Lip Service Episode 2.1
This episode review is coloured by the fact that I know spoilers for the rest of the season, so don't read it if you're not spoiled.
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Except we know they don't. It's the writers' cruelty to put that line in since apparently Cat will DIE in the next episode.
Knowing that, I found myself kind of numb emotionally, watching this. The things that stood out were just the things that stung emotionally:
- Watching Cat and Sam in happy holiday mode.
- Seeing both Tess and Cat being bitches to their--perfectly sincere--girlfriends.
- Seeing Frankie act like Cat was any other pull in the bathroom.
Although my heart is with them, it was hard to like either Cat or Frankie in this episode. At first, Cat in particular was painful to me. Dropping lines such as 'Well now you know how it feels'. Seriously, Cat?? I think the ugliest thing about that was that it was a lie--she didn't go off on holiday to punish Frankie and make her feel the same pain Frankie once made her feel. She clearly went off on holiday because she wanted to put Frankie behind her. And she entered into the spirit of the whole thing completely. Later in the episode though, it becomes far clearer how much she's been playing a role, taking the 'good' path (though still not good enough to telegraph that to Frankie before she left, gah). I liked her 'breaking point' moment very much. And although it's very ugly that she told Frankie she'd cheat with her, I could understand it. She was and is so completely torn up in two.
It does make me wonder: what is STOPPING her from being with Frankie? From leaving Sam? I suppose the most obvious answer is that she does love Sam, even if she still can't shake Frankie. But I would have thought cheating and then trying really really hard to stop and finding that she still felt the same way would be enough sign that a break had to come. I was surprised that she was still putting boundaries on it with Frankie ... but then it does seem very in character.
From Frankie's point of view it was also very painful. So Frankie didn't sleep with anyone after Cat. I'm glad, and I was glad we got to see her not able to go through with it with another girl. But it's interesting to watch her... even though she's changed, she's still got her old mannerisms and old demeanour (and the belief system underpinning that). With Lexie we got to see how easily that mask sits on her still. That makes sense, of course, but is still sad to see.
I am not surprised that things with her mother are less than perfect. But I felt that was a little rushed in this episode. It did, however, clearly and painfully establish that people see Frankie as a 'dirty secret' and a 'mistake'. And she doesn't know how to STOP being that, though deep down she doesn't want to be any more.
There was bitter irony in the 'if it's any consolation I was pretty fucked up at the time' line. Oh, really Frankie?? And you're not any more??
Line of the episode goes to Sam though, for her slapdown of Frankie in the bar: 'worked for me'. It's amazing to see Sam when she shows her true feelings about Frankie. And god, Sam is such a lovely person, it's horrible to watch her be lied to--especially all those scenes where she offered support about 'work' stress that was really Frankie-related stress. :( It was also refreshing to have one person suggesting that maybe being yourself and being straightforward, not playing games might be healthier. And she was so natural with Tess's girlfriend and her football buddies... she really deserves not to be caught up in this messy friendship group with all their issues.
So I'm going to feel for Sam when it all falls apart too... But apparently the lesson is that BAD people, doing the BAD thing (which here means doing what your heart really wants but you try to overrule because it will hurt other people and be selfish) will get you KILLED.
Wow.
This entry was originally posted at http://bop-radar.dreamwidth.org/242695.html.
comments Comment here or there, as you will.
:((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Except we know they don't. It's the writers' cruelty to put that line in since apparently Cat will DIE in the next episode.
Knowing that, I found myself kind of numb emotionally, watching this. The things that stood out were just the things that stung emotionally:
- Watching Cat and Sam in happy holiday mode.
- Seeing both Tess and Cat being bitches to their--perfectly sincere--girlfriends.
- Seeing Frankie act like Cat was any other pull in the bathroom.
Although my heart is with them, it was hard to like either Cat or Frankie in this episode. At first, Cat in particular was painful to me. Dropping lines such as 'Well now you know how it feels'. Seriously, Cat?? I think the ugliest thing about that was that it was a lie--she didn't go off on holiday to punish Frankie and make her feel the same pain Frankie once made her feel. She clearly went off on holiday because she wanted to put Frankie behind her. And she entered into the spirit of the whole thing completely. Later in the episode though, it becomes far clearer how much she's been playing a role, taking the 'good' path (though still not good enough to telegraph that to Frankie before she left, gah). I liked her 'breaking point' moment very much. And although it's very ugly that she told Frankie she'd cheat with her, I could understand it. She was and is so completely torn up in two.
It does make me wonder: what is STOPPING her from being with Frankie? From leaving Sam? I suppose the most obvious answer is that she does love Sam, even if she still can't shake Frankie. But I would have thought cheating and then trying really really hard to stop and finding that she still felt the same way would be enough sign that a break had to come. I was surprised that she was still putting boundaries on it with Frankie ... but then it does seem very in character.
From Frankie's point of view it was also very painful. So Frankie didn't sleep with anyone after Cat. I'm glad, and I was glad we got to see her not able to go through with it with another girl. But it's interesting to watch her... even though she's changed, she's still got her old mannerisms and old demeanour (and the belief system underpinning that). With Lexie we got to see how easily that mask sits on her still. That makes sense, of course, but is still sad to see.
I am not surprised that things with her mother are less than perfect. But I felt that was a little rushed in this episode. It did, however, clearly and painfully establish that people see Frankie as a 'dirty secret' and a 'mistake'. And she doesn't know how to STOP being that, though deep down she doesn't want to be any more.
There was bitter irony in the 'if it's any consolation I was pretty fucked up at the time' line. Oh, really Frankie?? And you're not any more??
Line of the episode goes to Sam though, for her slapdown of Frankie in the bar: 'worked for me'. It's amazing to see Sam when she shows her true feelings about Frankie. And god, Sam is such a lovely person, it's horrible to watch her be lied to--especially all those scenes where she offered support about 'work' stress that was really Frankie-related stress. :( It was also refreshing to have one person suggesting that maybe being yourself and being straightforward, not playing games might be healthier. And she was so natural with Tess's girlfriend and her football buddies... she really deserves not to be caught up in this messy friendship group with all their issues.
So I'm going to feel for Sam when it all falls apart too... But apparently the lesson is that BAD people, doing the BAD thing (which here means doing what your heart really wants but you try to overrule because it will hurt other people and be selfish) will get you KILLED.
Wow.
This entry was originally posted at http://bop-radar.dreamwidth.org/242695.html.
comments Comment here or there, as you will.