Couples across town celebrate Valentine's Day in wildly different ways. Bill calls in a favor to Joey. Tomas' questions rile Hayley. Dani tests Nicole's real feelings about Ted and her new men. Leslie ruins Anita's lunch, which pushes Anita's health issues out into the open. Elon schools Jacob on the brutal realities of going deep undercover. Anastasia's rumor-mongering forces Anita's hand. Vanessa has a potential solution to Nicole and Samantha's dilemma. Joey watches Hayley and Randy squirm in front of Bill.
Episode 2.031
A lot of this episode feels shockingly inert. It's Valentine's Day for the various couples. The show puts the spotlight on their different celebrations. None of it is all that engaging. Leslie has a pretty clear journey where she feels disrespected everywhere she goes. The back-to-back nature of it leads to her snapping. Eva doesn't relate to her desire for grand gestures. Marcel wasn't planning on doing anything for her. Shanice and Dani team up against her. Things happen. Yet it's hard to believe she can escalate any further than she already has. She has never stopped causing drama. That will just continue. She will only be down one mirror in her hotel room. That's it. Meanwhile, Bill surprises Hayley with the St. Barts house after all. He managed to keep that secret. She's happy. Elsewhere, Nicole and Kat can't stop themselves from texting with their boyfriends. It's a nice relaxed conversation between the two. It's not tense while pointing out Kat's rage towards Eva likely typically occurs. Martin and Smitty go back-and-forth between loving and not on the same page. They can't escape to Costa Rica for the rest of the year. Anita serenades Vernon. That's the sweetest moment. It channels a relationship that truly works in every single moment. It doesn't need something big and romantic. It works. And then, Vanessa tries to get Joey to lose control. He claims he complied. She was satisfied. He was never actually open to the new experience. It was just a drag from top to bottom. That also prevented much of a showcase for Andre and Dani. Their bond has always been hotter.
Grade: C
Episode 2.032
Bill is in more pain than Hayley following her attack. To her, it's all physical. She doesn't face any mental anguish over being mugged by a stranger. She knows precisely what happened. It's not a mystery. Every concern she voices is just manipulation to get whatever she wants. Bill provides it all. He is completely devoted to her. He worries about her before himself. That's striking. He unleashes his rage onto Tomas for questioning Hayley's actions. Tomas wonders why Hayley was delivering forms to Lynette in the first place. It's not something he asked her to do. It's not the firm's policy. It only affirms Hayley and Lynette as friends. That connection is deeper than anyone realized previously. Hayley wields her title as Bill's wife to threaten Tomas' job. Bill does so as well. He needs to know his place. Bill and Hayley are in charge. Tomas is around to handle anything they don't want to do. His presence doesn't matter to them. It's difficult to suggest otherwise. Moreover, Bill goes to Joey for resolution in the case because Elon hasn't caught the suspect yet. That places Randy in an awkward position where he knows the truth but can't act on it. Joey knows Randy is up to something with Hayley. He's not interested in the details. He wants Bill in his debt. That's power he needs. So, a solution needs to be offered immediately.
Dani tells Nicole about running into Ted and Shanice on Valentine's Day. She saw just how serious her former brother-in-law's new relationship has become. She expects Nicole to feel upset about it. That's especially true given Shanice is a colleague. Nicole doesn't have any intense feelings. In fact, Ted moving on allows Nicole the freedom to explore without looking over her shoulder. She doesn't have to be worried about running into him. His lingering feelings towards her no longer have to be managed. That's a relief. She relishes in that. She gives Dani approval to become couples friends with Ted and Shanice. She wants the best for Andre too. She won't stand in anyone's way. She's upfront about what she wants. Carlton overthinks how to respond. He makes himself unavailable when Nicole suggests a date over one of his interests. Ashley told him he was too eager. That was perceptive. Carlton's response doesn't build on what he currently has with Nicole. It simply leaves him alone. Plus, Ashley rarely listens to her own advice. She's eager to help Grayson find a better nursing home for his mother. He views that as her overstepping into his personal life. He already thought of everything. The current situation is the best he can do. She needs to respect that. He's not looking for a solution. He just wants a kind ear to listen. That's all Ashley needs to be.
Grade: B
Episode 2.033
Jacob wants respect from his father. It's something he's always chasing. He believes this undercover assignment will finally make Elon proud of him. He's made progress infiltrating the plasma smuggling operation. Elon doesn't see it that way. He sees his child failing to comprehend the dangers involved. Jacob proudly talks about acing the test for undercover work. Elon understands the realities of the job can never truly be simulated on paper. He can't bear anything happening to his son. He doesn't wish that pain on his wife either. He needed to actually articulate these feelings. They serve Jacob well. He then turns around and breaks Naomi's heart. He's moving out. He can't provide any clarity about what he's doing or how long he will be away. He's fully accepted Smitty as his partner. Yet his wife can only make contact in case of an emergency. He plans next steps with Smitty. Naomi doesn't understand. He's spent so much time away already. Bill and Hayley pick up on that tension. The focus is suddenly removed from them. Hayley was searching for pity in declaring her attack was karmic punishment. Naomi has to reassure her. Bill has a plan in motion. He's confident Joey will deliver. If not, Randy will be blamed. Even then, Tomas may figure out Lynette isn't who she pretends to be. These mysteries are all percolating at the moment.
The fireworks come at the country club with Leslie demanding the lunch with the Articulettes she won during Winter Fest. She treats herself to a meal with Anita and Vernon. She refuses to take no for an answer. She gets in their way. Anita felt well enough to go to the club. She's not up for any of the Mardi Gras specials. Vernon commits to spending the season in New Orleans next year. They have something to look forward to. They will celebrate her beating cancer. Despite not feeling well, Anita has to contend with Leslie's demands. They can't seemingly get her to leave. Anita being weak upon standing is enough to shift the mood. Leslie's attempts at concern aren't appreciated. She suddenly stops demanding. She will follow-up through the proper channels. Anita and Vernon aren't even overly concerned about who potentially saw her frailty. They recognize Anastasia as the bigger problem. She wasn't in the room to gossip. They walk away laughing and enjoying the moment. That seemed impossible given the turmoil Leslie continually puts them through. The sting of her presence never particularly lingers. And so, they go about their lives without having to worry about her. Instead, they cringe over her sharing every intimate detail of her sex life.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.034
Anita is forced into going public with her cancer diagnosis. She could handle rumors around the club. When that jeopardized her charity work, a different approach was needed. It's all rooted in Anastasia trying to get dirt on the Duprees. She's always trying to set one of them off. She exploits any potential angle. Any gossip would be enough to satisfy her curiosity. She needs to rattle the family's perfection. She's competitive and needs the Duprees to be threatened. Nicole doesn't believe her story about Anita's drunken confrontation with Leslie. It still prompts a call. She checks in with Vernon. That occurs in tandem with Anita getting another call. Two people sharing the rumors they heard is enough for Anita to reflect. She can't allow anything to disrupt the good work she does. The charities are bigger than her. She can't be the reason they falter. She sets her privacy aside to share the truth. Vernon is proud. She handles this well. He once again hovers. He checks on how she's doing. Anita is annoyed but Vernon refuses to leave this time. He won't do that again. He celebrates her. Their love has endured throughout this journey. He recognizes the importance of taking a moment to acknowledge that strength before the details are arranged. It's not a crisis that needs to be organized as soon as possible. They have a plan and can take their time making it happen.
Bill wasn't thrilled about Chelsea and Madison's engagement. His daughter is upset with him for sharing the news with Dani. He was expecting backup in his argument. He was disappointed. Dani is thrilled for the couple. She's heavily involved in the wedding planning. However, Bill steps up now. Chelsea and Madison are unaware he made a significant donation to the research project in Denmark. He did so with the requirement that part of the team work out of D.C. It allows Madison to have everything she has ever wanted. Chelsea no longer has to feel guilty about Madison giving up this opportunity. That worry kept lingering in her mind. She could never escape from it. Bill provides an immediate solution. He doesn't need praise or recognition. He provides for his daughter because he finally sees just how real this relationship is. Chelsea doesn't want to mess it up. That consideration and compassion is striking. Bill aims to make it right. He will do anything to protect the people he cares about. Joey has no answers for him yet. Randy is distracted by Mona professing he's a good soul. That's a little random. It keeps Randy from having to come up with an answer about Hayley's assailant. He's not turning on Lynette because that would jeopardize Hayley's con. He faces the pressure while Hayley takes multiple risks.
Grade: B
