know and say nothing?
Chase instructs Gregory on boxing, and Gregory asks if Chase thinks it’s his first time in the ring. He got tips from the greatest. Chase says, from Mohammad Ali? Please. Gregory asks if he’s read his mother’s interviews, and Chase asks if Gregory tagged along. Gregory says, being Mr. Jackie Templeton has it’s privileges. Chase says, last he heard, they haven’t signed the divorce papers. This means there’s hope for them, right? There’s marriage counseling; maybe Gregory can fix it. Gregory says he’s not sure there’s anything left to fix.
Sam tells Elizabeth that Dante is planning on checking himself out, but Elizabeth says a doctor has to sign off on it. Dante asks if it’s a hard and fast rule, and Elizabeth says, he can leave, but she can’t just let him walk out. Did he call Olivia? Dante says, she has a lot on her plate. Can’t Elizabeth bend the rules? Elizabeth asks if he wants her to get fired, and Dante says he wouldn’t be there if not for Franco, and suggests Franco do it, but Elizabeth says, Franco is busy. He can’t take responsibility. Sam says she’ll do it.
Carly tells Scotty that she has no patience for him today. Scotty says, he does want to give her his condolences, and tells her that he’s sorry for her loss. Sonny lived by the sword, and died in a river in New Jersey. Carly says she’ll talk to Jason later, and walks away, and Jason asks why Scotty talks so much. Scotty will probably forget what said, but Jason won’t. Scotty tells him, funny he should say that to the guy who holds his miserable, stinking, wasted, thug life in his hands.
Scotty tells Jason that he had a conversation with his son about a cockamamie plan to have himself killed if the tumor makes him nuts. Does that ring a bell? Jason asks why he’d care about what Scotty and Franco talk about, and Scotty says if something happens to Franco, he’ll make sure Jason spends his life in a hamster cage. Jason says then he better watch his step. Jackie comes in, and says, Scotty Baldwin, as she lives and breathes.
Dante says he doesn’t want Elizabeth to get fired. He won’t take off without an escort. Franco doesn’t have to babysit. Franco says, Dante saved his life. What thanks would it be to let him die today; maybe fall down and crack his head open? He asks why Dante did it? Old body reflex from being a cop? He’s just compulsively heroic? He really wants to know. Dante doesn’t say anything, and Franco asks if his gratitude is boring Dante. Dante says, he doesn’t know. It’s just something he had to do. Sam comes back, and he says, ready? She says, Elizabeth filed his release form, and they leave. Franco watches them, frowning.
Valentin thanks Anna for meeting with him. It was good of her to agree, even though her fiancé finds him despicable. She tells him not to needle her; she has no patience for it. He asks if she’s found any answers about Dante, and she says she has, but the answers have given rise to more questions.
Carly meets Jax at the bistro, and he says he took the liberty of ordering her a vanilla latte. She asks how he’s holding up after last night, and he says he’s a bit of a mess. She says he hides it well, but she can see how it’s affecting him. He says he and Nina were just starting to build something. They were turning a corner, and Nina had finally let go of her dream of finding her child. Now she knows the truth, and he can justify it a million different ways, but the bottom line is, he betrayed Nina’s trust, and broke her heart. Carly says, it seemed like the right thing to do, and he says, not anymore. She asks where Nina is and if they’ve talked, and he says, no, but he knows exactly where she is.
Britt says she hopes Maxie and Nina can stand one more, and Maxie says, Nathan loved Britt. Of course (🍷) she can stay. Britt looks at Nina, and says she can come back later, but Nina says, no. Of course (🍷) stay. Britt was gone from Port Charles so long, she forgets Britt and Nathan were close. Britt says, so close, they almost slept together before they realized they were siblings. Another branch on their twisted family tree. Nina says, it’s only getting nuttier, and Britt asks if she missed something. Nina says she just learned about another addition to their sweet family, and Britt says, congratulations. Are Nina and Jax adopting? Nina says, no, but does Britt remember the daughter she was looking for? She just learned it was Nelle Benson. Britt says, baby switching Nelle Benson? Just when she thought their family couldn’t get messier.
Chase and Gregory leave the ring, and Chase says he regretted letting Willow go for months. Gregory can avoid it before the divorce. Pull out all the stops; weddings bring out the best in people. Gregory says he doesn’t think Finn’s wedding is the proper place for him to resuscitate his marriage. Chase says, ask mom to dance. See what comes of it. If he wants to save his marriage, he has to put in the effort. That’s what he wants, right? Gregory says what he wants doesn’t matter if Jackie doesn’t want it too. Chase asks him to explain how he and Jackie got there in the first place. Finn stands by the ring, listening.
Gregory tells Chase, he doesn’t have an easy answer. Over time, couples settle into a routine and take each other for granted. You lose curiosity about the other person. It’s no one’s fault; you drift apart. Chase asks if paddling back is out of the question. Is he even going to try? Gregory sees Finn, and says, right on time, a referee. Finn asks if boxing is over, and Gregory says Chase was coaching him in the art of romance. Chase says he was telling their dad to get off his ass, and pull out all the stops to win his wife back while he still has a marriage. Finn says, it’s none of his business, and Chase says, excuse him for wanting to help. Finn says, did their dad ask Chase for help, or did Chase just push it on him? Chase says, that’s funny, because he doesn’t remember asking for Finn’s help in regard to Willow, but he offered it. Finn says, as he recalls, Chase shut him down pretty good, and Chase asks if he means like father like son.
Scotty says, Jackie Templeton, and Jackie says, in the flesh. Why don’t they get a drink, and catch up? Scotty says give him two minutes, and Jackie tells him that her sister was asking about him. She’d wondered if anyone had snapped him up. Scotty says, many have tried. Her sister was asking…? Jason starts to wander off, and Scotty says, they’re not through. Jackie steers him toward the bar, and says he’ll thank her for saving his ass. Jason sees Dante come in with Sam.
Jax tells Carly, he’s sure Nina is visiting her brother’s grave; it’s the anniversary of his death. Carly says she didn’t realize, and asks if Jax shouldn’t be with her. He says he tried to reach out, but he’s not going to impose on Nina mourning her brother’s death. She says, it’s not an imposition. Nina could use the support, coming off of finding out Nelle was her daughter. He says he knew, and didn’t tell Nina, but Carly says he was sparing her the grief. He says that’s one of his thousand justifications, but the bottom line is, he had no right to play God with what Nina could handle. Carly says, it’s not certain. There was no DNA test. He says, a DNA test would have confirmed it, but it’s a foregone conclusion. Nina went through Nelle’s things, and found a photo of a little girl wearing the necklace. There was no mistaking it. She says, then there’s nothing left for them to do, except make sure Nina doesn’t push it further.
Nina wonders what Jay would think of their family right now, and Britt says, about the same as he did when he left them; pain and disfunction wherever you look. Nina says she can’t argue with that. Madeline died in prison, and Obrecht is there too. Britt is connected to a reputed drug trafficker. Britt says, a philanthropist, slash, reputed drug trafficker. Nina says, and her boyfriend lied to keep her from finding out the truth about her daughter, but she did anyway. Britt says, sounds bleak, but Nina says they have Maxie’s wedding to look forward to. Maxie is going to start a new life with Peter. They love and adore each other and the kids, and have another little one coming. Nothing but blue skies, right? Britt says, or is paradise not what it’s cracked up to be?
Valentin says, all he wants to know, is if Dante can be trusted around Charlotte, but Anna says she has no answer for that. Dante was housed in a WSB psychiatric facility in Geneva, and under the care of a Dr. Kirk, who was allegedly treating him for PTSD. He asks, why allegedly? and she says, Kirk worked for a specialized unit. It would be rare for him to treat someone for that. Valentin suggests they reach out to Kirk, but Anna says, they can’t; he’s dead, murdered. He asks if it was before or after Dante was released, and she says, after. The WSB chalked it up to a mugging, but no perpetrator has been apprehended. He says, too much of a coincidence, and she says, especially given Obrecht was also his patient. He says, she’s in Steinmaur, but Anna says, Kirk had her transferred. He says, now Kirk is dead, and Anna says, now Obrecht’s file is classified to where it’s above her clearance level. Valentin says he hadn’t realized clearance went that high. She says, Franco had a preliminary consultation with Kirk, then Dante saved his life. Why would he do that? He has no use for Franco. Why go out of his way to save his life? Valentin says, Kirk was treating Obrecht, Franco, and Dante. Other than that, what’s the connection? Anna says, it’s got to be Peter.
Gregory asks if Chase is worried he’s going to turn out like his old man. Chase says he doesn’t mean that, and Gregory knows it. Gregory says he realized early on that he fathered polar opposites. His first born was aloof, particular, and preferred books to people. Which didn’t prepare him for the second, who’s a motor-mouth morning, noon, and night, like the world’s friendliest puppy. He never met anyone he didn’t like, and always wanted to play. Chase asks if that’s how Gregory sees him; he’s a cop. Gregory says, everyone loves puppies. It’s a compliment; and he got it from his mom. He recognizes his standoffish qualities in Finn. Chase guesses he’s his mother’s son, and Gregory says he’s lucky to have both of them. He hopes they won’t repeat his mistakes, and trusts they won’t end up like their old man.
Elizabeth asks Franco if he talked to Dante. Franco says he got no answers, and no explanation as to why Dante would risk his life. She says, he’s looking for a complicated answer, when simple makes more sense. Dante is a good guy, and did a good thing for another good guy.
Jason asks how Dante is feeling, and Dante says, ready for his next life-threatening injury. Sam says Dante was told to take his time before going back to protecting Peter. Dante says, that job falls to whoever is next. Peter fired him.
Jackie asks why Scotty was provoking Jason, and Scotty says Jason doesn’t intimidate him. Jackie says from what she learned in her research, he should, and Scotty asks what she thinks she knows about Jason. She says he was Alan and Monica’s golden boy until AJ caused an accident. Afterwards, Jason worked for Sonny, and was considered the best enforcer in the business; he flourished at it. Sound correct? He says, yeah, but she left out before the accident. Jason had a closet full of sweaters and tennis rackets. She says, Scotty left out the part about how, currently, Jason has serious beef with Scotty’s son. What’s that about?
Carly tells Jax that Nina would just rewrite history. She already thought Nelle could be redeemed before she found out. Nina could push the investigation, and they know how eager that cop was to build a case against her. He says, there is no case to build; she didn’t kill Nelle. She says, she knows, but could she have done more to save her? Nina would think so, and she doesn’t need extra scrutiny. She has to focus on her family, and keeping Cyrus at bay. Jax says, not to mention she has a hostage situation.
Maxie says she’s madly in love with Peter. They have a beautiful family, and a baby on the way. She’s sure Nathan would be happy that she fell in love again. Britt says, no offense, but she’s not exactly radiating joy. Be honest. Is it Peter? Maxie says, Peter isn’t the issue, and Nina says, but there is one; what is it? Maxie says, Dante, and Spinelli, and Robert, and Jason, who’s rarely wrong, but he’s wrong about this. She’s told them over and over that Peter is a good person, and she loves him. Here she is, on the verge of her wedding, and all she’s doing is looking for warnings or worried looks about her fiancé. What does she have to do to get acceptance? Britt says, marry someone else?
Gregory steps away to refill his water bottle, and Finn tells Chase to let their dad fix things on his own. Chase wonders if Gregory is capable of it, and Finn says, the point is, it should be his choice. If he decides confide in Chase, it’s up to him. Chase says, he’ll regret giving up without trying. Look at what Finn and Anna went through to come together, and he’s doing his damnedest to fight for Willow. Gregory needs to face it, and fight. Finn says, maybe it’s not in him, and Chase asks who they got it from then. Finn says, maybe each other.
Scotty says Jackie is trying to get him to say something about his son to use in a story, but she assures him that she’s not pumping him for information. She’s sorry it took this long to get in touch. They should do it again; get the 80s gang back together. Who else is around? He says he prefers one on one, and she says they’ll make a plan. She’ll give Robert a call, and Scotty can invite his ex. She’d love to know what Bobbie is up to.
Carly says she doesn’t know what Jax is talking about, and he says, Jason had Cyrus’s mother abducted from a healthcare facility in Vermont. It doesn’t ring a bell? Even if she didn’t help, she knew about it. She wonders why he’s asking, and he says, Valentin brought it up at Sasha’s TV shoot. Valentin was trying to make trouble between him and Nina. She tells him not to let Valentin bait him, and he tells her, that’s what Nina said. She said he should let Carly do things her way. She’s not only the woman he loves and lied to, she’s also Carly’s ally. Carly says, is, or was?
Maxie says, now Britt has a problem with her marrying Peter? Britt tells her, she didn’t say that, but Maxie says, she kind of did. Nina says Peter is Britt’s brother, and Britt says she knows exactly who Peter is. So does Nina, and so does Maxie. He’s the son of a Eurotrash murdering monster, and people will always see his father when they look at him. Maxie says Faison is Britt’s father too, and Britt says, exactly. She sees the way the world looks at her. If Maxie thinks after marrying Peter, people are going to forget where he came from, and line up to like him, she’s bound to be disappointed. Nina asks if Maxie really needs the world to bless her marriage, and Maxie says, of course (🍷) not, but it would be nice to have a smidge less grief about it. Nina says they can do something about that.
Anna tells Valentin, Dante works for Peter as head of security. Peter saved Franco’s life from an assassin who tried to kill him in the OR. The connection between Obrecht and Peter is obvious; she hates him. She blamed Peter for Nathan’s death, and framed him for her crimes. Valentin asks why Franco met with Dr. Kirk, and Anna says, Doc referred him because he was hearing Peter’s voice in his head. Kirk thought Peter’s voice had something to do with Franco being imprinted with Drew’s memories.
Franco tells Elizabeth, it still doesn’t add up. Why would Dante have the instinct to save his life? There was a time Dante would be gunning for him, not helping him out. She says, those days are over, and they’re not coming back. They need to make sure of that today. Franco says he can’t it put off any longer. Terry texted that she’s waiting in oncology. He asks if Elizabeth will still want to make out with him if he loses his hair from radiation, and she says he’s saying that like it’s his best quality. They get in the elevator, and he says he knows it’s his body. The only reason she loves him is his bod.
Chase’s phone rings, and he says, it’s the station; he has to take it. He steps away, and Gregory says he’s glad he and Finn have a moment alone. He hasn’t been completely honest when he says he wasn’t worried about them turning out like him. Finn always sees the world the way it is, good and bad. Chase is trusting, which is a strange thing to say about a cop, but he was relieved when he heard Chase was moving to Port Charles. He’s happy Finn decided to step up and kept an eye on him. Finn says, despite the time and distance he put between them, and Gregory says, what’s a little time and distance between brothers? Chase says he has to get to work, and Gregory leaves with him. Finn looks in the garbage can, and takes Chase’s water bottle out.
Scotty tells Jackie that Bobbie’s in – kind of. She says, good. As fallings out go, it’s kind of impressive. He says he inspires that in people, but as soon as he mentioned her name, Bobbie stopped yelling, and said she’d love to see Jackie as soon as she’s back in town. Jackie asks if she’s traveling, but Scotty says it sounds like a job. Jackie says she thought Bobbie worked at GH, and he says she did, until Cyrus became Chairman and took over. He fired her. She’s out now taking private nursing jobs God knows where. There should be a law about that.
Valentin says, so it has to do with memory mapping? and Anna says, Kirk’s theory was that they were left over memories from Drew. Jackie calls Valentin, and says she has a potential lead on Florence. He says, good luck finding her, but she’s going to do it without him. He has a pressing matter that needs his full attention. He hangs up, and tells Anna that Drew would have known Peter’s voice from working at Aurora, but she says, no. They were memories of Drew’s life before he came to Port Charles. He says, if Kirk was right, and Franco is hearing Peter’s voice from the memory transfer, that means Drew and Peter met years ago when Drew was still in the military. Anna says, if that’s true, why has Peter never said anything?
Sam says, Peter fired Dante? He kept saying he needed to get back to work. Dante says he must have meant to look for a job. Jason asks if there was a security breach, and Dante says Peter told him that it complicated things. Jason asks, how? and Dante says he got the idea Peter thought he didn’t want him to marry Maxie. It’s just a hunch. Sam says she’ll buy him lunch, and they go to eat.
Nina says, no one has the right to judge Maxie, and she shouldn’t have to face it alone. She proposes a pact; the three of them, in honor of Jay and each other. They stand together, united, no matter who, no matter what. Attack one – she takes Maxie’s hand – attack all. Maxie holds out her hand to Britt, who takes it. Maxie says, ladies, officially have chills. Britt says she never had female friends before, and Nina says, not just friends. They’re family.
Carly says it started when she lied to the cops about being at the cliff. She had no idea Nina was involved, and Nina could blow up everything with the truth. Jax suggests Carly call Diane and get ahead, just in case there are any changes. She asks if he’s going to work things out with Nina, and he says he’s going to try.
Maxie says she never thought she’d come to Nathan’s grave, and leave feeling better. Britt asks Nina where the rally-the-troops speech came from, and Nina says, them; her family. When she woke up today, she felt more lonely than when she woke up in the hospital after losing years and her child. Then they reminded her, they’re all connected; they’re family through Jay. She’s connected to someone else too – her grandson. Maxie says, Wiley, and Nina says, with all the drama, that fact went over her head. They gave her clarity. Nelle is gone, but Wiley isn’t. She missed her chance to know her daughter. She’s not going to make the same mistake with her grandson.
Tomorrow, Jackie says she’s scared of where this is going, Valentin says someone is obviously lying, Britt asks why Peter was at Nathan’s grave, Sonny has conditions, and Carly asks Jax if he thinks it’s going to work.
Southern Charm – The Reunion – Part Two
Andy said, hide your girlfriends and lock your liquor cabinets, the newest cast member is single and ready to mingle. He introduced John Pringle, and asked Madison what her impression had been of him. She said, overall, he was a gentleman, and wasn’t too inappropriate with her. Pringle talked about how he landed in Charleston, and said he’d tried San Diego, but came back to where he had the support of family and friends. Craig brought up how Pringle was always saying how much he missed his kids, and asked, why he left, since he trades off the computer. Pringle said something about taking an opportunity across the country, and making his kids’ lives better, which didn’t exactly answer the question regarding him doing business online. He said it was the hardest decision he’d ever made, and had a lot of guilt, but come at him about his kids and he’ll wake TF up. I wasn’t sure if that was directed at Craig, who’d made it clear it was an honest question, or just a general comment. Pringle said his ex was supportive, which everyone found impressive, and we flashed back to her visit. Leva wondered if they’d ever get back together, and he said she was amazing, but it wasn’t in the cards. Andy asked Austen about Patricia trying to get Madison to trade up, even when they were still together, which obviously didn’t sit well with him. Austen said when they weren’t filming, Patricia liked them together, but once they started filming, Patricia pawned Madison off on the first drunk that came along. Ouch for Pringle. Madison said Patricia had never done her wrong, but Austen on the other hand… Austen said Patricia paid her, but Madison said Austen was just mad because her income from Patricia was more than he made in a year. Pringle said Patricia knew it would be incendiary. (Hey, she’s bored in that house with Michael and the dogs.)
Madison announced she’d had a complete mommy makeover six weeks before, and said Austen hadn’t seen it, but Austen begged to differ, and Craig confirmed that. Craig said Austen and Madison had slept together since then, Madison dated multiple people, and she was a horrible person. I can’t attest to the first two, but we’re definitely in agreement on the third. Madison told him to keep it up; she had some things on him. I rest my case. Craig said she weaponized everything, and she told him to fix his hair. The Kirstin Cavallari/Jay Cutler thing came up, and Madison scrolled through her phone like an MF’er. Danni just kept saying, oh my God. Andy read a DM from Jay Cutler, asking if Madison recommended any good restaurants in Charleston, and Leva wanted to know if Madison had recommended hers. Points to her being business minded among the dreck. Craig said Madison was a terrible person and trashy, which triggered Kathryn, who told him not to use those words. She was called trash for years; why he was being a douche? We found out that Madison had split from her ex because she was trying to build an empire, while he wanted to live life day by day. No surprise there. I suddenly missed Chelsea, who was a real human being. Austen said he’d opened up a new world for Madison, since she’d complained that all she did was go to work and go home, but Madison said their relationship had been nothing but fun. When it stopped being fun, she wanted out. Okay… Craig said, then let Austen go, and Madison said she’d taken Craig’s advice. Shep said she was manipulative, and Madison said she’d been nothing but nice to Shep, and would hate for that to change. Shep asked if that was a threat, and there was a bunch of loud back and forth.
When things calmed down, Andy asked about Austen’s beer, and Austen said once his beer moved to cans, everything changed. He’d met with Leva’s husband not long ago. Leva said she was the one who’d arranged it, but she was pissed now because Austen had taken issue with something she’d said on Watch What Happens Live. We saw a clip from a game called Charming or Alarming, and Leva said she found Shep’s penchant for dating younger women alarming. Afterwards, Austen had said she was the biggest sh*t talker he knows. She said she wished he could control his emotions, and not pop off like a crazy person. Austen asked if she was saying that she didn’t want to do business with him now. She said she didn’t know, he ended up apologizing, and all was well. Andy asked Madison if she thought Austen had grown as a businessman, and Craig – who just can’t help himself – said Austen’s beer was now in stores, while Madison rented a chair in someone else’s salon. Andy told Craig to stay out of it, and read a question from Robert from Boston, asking if Madison picked guys she had the upper hand with, and she said 1000%. Austen said, in watching the show, he realized Madison didn’t care about him, and never had. His friends had been telling him that for years. He was effing done. She was like a monster, and if she didn’t have a son, her heart would be non-existent.
Andy said when the show started, Kathryn was living with Thomas, and asked Kathryn what it was about Thomas that kept pulling her back. She said it was hard to shake the thought of them being a family unit. Pringle said when you’re with your ex, the reasons you got together in the first place come back. Kathryn said, the door was closed. Pringle asked Kathryn if she and Thomas had hit their stride co-parenting, but she said, no. Thomas was suing her for custody again. It was unclear why, but she thought it was because he was moving. She hadn’t seen his new baby, and had never talked to his baby mama. She said Kensey had a crush on Chleb, and Andy asked what was different about Kathryn’s relationship with him. Kathryn said he was supportive, and more like a teammate. She better understood how a good relationship was supposed to work. Andy said viewers questioned the timing. They said she was trying to course correct. She said Chleb hadn’t thought the monkey emoji was racist, but explained to her why it might be to other people, then they went through that whole thing again. Leva said she’d tried to help Kathryn, but Kathryn thought Leva tried to isolate her, and make her storyline bigger by riding on her mistake. Leva said she’d gotten death threats, and Kathryn said it was hard for her, and she was doing her best. Leva said she never said Kathryn was racist, but her actions were tone-deaf. Madison looked bored, since it didn’t have anything to do with her. Leva said it started with their voices, not hers.
Kathryn said it had been very difficult, and started to cry, but Leva calmed down, and gently explained why Kathryn had been tone-deaf. Andy asked about Danni and Kathryn’s friendship, and Danni wanted Kathryn to answer. Kathryn said they’d visited, and it was like old times. Danni said she didn’t hold grudges, but if she didn’t agree with something, she’d say so. They discussed the racist actions of their ancestors, and Craig said the extra L was added to Chleb’s last name to separate that branch of the family from the Ravenels who’d owned them. Shep said it was important to raise awareness by protesting, but to change the system, you had to change the people in power who wanted to keep it that way. Pringle said you also had to raise your children right, and Leva said those who were ahead of people who had been oppressed, had the responsibility to help those who lagged behind. Kathryn said she was becoming more cognizant. Watching Leva’s reaction to the Calhoun statue being taken down was cool. It made her more aware, and she genuinely wanted to make it right. Austen admitted he needed to grow and learn, and Leva said she wanted them to understand that they lived in a bubble of freedom; for example, they didn’t have to worry about one of their sons going out while wearing a hoodie. They all had to be sensitive, kind, and empathetic.
During a break, Kathryn approached Leva, and said she wasn’t the best with words, but wanted to articulate that she cared. She wanted Leva to understand that, and Leva told her, just speak from your heart. You can tell Leva is a mom, the way she talks to Kathryn.
Andy said there was still a lot of unfinished business, but one thing they’d learned is that you never stop doing the work. He wanted to know how the year had changed everyone as people, and Danni said she’d become enlightened about white privilege. It was an awakening, in a good way. Pringle said he discovered he was more offensive than he thought, then asked Andy to come back to him. Austen said he regained control of his own happiness and narrative, and Andy asked if he and Madison were going to cut the infinity loop of terror; their co-dependent and toxic cycle. Madison said she got to know her worth, and what she deserved in a relationship moving forward. Andy couldn’t decide if he thought it was totally over. Andy said Kathryn had a big year, and she said she’d learned, when conflicts happened, instead of going on the defense, she needed to accept humility and what she had to learn. Shep said he could sum it up in one word – Taylor. Craig said he was hungry (metaphorically… I think). He wanted more, and was going to keep trying to make as much money as possible. Madison got up and sat next to him, putting her hand on his leg. Just kidding. He said he was still going to stick up for his friends, but he learned you could only give so much of himself before you had to stop caring. Leva said she was grateful. So many lives had been lost, and every day wasn’t guaranteed. Since this had somehow turned into future resolutions, Pringle said he was going to drink less and quit hitting on guys’ girls. At first, Andy thought Pringle was saying that he was going to quit hitting on guys, and frankly, I thought the same thing.
Glasses of beer were brought out, and Andy asked Leva to give the toast. She toasted to health and happiness, and everything they had. She said they were a lucky bunch, and what made them lucky was their friendships. She said, cheers to sharpening friendships, and being charming while doing it. Shep suggested the next Reunion be at Andy’s apartment.
Until next time, ya’ll.
🏖 This season on Summer House, everyone is still just as awful, but they’re quarantined together for six weeks, working from the Hamptons house as well. This sounds like a true nightmare. Right out of the gate, Carl said when he’d tested positive for covid, he thought he was just hungover. To his credit, he decided to sober up after he met friends for dinner, and was already so wasted, he couldn’t stay conscious. Hannah, one of the few likeable people, thought she had a thing with Luke, until he said he was bringing a female friend with him. Unless she’s his cousin or something, we all know what that means.
🍺 All About That L…
A little bit on tonight’s episode.
Some fun facts about Chleb, but in the Ravenel(l) department, all it says is, he’s not related to Thomas.
💟 Team J-Lo…
I tend to agree with Austen about Madison not having a heart. You could see she was having a hard time not blowing her stack at the Reunion.
🏆 And You Get an Award…
It’s virtually that time of year.
https://extratv.com/2021/02/04/sag-nominations-2021-the-complete-list/
📌 That’s a Fact
Most people think of Rosa Parks as the first person to refuse to give up their seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. There were actually several women who came before her; one of whom was Claudette Colvin.
It was March 2, 1955, when the fifteen-year-old schoolgirl refused to move to the back of the bus, nine months before Rosa Parks’s stand that launched the Montgomery bus boycott. Claudette had been studying Black leaders like Harriet Tubman in her segregated school, those conversations had led to discussions around the current day Jim Crow laws they were all experiencing. When the bus driver ordered Claudette to get up, she refused, It felt like Sojourner Truth was on one side pushing me down, and Harriet Tubman was on the other side of me pushing me down. I couldn’t get up.
Claudette Colvin’s stand didn’t stop there. Arrested and thrown in jail, she was one of four women who challenged the segregation law in court. If Browder v. Gayle became the court case that successfully overturned bus segregation laws in both Montgomery and Alabama, why has Claudette’s story been largely forgotten? At the time, the NAACP and other Black organizations felt Rosa Parks made a better icon for the movement than a teenager. As an adult with the right look, Rosa Parks was also the secretary of the NAACP, and was both well-known and respected – people would associate her with the middle class and that would attract support for the cause. But the struggle to end segregation was often fought by young people, more than half of which were women.
– from www.PBS.org/black-culture
🕰 Closing Time…
As another week comes to a close – or 7 sunrises and sunsets, depending on your perspective of time these days – we pin our hope on sunnier days, both in temperature and temperament. It hasn’t been an easy road, and we’re still on it, but at least we have plenty of company. So stay safe, stay occupied, and stay accepting humility and what you have to learn.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 