After the muddled resolution to the Debra-Ava feud last week, it was a bit of shock to see the pair are suddenly thick as thieves once more, working seamlessly together to craft jokes. And not even baby AJ’s christening was enough to throw the duo of their game. In fact, I would say that the two ended the episode a stronger team than they began it. So, in the interest of not rehashing how disappointed I was with how easily the series wiped the slate clean last week, I’ll just accept that as the current state of things and move on. Because there was a lot about who Deborah is and just what is driving some of her actions this season on display in this episode.
It’s always nice to see Kaitlin Olsen (who is quite busy these days juggling multiple TV shows) as DJ, the perfect encapsulation of all that Deborah did wrong and right in the past. And to see a DJ who suddenly has a backbone when it comes to her mother? Now that was a heck of a change. And, unlike Ava, she actually stuck to her guns and pressed Deborah into taking her threats seriously. For all her complaints about DJ and everything she put Deborah through, she truly cares about her daughter and is thrilled to see her happy and thriving – even if it means AJ is raised Catholic. (At least until DJ can no longer squeeze money from that congregation, and then who knows where the wind will take them.)
But what this episode truly laid bare is just how insecure Deborah is when it comes to her life and legacy. Yes, she knows she will be remembered for her comedy, but that’s not what she really wants to leave behind. What she really wants is to be respected. There’s no point in climbing that mountain to the top of the business if you aren’t respected when you get there. That’s part of why Ava lording the bombshell that Deborah slept with Bob Lipka, the president of the network, over Deborah’s head was so devastating to her. She doesn’t want to see her climb back to the top tarnished by anything. And Ava has the information that could ruin her reputation, not to mention likely destroy what’s left of her career. Which is part of what made Ava so dangerous to Deborah at the start of the season.
Of course, Deborah wants DJ to like her. She wants to see AJ grow up. She wants to be someone they can respect and be proud of (even if she would never really say it out loud). And having Ava promise to be the voice that tells AJ just how great his grandma was when neither DJ (because of all the past trauma) or Deborah (who isn’t getting any younger) can is pretty awesome. Although, when a promise like that is made, my dramatic tension antennae pop up and I start to wonder just what might be coming down the pike to shatter it. I suspect something is heading toward our dynamic duo that just might break them up in ways that might not be as easily reconcilable as this last spat.
But in terms of this episode, it was a nice palate cleanser as we head into the final stretch of episodes. It was an episode meant to bridge the gap between the war of the first half of the season and whatever is coming that will force our ladies into their annual season reset. I really hope it isn’t something too devastating, especially now that both Ava and Deborah are all-in on the show, their partnership, and what they can do to make it the best possible collaboration it can be. I guess we’ll see.
-
Writing
-
Acting
-
Direction
