(S01E14) Next week's episode is called "Brothers," but we'll go ahead and call this one the unofficial sibling episode. Anyone who's had to live in the shadow of a brother, sister or post-op transsexual knows Betty and Daniel's pain. Ugly Betty is proof positive that if you can keep the emotions real, even in the midst of over-the-top farce, then you're liable to have a hit on your hands. As a matter of fact it's because we buy Daniel's emotional reaction to finding out Alex is still alive and a woman that keeps the show from becoming a outright cartoon that we can't invest in beyond the laughs. But, yes, there were laughs, and everyone was on hand.Let's start with the funny. Now, I love a "seeing eye gay" joke as much as the next person, but I swear the writers only blinded Wilhelmina so they could write "...a duck quacking off in my face." I was thrilled, however, to see Justin subbing for Marc. (Or is it Jason? "It's Justin, but you can call me whatever you want. I love you.") This freed up Marc to play it straight with Amanda and make off with the Betsy Johnson fur mini. Letting these two camp it up together is part of the joy of the show. They got the night's best exchange. "She is a model. Shiny things confuse her." "If this is anything like my prom night, you're paying for the therapy." (In case any gay rights activists were thinking of boycotting ABC because they hadn't fired Isaiah Washington yet, I counter with five minutes of Ugly Betty - the gayest show on television - excluding anything on the Logo network and Top Design. That was Gina "Showgirls" Gershon as Fabia, folks.)
Also bringing the laughs were our nerdilicious hero Henry - poppin' and lockin' at the Sean John show - and Ignacio, who is being blackmailed into a romantic relationship by his immigration case worker. Her ex- offered some useful advice. "You ride that squishy train until you reach that destination." And, is anyone watching Vidas de Fuego online? It's looking pretty damn funny itself.
The emotional core of the show belonged to Betty and Hilda and Daniel and Alexis. Does it seem like Rebecca Romijn is making her voice deeper to pull off the "I was once a boy" thing? Maybe not so necessary seeing as the storyline is already in the realm of soap opera fantasy. It's not like I'm going to believe it any less if she uses her normal speaking voice. I'm going to take the Hilda-Daniel kiss as merely a drunken, "woe is me" mistake and not an indication of things to come. It was a pretty cruel blow to Betty though.
I appreciated that after Betty let Hilda have it and Hilda came back with the b.s. about people figuring out she didn't have much going on beyond the tight jeans and low-cut top that Betty called her on it. "That is such crap" Hilda's response, "Well, it was worth a shot." That's a great scene because that's what people tend to do in arguments. They turn it around, make it about themselves. Arguments turn into pity parties or "who has it worse off" competitions. A lesser show wouldn't have let Betty call Hilda out on her selfishness nor would it have let Betty confess that she loved seeing Hilda miserable for once, eating all her cookie dough. A lesser show wouldn't trust us, the viewers, to feel compassion for both these characters at the same time. Fortunately, Ugly Betty is not a lesser show.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-07-2007 @ 3:27AM
canoli said...
That's a great picture. Upon closer inspection it actually says MODE. However upon first glances it's looks like MOLE.
MOLE = an ugly and unpleasant person (often used for female)
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 8:00AM
Michael said...
I LOVE this show! There are just so many great moments, all of the little touches between well written characters to show off either their flaws or idiosyncracies. I agree, the whole Marc and Amanda friendship never ceases to make me laugh out loud. How about how he looked at Amanda's breasts, paused to think about it a second and then after sighing a "whatever" sigh let her pull his head to her bosom to be comforted after the dressing room fiasco? Priceless! Those two have so many show stealing moments each episode that serve to enhance the story rather than detract from it. What a perfect way to flesh out the secondary characters. Everything they say or do fits them to a T.
Also, who could have seen how the whole Ignacio/case worker storyline??? I about lost it when her ex told him to "ride that squishy train". As a matter of fact, Ugly Betty has had some of the funniest sex metaphors on TV!!!
Can't wait for next week when Alex takes over and Betty supposedly gets fired. Is it Thursday yet??
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 10:17AM
jDub said...
Marc and Amanda are amazing. I loved it when she hopped from the desk into his lap. They are one of the main reasons I keep watching this show.
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 1:47PM
KC said...
Yeah - I'm actually surprised (pleasantly so) at what they get away with at 8pm. The show is comedy gold. If you blink, you'll miss some of the best lines on network tv.
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 2:43PM
marnie said...
No one even mentioned Tim Gunn! That was a great moment. What McPhever has to do with Fashion Week, I don't EVEN know, but they did show her getting buttered up by Becks (who looks just a little too much like the real Becks, and had the same hairdo and do you think that little Posh comment has ANYTHING to do with Becks coming to the US? How badly do Becks and Posh want to make it the US?) And then all the snarky comments like Betty telling Justin to stay away from Naomi Cambpell for his own good - they were great!
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 7:11PM
CT A said...
No "Wilhelmina Quip Of The Week" :(?
Reply
2-02-2007 @ 10:19PM
Tim said...
Hands down one of the best episodes this season so far!
When they mentioned Fashion Week, I almost thought "What about Tim Gunn & the Project Runway crew"... and then there he was!
Too bad they can't get Tim Gunn to do another guest stint, I adore that gentleman.
Reply
8-16-2008 @ 10:50AM
Angel said...
They just lost me on Ugly Betty as soon as they put his brother as a sex change I said good bye. All these programs are doing now is same sex kissy, hugging, in bed now and staring to hump each other. It makes me sick. I will not watch a show like that.
Any show! I do not care what it is. We all have to stick together. Turn that off we do do not want it.
Reply