Nicole teams up with Madison to help Chelsea. Andre defends his marriage. Dani goes on the prowl for proof. Naomi has an unexpected proposal for Hayley. Jacob consults with Nicole on his case. Hayley turns the tables. Dani doesn't hold back. Joey has a back-alley meeting. Jacob issues a bitter pill for Bill to swallow. Hayley enlists Tomas' help. Martin leans on Ted. Leslie puts her money where her mouth is. Hayley issues an ominous warning. Kat is fed up with Tomas.
Episode 2.172
Bill trusts Dani. He confides in her about his fears. He's afraid he's dying. He tells her everything about his health. She's alarmed by how frequently he passes out. The pacemaker hasn't needed to kickstart his heart. Something's happening within him that he doesn't understand. His body has slowly been failing him. Dani listens. She calls an ambulance when he experiences a seizure. She swears Nicole and Ted to secrecy. She's trying to honor Bill's wishes. She pushes to tell Naomi, Chelsea and Hayley that he's back in the hospital. He doesn't want them seeing him like this. Dani's offended. He's willing to subject her to this pain. He knows she will advocate for him. She didn't panic. She's obviously frightened. She still cares about Bill. Nicole worries about her sister. She sees mistakes being made. She hates that Dani has been sucked into Bill's orbit once more. Bill's words send Dani into action. It dawns on her that Hayley has been making Bill sick. He took out an insurance policy with Hayley as the sole beneficiary. Bill wants everything in order should he die. He needs Dani to know all of this to ensure his final wishes are honored. Dani sees a damning pattern that incriminates Hayley. It may finally be happening. Hayley's enjoying the spa at the club with Caroline while thirsting after Izaiah. She's carefree in comparison. But Dani knows what she's been up to. She always had her doubts. Now, she may finally have proof.
It's startling how significant Dani and Bill's scenes are in contrast to everything else. The rest of the narrative operates on a much more relaxed scale. Big developments are happening elsewhere. They just aren't doing so in this particular episode outside of Dani's realization about Bill's health. Sure, it's significant that Andre is once again in Heather's orbit. She won't let him avoid her. She also wants him to choose her. She isn't satisfied with the more conventional man he has become. She wants to reignite their passionate and spontaneous connection. He rejects her advances. He also fears what she'll do. He knows to be afraid of her. He and Dani could be in danger if Heather doesn't get what she wants. Joey understands that threat too. He keeps warning Vanessa to stay away. She still refuses to listen. She believes he's wrong about Heather just like Nicole was wrong about Joey. Of course, Nicole hasn't changed her opinion about Joey. She's simply not letting her concerns get in the way of her friendship with Vanessa. She can separate the two. That's more difficult with her feelings about Dani and Bill. In that regard, she needs Ted's guidance as he's eager to insert himself in her life once more.
Grade: B
Episode 2.173
Bill is determined to get to the bottom of his health issues. He had no control over being admitted to the hospital again. He wants to decide who gets to know. He wants to keep the circle tight. He only reaches out to Caroline. He wants Madison and Dani to keep his secret. He especially wants Hayley to stay out of the loop. He's only concerned about her being overwhelmed by the situation and disappointed by what their marriage has actually been. He doesn't suspect her of a devious action. Dani has connected the pieces. She's in pursuit of evidence. It's easy for her to grab the official documents affirming all that Hayley will inherit should Bill die. Dani knows Bill is a creature of habit. The mystery comes from Hayley. Dani doesn't know how Hayley is delivering the poison. She's grasping for any proof of her theory. She gets Naomi onboard. She hires her as her lawyer. Naomi shares Hayley's fake ultrasound. She also realizes how often Hayley's annoyed when someone else eats Bill's food. Naomi has been on the receiving end of that vitriol multiple times. Her health has never been jeopardized. Those actions always suggested that something could have happened given how big a dosage of the poison was. That never amounted to anything. Naomi's worried. She's largely concerned about what her mother will do if everything she says about Hayley is true.
Naomi can only keep Hayley distracted at the club for so long. Bill benefitted from Caroline spending the day with Hayley. Sure, some of that time was spent recovering from his seizures. They're happening more frequently. That's what elevates the stakes. He needs answers now. Naomi and Madison aren't good liars. Naomi and Hayley only have so many things they can talk about. They worry about Bill. That's all they have in common. Naomi issues a fake apology for outing Hayley's secret. Beyond that, she tries to be agreeable while Dani snoops through Bill and Hayley's home. Dani is still caught. She didn't get out in time. Naomi already plans on rescuing her with Jacob's help. It's highly dramatic and scandalous. This is the second time Dani has been caught trespassing. She could suffer serious consequences. Saving her may prevent too much animosity from being directed towards Jacob now that he's been questioning Smitty. Nicole assisted in creating a profile of the Impaler. She doesn't want to be involved any further. She's loyal to the family. She's concerned about the personal dynamics involved. These characters can't control the narrative. Their secrets will be exposed no matter what. They put others in terrible positions and have to be fine with the consequences. That means Dani getting caught by Hayley and Chelsea confronting Bill for being secretive about his health.
Grade: B
Episode 2.174
We've needed this energy from Hayley for a long time. She finally gets to drop the act and behave as her true self. That's just been contained to small moments previously. The camera would linger on her smirking or rolling her eyes. It conveyed her true feelings on the particular interaction. It never built on anything. Now, she delights in pulling off her mission. She no longer has to pretend with Dani. Bill's ex-wife figured it out. He was being poisoned by Hayley. Dani was caught in a dangerous situation. She was at Hayley's mercy. Hayley was the one now wielding a gun. The roles have been reversed from the wedding. Once again, the person holding the weapon is arrested by Jacob. It's a little ridiculous given Dani broke into the house. That's the more immediate crime. She's detained at the station too. Jacob needs time to sort all of this out. He deescalates the situation. He does so by placing Hayley in handcuffs. He and Naomi weren't present when Hayley was boasting of her achievement. Dani still doesn't have any evidence. It's her word against Hayley's. That's true until Hayley gets caught trying to get rid of the poison. Jacob doesn't catch it during his brief pat down. Instead, Marcel gets to be the hero. He wasn't distracted. He was in the right place at the right time. Dani knows it will be identified as poison. Madison can effectively treat Bill. This horror show is coming to an end.
Hayley exudes confidence. She doesn't know Bill is in the hospital. She sees this as the latest battle with the Duprees. Jacob is protecting his family. She won't answer any of his questions. She'll wait for her lawyer. It's outrageous to believe Tomas will help her get out of this situation. She tried to get him fired. She's accused of trying to kill his mentor. Everyone at the firm is devoted to Bill. Caroline doesn't have a life outside of him. Everyone is still entitled to a defense. Hayley will try to escape accountability. It should be fun seeing her response. She's finally allowed to go big with her actions. Bill doesn't even know this happened. He's already feeling remorseful about not knowing Hayley before abandoning Dani. His ex-wife truly loved him. He repaid her by destroying their family. He can't reckon with the idea that it was all a lie. He needs it to be more. Chelsea relates. She too was traumatized and forced to analyze past interactions in a new light. She extends grace to her father when he wants to be private with his response. He has to verbalize all of this for it to sink in. Furthermore, Andre contacts Joey believing he can help him avoid the fallout from Heather. He wants to keep Dani save. That devotion is evident. Joey sees it. This new deal may not amount to much. It too offers something refreshing and new. That makes this an upgrade from what the narrative has been offering lately.
Grade: B+
Episode 2.175
Even after his conversation with Chelsea, Bill's reluctant to believe the worst about Hayley. Dani knew she would need proof to convince him. Even with that, he's holding out hope until the last possible second. He lived with Hayley. He loved her. He didn't care what anyone else thought. He gave her everything. He doesn't want to believe he was a mark. The feelings needed to be real. It couldn't all be a lie. He arrives at acceptance. He's present when Jacob arrests Hayley for attempted murder. This isn't a time for Dani to gloat either. This isn't something she delights in being right about. She followed her instincts. She knew something wasn't right. It didn't add up. She has to share her harrowing story multiple times. It's the most personal and intimate with Bill. She has to convince him. He's already outraged because Jacob showed up with a warrant. He pledged to do whatever Madison advised. Now, she has a new course of treatment. This poison explains everything that's been happening with his health. An answer has finally been found. That's worth celebrating. It also tears his world apart. Naomi can't fathom why Tomas would agree to represent Hayley. He's kept out of the loop. His client hasn't been truthful about the charges she's facing. Her act can no longer wiggle her out of consequences. The case is just too damning against her.
Bill isn't the only one who must reckon with what Hayley's deception means. Naomi and Dani spent all night together at the police station. They raced to get the truth. They now finally have time to breathe. Anita and Vernon see that as a hopeful sign. Bill finally has answers. That means everyone will be less stressed about the uncertainty surrounding him. The past will finally stop weighing down the present. Andre isn't relieved. Heather still threatens his marriage. The love Dani and Andre have for each other is real. It's powerful. That doesn't mean they are destined to survive all of this as a couple. Ted tells Martin that these struggles have the potential to strengthen a marriage. He needs to trust Smitty as he faces the unknown. The family will remain strong. These relationships won't falter. Martin extends the same compassion towards Naomi. She needs a hug to decompress. She still has so much to do. It's all completely overwhelming. Chelsea remains in the dark. She doesn't know about the horror inflicted on her family yet. The Duprees will rally like they always do. Meanwhile, Leslie confidently strolls into the police station and eats a donut while Hayley is arrested. She's not involved. She inserts herself into this drama. It's actually delightful and campy. That's the energy the show needs more of more often. It's delivered in droves here.
Grade: A-
Episode 2.176
Bill only has one question for Hayley: why? He will never find a satisfactory answer. She's still trying to manipulate him despite being caught with the poison and charged with attempted murder. She doesn't have as many friends or resources as she hoped in this situation. She always expects Randy to drop everything to come save her. He's her one phone call. Joey almost killed him for stealing money previously. He apparently hasn't learned his lesson. He once again steals from Joey to give money to Hayley. She didn't stash anything away for this possibility. Instead, she's at Leslie's complete mercy. It's not genuine when Leslie proclaims female solidarity. She delights in seeing Bill punished. She still holds onto so much animosity over what happened decades ago. Eva doesn't hold onto that anger. Leslie sees the benefit to having Hayley as a friend. That's true even after the truth has finally been revealed. Hayley's villainy is only just getting started. She shows up in Bill's hospital room even though he wants nothing to do with her. She's not going to go away quietly. She has some plan for how to emerge from all of this without significant jail time. That tease will have to wait to be revealed fully. She's confident. She's certain she can still emotionally manipulate Bill. It's better for the family to believe everything was a lie. Hayley's deception started from the moment she befriended Naomi. Everyone was blind to her true nature. It almost turned deadly. Fortunately, Dani was still looking out for her ex-husband. She hopes her current husband will continue to understand why.
Tomas expects Kat to understand why he agreed to be Hayley's defense counsel. She accepted Naomi's version of events. They keep misunderstanding each other. Their intentions don't matter. They just keep fighting over perceived slights. It's getting tired for both of them. Tomas wanted Kat to believe he was changing. He was no longer feeding into his one-sided feud with Naomi. Kat's actions suggest she was once again siding with her family over her relationship. He doesn't like that. That's a fundamental misunderstanding of what family means to Kat. They aren't a good couple. Their breakup has been a long time coming. It still hasn't occurred. It's a little forced to have them get entangled with this Bill and Hayley mess. Bill knows he'll be on the receiving end of a lot of gloating and vindication. Many people have been warning him about Hayley. He refused to listen. She had to be caught with the poison on her for him to change his opinion. He expects the comeuppance to be double from Kat. Dani will have plenty to say too. Right now, the focus is on him getting well. That's the priority so he can hear from everyone about how wrong he was.
Grade: B
