Hayley gets an upsetting surprise and turns to Randy for help. Jacob faces a struggle between work and family. Naomi seeks out Grayson for information. Ted and Shanice clash over their ideals. Martin fears for Smitty's future, while questioning his own. Leslie offers to throw Eva a party. Martin and Smitty prepare for a big event with Vernon. Hayley reveals some shocking news. Leslie probes for gossip about Ted and Shanice. Joey takes care of business.
Episode 2.197
Fairmont Crest feels personal to the Impaler. Naomi and Jacob realize that. For a decentralized global criminal operation, it's a risk to focus so much on one place. The Impaler struck once more. Smitty has been framed for murder. Renewed attention has been brought to this case. Grayson thought he was free for good. He remains haunted by what happened to Derek. That could have been him. He got out. He's free to start a new life with Ashley. Naomi needs to believe he must know something that can help Smitty. He offers theories. The Impaler targets a specific type: medical professionals with debt. The prison system has that. Someone on the inside must be working for the Impaler. That explains how Lia got access to the drugs. Jacob believes all of this is happening right under his nose. He felt pressure to make an arrest. He betrayed his partner believing it was what he had to do. Bill offers support while poking holes in the case. Jacob has no evidence that Smitty gained anything from giving the pills to Lia. Meanwhile, Heather finally makes her introduction. Bill and Jacob question her immediately. They don't know what to make of her. Joey knows not to give her what she wants. In depriving her of that, he's also rejecting Vanessa's efforts to heal the strained relationship.
Ted thinks he's found the perfect house in Fairmont Crest. He saw it without Shanice. She has different ideas for the home she wants to live in. The house shouldn't make a statement to the other people in the community. She's not trying to rub anyone's noses in her privilege. She wants to come home to relax. She can't do that in a mansion. She's not comfortable employing a staff either. She feels she would get lost in a big house. Ted has only known that living arrangement. It was true in his childhood and during his marriage to Nicole. He assumed a lot. This already promises to be a big change for Shanice. He doesn't recognize that as often as he should. A big change occurs for Hayley too. She's furious that Bill got her pregnant. It ruins all of her plans. Randy sees it as a blessing. Becoming a parent is life-changing. Hayley has enough awareness to know the psychological damage it will inflict to live with a parent who didn't want children. This baby will tie her to Bill forever. The financial connection will be meaningful. She wants that. She doesn't want to sacrifice her body to get it. That's the best way to handle this situation. She will offer Bill a chance at redemption if he pays her. She grows comfortable with the idea even as Randy's message doesn't really get through. She refuses to change her ways. That's abundantly clear. Using this pregnancy is her latest scheme.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.198
Everyone has a craving for french toast at the country club. That produces a couple awkward run-ins. No one was expecting Hayley there. She's not ready to make a grand announcement either. The hatred still runs deep. She later outlines her need to gather more evidence beyond a positive pregnancy test. She can't allow anyone to doubt her reveal after she faked a pregnancy previously. Randy is seemingly onboard. He's once again her emergency contact. She reaches out to him whenever she's in trouble. He lies on her behalf too. He tells Vanessa he had nothing to do with Hayley poisoning Bill. He cares about Vanessa. She has protected him from Joey's wrath. Hayley doesn't think he owes Vanessa anything. He feels differently. That's not enough to share the truth. Meanwhile, Bill's perspective has shifted. He agreed to the Tia Allen interview because he wanted to uplift Dani. He aimed to show his appreciation for her without needing anything in return. He's devastated that he hurt her again. She's tired of having the same fights. She no longer wants to dwell on the past. She advises him to do the same. They can't escape it. It keeps pulling them back together. Vernon is confident his daughter has finally broken free. She certainly shows less emotion upon hearing Bill's apology. She's no longer volatile. She cares about him. He also takes up less space in her mind than ever before.
Heather strives to insert herself into more drama. She can't help but get involved. She won't let others enjoy a moment of peace. Martin reaches out to Andre to learn about Ted's wedding plans. Ted doesn't want to bother Martin with anything. Martin wants the distraction. He's terrified Smitty will be sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. It's become much more real. The family is there to support them. Andre offers that reassurance. He also issues his own warning about Heather. She can't be trusted. He says it's just a gut feeling. It's so much more than that. She's determined to get what she wants. It doesn't matter how many times Andre and Joey reject her. She's still going after them. She's managed to find her own enjoyment out of the hunt. That's unnerving. Elsewhere, Nicole doesn't purposefully insert herself into Ted and Shanice's lives. She always runs into them. She can't avoid the developments happening. Shanice had her concerns about life behind the gates. Yet she and Ted found a perfect home. It was a compromise that satisfied what they need nevertheless. They were excited to do it together. Nicole looks wistfully when they leave the hospital. Ashley notices but Nicole deflects when asked about it.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.199
It's been a year since Eva and Izaiah met. They already marked the occasion last week. It didn't need to be brought up again. In fact, Eva and Leslie's conversation is identical to what they've discussed many times already. Eva acknowledges it would be in poor taste if Leslie staged an anniversary party at the club. They remark on how much things have changed for them in two years. They attribute that to embarrassing Ted and forcing him to acknowledge Eva as his daughter. He would have done that without publicly shaming the Duprees. That didn't reverse their fortunes either. That came from Leslie learning Barbara was her mother. That would have dramatically changed their lives no matter what. It doesn't matter when they came to Fairmont Crest. Change was bound to happen. This draws attention to how pointless some of the drama has been. It didn't need to happen. The biggest consequence was Ted and Nicole's divorce. That had to occur. Nicole hasn't changed all that much since then. Meanwhile, Ted's happily in love with Shanice. Eva and Leslie are in stable relationships too. They still have a penchant for drama. That's softened slightly. Now, it's mostly just annoyances. That hasn't done them much favors either. That makes it a waste when the narrative spends time with them without offering something new.
Martin and Vernon's conversation could be characterized the same way. It's different as Martin questions whether he deserves to be re-elected. Vernon allows him to get all his feelings out. Then, he presents the importance of Martin's perspective when it comes to legislating. His voice needs to be in the room. He will advocate strongly for his constituents because of what he and his family have endured. It's starting to sink in that Smitty could be imprisoned for a long time. Samantha wants to prepare for the worst. She wants her dad to teach her so much. He doesn't want to rush. He can't ignore the reality of the situation either. That compels him to act. That's not helpful. In fact, it could worsen his legal case. It's bad for him to travel to Mexico to find Max's cousin. Martin reassures him. Family will help him through this difficult time. Samantha leans on June too. That's nice while still being the same underlying message the show has delivered so far with this plot. Naomi questions her marriage as well. She's thrown upon learning how much resentment Jacob carries. Kat and Chelsea don't provide much advice. They want the family to rally around happy news. That's just not on the horizon given all of their struggles as of late.
Grade: C+
Episode 2.200
The Duprees can throw an event together quickly if they want to. It was just a day ago that Chelsea and Kat wanted Nicole to host a purse party while Martin and Vernon discussed a fireside chat to reassure voters. Both events now occur. One has more of a positive response than the other. Martin's campaign is very happy with Vernon's performance. The show keeps things pretty vague when it comes to politics. Vernon talks about Martin's platform but doesn't go into detail. The biggest drama comes from Smitty confronting Anastasia. She's always present at the country club. She attends every event. She wants to express her displeasure all the time. That's her function. It's Smitty's turn to call her out for her entitled attitude. It hasn't gotten her anything. It also highlights Smitty's willingness to be in public with Martin. The husbands stand united. Smitty needed that as he was willing to run away to Mexico. He had to take agency over his own case. That was a bad idea. He gets enough satisfaction from pointing out to Anastasia that he hasn't been convicted of anything. He has a right to be judged by a court of law. He won't be condemned in the court of public opinion. He's confident the evidence will prove his innocence. It remains a scary time. Moreover, Joey seems likely to do anything to get Martin re-elected. It wouldn't be surprised if he gets more involved in the last few days of the campaign.
The purse party is hijacked by the announcement of Hayley's pregnancy. Hayley isn't trying to contain the rumor. She simply must act fast once Leslie hears the news. She wanted Ashley or Shanice to break patient confidentiality. They don't. Instead, Kat fears Eva is pregnant upon seeing Leslie at Uptown. Leslie is ready to celebrate. She would only show this kind of affection to her daughter. Kat asks Izaiah for information. He's clueless. It's presented as more evidence of how close the two of them are as friends. Kat doesn't want to go to Leslie or Eva for the details. She eventually has to. She's late to her own party because she has to find out what Leslie is doing. That disrupts the peace the Duprees have. They thought they got away from Hayley for good. She just keeps coming. Bill remains skeptical. Hayley ran this con on him before. It was all in the name of setting up a trust that would never be fulfilled. Hayley wanted to steal that money. It's still all about the money for her. She must now convince Bill she wants to be a mother. That's something for him to navigate. It's not on Dani to handle that emotional fallout by his side. Anita reminds her of that.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.201
Everyone is certain Bill will love Hayley's child if the paternity test proves he's the father. He has always been there for Naomi and Chelsea. That caused a great deal of annoyance for Hayley during their marriage. He still had regrets about how he behaved when his girls were young. He has changed since Hayley was exposed for trying to kill him. He now doubts he can love a child as a result. Hayley needs to prove that parental instinct will kick in once Bill hears the heartbeat and gets the test results. No one believes her story. The family needs more evidence. They remain optimistic. This may not actually be happening. It is. Everyone would be better served by preparing for the worst now. That forces some awkward conversations. Chelsea doesn't know what's expected of her. Naomi is ready to confront Hayley. Dani rushes to check in on Bill yet again despite Anita and Nicole warning her to stay away. Bill is comfortable in sharing this confession with Dani. He was angry upon finding out. He wanted to beat information out of Randy. That wasn't productive. Bill grew up with a father who resented him. He doesn't think he can love a child if he feels the same way. He doesn't want the reminder of all Hayley did. That's all he can see. That may change. It's a drastically different reaction than what everyone was expecting. Dani's surprised. Meanwhile, Hayley's blissfully in the dark. She believes she has hit the jackpot once more.
Hayley's luck may not last long. She takes Leslie's friendship for granted. She blatantly flirts with Izaiah in front of Leslie and Eva. That makes Leslie incredibly territorial. They both flex over how lethal they can be. This friendship could turn deadly at any moment. It's best to remember that. Boundaries shouldn't be crossed. Leslie will do anything to protect her family. That love is genuine. Anita sees that when she bumps into Leslie later. She believes she's gracious for letting Leslie join the recording session. Leslie wants to feel connected to her mother. This may be the only opportunity to do so. She'll behave. Anita remains skeptical. Leslie hasn't proven herself as a changed woman. She's still capable of being a vicious individual who will protect what she cares about. That instinct has served her well in the past. It's no longer needed. It means Hayley would be foolish to test her patience. She also finds herself arguing with Randy over whose plan it was to initially con Bill. That doesn't matter. It's all driven by Hayley's need to look out for herself. She's loyal to no one. Randy demands respect. That can only be shown through getting paid. No one trusts him. He has to protect himself too. Vanessa won't stand in the way if Joey decides Randy is more trouble than he's worth.
Grade: B-
