(S01E16) To quote Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill and as The Chin on Ugly Betty, "You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?" Tonight's theme - "it's complicated." I ended my review last week by saying this, but I think it bears repeating. Watching good TV can be an emotionally masochistic endeavor. One of the first lessons you learn in "how to be a TV writer" class is to put the screws to your characters. This lesson is often phrased as, "Give the audience what they want, and then take it away." This week's episode was all about giving us what we wanted and taking it away. Betty opens up to Henry about her feelings for him. Done. Christina catches a break. Done. Alexis gets to feel a little human connection post-op. Done. Justin gets to see Hairspray. Done. Hope you enjoyed it because now those cruel, cruel writers are going to make us regret that we ever wanted those things to happen in the first place.Fortunately, in their audience abuse, Ugly Betty's writers and actors gave us something very real - characters with great depth, genuine heartache and relatable desires. Santos is a dick about his son, but when it comes down to it, he will go to the mat for his familia. Wilhelmina won't give up her Machiavellian ways, but when she socked Jerry O'Connell, she was a hero. Alexis isn't the villain we expected her to be. She faked her death out of pain and is more hurt and lonely than anything else. Marc is Wilhelmina's bitch and Christina's "least favorite gay," but he's not immune nor blind to Wilhelmina's cruelty. And, our Betty isn't a saint. She lost Charlie on purpose, which leads us to my favorite scene in this week's episode.
I was so disappointed when Betty told Henry that she broke up with Walter for him. That's just laying a whole bunch of guilt on someone who doesn't deserve it. Yet, and here is where the show gets brilliant, she owns up to the emotional blackmail when she tells Henry that she, in fact, broke up with Walter because she wasn't in love with him anymore. She didn't know why she told Henry that she dumped Walter for him - "maybe because it was easier." Wow. If people were always this self-reflective and insightful about their motivations, we'd live in a world with far less messy break-ups. We'd probably get along with our parents better, too. There's so much we can learn from Ugly Betty - how to sensitively treat post-op transexuals, the proper application of bubble wrap, the lyrics to "Good Morning, Baltimore."
One last random observation: Is Eric Mabius the luckiest man on television? Salma Hayek. Lucy Liu. Who's next? Halle Berry?
WILHELMINA QUIP OF THE WEEK: JERRY O'CONNELL: "You look familiar. Have we met?" WILHELMINA: "We're not even meeting now."
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-16-2007 @ 2:22AM
tv junkie said...
Charlie from "Heroes" travels through time and space all the way to "Ugly Betty"!?
and yes, Eric Mabius is the luckiest man on television.
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2-16-2007 @ 2:30AM
Audge said...
Great analysis of this episode! I loved the whole show and like you said, it's great that all these characters are so multi-faceted. I was going to mention that the only thing missing was some funny Amanda scenes and then I remembered her appearing as Betty's evil conscience in various "forms" in the subway.
http://audgepodge.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-take-ugly-betty-darn-charlie.html
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2-21-2007 @ 3:10AM
Amboo said...
Great job Julia.
Another great Wilhelmina moment:
CHRISTINA: "I'm not one of your flying monkeys."
WILHELMINA: "Yes you are. I gave you your wings."
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2-16-2007 @ 11:06AM
Ryan said...
It was truly a great episode because of all the things you have mentioned, but also just the display of the REAL core of the show time and time again i.e. being an outsider.
To some extent everyone in that show is an outsider and they all have to deal with it in all of its messy, complicated, and sometimes hilarious glory.
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2-16-2007 @ 12:45PM
CT A said...
Wow! Great episode last night! This show keeps getting better and better! I was very impressed with how santos stood up for Justin. I think he finally accepted Justin for who he truely is. Lucy Liu was perfect for this role as "The Chin"! Shes serious but yet the situations she creates is hilarious! The whole triangle thing... Enough said..
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2-16-2007 @ 11:37PM
Erica said...
Good episode. I pretty much agree with everything you said. I love how this show has really heartfelt moments, as well as hilarious ones!
Oh, Charlie, leave Betty have Henry; Hiro's the one for you!
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2-16-2007 @ 3:40PM
Jennifer said...
Wow, what an awesome episode.
I love how Charlie lives again and is now from Arizona. Sweet. Anyone know if the UB/Heroes peeps are friends?
Will's punchout was spectacular. And then after that to get the boot from Alexis...oouch. I wonder what she'll do next?
And yay for Hairspray on the subway. Heh.
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2-16-2007 @ 6:42PM
KateG said...
Justin can sing! And I never expected to feel so much sympathy for Alexis - kudos to Rebecca Romijn. And Marc's sympathy for Christina was a nice plus. None of these people are caricatures. And I never in my life thought that I would love Judith Light.
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2-18-2007 @ 3:25PM
akrongammy said...
I really like the inside jokes they play too -- anyone notice the book "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" on Betty's dresser in the opening scene? America Ferrera played Carmen in the movie version.
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2-17-2007 @ 9:56PM
La-di-dah said...
I LOVE that the writers of the show too "Charlie" from Heroes and brought her Ugly Betty and left her name as "Charlie." Hehe.
I also LOVE the bond that we see between the elder Mr. Meade and Mrs. Meade. She wanted to keep her family together. And he decided to go to jail for her. Awwww.
Like everyone else, I love the suckerpunch (Wilie is a cruel bitch, but deep down, she is so human). And Santos too is coming around to be a father, finally.
Great writing. Great characters. Great acting. Great 42 minutes of television.
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2-18-2007 @ 8:49PM
Stephanie said...
Is it just me, or is Henry the hottest nerd you've ever seen. My heart bleeds for him when Betty wanted to go to "Wicked" just as friends on last week's episode. I hope Charlie leaves, or Henry breaks up with her for Betty (now knowing Betty's true feelings). It's so sweet that Henry notices the little things with Betty, like what she likes with her pretzels. I didn't like, however, when Henry was looking for Betty, and she hid under the receptionists desk (*please don't hide from this one!!*), but I'm glad Amanda exposed her, and then later helped Betty out. (Yay Amanda!! Maybe there's hope for you yet :) )
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