I had to watch the episode in short bursts, because people kept needing me for things.
Iām gonna ramble about everything that happened for each character but first I just want to say that I loved hearing more of Triciaās singing voice this episode, she has been underutilized so far.
At the beginning of the show, Susan was very quickly cast as the pretty but mean popular girl jealous that her ex-boyfriend moved on. Then slowly, they did this thing that I REALLY love, where they gave her more depth, more complexity, and more dimension. They have shown us perfect Susan who works hard to maintain the status quo and please her mother (who is encouraging unhealthy relationships with food and slutshaming her daughter, seriously Mrs. St Clair can suck a rock). And now theyāve shown us another level to Susan, acknowledging that rich white families will ALWAYS do whatever it takes to protect their reputations. Her mother holds this over her head, but it was clearly a very traumatic, very difficult thing for her to do in secret without the support of anyone. Sure her parents made it so that she could get the abortion, but based on how weāve seen her mother treat her, we know Susan doesnāt get any real support and it makes her actions that much more heartbreaking. When she tries to stand up to her mother, and Olivia (who is neither right nor wrong in her reactions) doesnāt want to believe sheās changed, you can see that she accepts that. It isnāt until Olivia is a steps a little too over the line that she reveals the truth about what she witnessed. Susan is 16-17 and sheās hurt and sheās scared and sheās sad and I love her.
I donāt have much to say on her, except that she really is a sweetheart who deserves better friends. Honestly, sometimes a pity date with the bad boy of the school is way better than sitting there alone while your friends all have dates. Sheās so cute. Her poor nose and eye :(
Doing them together because they were together in all of their scenes. Hazel was giving Cinderella vibes. I appreciate the fact that while Wally doesnāt understand some of her Hazel-ness, he really seems genuinely interested in learning about her interests and getting her to at least attempt to enjoy his too. I loved their duet. I love that during the utter chaos that was the rest of the episode, they got to be in their little bubble where everyone pointed out that they are seemingly perfect for one another. I donāt normally trust media when it says stuff like that, but I actually really like them together.
I love her so so so much. Itās entirely relatable the way a crush can feel all consuming and irritating all at once. Her (and Cynthiaās) song was very much a highlight of the episode. I love that Nancy is just an all in type of person and she doesnāt really stop to hear a no for the answer. I do wish they would give her a little more depth. Theyāve done a good job with Susan and Jane and Olivia and Richie and Buddy. All we really know about Nancy is that she is incredibly headstrong, a very talented seamstress/ designer, the daughter of the owners of the frosty palace who may or may not be an only child, a Buddhist whoās not a fan of reading, āscaryā and although she hasnāt had much of a romantic life in the past, she has a big crush on Potato. ļæ¼Which is valid, because heās great. But still, I want to see a new dimension of Nancy with this new conflict within the Pink Ladies.
She is in the āshit I am gay but no one can know, especially not the person who made me realize itās trueā phase where she fights it HARD. Compulsive heterosexuality hurts. She needs someone to talk to, before she implodes further. That moment with Lydia made me so so sad, but thatās just a real part of quiet culture for someone. Cynthia is hurting, and that doesnāt give her a free pass to hurt Shy Guy like she did, but I understand it. Sheās gonna have to apologize bug time, when she comes around. Also, as always, I loved Ariās part in the duet.
Iāve decided that if her and Richie are twins, sheās the older one for sure. The ages are so hazy, or at least their grade levels, and Iām kinda confused. So my head cannon is that sheās the older twin. Which would explain her protectiveness over the Pink Ladies, without factoring in the slightly homosexual overtures to hers and Janeās friendship that is not present with the other PLs. Olivia hates Susan, and she does have reason for it. But that really doesnāt explain why she wouldnāt let Jane explain. Because people can change, and they can learn. But Olivia does NOT have forgive Susan, but she shouldāve given her so-called best friend a chance to explain. No matter what Susan said, Olivia had NO right to do what she did. She knows what the school is like once they realize you are a āslutā and she knew that the consequences always land on the girl (does she not remember the extent of the conversation at Dotās party??). Sorry that just made me so mad. And then to tell Richie what happened between Buddy and Jane :/Her moments with Gil were really sweet. But her going back to her abuser does not send a good message at all and I hope this is addressed before the season is over.
She did the right thing not going with either guy to the dance. She was unsure of her feelings for either and did not want to lead them on or hurt them by choosing too soon, and that was a mature decision. Her budding friendship with Susan is interesting and kind of ironic. Her accidentally confirming Olivia and Mr. Daniels is unfortunate, but also something that would reasonably happen to me because I am bad at de-escalation techniques. Jane is very much people pleaser, even after everything, so it makes sense that she would sort of defend Susan. Her coming home to Oliviaās jacket already on her porch (which like, hello Flash because how did she get there before Jane) was almost the opposite of the scene where Olivia brings Janeās jacket to her house. She did not even really register what Richie told her about Buddy and the election results (which like, how did he find out?)
He is a good guy. He respects Janeās space; he saw that Dot was devastated about her going dateless to the dance (which also sorta implies sheās never been if they previously had to have a date to register a ticket and she said her friends always had dates but not her). He was very kind to go with her, and go along with her quirks. Teenage jealously makes a person unsteady, and I am just glad someone told Jane the truth about Dick Aldridge.
I am still not his biggest fan, but man was he sad this episode. It seems like everyone is moving forward except him, which is expected when you realize most of your life is a lie. He needs a slap in the face and a hug.
-The others (Shy Guy, Potato, Mr. Daniels)
As for the rest: Potato remains one of my top guys; Shy Guy and Cynthia in the kitchen actually made me cringe because I know she feels nothing what he feels for her; and the predator needs to be imprisoned. I canāt believe he is trying to suck her back in :(
I need my girls back together. I need some proper communication to happen between Lydia and Cynthia.
Also episode 8 comes out the day before my birthday so I hope itās a good one (they have not let me down so far).