While making choices for the future, Bill must confront his troubled past. Martin tries a tactic to help Naomi with Smitty's case. Hayley is ready to run free until she meets a mysterious roadblock. Jacob is thrown by a surprising phone call. Chelsea and Kat come to Bill for help, while Tomas leaves his lover spurned. Hayley isn't buying what Leslie is selling. Dani stands her ground when Bill tries to flip the script. Nicole has tender words for Kat. Joey and Heather go head to head.
Episode 2.207
Bill doesn't like to talk about his childhood. The adults know his story. His father was emotionally abusive. He was devastated when his mother died. A family wasn't created simply because a baby was born. Bill still carries those scars. He thought he had worked through his issues. The betrayal from Hayley has revealed how little he has addressed. He has all the time to process these feelings now. He's alone. He's determined not to have anything to do with Hayley's child. He gets the test results back about the paternity. He fathered this baby. He reaches out to Caroline for emotional support. He opens up. She didn't know all these details about his past either. She was complicit in his cheating. He apologizes for what he forced her to do on his behalf. She tries to convince him that he is an amazing father. He lucked out by having two girls. Last year, he wondered what it would be like to have a son. He made peace with not having children with Hayley. All of these issues are brought to the surface once more. Drinking only increases the despair. He wants pity. Caroline offers tough love. Bill is nothing like his father. He has proven that in his actions as a parent. Things don't have to be any different now. Bill can't imagine any moment in his marriage to Hayley without flashing to the moment he almost died. That rage still holds a prime spot in his heart.
This episode could function as a recap of what's going on in these characters' lives. It's more expositional than emotional. Timon Kyle Durrett makes that pivot so the grueling reality of Bill's situation is agonizing and prevalent. It's pretty astonishing. He continues to prove how solid a utility player he is amongst this ensemble. Bill's story is at the center of this drama. Anita and Vernon don't need to get involved. When they do, it's only to offer their support to Naomi and Chelsea. They know how everyone will react. Naomi will be analytical. She will follow whatever her father decides. She won't think her feelings on the matter are relevant. Chelsea will carry the emotional uncertainty. She's only focused on the baby. She advocates for the innocence of the child. That has to be a factor in the decision. She doesn't understand her father's choice. That isolates her. It's only upon hearing the truth that she has empathy. Bill wanted to protect his girls from the ugly truth of his upbringing. And yet, it serves as the perfect explanation for this decision. He may come to regret his choice. Naomi and Chelsea walk away with a better understanding of their father. He doesn't share that with them. Dani sees the relevance. It eases the situation for the moment which is what her daughters needed.
Grade: B
Episode 2.208
Hayley is tired of the holier-than-thou attitude from the Duprees. She knows they are just as ruthless as she is. They will do whatever it takes to maintain their status. They go after what they want. They don't care who gets hurt. That's not true. The narrative points out constantly how empathetic the Duprees are. It's almost to a fault. That's who they were raised to be. That's the example Anita and Vernon set. The family matriarch doesn't appreciate the insinuation. Moreover, it proves Hayley is willing to use what she knows against the Duprees. They aren't safe. The threat hasn't been contained. Hayley now says she plans on being a mother. Randy convinces her there is a way to get rich through this pregnancy. He doesn't have all the details sorted out. It's unnerving when she realizes she's being tailed. She's convinced it's Joey. It's the logical explanation. Randy's in the dark. He doesn't know everything. His word isn't good enough for Joey. He's still helping his cousin. She shouldn't panic upon learning Bill has terminated his parental rights. She will remain protected if she chooses to remain in this child's life. She can't escape. She is destined to remain in Fairmont Crest. She hasn't made peace with that. She wants control. She doesn't have it any longer. That motivates her to use what she knows to get that feeling back.
Martin desperately wants to help Smitty. When Max finally calls back, Martin records the conversation. Naomi only sees problems. Smitty and Max were talking on a burner she didn't know about. Martin will have to be involved with the legal case to verify the recording. That's if the case makes it that far. Smitty fears he must accept this punishment from the Impaler. He can't escape this trap. He's destined to lose. Martin and Naomi don't want him thinking like that. He trusts their judgment. They are risking their lives to help. Naomi believes going to Mexico and talking with Max will be beneficial. He just has to affirm what he already said on the recording. He doesn't want to be involved in this crime ring. He got out. He doesn't want to tempt fate. He's afraid to return to D.C. Naomi believes she has narrowed down his location. It's completely preposterous. The show just needed to bring those points together. It didn't matter how. And so, Naomi and Martin are off on a mission. Jacob has a friend in Mexico City willing to monitor them. He wants to know what she's doing. He can't. She must maintain the privacy of her client. That line is blurred more often than not though. Jacob's earnest attempt at protection may not go over how he expects it either.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.209
Nicole and Ted are surprised to hear Dani didn't immediately run to Bill when Andre gave her permission. Dani is considering her husband's feelings. She knows the pain he will feel even as his words are compassionate. It's not a matter of his feelings. Bill's in pain and needs to be surrounded by loved ones. Dani wonders if she's the right person to help put him back together. Nicole knows her sister can't be objective. Dani, Naomi and Chelsea have their own complicated feelings about the matter. Bill can't lean on them for emotional support. They are his family. They will be there for him. The best way for him to process is with a neutral partner. Nicole recommends a therapist. That's the incentive for Dani to see her ex-husband. She has a reason. Chelsea comes up with an excuse to check in. It wasn't urgent to send a cease and desist letter to a company making knockoff ChelseaKat bags. She could wait until Naomi got back from Mexico. She wanted to see her dad. Kat wanted time with Tomas. He chose to prioritize work. That's what he always does. He believes the sacrifices he makes now will be worth it latter. Kat is growing impatient. It's mostly played for laughs as she can't get her sexual frustrations out. It's levity in comparison to everything else happening.
Martin and Naomi never considered the possibility they were followed to Mexico. It was pointed out by Max. Their presence puts his life in danger. They can't protect him. He didn't feel safe even in witness protection. He knows the Impaler has eyes and ears everywhere. He only trusts the one family member he has left. Martin and Naomi promised Smitty not to let anything happen to Max. Martin uses that to try to guilt him into cooperating. Heather was smart in using Max as the other figure in the doctored video. He was staying off the grid so no one could find him. He has no evidence for where he was. He wasn't in D.C. to give Smitty the pills. He can't verify where he actually was. Naomi and Martin are frustrated. Then, the evidence from the prosecutors arrives. Joey gives the order releasing it. It comes after he runs into Smitty. The reporter isn't handling the stress well. He appreciates how the family is looking after him. They're keeping him included. He's still spiraling. He has to trust that others will solve this problem. He's no longer in control. That's scary. Joey positions it all as a game. He can benefit because no one knows his involvement. That's no longer true for Hayley. She flails around because Bill knows better than to trust anything she says. She can't just repeat what Leslie expressed about the joy of parenthood.
Grade: B-
Episode 2.210
Heather has no intention of leaving the DMV. She's ordered remodels of the condo and Uptown to prevent them from being sold. Joey sees nothing keeping her around. She's attempting to delay the inevitable. She is no longer playing nice. She was already volatile. That increases now. She's no longer trying to be friends with Vanessa. Instead, she calls her out for being completely delusional. Joey is obviously lying to her. They aren't partners. Vanessa has concocted a fantasy that isn't real. It stings because it's true. Vanessa wants a happy Thanksgiving with her family. She asks Deanna to consider it. She wants to show off Joey's good qualities. Meanwhile, he can't look past what his sister has done. She has threatened his business. She's targeting Vanessa. That's even more dangerous. Joey loves Vanessa. It's not enough to share every detail. Plus, he killed Doug. He's so manipulative. He did it all in the name of love. It's always been incredibly toxic. Heather puts that in jeopardy. She won't allow him to function the way he always has. She could unravel all that he has built. He's not helpless either. They spar. Heather actually enjoys that. She believes Joey does too. They want to see who can get the better of the other. It's more personal for Joey. Heather is lashing out as she doesn't get what she wants. The narrative fixates on her wielding a knife too. The assault on the pillow isn't her first display of violence.
Dani has plenty of experience with emotionally volatility too. That felt like home for a long time. She's still getting adjusted to what happiness can be. She needs a reminder of how awful Bill can be. He directs his anger towards her. He picks a fight. It's better than looking inward. He rejects the suggestion of therapy. Nicole was right. Dani can't be the one to offer salvation to Bill. Their past is too complicated. Bill still blames Dani for driving him to cheat. She accepted that behavior which encouraged him to continue. That's a toxic trait. It's more successful when Ted visits and offers his brutal assessment. Bill won't be served well by blaming others for his mistakes. Nor does he deserve any grace for accepting his past mistakes. He will have to live with them. That's not punishment enough. Atonement requires more. As such, all of these issues continue to pop even though he thought he addressed them previously. He can't explain it. He doesn't seek out someone who can help either. That's in contrast to Kat. She seeks her mother's counsel even though it's awkward talking about her relationship. She just needs to relax and stop worrying about what the future might hold. It's comforting even as Shanice also hears about Kat's conflicted feelings towards the wedding.
Grade: B+
