What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

General Hospital

Nikolas walks into the Spring Ridge visitor room on the phone. He says, just find a way to keep eyes on his son, and keep him updated. Alexis asks how he’s doing, but he asks if that shouldn’t be his line. She says, Ava stopped by on her way out of town. Sorry. He’s probably heartbroken, huh? He says, Ava didn’t leave town, and she says, that’s good, isn’t it? He says he got his wife back, but he lost his son in the process.

Josslyn asks Esme, what’s wrong? Something happen with Spencer? Esme says, Spencer is as okay as he can be, considering he just lost his father and his best friends.

Spencer asks what Trina is doing at Windymere, and she says, visiting her friend. Ava says, a better question is, what is he doing there? and he says he’s looking for his father. Ava says, he isn’t home, and he says, his mistake. She says so he admits he makes them, and he says, when it comes to his father, yeah. She says, but not when it comes to her, and he says, no. Trina asks how he can say that to Ava after everything he’s done to her, and he says, it’s more complicated than that. Trina says, it’s probably not, but forget it. She’s out of there. He asks her to wait.

Brando hugs Sonny, and says it’s good to see him. Sonny says, it’s good to be back, and Brando says, when he heard the news… and Sonny says, it was something else, right? Brando says Sonny was definitely missed, and Sonny says Jason told him about the situation with Renault. Brando says, just another day at the office. But in all seriousness, he was glad to help the family. Sonny says, family’s everything, and Brando says, it’s about to get bigger. He’s going to be a father.

Sasha goes to Nina’s office, and tells her, good news. The cross promotion not only boosted Deception’s sales, but increased Crimson’s circulation. She hands Nina a folder, and Nina flips through it, saying, that’s great news. Sasha didn’t have to deliver this herself in person, so what’s up? Sasha says she has something to say to Nina.

Carly asks if Britt is ready for some radical honesty, and Britt says, she is if Carly is. What is it Carly wants to be so honest about? Carly says, Jason.

At the MetroCourt bar, Shawn thanks Jax for meeting him, and Jax says, absolutely. He assumes it’s about Hayden. How’s the investigation going? Shawn says he’s hit some roadblocks, and Jax says he heard Hayden’s mother was murdered. Right after Shawn and Sam spoke to her, right? Shawn says, it can’t be a coincidence, and Jax asks how it circles back to him.

Sonny hands Brando a drink, saying, he wants to congratulate Brando and Sasha. They clink glasses, and Sonny says, starting a family is a big deal. Brando says he’s getting that sense, and Sonny says he’s going to need a good job, a big salary. He can work out something at the warehouse if Brando wants. Brando thanks him, but says he’s out of the business. He and Sasha just want a quiet life with their baby. Sonny is surprised, since Brando seemed so intent on being part of the organization. Is Sasha pressuring him to leave?

Sasha says she was surprised when she heard Nina knew Sonny was alive for months, and Nina says she’s sure Sasha was. Sasha says, watching that family grieve, especially Michael… Nina says she knows what she did was unforgiveable. Sasha can tell her what she thinks of her; she can take it. Let her get Sasha started. She thinks Nina was cruel, unfeeling… Sasha says she thinks Nina was in pain, and thinks Nina made a mistake, one she’ll regret for the rest of her life. She wishes she didn’t, but she knows what that feels like.

Cameron tells Josslyn, Spencer’s dad cut him off, and Esme says, emotionally and financially. Josslyn guesses that’s not too surprising, but still… Esme says, it’s awful, and Josslyn asks where they’re staying. Esme says, nowhere at the moment, and Josslyn says she’s sure they’ll figure it out. Esme and Spencer are nothing if not resourceful. Cameron says, Joss… but Esme says she deserved that. Josslyn asks Esme why she’s there. She’d made it pretty clear that she blamed them for Sonny confronting Nikolas, which she thinks is pretty funny considering Esme was the one who told Sonny that Nikolas was taking off with Avery. Esme says she’s sorry, and Josslyn asks, for what part? Esme says, for all of it, but try putting herself in Esme’s position. Seeing her boyfriend in pain was torture, so she lashed out at Josslyn and she shouldn’t have. It’s been great talking to Cameron. Josslyn says, that’s Cameron, and Esme says, he’s pretty great. He said he could forgive her and Spence. What about Josslyn?

Alexis asks Nikolas, what’s wrong with Spencer? It’s not the stalker, is it? Nikolas says, Spencer is the stalker, and Alexis says, no. He says, yes, and she asks if he’s sure. Nikolas says, he admitted it, and she says, wow. She thought he was wrong. She guesses it was her that was wrong. He says he still can’t believe Spencer was capable of such cruelty, and she says she wonders why. Maybe it’s because of Nikolas.

Spencer suggests he and Trina go somewhere to talk, but she says she has no interest in going anywhere with him. He asks if Ava would mind giving them some privacy, and Ava says, that depends. She asks if Trina would like some privacy, and Trina says she guesses she’ll hear Spencer out. Ava says she has a call to make, and tells Trina to call if she needs her. She leaves, and Spencer asks if Trina would like to sit, but she says, no. He asks what Ava said to make her so angry, and she tells him, Ava didn’t say anything. He’s the one who makes her angry. He says he thought they’d be on better terms after his apology, and she says, he calls that an apology? Nuh-uh. He’s going to have to up his game.

Shawn says he’s not implying Jax had anything to do with Naomie’s murder, and Jax says he’s glad he’s not on the suspect list. Shawn says he just found himself stuck trying to figure out who it is, so he’ll tell Jax everything he knows so far… Jax says, hoping he gets unstuck. He’s at Shawn’s disposal. Shawn says when he and Sam spoke to Jax last, he told them to talk to Nikolas. Jax asks if Nikolas was no help, and Shawn says Nikolas had nothing to add. Jax says, Shawn thinks he’s lying? and Shawn flashes back to Alexis saying, if there’s a connection between Drew’s disappearance and Naomie’s murder, Sam’s investigation just got more dangerous. This somehow leads back to the Cassadines. It always does. They need to figure out how, before even more people get killed. Shawn tells Jax, let’s just say someone reminded him of what the Cassadines are capable of.

Carly says, everything she told Britt at the hospital that day was a bunch of crap. She just wanted Britt to let go. For her own sake. She knew Jason wouldn’t do it, so she had to. Britt says, so Carly lied, and Carly says, yeah. Britt says, so Carly and Jason don’t love each other? but Carly says, of course (🍷) they love each other, but that’s not why they got married; it was a business situation. Britt asks if Carly thinks she’s stupid, and Carly says, no. Britt says, Jason was on the run. There was some meeting and Carly filled in for him, then he went back and saved her life. She was there in the room, taking a bullet out of his side. Of course (🍷) it was about business, and then it  became about more. Carly says, she and Jason thought Sonny was dead, obviously. If they were going to be married, they wanted it to be real. All the bells and whistles; a true husband and wife. They were happy. Britt says, this is going to sound snarky, but she means it. It must have been hard when Sonny came home. Carly says, Sonny is home; that’s all that matters. She and Jason are processing, but they know what they want. Britt says, which is? and Carly says, things going back the way they were. Britt says, if part of going back means trying to make things okay with her and Jason, sorry. That’s not going to happen.

Brando tells Sonny, of course Sasha was concerned about the danger, but they’re a team. He couldn’t just ignore it. Let’s be real; it’s not like she was wrong. Sonny says he gets it, and Brando says he and Sasha came to the decision together. Now he wants to focus on making the garage a success. Sonny says he’s going to be great, and Brando says, life is crazy, isn’t it? All the twists and turns. If someone had asked him a few months ago what his life would be like… Sonny says, it wouldn’t be this, and they laugh. Brando says, no. Now the idea of putting in an honest day’s work and coming home to the people he loves just feels right. Sonny says, there are perks to the simple life, and Brando says, but it’s not for everyone. Take Sonny. His life is anything but simple.

Nina thanks Sasha for being so kind, and says she doesn’t deserve it, but it means the world. Sasha says, now that she’s about to be a mom, it’s really sunk in how horribly wrong she was to pretend to be Nina’s daughter. If her child was taken somehow, she can’t imagine it, but Nina can because of her. She’s so sorry. Nina says Sasha will be a fantastic mother, and Sasha says she hopes so. Nina says she knows so, and Sasha says, if that’s true, in large part it’s because of Nina. It may not have been real, but Nina showed her what it looks like to be a kind, loving mother. Even after Nina knew what she’d done, and Nina should have despised her, Nina still showed compassion. She means it. If not for Nina and Carly, she’d still be on drugs. Nina doesn’t know about that, but Sasha says, Carly sat her down, and gave it to her straight, then Nina reached out and really cared. That changed everything for her. Maybe Nina and Carly aren’t as far apart as Nina thinks. Nina says, maybe they weren’t then, but they certainly are now.

Jax says he wasn’t living in Port Charles when Hayden was shot, but Shawn says he’s more interested in Jax’s impression of Hayden and Nikolas when they were working together. Before Hayden disappeared. Jax says Hayden and Nikolas’s relationship was contentious to say the least. But Nikolas was in a bad place then. He was unpredictable, and scared Hayden so badly, she left town. Shawn says, Nikolas was the reason Hayden left?

Nikolas says it’s his fault, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) it is. That’s why he came to talk to his Aunt Alexis, so she’ll tell him how it is. He asks, how is it? and she says, he let his son believe he was dead. She gets that he wanted the Cassadine fortune, but that can’t trump his relationship with his own son. He hurt Spencer. He says, and Spencer hurt him right back, and Alexis says, Spencer was always good at pranks, but this one is at a whole new level. She wonders if Spencer knows the gravity of what he’s done, and Nikolas says, Ava said something that stuck with him. She said she wasn’t sure if Spencer was sorry for his actions, or sorry they didn’t work. Alexis says she knows the pain of feeling like you failed, but he hasn’t failed. He and Spencer will work it out. Nikolas says, Spencer is gone from his life because he threw Spencer out. She says, that’s the worst thing he could have done.

Josslyn says she, Cameron, and Spencer have been friends their whole lives, and Esme says, that’s really beautiful. Josslyn says, if Spencer is truly sorry, then yes, she’ll find a way to forgive him. Life’s too short. Esme says, that’s all she asks, and Cameron asks if Josslyn is okay after talking to Nina. Josslyn says, it was intense, and she’ll fill him in later. Esme tells them, talk now. She’s headed inside to get coffee. She thanks Cameron, putting her hand on his shoulder. She goes into Kelly’s, and Josslyn says, wow. That girl will say or do anything, won’t she? Her whole contrite act, crying on Cameron’s shoulder. Did she really think they’d buy it? Cameron says, she doesn’t?

Spencer says he’s bad at apologizing; he hasn’t done it much in his life. Trina says, it’s a start, but you can’t just say you’re bad at something. You actually have to get better. He says he told her that he deserves anything she throws at him, but she says, that’s not the same as actually saying he’s sorry. He says he is sorry, and she says, for what? He says, that he took it this far, and that he let her get caught up in it. She says, he could have stopped when he saw her at the gallery, but he says, the sprinklers were already set to go off. She says, then he could have taken off his stupid mask. Does he know how scared she was? She thought he was going to hurt her or worse. It’s pretty obvious that at no point in his plan did he think of anyone else. There are so many ways he could played it. He didn’t want her to see his face, fine. He could have told her that she wasn’t in any danger, but he didn’t care. She was nobody to him. He says, she’s not nobody.

Nikolas tells Alexis, his son is only 18, and came up with an elaborate plan to terrorize Ava. First hiding, not telling Nikolas that he was back in Port Charles. Then, face-to-face unrelenting, even when he saw all the pain he was causing. He’s a true Cassadine. Alexis says, which is exactly why Spencer needs his father right now, and Nikolas says, what Spencer did was unconscionable. She asks what Nikolas calls what he did. Spencer is just acting like Nikolas. Slamming the door in his face isn’t a solution. Spencer needs guidance, not abandonment. This is no time for Nikolas to turn his back.

Spencer takes Trina’s hands, and says she’s the opposite of nobody. He knew it the moment he laid eyes on her. She asks if he means right before he covered her in fake blood, and pulls away from him. He says, the way she stood up to him. She got in his face and whipped out that pepper spray without flinching, even though she knew it was empty. She says she’s so glad her terror is a fond memory for him, and he says, and the way she bounced back. She refused to let him ruin her night, and he thought she was so cool. It proved she was someone worth knowing. She says, or someone to cover up for him when she figured out who he really was, and he says he’s sorry he lied. She says, about everything? and he says, no, not everything. He wasn’t lying when he told her the guy at the gallery was a jerk. And he wasn’t lying when he said it never should have happened to her. Tell him she believes him. She says, believes what? That he’s even capable of telling the truth?

Cameron tells Josslyn, all he’s saying is Esme seemed genuinely upset, and she says, Esme can seem like a lot of things. He asks if she doesn’t think Esme cares for Spencer, and she Josslyn says, if she did, why would she try to turn Spencer against them and put Spencer’s father in danger by lying to Sonny? He says, she apologized for that, and by the way, she didn’t lie. She thought Avery was going with Nikolas and Ava, and why wouldn’t she? Avery is Ava’s daughter. She says, he really believes Esme? and he says, why bother coming up with a cover story? Spencer is obviously crazy for her (boy, is that the right word). She doesn’t need their seal of approval. Josslyn says she’s gets a vibe from Esme, and doesn’t like it. She thinks Esme is using Spencer. He says, for what? and she says, Spencer is richer than God. He says, so is Esme, and she asks how they know that. Because she said so? Think about it. What do they actually know about her? He tells Josslyn, say she’s right; Esme’s after the money. After Spencer’s money was cut off, shouldn’t she be dumping him? Why is she still in Port Charles?

Inside Kelly’s, Esme answers her phone, and says, this is she… Really? She got the internship at Spring Ridge?… Thank you so much. She can’t wait to get started.

Jax tells Shawn, Hayden ran because she thought Valentin was after her, but it was Nikolas who wanted her gone. He’s surprised Elizabeth never mentioned it. Hayden disappeared years after she got shot, but who knows if the two things are connected? Shawn says, if they are, this will be complicated, and Jax asks, how? Shawn asks if Jax thinks Alexis will think it’s okay that he’s investigating her nephew. Alexis is the reason he’s out of prison. He owes her everything. Jax says, Alexis, of all people, would want to know the truth. Shawn thanks Jax for his time. Jax says, no problem, and Shawn leaves.   

Britt says, Jason is an amazing guy, and Carly says, he’s the best. Britt says, the time she spent with him was wonderful, and Carly says, Britt doesn’t want it back? Britt says, no. She’s sorry for what happened to Carly, and sorry for Jason and what happened with them almost marrying, then Sonny… It’s super complicated, but for her it was a blessing. Carly says, losing Jason was a blessing? and Britt says, because if she’d let herself fall for Jason, and then realized Carly would always come first – and she does mean always – she would have lost her mind.

Nina tells Sasha, Carly thinks it was only about revenge, but it wasn’t. During the initial phone call, when she tried to tell Carly, she gave in to a bad impulse, but had intended to call back the next day, and tell Carly about him. Sasha asks why she didn’t, and Nina says, it quickly became less about Carly, and more about Nixon Falls and how happy Sonny was. She created this whole world that she got swept up in. It had nothing to do with Carly. She felt bad about keeping the secret, but she wasn’t doing it to get back at Carly. It’s really hard to explain. Sasha thinks she understands. Nina was really happy there, wasn’t she? Nina flashes back to dancing with Sonny, and says she was. Sasha laughs, and says, it’s hard to imagine Sonny as a bartender. Nina says, he was just different without the weight of the mob being on his shoulders. Sasha says, in what way? and Nina says, way lighter, more joyful, more at peace. Sasha says, she thinks Brando feels the same way.

Sonny says he respects Brando’s determination to make it on his own, and Brando says, that’s a stretch. He only has the garage because of Sonny. Sonny says Brando definitely earned it, and Brando says he may not need a job, but he could use some pointers in the dad department. He always knew Sonny was a good one, but seeing Sonny’s family try to move on, and seeing how big a hole Sonny left in their lives, drove it home for him. Sonny is irreplaceable. Sonny thanks him, and says, parenting isn’t something you can prepare for. You can read all the books, but the only way to do it, is to do it. Brando already knows what the most important thing is. Brando asks, what’s that? and Sonny says, nothing is more important than family.   

Cameron and Josslyn sit down outside Kelly’s, and he asks how it was talking to Nina. She says, it was awful, but she said what she wanted to say, so there’s that. He says he’s proud of her, and she says she knows he wants to get off the subject of Spencer and Esme – so does she – but Esme is seriously sounding off alarm bells for her. She knows Spencer is capable of some ridiculous crap, but sending that bear to Avery and torching Ava’s car was next level. He says, Spencer’s dad made him believe he was dead. Maybe Spencer was just that angry. She says, or Esme took it upon herself to raise the stakes, and now Spencer is being forced to cover for her.

Spencer says he is capable of telling the truth, and truly wants Trina to forgive him. She asks why he cares, and he says, because he cares about what she thinks. He cares about her. She says, convenient timing, now that everyone hates him. He says, the timing may be suspect, but it’s still the truth. He was hoping, and still is, to be her friend… because she’s his. She’s the only friend who didn’t know him as Spencer the Cassadine heir. Or Spencer the orphan, or Spencer the ATM… She says, or Spencer the jerk? and he says, that too. He’s sorry he manipulated her, and even more sorry he hurt her. Please believe him. She asks how she can believe anything he has to say ever, and Ava asks if everything is all right. Trina says she has to go, and Spencer says he’ll take her to the launch, but she says she’d rather go alone. She leaves, and Ava says, now she has Spencer all to herself. It’s so much more civil to look your enemy straight in the eye. Doesn’t he agree? He nods, sort of.  

Nina tells Sasha that she’s glad to hear Brando is out of the family business, now they’re about to become parents. Sasha is going to have a baby; can she believe it? Sasha says, no, and Nina asks how she’s feeling. Sasha says, she’s okay. Her blood pressure had been high, and she was put on bedrest, but she’s better now. She can finally leave the house. It turns out that she’s not meant for lounging around all day. Nina asks how things are going on the Brando front, and Sasha says, everything is great. Brando walks in, and Sasha says, look who it is. Nina asks if his ears were burning, and Sasha says they were just talking about him. He says, good things he hopes, and Sasha says, only the best. He gives her a smoothie, and tells her, from Perks, extra spinach, no ginger. Nina says she remembers Sasha liking ginger, and Sasha says, she does, but the baby doesn’t. Nina says, of course (🍷), and Sasha asks what Brando’s been up to. He says he went to see Sonny.

Britt says, look at the number Jason did on Sam, and Elizabeth, and Carly says, there are two sides to that story. Britt says, sure, Elizabeth moved on, but she’s heard enough hospital gossip and seen it for herself that Elizabeth still carries a torch for Jason. Not that it’s ever going to happen for her, because Carly is his top priority. Carly says, if Britt thinks she’s selling her on the fact that she doesn’t want him… and Britt says, if Carly thinks she’s selling her on the fact that she’s being magnanimous in gifting him back to her, please. What that tells her is that Carly still thinks she’s in control of Jason’s life, and Carly says, in control, no, but she is part of his life and won’t step aside. Accepting her is the price of admission. Isn’t Jason worth the price of admission? Britt says, no. Coming in second doesn’t work for her. She starts to leave, and Carly says, she gets it; she really does. It’s Britt’s life and Britt’s choice, but Jason is a hard habit to break. Britt says, not for her, and the elevator opens. Sonny gets out and Britt passes him, saying, Mr. Corinthos, hello! very animatedly. Carly asks how Sonny’s talk with Phyllis went, and he says, good. They’re lucky to have her as a friend. He hopes Carly doesn’t mind, but he told her that she could stay at the MetroCourt. Carly says, of course (🍷). But sadly, their bartender can’t compare to the Tan-O’s.  

Alexis tells Nikolas, do better and be better for his son. Nikolas says if he’s such a terrible role model, maybe his son is better off without him. She tells him, stop whining, and he says, Spencer said himself that he’d done all these terrible things because he loves Nikolas. Alexis asks if that isn’t what he said when he played dead all those years? He did it for Spencer? He says, it’s the Cassadine way, but she says, no. The Cassadine way is to discard those who don’t fall in line. Fight for his kid. He made some horrible decisions, but he’s a good man. Stay in there and teach his son to be a good man too. No lying down.

Spencer tells Ava that he never said she was his enemy, and she says he didn’t have to say it. She’s sure he’s heard the expression, actions speak louder than words, and his actions were deafening. They ultimately failed, and she’s still here. He doesn’t have to like her, but he does have to hear her when she says, this is over. There will be no more attacks or scare tactics ever again. He says, it’s not like anyone got hurt. He was just trying to teach her a lesson. She says, he doesn’t think being separated from her child hurt? He doesn’t think her planning to leave Avery behind hurt? He says she fired the first shot, when she refused to testify against Valentin. She chose her face over his father. She says, as they discussed, she was wrong, but that didn’t give him the right to terrorize her. He says he’s sorry he took it this far, but he’s not sorry he went after her. She’s bad for his father; that’s just a fact. She says his father disagrees with him. She’s his wife, and she’s not going anywhere. If Spencer ever comes after her or Avery again, there will be hell to pay – a hell unlike anything he’s ever witnessed. Does he get her?

Cameron tells Josslyn that he has to get back to work, but he just wants to add one thing. She said herself that she’s known Spencer since forever. Is it possible that she wants to push the blame on Esme because she doesn’t want to blame a friend? She says, possible, but highly doubtful, and he says he’ll see her later. Esme watches, and goes over to Josslyn. She says Josslyn is really lucky to have Cameron; he’s an amazing guy. Josslyn agrees he is, and asks what Esme wants. She says she just wants Spence to be happy, and Josslyn says, that’s it? Esme says, that’s it, but to be happy, he needs his friends. Cameron seems ready to put all this behind them. Can’t Josslyn do the same? Josslyn says she told Esme that she’s not giving up on Spencer, so… Esme says, just on her. She might not be Josslyn’s favorite person, but she and Spence are a package deal. Cameron accepts that, and Josslyn would be wise to do that too. Josslyn asks, what is that supposed to mean? and Esme says, just this; she’d hate for Josslyn to be left behind. Esme passes Trina on her way out, and says hi. Trina asks Josslyn, what was that? and Josslyn says, nothing good.

Spencer says he’s not intimidated by Ava. He won’t let her poison his father against him. She says his father’s relationship with him is up to his father. Nikolas knows she’ll deal directly with him. He asks how she’s going to do that, when two cops walk in, and tell Ava that the housekeeper let them in. Spencer says they can’t just waltz in there, but Ava says she called them. He says, she called the police to have him thrown out? but she says, don’t be silly. She called the police to have him arrested – for harassment, criminal mischief, and breaking and entering. He’s about to face the consequences of what he’s done.   

Shawn comes into the visitor room, and asks if he’s interrupting, but Nikolas says he has to get going. Alexis tells Nikolas to think about what she said. She believes in him. Nikolas leaves, stopping to exchange looks with Shawn on his way out the door.

Brando asks Sasha if it was weird of him, bringing up Sonny in front of Nina. She says, it was bound to happen. She just hopes her friendship with Nina doesn’t cause problems for him and his family, but he says he can handle his family. She says, good answer, and they get in the elevator.

Nina flashes back to kissing Sonny.

Sonny says Brando asked his advice on fatherhood, and Carly says she’s not surprised. He is one of the best. He says, one of the? and she says, yes. Of course (🍷) she has to include Michael in that. Her phone beeps, and she says she has a meeting she forgot about. It won’t take long. Will he wait here for her? He says he’d wait anywhere for her, and she leaves. He goes over to Jax at the bar, and Jax says, welcome home. Sonny asks if Jax missed him, and Jax says, Josslyn did. Sonny says, since he’s here, they have a lot to chat about.

Tomorrow, Shawn tells Alexis that she might have the wrong Cassadine, Nina tells Phyllis that she has to find a way to forget Mike, Jax says Sonny is an obstacle, and Carly tells Jason that she wants Nina to know what it’s like to lose something she loves. And I hate Carly, but you knew that already.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Two hours before charter. Captain Sandy radios the crew to meet in the main salon. She says, some of them, or maybe all of them, know that she sent Lloyd to shore for an EKG. She wants them to send him positive thoughts. Even if he can’t come back, they have to make sure to keep up the momentum. In Malia’s interview, she says her first concern is Lloyd, but being down a crew member, and interior having chosen to be down a crew member, they have zero room for error. The captain says, the guests are boarding on anchor, and it’s the first time they’ll be doing it this season. Let’s do it. In Katie’s interview, she says when she chose to go down to two stews, she didn’t know they’d be down a deckhand as well. The plan now is just to survive. Malia tells David that she’ll take Lloyd’s watch, and he’ll be on deck in the morning by himself. In David’s interview, he says he’ll be there to help wherever he can. He wants to be there to help push them through. Captain Sandy radios for the crew to proceed to the aft deck.

The guests are ferried out to the boat. Primaries Ian and Janelle introduce themselves, along with the rest of the guests. Captain Sandy says she’s hoping the weather holds for them. Katie will show them around, and they’ll be on their way. The guests clink champagne glasses, and Katie gives them the tour, including the galley. Ian asks where Mathew’s hairnet is, which is a joke, since Mathew is bald. In Mathew’s interview, he says, game on. Anchor is pulled up, and the captain says they’re good to go. Mzi and Courtney dance around, chanting, we got this. Guest Michael doesn’t take long to knock over his wine glass, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, they seem rowdy. Malia makes the same statement to her deckhands, and thinks the interior will need help. In Mathew’s interview, he says he gets insecure when he gets criticism. Now, all he can think of is the fish he served Captain Sandy. Hopefully, he can get his head out of only thinking about brown fish. Katie serves lunch, and Courtney steams clothes. One of the guests thinks the fish is bland, and another asks for hot sauce. In Katie’s interview, she says, f***. She knows she’s not going to get a good reaction from Mathew. At the end of the day, she’s just doing her job, and he needs to do his. The doctor calls with an update on Lloyd, and tells the captain that they did an EKG. Everything is in order, but she wants to observe him for another hour, and see where it goes. Captain Sandy asks if she knows what caused it, and the doctor says, it was a panic attack, but Lloyd is fine now. I can understand this, since I’ve had panic attacks. They’re really no joke, and it does feel like you’re having a heart attack. In the captain’s interview, she says she’s so relieved. She knows they’re shorthanded, but she’d like Lloyd to get a good night’s sleep, and join them in the morning. She doesn’t want to rush him.

Katie tells Mathew that the guests like everything, but the fish needs more flavor. Mathew says he just wants to cry, and Katie says he can cry in three days. In his interview, Mathew says he thought every piece was perfect, and tells Katie that he’s sorry he ruined the charter, not exaggerating too much. Anchor is dropped, and Mathew tells Courtney, it’s going to be sh*t this trip. Guest Ronnie gets in a wetsuit and on a jet ski, along with another guest. In David’s interview, he says he gives these guests a ten out ten for effort with the water toys, but a one out of ten for natural ability. They’re an accident waiting to happen. Captain Sandy tells Malia, so crazy, huh? Thank God it’s the last charter. Courtney asks Katie about the anniversary dinner, and Katie says she got a really cool balloon heart. Courtney says she’s been thinking about a rap for the talent show. The balloons come, and they’re shaped like a heart, half red, half white. The guests all dress in white for dinner, and Katie asks Malia to turn on the hot tub for later. Mathew tells Katie not to be mad if the guests hate the filet mignon and lobster. I’m not sure what there is to hate there, but I guess Mathew is on a roll. Ian’s wife and co-primary Janelle tells Katie, it’s what they had at their wedding, and Captain Sandy comes by, asking how the dinner is.  

Janelle tells the captain that it’s what they had at their wedding, even though Mathew couldn’t have known. Everyone thinks the food is delicious, and in her interview, Captain Sandy says, they love Mathew’s food again. He’s been riding a roller coaster the entire season. We flash back to Mathew leaving, Mathew coming back, and Mathew’s multiple freak outs. The captain says she wants to end on a high note, considering everything they’ve been through. She thinks they’re headed in the right direction. Mathew tells Katie, thank God he’s back in the guests’ good graces. David helps clean up the galley, and in Malia’s interview, she says they’ve been working around the clock; doing their deck responsibilities even though they’re down one, and helping everywhere else. It’s been a lot. Janelle tells Katie that they’re going to be up a while. The guests go to the lounge, and order drinks. Katie tells Courtney to go bed. Save herself. The guests play cards and drink. Katie cleans when she’s not busy serving, and Mzi says, crazy wind; crazy guests. David helps dry dishes.

Lloyd calls Mzi, and tells him that he’d had a panic attack. Mzi says, the cabin is lonely. In Mzi’s interview, he says, Lloyd is the purest guy he’s ever met. It’s hard to find people like that. Guest Deborah calls for Katie, singing her name. In Katie’s interview, she says she chose to have only two stews. She’s in an impossible situation, but she still stands by her decision. Now she needs to prove herself right, and she’s got her work cut out for her. The guests finally go to bed, and so does Katie, at 4:32 am.   

Ostrica, Croatia, Day Two of Charter. Mathew asks Malia if Lloyd is coming back, and Malia says he texted that he’s feeling better. They need him for the talent show. The crew has rented an Airbnb for after the season, and in Courtney’s interview, she says she can’t wait for this charter to end, so she can be with her friends off the boat. She doesn’t know how they’ll be after this charter, and hopes they still like each other. The wind kicks up, and in Malia’s interview, she says, bad weather is the crew’s worst nightmare, since the guests will be inside 24/7. Breakfast is served, and Lloyd returns. In her interview, Malia says she’s relieved. Not just because she needs Lloyd, but she’s worried about him. The captain radios the crew that Lloyd made it back on board.

A putting green is set up, and Mzi offers to play with the guests. Malia makes beds, and the captain catches Lloyd having a cigarette in the rain. She kindly offers for him to come where it’s dry to smoke. Mzi’s golf skills amaze the guests, and in his interview, he says that he may be a green deckhand, but he’s effing good at golf. His mom is a professional, and he’s been playing since he was seven. Captain Sandy tells Lloyd that she knows the panic attack didn’t happen over nothing, and he says he’s having anxiety over the season ending, but she tells him that he’ll be okay. She’ll give him her number, and if he ever runs into anything, he can call her. The guests play more cards and drink. In Katie’s interview, she says, they’re trying to break her, but it’s giving her enough energy to push through. She doesn’t step down from a challenge. Lloyd goes around, and says hi to everyone.

David says he has to work on his emcee skills, and in his interview, he says, if he’s drunk enough, he’s quite a good karaoke singer, but only Aladdin or The Lion King. In Mathew’s interview, he says, after a rocky start, the train is back on the tracks. Captain Sandy is going to be at dinner, and last time, it wasn’t perfect. It puts him in that headspace again. Courtney practices her rap, and in Malia’s interview, she says, it’s a weird thing to ask them to do. They’re not there to be the guests’ entertainment; they’re there to do their jobs. If any of them had a good talent, they wouldn’t be in yachting.

Lloyd passes out scorecards to the guests, and does a bit on English slang. He introduces Mzi, who does tricks with a golf ball and iron. Malia does a handstand, and walks a few steps. David explains that he’s not talented with audience stuff, but does this thing where he hops on one leg while holding the other, somehow jumping over the held leg. I know I’m not explaining it very well, but the guests were impressed. Katie comes out with Courtney, and says, they’re Katie and Coco. They do a rap that includes something about everyone, guests and crew. In Katie’s interview, she says, she’s cringing, but she’s just happy that the guests are happy. She’ll leave the rapping to the OGs. Dr. Dre can have this one. Regardless, they get the most points, and are the winners. The guests sit for dinner.

The captain joins the guests, and Janelle remarks on Katie’s beautiful table setting. I agree Katie decorates a table beautifully – this one in silver, blue, and white – but she’s got a more formal style than Kate, who’s more Bohemian with her tablescapes. Ian asks what’s the worst dinner the captain has been at, and Captain Sandy says, it wasn’t the worst, but the wildest was Johnny Damon. We flash back to that, and one of the guests says, Johnny is a great dude, but starts drinking like the old baseball players. I’m not quite sure what that means, but I guess they drank themselves stupid. Lloyd and David get out the beach picnic stuff. Captain Sandy tells the guests, if she drank with them, they wouldn’t get back to the dock. Guest Crystal wonders if the microgreens are beet related, since she’s tasting all kinds of beets going on. The captain goes to the galley, and tells Mathew that a guest has questions. He comes up to the table, and tells Crystal that the microgreens were called blood something, and she says they remind her of beets. He offers her a different plate, and when he gets back to the galley, googles it. He tells Katie, they’re bull’s blood beets. He f***ed up, and basically lied unintentionally. They quickly look on the preference sheet, and Crystal is only allergic to alfalfa sprouts. Captain Sandy thanks the guests, and thanks Mathew. He asks if the guests are upset, but she says, she loved it; it was delicious. In her interview, the captain says she wants to make sure Mathew knows they’re happy with his performance. No matter how great it is in every other area, he goes to the criticism. She wants to make sure he stays focused.

In David’s interview, he says he knows he took a lot of pressure off Malia. He knows she appreciates his efforts on deck, and he appreciates her as a bosun, workmate, and friend. The guests have more drinks, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s going to be up again until four, isn’t she? Mathew feels bad that the guests didn’t look happy, and Katie says, there’s nothing he can do. He says he can complain to her, and she says she’s working 19 hour days. It doesn’t matter. It amazes me how much stuff they have on the boat in the way of provisions, since the guests are asking for all kinds of odd combinations, and they have everything. Ian asks Katie if Mathew can whip up some snacks, and she says he’s gone to bed, but she’ll make something. She sees Mathew is still in the galley, but tells him that she’ll make some crisps and sh*t. In her interview, she says, the last day of the charter season is tomorrow. She’s so exhausted. The whole crew is exhausted. She f***ed up. She made a mistake.

In the morning, Mathew says he needs to change his vibe. Courtney sets the table for breakfast, and Malia says, it’s the last day, and they know what’s coming – the beach picnic. Katie tells Mathew that they’re seeing how far the picnic area is, so they can make a plan. It’s the last day; come on. She asks if Mathew is good, but he says, no. In his interview, he says he’s still upset about dinner, and hasn’t fully planned what’s on his menu. It sucks. One guest wants toast and coffee, but everyone else’s breakfast order is complicated. I can say with confidence, if I was paying the equivalent of a year’s salary to rent a boat, I’d be having more than toast and coffee. As a matter-of-fact, I’d be eating and/or in that blue, blue water the entire time. Mathew says, what a difficult day it’s going to be. I feel his pain in making the sunny side up eggs. He says, WTF? and makes a mess out of several eggs and an omelet. In his interview, he says, when he was in his 20s, he had the worst breakfast service in his life. He cracked 40 yolks while plating hollandaise. That’s what happens when he’s spiraling. He tells Katie that he’s broken 10 eggs, and it’s going to put him over the edge. Katie says, it’s the last day, and he says he’s going to cry. she says, no, and in her interview, she says, he needs to figure it out, and they need to do their jobs. He says he hates his life right now, and Katie says he’s fine; they’ve got this. Katie tells Courtney that Mathew could lose it, and Courtney tells her not to say that. Mathew says, you effing suck, is repeating in his head, and it’s overwhelming. He asks if Katie will do him a favor and shoot him in the head.

Next time – the finale – no one shows up to serve the guests in the hot tub, and they have to go hunting for staff (the worst possible mistake next to bad food); Katie admits she effed up; Mathew hates the kitchen, and is going to lose it; Malia says they have the perfect place for a picnic – or an execution; and we meet the chef who was in quarantine.

📇 Knocking Off Early…

The week has only just begun, so see you tomorrow for soap and pickleball. Until then, stay safe, stay choosing friends who make you a better person, and stay knowing, nothing is more important than family, even if it’s the family you create for yourself.