December 11, 2006: Some Things Are Better Off Not Being Known
So, before this episode's opening credits even played, my roommate - who tends to predict story lines before they even happen - blurted out, "She's seeing Brian's father!" referring to Bridget. Huh. Interesting theory, roommate and with her prediction history, I didn't dismiss it right away.
But then we met Tracy (
Jane Sibbett), his wife. So without proof of some naughty affair going on behind office doors at this point, I thought Bridget's "on-and-off" guy was someone else - or possibly didn't exist at all. Tracy and Dad seemed very compatible and happy, and I liked how Brian seemed happy to witness that.
Not so happy? Adam and Heather. The shotgun couple were butting heads and lifestyles. With Heather's late nights and Adam's regimented schedule, I'm not sure how they'll mesh from here on out. And Jimmy threw a wrench into the already-shaky relationship with his background check on the bride. "If a friend has a friend and that friend is me? Then yes, you should tell him everything," Adam said. I can't believe he had the strength to avoid looking at the record check before putting it in his jacket pocket.
I loved how Dave went to Angelo's movie screening with Nicole. I felt like I was in the theater with them, with a heart as heavy as Nic's when Angelo appeared larger than life on the screen. Seeing his costar so upset outside the theater was a clear indication to me that she was involved with Angelo. In fact, when they first showed her, I figured she was in the car with him when it crashed because of her visible injury. But Dave thwarted any questions Nic had about Naples and what Angelo was doing while he was on location.
Meanwhile, Deena's cupcakes were attracting all sorts of attention. How old was that guy who asked her out for a hamburger, 20? Talk about awkward when T.K. caught them out together.
I couldn't help but laugh a little when Larissa let Deena's dating secret slip, but I quickly changed emotions when I saw the look on Dave's face. I swear, I feel bad for him almost every week. But Deena had a pretty big defense lined up their fight was intense. "Wow, I really hate you sometimes," she said. But what Dave and Deena do almost every time they disagree is jump into an apology. They're lost. They don't know what they're doing. They're not together, but they're not really apart, either. It's agonizing to watch, but seems so real to me that it's more believable to see them suffer than to find a solution right away.
Nic, on the other hand, was seeking resolution. Despite Dave's advice, she decided to look into Angelo's accident. She even had enough nerve to find the woman who had had "a moment" with her husband - a moment that apparently couldn't compare to his love for Nicole.
And just then, another investigation gone wrong: Heather found the record check in Adam's jacket pocket (just as my roommate predicted, by the way). Why didn't Adam think that Heather might have skeletons in her closet? He doesn't even know her! I guess he wanted to believe he was marrying someone who didn't keep secrets - like Marjorie did - and that everything would be sweet and sexy this time around. And maybe it will. After all, just when I think they're going to break it off, he pulls it back together. Interesting that Heather seems to have a tough-girl aspect to her when it comes to defending her own honor, but she becomes so insecure about their marriage that it's really Adam who's gluing the vows together again.
But my favorite story line of this episode was Dave and Deena - a couple whose vows were uttered so long ago, they've forgotten how it feels to believe in them. It was such a Dave move to peek out the window when Deena was outside with T.K. and then sprint to the couch so that she wouldn't know. There was so much sadness between them this week, even with the touches of humor wedged in between. I think I'll always love Dave's attempts to use a joke to make her laugh - and hopefully remind his wife with whom she fell in love when they were younger.
Another yo-yo situation in this episode? Bridget. She wants Brian, she doesn't want Brian. She bats her eyelashes, she tries to one-up him at work. "Why do you like me? I'm so mean," she says to him. That's what I was thinking! But, I like the dynamic between them, because Brian is breaking her down, cracking off pieces of her shell until we're left with a lingerie-clad real estate agent sprawled on Brian's bed, asleep. How did she fall asleep in less than a minute?
And just when I'm ready to feel satisfied in believing that I might be right instead of my roommate, she yells, "I knew it!" as the truth about Bridget and big-shot Dad comes pouring out. "I don't even know what to say to you," Brian said to her outside the party. (Sidenote: Did anyone else laugh at the sign that had "Summer" crossed out on it?)
I have to commend the music producers of this show. They always wind up the final scenes with the perfect songs, with lyrics completely fitting of each situation. "You never made much sense, you never stood a chance, if we're honest." Thing is, we know Bridget's not gone just yet. Neither is T.K., despite his trip to Australia.
It may be hard to hear the truth, learn details after the fact, discover secrets that may or may not matter. But it all landslides into this pool of uncertainty that these friends seem to swim around in on a regular basis. I'm not sure I agree with Dave about the theme of this episode - I think I would want to know the truth even if it was too late for it to matter. It always matters in some way or another. Maybe I'll ask my roommate to predict my future and learn about some details in advance, so I don't end up standing in the middle of some road leading to nowhere. Sorry, Brian.
