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Season 2, Episode 18
In the second-season finale, Betty weighs the pros and cons of a sudden romantic dilemma. Meanwhile, Mode faces supermodel Naomi Campbell and the staff of Elle magazine in a charity softball game, Hilda hears surprising information about Coach Diaz, and a young French boy makes a claim that shocks the Meade empire. Kimberly: Lindsay Lohan.
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Hey all! Gina here, and I'll be covering for Mickey. There was so much drama in tonight's episode that I don't even know where to begin! So with that said, let's break it down…Distractions GaloreBetty is on cloud nine when Claire assigns her an article about "the youth perspective" for Hotflash magazine. And now that her heart has been broken for two weeks since Henry left, the first person she tells the good news to is Gio. Convinced that Betty really likes him more as a friend, he plants one her, right while she's mid-sentence. Betty may have slapped him across the face, but it was obvious that she was really feeling it. Now back at work and ready to start her story, Betty gets and instant message from someone who took a picture of their smooch and the next thing she knows, the whole office is seeing it with the caption "Betty Whorez is out of control!" So much for focusing on her article assignment.The Suarez Sisters' SuitorsMeanwhile, Hilda was on a mission to land a date w...
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Hey guys, Mickey O'Connor here again. As usual, everyone in the world of Ugly Betty is scheming and scamming this week -- to varying degrees of success. Let's tally the scores:Scheming the coachHottest Gym Teacher Ever Coach Diaz (guest star Eddie Cibrian) is going to fail poor Justin, sending mama bear Hilda into action. And how! After a snappy exchange with Coach Diaz, which was equal parts sass and eye rape, Hilda decides to use her substantial feminine wiles -- and her shears –- to bend the poor coach to her whims, which may or may not only include a passing grade for Justin.She achieved a certain measure of success: Justin will get to choreograph the cheerleading squad instead of gym class! I like the chemistry between these actors, and I look forward to their inevitable courtship. Ana Ortiz did some fine acting during her "mourning Santos" phase; it's time for the girl to have a little fun.Advantage: Tie (Nobody's a loser in this pairing.)Scamming the ladiesSo Daniel is d...
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Hey guys, Mickey O'Connor here filling in for Adam tonight. I'm an avid watcher of Ugly Betty, but my love for the show is a tough love, so I apologize in advance if I seem too negative or if things aren't up to the quality you expect around here. In the meantime, worship me, bitches! We've got a lot to cover…I'm sure it's tough juggling an ensemble cast of gifted comedians such that Ugly Betty boasts, and tonight's episode demonstrated the difficult choices the producers and writers must have to make every week. I love this show, but unfortunately, for me, they seem to have made some strange choices tonight. Some tired stories got the spotlight while more intriguing ones enjoyed little screen time. Let's survey the damage:Henry vs. Gio: I am a fan of Freddy Rodriguez as an actor, and loved Rico, the very real character he portrayed on Six Feet Under, but boy, is he misused on Ugly Betty. Here's the problem: I really like Betty and Henry together, and while Gio is a perfectly i...
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Hey old friends (and hopefully some new ones!) It's been a long time. I've missed you! Well, not you really but I have definitely been missing my Betty. I recently even checked out the Ugly Betty celebrity playlists on Itunes and cracked up at some of the song selections the cast had made. But it wasn't until the "Previously on Ugly Betty..." came on this week that I fully realized how much I actually missed the show. Damn strike! But on a positive note, I read somewhere that America Ferrera and the writers spent their post-strike hiatus coming up with ways to bring the show back its original charm that some felt had been lost at the start of season 2. Let's see if it worked.The episode started out with Betty in wonderland. Betty's birthday has arrived and her boy Henry waited for her in a horse-drawn carriage. They kissed passionately as they watched fireworks. Time to wake up! Betty started out the day with the usual Suarez family breakfast before heading off to the Poconos with H...
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Betty's assignment to interview a writer is spoiled by a case of mistaken identity; Daniel is surprised to learn he's closer to his new love interest (Gabrielle Union) than he imagined; Marc helps Amanda in her quest to meet her biological father.
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It's Thursday night and with 30 Rock, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy all either not on or not new, I've got just one single hour of prime time television to take my mind off of what became a pretty cold and dreary night here in NYC. Of course, I'm referring to a brand-spankin' new episode of Ugly Betty. And what's more is that this week's episode marked the return of everyones favorite homicidal matriarch, Claire Meade. Let the good times roll!As the episode opened, Betty was passed out on the floor of Gio's Sandwich Shop after apparently tossing a bar stool through the store window. Betty awoke in handcuffs having no recollection of how she wound up there. Rewind to three days earlier as the Meade family prepared for the start of Claire's trial. As Daniel and Alexis contemplated how they could help their mother earn sympathy from the jury, Betty was sent off to gather some of Claire's belongings including some perfume she had once received from Bradford. Meanwhile, Christina met wi...
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Welcome back all you UB fans out there! It looks like we've got a few more glorious weeks to enjoy with our homely heroine before the writer's strike takes hold. Lets try and make the best of the short time we have with her. First off, I should explain that though I'm a first time blogger for this show, I've been a fan since day one and I've been known to comment on here every so often. I think I've got what it takes to keep this blog going though I hope nobody holds it against me that I'm rooting for Betty and Gio over Betty and Henry. Anyway, here goes.In Betty's first outing of the new year, fashion week was underway once again at Mode which means two things: Loads of stress for the Mode employees and plenty of guest stars for us viewers at home. Remember Katherine McPhee's cameo from last year? While Betty was helping Daniel prepare for the Mode fashion show, she also played the cool aunt for Justin and his classmates by guiding them on a tour of the office. As she led the kiddi...
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So… Betty and Henry are still in love. I thought for a moment they were doomed — or at least set for another rough patch. She and Henry were trying so desperately to make the most of the 17+ weeks they now have left to be together. But Gio's still in her world, and the more time she spends around either of them…. She likes what she sees in Henry but… there's something about Gio that is equal parts irritating and appealing. I understand. I mean, on the one hand, so what if Henry can't fix a sink? Does Gio know about New German Cinema? And man, that is one ripped accountant. He can dance when he wants to, and according to Gio, he has the moves of a jungle cat. I knew he had that passionate, spontaneous side to him (remember the medieval restaurant?). But Gio is more spontaneous; he lightens Betty up. And though Gio took Betty's sister to the club, even a drunk Hilda read his signals correctly, when he cast that longing look toward Betty as she and Henry left the da...
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Everyone imploring last week for more of Judith Light has one more thing to be thankful for today! Perhaps the best part of the episode was thanks to her presence at Bradford's funeral. When Wilhelmina appeared (with Marc close behind, stirring up PR), Claire Meade — despite her shackles — swiftly tripped her, causing her to fly six feet deep into the fresh empty grave. Then she promptly held a board members meeting (with Daniel and Alexis) calling a "motion to terminate" Wilhelmina as the creative director of Mode immediately. "Rest in peace, bitch." Nice.But you just can't keep that woman down. With some Mission Impossible III-type gadgetry, WilhelMommy derailed the latest Mode issue, due to the printer in 12 hours. Then she poached most of the staff to her "Slater" magazine, luring them via 15% raises, dental coverage and/or cosmetic surgery. The saddest result of this latest scheme was watching Amanda and Marc separate. I'm pleased that Amanda decided to remain at Mode...
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Daniel and Claire were able to see a sensitive, loving father and husband tonight in Bradford Meade. Even though Daniel couldn't say those three big words, his father — in a flash of insight into the son who cares so deeply about family — perceived that that was what he was thinking. Too bad Daniel didn't hear him say that he loved him. And I'm so glad Claire and Bradford had a quiet tender moment to reflect on their 35-year marriage and love. But these poignant moments made his passing all the more jarring, as evidenced by Claire silently being transported to Rikers and Daniel, Alex (and Betty) staring off blankly in his former hospital room.At least Bradford discovered Willie's affair before agreeing to the bedside matrimony — although I'd have been tempted to be married by the online-ordained (Rev.?) St. James, with marital melody emanating from his cell phone. And thankfully we didn't have to wait very long for Daniel to discover the reason of Betty's "betrayal." ...
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Episode Recap: "A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding"As far as dramedy nuptials go, this one was heavier on the drama than the comedy, more so than I expected. When Hilda told Papi that Betty had done more for him than he realized, and Daniel spied Wilhelmina's bodyguard (Rick Fox) leaving her hotel room, suddenly the context behind the image of Betty racing down the church aisle (that I'd seen ad nauseum in promos) was fully realized. I knew then that Ignacio would discover the source of his citizenship, Betty would run to Daniel to confess so that Daniel could warn his father and attempt to save the Meade family and publishing empire.But I didn't expect Daniel's reaction to be so harsh; he didn't even listen to Betty explain why she'd held the truth from him for four months. Angered by her betrayal, Daniel claimed he couldn't trust her again. Of course that's the last thing approval-hungry Betty wanted to hear from him. No wait, it was what he said next: You're fired.And I have to say as...
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Episode Recap: "Something Wicked This Way Comes"Betty has made a lot of sacrifices, and tonight she was willing to sacrifice a real, public relationship with Henry for the approval of others, Daniel's green light in particular. Though she realized from the plagiarism debacle what a hold his opinion had on her, she still cares too deeply what he thinks of her decisions. And like the bear-attack essay, we knew Betty wouldn't get away with secretly dating Henry, especially once Gio (Freddy Rodriguez) got involved. No way was he going to let her off that easily. I found Gio's spicy snark while wedged between Daniel and Betty a nice antidote to Betty and Henry's gooey texts. Perfectly entertaining. ("You're about to hear gagging. That's me, gagging.") Don't get me wrong. I'm glad Betty and Henry are finally together — and she presumably "dunked her doughnut" after encouragement from Christina and Hilda. But Gio kept things light and interesting amid some predictable moments (like He...
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Episode Recap: "A League of Their Own"Henry + Betty = Love. So, what do you think? I know many of you, like me, adore the adorkable Henry, and think he and Betty are perfect for each other. But others have commented that Betty needs someone like Gio, a guy who will challenge her and bring some spice into her life (and who doesn't have a child by another woman, at least as far as we know, to complicate matters). You have a point, too. According to the promo for next week, it looks like the renewed relationship won't be all roses. But honestly, I don't know that Betty would have survived (or understood) the ways of online dating, starting with the importance of watching your spelling. At the Pinz bowling alley, once Niceguy47 made a remark about her photo and kept glancing at his watch, we all knew he'd bail. Oh, Betty, so blissfully ignorant to the New York dating scene! But our Henry was there, watching out for her — or jealously stalking her. Their just-friends mantra failed m...
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Episode Recap: "Grin and Bear It"Wilhemina was in her full glory tonight. My favorite scenes were Pretty Willie (as Meade Publications' cochair) being introduced to some of the company's other publishing treasures, and Ugly Wanda weaving us through her evening at Studio 54 as Fey's mousey assistant, spying on her boss entwined with Amanda's mystery dad with the Tweety Bird tattoo on his ass. Priceless!Speaking of spies, Syd's double-agent dad on Alias is now torturing the wounded artistes in Betty's writing class. His brand of teaching involves nick-naming Betty "Clappy" and/or "Crappy" and encouraging them to attempt suicide or start a knife fight — whatever gives them something to write about. I love Victor Garber; I hope we see more of him!No wonder the usually self-assured Betty lost her nerve during class and claimed the bear-victim story was hers. The poor girl can't get away with anything! Soon she found herself Prof. Barrett's teacher's pet, then at the "New York Review...
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Ay, Papi!
Season 2, Episode 3
Episode Recap: "Betty's Wait Problem"I didn't think that the gunshot we heard would be directed at Ignacio. Hector, the son of Rosa's first husband (whom Ignacio didn't murder, it turns out) listened to what Ignacio had to say. Loved the comedic twist of Ramiro's vengeance: He missed his wife, yes, but missed his cook's (Ignacio's) flan as well. Looks like Wilhelmina made good on her promise to Betty.But she did keep lying, this time by grooming Alexis to be her new puppet/BFF. With an elaborate photo album replete with photo-shopped images of the twosome partaking in fashion week, marching for gay rights and... square dancing (Marc had to leave his mark), she convinced Alexis of their bosom-buddy relationship and then swooped in for the kill. She told her that Claire left Bradford, and that he was engaged to her. The "tramnesiac" (so said Marc) gave her blessing to move forward with the wedding. Too bad Claire didn't get to Bradford in time at the masked Black and White Ball. But I...
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Episode Recap: "Family Affair"It appears that in addition to Alexis not remembering her new body (and getting to know it by — here's a PG description — giving herself breast exams, then a hilarious thumbs-up to Daniel), she also doesn't remember the last two years, which include, let's see, Fey's death, her mother being jailed for murder, her father's affair with Fey being revealed, her father divorcing her mother and getting engaged to Wilhelmina, her heated competition with Daniel over "Mode," Daniel's drug habit, etc. Bradford decided against telling Alexis that he'd disowned her over the sex change or that he'd divorced her mother, let alone that he was planning to marry Wilhelmina. I think the new warm and innocent Alexis is rather creepy; she seems to have lost the assertiveness and spunk she used to have. But we'll see how long that lasts.Back at "Mode," Amanda's discovery that Fey was her mother has gone from affecting her assets to (she had hoped) her monetary ass...
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Episode Recap: "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back" The premiere hour definitely answered some questions, but somehow I'm left feeling worse. So many in Betty's world, including Betty herself, are suffering physically or emotionally, or both. There wasn't a lot of humor tonight. Amanda, reeling from the news that she is Fey's daughter, has "taken a lover, and that lover has a creamy center," as Marc so aptly stated. Despite the added pounds, Marc stands by her side, accompanying her to her parents' house to confront them with the truth. As that secret of her bloodline is revealed, so too is her parents' lifestyle — they are discovered wearing ubershort robes and swinging with another couple. Next up is Amanda's quest to find her real father. There's always something happening inside or near the "Mode" elevators. This time, Amanda's identity crisis came to a boil, then Marc's look of horror at the realization that Amanda and Bradford's identical mannerisms could be genetic. Marc was ...
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