Jacob thinks his cover's been blown. Naomi urges Chelsea to reconcile with Kat while Nicole gives her daughter some advice. Smitty has an uncomfortable chat with his mother-in-law. Vanessa's involvement with Joey causes her to miss out on an opportunity. Deanna McBride comes home. Mona spots Randy and Lynette doing something unsanitary. Vanessa is publicly humiliated. Eva is proud of Leslie. Kial doles out words of wisdom. Kat and Donnell compare notes. Grayson receives a threat.
Episode 2.045
Nicole wants Kat to act as if Leslie doesn't exist at all. That's the only way to remove her power over the Duprees. It's not an effective strategy. Kat is right to remain angry. She refuses to be gaslit. That's only one aspect of her conversation with Nicole. It's certainly troubling. It's also more encouraging that Kat and Chelsea are finally forced to talk. They can't keep avoiding each other and discussing things with other people. Their fight has only extended this long because they aren't talking. As soon as they meet up, they figure things out. Kat initially moved out because she wanted to be proactive. She had to leave before she was asked to do so. Now, she sees the benefit of independence. Having her own place isn't inherently bad. It's not going to change anything between her and Chelsea either. Chelsea insists the same is true of her engagement with Madison. They need the freedom to make their own decisions. They don't have to negatively influence the other person. All of this is about reckoning with how close they are. They exist as individuals. Their lives won't always align. That's okay. It's healthy actually. It's good for Nicole and Naomi to force the cousins to talk. It resolves the conflict. Now, they can be happy about wedding planning and moving to a new place. No more drama is necessary.
Jacob and Grayson recognized each other. Both are playing roles in the smuggling operation. Jacob panics about potentially being made. He completes the drop with no problem. He reaches out to Smitty. It's odd how that's the support system Jacob leans on. It's not the job. He's trying to do this mission on his own to prove himself. He doesn't want to accept help from people who are actually trained to do so. Instead, he leans on an innocent civilian. He's also convinced he can recruit Grayson. Because nothing bad happens right away, he believes he has the necessary leverage to hold over the lab tech. Grayson is frightened as well. He can't confide in Ashley about the mistake he made at work. She offers sensible advice. She doesn't know the severity of the situation. Naomi doesn't either. Her presence only adds to the paranoia for Grayson. He leaves upon receiving a call from Jacob. A decision has been made. He knows more than Naomi about Jacob's recent actions. He understands the danger. If he agrees to help, then that will hopefully flesh out more of this storyline and the players involved. Right now, it's nothing more than a vague figure Grayson could reach out to but is afraid to do so.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.046
Vanessa has frequently told Nicole about being attracted to Joey's dangerous nature. It's the excitement she needed. Nicole wondered why she was then trying to make Joey a more respectable figure. She was trying to change him in the name of love. She's compromised herself in this relationship. She's asked for more. She's a willing participant in this evolution. It's also forced her to sacrifice wonderful opportunities. Sure, the offer from Pamela is random. A platform exists for Vanessa to thrive through all the meaningful work she does. This organization is willing to work around her schedule. Vanessa has to keep a low profile. She must make herself smaller to protect the money laundering operation. She's proud of the work she's done with the escort service. She believes that should prove she can handle more responsibility in Joey's network. He doesn't see it that way. His other businesses are too complicated. They are messy and full of untrustworthy figures. He struggles to make things work. He doesn't want to expose her to those threats. She's changed for him. She wants to show the world how much this love means. She also feels the need to prove she cared about Doug. She has to honor his memory. She wants every aspect of her life to come together. That means a double date with Nicole and Joey meeting Deanna. That may be nothing more than a fantasy. Others express their concerns. Yet she still wants to believe it's possible.
Samantha fears Smitty is working on a dangerous story. She asks Nicole to check in. She does so. Smitty dismisses his daughter's concerns as her not knowing what he has to do to protect confidentiality. This is how he behaves when he's working on a big story. The secrecy is crucial. The paranoia about what's potentially happening with Jacob is paralyzing. He can't focus on anything else. His family is moving through their lives without him. He's disconnected from the cotillion. He wants to be present but can't. Jacob relates. He threatens Grayson into compliance. He needs him to keep his undercover identity. He's not honest about infiltrating this operation for the police. He concocts a story about being indebted to the wrong people. He can't rely on his family for support. It seemingly works even though Jacob's not a very convincing liar. Progress is needed. He has to put in the work to advance the plot. That's what this story has become. It has to hit several expected beats to feel like a worthy investment. However, it lacks any internal consistency to ensure each piece adds to something more fulfilling. Jacob sees Grayson more clearly now. He's desperate for money to care for his mother. That was already known. Jacob has a potential ally. He's still largely alone. That's not a significant change.
Grade: C+
Episode 2.047
Deanna returns to Fairmont Crest for the first time since Doug's death. She expected things to be different. Instead, everything remains the same. She couldn't be in the same environment without her father. She's back for the dedication ceremony at the clinic. Vanessa has found a way to honor his memory. She's happy her daughter has come home. She's proud of the progress she has made. She still has high expectations for her. It's difficult enough being here. The changes Vanessa wants to introduce may be overwhelming. Joey may be taking things for granted as well. He's confident in how he covered up Doug's murder. It won't come back to hurt him. He's satisfied going to bed every night with Vanessa. Marcel warns him not to get too comfortable. Joey is stepping into Doug's life. A reckless mistake could become costly. Joey doesn't want to think about that. He needs Marcel to keep Leslie busy. He doesn't want her invading his life constantly. She needs the distraction. Marcel knows how to fulfill that role. Yet it's more engaging when Eva warns her mother that consequences are bound to catch up to her eventually. She can't always expect everything to work out for her even though that's been the main story for over a year now.
Kat wants to move in with her grandparents. She hasn't found a place that satisfies her. Chelsea and Madison deserve their privacy as an engaged couple. Kat is the only one rushing this decision. It's better for her to leave even though Dani's guest house may not be where Chelsea and Madison want to settle. Anita and Vernon welcome Kat. She wants to be there for them. She doesn't want to miss out on any more precious moments. The construction noises serve as a reminder of her vitriol towards Leslie. Anita and Vernon don't try to silence her anger. They simply explain that they've already tried everything to get the construction to stop. They don't want this invasion in their lives. They don't want Leslie as their neighbor. They gave up. Kat serves as a reminder that Vernon can still call in favors. It's once again him going to Bill. He expects him to fix this problem. He believes he can find a legitimate loophole. He doesn't have to make an unsavory deal with Joey to handle Leslie. Vernon is confident in Bill's abilities when he's sufficiently motivated. He needs that to be the case here. He can't afford any lazy decisions. He demands that even though he's tried all of this before to no avail.
Grade: C+
Episode 2.048
Deanna's enraged upon discovering her mother is dating Joey. It disrespects Doug's memory. It doesn't matter that the family and their loved ones gather for the dedication. The mood shifts immediately once Deanna learns the truth. She can't process it. She hates being the last to know. No one else is surprised by this news. Donnell explains that they were trying to protect her. They were gentle because of how broken she was. She needs to know that others are grieving too. They aren't doing it the same way as her. Vanessa and Donnell have found things to give them purpose. That has helped them remain grounded. Deanna has struggled in that regard. Everyone hopes for the best. Vanessa can't force her daughter to accept her decisions. Nicole will make nice with Joey out of respect for her friend. She's there to comfort her after Deanna's outburst. It provides more backstory for Kial as well. That actually produces quite a bit of depth. It becomes effortless to see Nicole and Kial as a couple. They are building something that acknowledges the pain of the past while keeping the stakes manageable in the present. Kial didn't talk to anyone following his wife's death. He had to remain strong for his kids. Now, he's grateful to know Nicole. She's helping him make space for new possibilities without lingering on this trauma.
This episode produces more instances of praise for Leslie and an apology from Kat. It's weird. The balance is off. Yes, it's encouraging to see a different side of Leslie. She has fun making others uncomfortable. She's needlessly combative. She doesn't have to be that way. Eva is proud of what she says during the opening of the clinic. It highlights how the person behind this project understands what the patients are going through. Eva has defended her mother for everything she has done. She feels rewarded for doing so now. Leslie shared some humanity. That's all Eva ever wants from her. Meanwhile, Kat is meant to feel bad for not even considering Tomas' feelings when she decided to move in with Vernon and Anita. He sees her behavior as erratic. She jumps from one idea to the next. She's committed to living with her grandparents. She has made that decision. She shares the news with Chelsea and Tomas. It's sudden but that's how she lives. Chelsea accepts that even though Kat's reasons keep changing. Tomas wants to be included. Kat isn't making that space for him. Again, that shows how they aren't compatible. Yet it also culminates in Kat apologizing when she did nothing wrong.
Grade: B
Episode 2.049
Once again, Ashley finds herself in a relationship with someone she believes is honest but who is actually lying to her. Both Jacob and Lia warn Grayson about this relationship. For Jacob, he's trying to protect his friend. He doesn't want Ashley to get caught up in Grayson's criminal business. For Lia, she sees a potential distraction that takes him away from work. That includes both at the hospital and with the smuggling operation. Her threat carries more weight because it promises death. That's the outcome if he doesn't deliver. That's how serious these criminals are. Grayson is desperate for money. That still isn't enough to provide adequate care for his mother. Meanwhile, Jacob's riding high believing he has won Grayson over as an ally. That's enough for him to invite Naomi over. That could quickly become a costly mistake if they aren't careful. He still can't go into detail about the investigation. It's enough to tease the power of this connection. He could pass along his own concerns about Grayson. Coupled with Derek's thoughts, that could motivate Naomi into action. That's a possibility for the future. Right now, it's more concerning that Grayson took a private tour of the clinic. Derek only sees red flags. He's not a trustworthy source of concern as it pertains to Ashley. He can't be seen as objective because of his past lies.
Similarly, Donnell suspects Vanessa is keeping secrets about Joey just like she did with Doug. So much was hidden from the twins in the name of protecting them from Doug's addiction. They're angry. Donnell ensured Deanna got back on a train to college. He offers an update to his mother. This behavior is out of character for Deanna. Donnell and Vanessa know that even though the audience doesn't. We have to take them at their word. That's frustrating. It suggests Deanna isn't solely driven by her anger towards Vanessa dating so soon after Doug's death. She immediately sees Joey as a manipulator. Vanessa insists he isn't. She loves him. She presses for his family history. He suffered from an abusive father who believed in traditional family roles. He's estranged from his sister who wanted to follow in their father's footsteps. He remains connected to the mob because of his father. He could never explore anything else. His self-preservation instincts are key. That's why Vernon encourages Martin to explore a bid for U.S. Senate. Joey won't do anything to compromise his investment in the family. Martin promises to be a voice for his constituents. He won't be beholden to Joey's demands. This is another conversation about the future. He doesn't need to make a decision right now. The offer is simply out there.
Grade: B-
