Emergency surgery is required to save a life. Nicole's update worries Samantha and Tyrell. Dani battles a guilty conscience. Joey's sister pays him a visit. The tornado displaces Bill and Hayley. Kat rages at Izaiah. Kial is there for Nicole. Ted begs his daughter to do something for him. Dani confronts Bill. Chelsea is a sounding board for her cousin. Carlton tips Nicole off to an urgent matter. Anita advises her granddaughter. Kat receives life-altering information. The Hawthornes come together for one of their own.
Episode 2.108
Kat and Eva haven't gotten along from day one. They don't like each other. Kat never hides that. She makes it perfectly clear to everyone why she dislikes Eva. She's loving to her family members even when they pressure her to make nice with her sister. Meanwhile, Eva insists she only has good intentions with Kat. That's the perception she creates when trying to justify herself to other people. When she's actually with Kat, nearly every interaction includes Eva rolling her eyes behind Kat's back. Neither one of them has been perfect. They've both made mistakes. Kat has been more consistent. She's not looking to please other people. She doesn't want Eva to die though. In fact, she regrets not being nicer to her when they were trapped in the stairwell. She shows up at the hospital wanting to know about Eva's condition. It's bleak. She requires a liver transplant. Otherwise, she might die. Leslie attacks Kat for being disingenuous. Ted can't allow a vicious assault on his daughter when the other is fighting for her life. Everyone must remain strong for Eva. Leslie is offered a moment of true self-reflection when she acknowledges all the bad things she has done might interfere with God answering her prayers. Izaiah extends so much grace to her nevertheless.
Meanwhile, Martin has suffered a concussion. He was fine until he passed out. He was unconscious for awhile. Anita and Vernon are upset when the family didn't tell them about the crisis right away. They're proud other Duprees were capable of stepping up and managing the situation. If they had stayed at the club for another minute, they too would have seen the concerning state Martin was in. When he wakes up, he's determined to continue with the primary. Madison orders him to rest. He must return to the hospital if any symptoms worsen. His family will be making sure he complies. Nicole picks up Tyrell and Samantha. The family reunites at the hospital. They are all safe. Every Dupree survived the tornado. Elsewhere, Vanessa won't relax until she hears from her kids. Deanna was calling until she finally got through. The tornado put things into perspective for her. It highlighted what matters. That's all shattered when she overhears Joey. Immediately, she doubts her mother's sincerity. The audience knows better. We got to experience it. It also occurs alongside Joey being cavalier and already thinking of more Young and the Restless characters who might show their appreciation for saving Abby's life.
Grade: A-
Episode 2.109
Ted and Leslie aren't a match. They can't donate part of their livers to Eva. Martin and Andre aren't in any condition to donate either. They both feel compelled to be there for family. Dani tells Andre he needs to prioritize his own recovery. He needs rest. That should be his focus. She will update him about Eva. He was right to talk things through with Ted after Kat called. Kat didn't want to be the only option left. That's precisely the position she's put in. She communicates these fears before it becomes a reality. Smitty trusts that she will do the right thing. Kat isn't sure. Martin isn't taking his health seriously at all. He stubbornly refuses to spend the night in the hospital. He remains in the building because of Eva. That allows more people to monitor him. It won't entirely be on Smitty. Yet Martin unloads on Kat for being selfish. He doesn't consider her feelings whatsoever. He sees her as a pampered princess just like Leslie and Eva. That's such a cutting moment. He never has her back. He always assumes she has petty intentions. Her concerns aren't valid. She doesn't know if she wants to donate an organ to Eva. She feared she didn't do enough when they were trapped. Ted comforted her. He knows his daughter. She did the best she could in that situation.
Kat wants another family member to step up. Smitty acknowledges that a complete stranger may be able to save Eva's live. He gets tested because he can't allow Martin to be alone. Izaiah wanted to step up as well. He was ruled out quickly due to his blood type. He needs Eva to wake up. She looks fragile while hooked up to a ventilator. He tries to keep Leslie grounded. She still falls apart. She got her hopes up about saving her daughter's life. Izaiah isn't the one immediately pressuring Kat. He still wants her to make the same decision. She has so much to think about and her brother isn't giving her the time to process. Just because he responds instinctively doesn't mean he can judge his sister for behaving differently. They are opposites in that regard. That has led to a lot of danger for him. Kat's been overly cautious. It's almost been to a fault. She has a valid fear. The audience knows that. Martin should as well. He doesn't. That's heartbreaking. Kat is there for family even when they don't support her. That's coming to the forefront of the story once more. That's where all of the immediate action is. Elsewhere, Bill and Dani are grappling with guilt differently. It's obviously a bomb waiting to go off. Right now, Dani feels the pressure to keep it a secret. At least for the night. That's what Vanessa suggests.
Grade: B+
Episode 2.110
The Duprees never reckoned with Kat refusing to get tested for the BRCA gene. It became moot after Nicole tested negative. The same exact conversation is happening now. Kat doesn't want to donate a part of her body. It's pointless to even get tested to see if she's a match. She isn't going to change her mind. Martin called her selfish. He and Izaiah believe she is just being petty. This is her way of getting revenge on Eva. This remains a pattern within the family. Kat holds firm to her beliefs even when everyone is pressuring her to change. Ted, Nicole and Martin told her to forgive all the animosity caused by Leslie and Eva. One day, she might need her sister. Now, Eva's the one in need. The family rallies around her. Kat doesn't want Eva to die. She affirms that repeatedly. Everyone acts as if Kat is the only viable option left. She tells Izaiah to start contacting the next people in line. This doesn't have to be entirely on her. Ted, Martin and Izaiah pressure her because they don't understand. It's incredibly mean and coercive. They can't accept no for answer. Ted tries to lead with empathy. Kat knows the conversation will be the same. She doesn't want Nicole because she won't be any different. She believes she has to ask for forgiveness for not changing her mind. She wants the family to be fine with her decision. They refuse. The pressure continues. That only leaves Kat feeling like spare parts. She's not a member of the family they love and cherish.
Everything happening with Kat is heartbreaking. No one is in her corner. That's partly because she doesn't let people in. Even when she does, distance remains. Tomas wasn't desperately panicking when she was missing during the tornado. The family was freaking out while his perspective was never the focus. Kat sent him away because she thought he would be of better service elsewhere. Martin believes she's running from the hard decisions that must be made as an adult. Instead, she's escaping because no one respects her bodily autonomy. She doesn't want to submit to this surgery. It's emotional as she pleads her case. She's not even entirely sure of her feelings. She certainly has more self-discovery to do. The pressure is intense because the situation is extreme. Shanice notes that Eva remains in stable condition. Options remain. It requires letting people in who are willing to donate. Nicole has her guard up as well. Kial has to push to let her express herself. She only previously relied on Ted in that regard. She's grateful for Kial. Ashley needs Jan to give her permission to respond to Grayson. She needs her mother to care for her when she's prioritizing everyone else. These bonds are crucial. They are being tested now.
Grade: A-
Episode 2.111
Kat wants to talk things out with someone looking out for her best interests. She doesn't want this conversation to be centered around Eva. Yes, her half-sister will die without a new liver. The men in the family believe Kat is being selfish. Her conversation with Chelsea is illuminating. It actually suggests that her father and brother are right. It's a somewhat stunning reversal. Kat suggests she wouldn't have any doubts if anyone else in the family needed this. Her doubts stem from not liking Eva. That's a painful admission. Chelsea offers more compassion. She's not the perfect sounding board either. She believes Nicole will serve better in that role. It's doubtful given the way Nicole has treated Kat's feelings in the past. The situation now requires Nicole to direct Kat onto the path to getting tested. It's treated as her respecting Kat's decision. She allows Kat to come to it on her. Kat knows Eva would not save her life if the roles were reserved. She's certain in that. Nicole reasons that Kat also believes the sisters are nothing alike. As such, she can't base her decision on what Eva has done or what Eva would do. It's actually a rewarding moment where Nicole helps Kat realize things about herself. That doesn't mean Ted, Leslie and Izaiah deserve the gratification of seeing Kat return to the hospital to get tested. They are certain she will be a match. None of them were. They put the pressure entirely on her. She's seeing what her options really are. She's not committing to the surgery.
The worst thing Bill could do to Dani is turn her into him. She doesn't want to be a cheater. She doesn't want to break Andre's heart. Bill is cavalier about the whole situation. He jokes about it. Dani needs him to treat it seriously. If he ruins her life yet again, then she will truly unleash all of her vitriol on him. Bill wants to see this as just like all the previous times Dani has declared she was over him. She says that only for them to reconnect. They have kissed multiple times since the divorce. She's kept that secret. It escalated during the tornado. She wants to write it off as an impulsive decision. She wasn't thinking clearly. Bill wanted to satisfy her if they were to die in the elevator. They survived. Dani understands the weight of what she did. She doesn't want Bill spoiling her happiness. She brags about how good Andre is for her. He saved her. She feels guilty about what she did. Bill doesn't care if his own marriage implodes. He doesn't see cheating as a big deal. Dani always forgave him. As such, his expectations are off. Hayley is different. He doesn't think about her whatsoever. Dani takes her marriage more seriously. She forces Bill into silence. He complies only because he doesn't want to hurt her. He loves her too much to do that again. That's not entirely reassuring though.
Grade: B
Episode 2.112
Kat has always been clear with her boundaries. This week saw numerous people push past them. They demanded everything from her. They saw her as the only viable solution to save Eva. Kat is the only one who can donate. For a moment, Ted and Leslie get their hopes up. A donor from the registry has been found. Kat won't have to make this life-changing decision. That hope doesn't last. The doctor later informs Ted and Leslie that the liver was directed to another patient. Time is still running out for Eva. That moment offers a solid showcase for Trisha Mann-Grant. Despite the many frustrations with Leslie, the problem has never been the acting. Leslie's righteous furor at the doctor is understandable. She can't fix this problem. She's absolutely powerless. That doesn't make up for the fact that she would cut Kat up for parts. Kat knows that. She can't be at the hospital while she weighs this decision. She can't involve people who are invested in the outcome. Anita and Vernon don't know what's going on with Eva. They're sorry Kat has to make this decision. Anita connects this choice to the guilt she carried for years over Barbara's death. She doesn't want that same agony for her granddaughter. This conversation allows Kat to accept what must be done. In doing so, she proves all of her attackers right. The relentless pressure they put on her was heinous. They're grateful. That doesn't mean Kat should easily forgive them. That appears to be what happens though as she allows Martin in before the surgery.
This week was about Kat's journey. She ultimately decided to donate her liver. She wasn't doing it for Leslie or Eva. It was out of love for Ted. She can't let him down even though he has failed to honor the woman she is. He can only be gracious. This entire story should create more tension within the family. This episode suggests it will all have a heartwarming ending. That was true with the gathering of the Duprees in Kat's room. That was true with Leslie and Izaiah talking to Eva before she heads into surgery. It's also true with Elon and Darlene showing up for Izaiah. They have important jobs. Nothing is more important than being there for their son. They need to show how proud they are of him fighting so fiercely for the person he loves. They admire his resolve. This is the potential first step to easing tensions. That intensity and purpose is felt. Whenever the narrative cut away to other drama, it felt trivial. It's pointless when Naomi overhears Hayley's frustration over not being able to hide her poison. Hayley's explanation of grieving Derek's death should not be believed. Yet it's unclear if that will be explored whatsoever. It's so completely tangential to everything else happening. Hayley doesn't take anything seriously. And so, the viewer shouldn't really connect with her either.
Grade: B+
