Kids, this episode of Ugly Betty irritated the Crab to no end. It wasn't just me, either...the scuttlebutt with the other worker bees at the office the following day leads me to believe that this episode caught a lot of people the wrong way, much like many shows are doing lately. Let's blame the writer's strike like everyone else has been.
Boone's in brandy snifters. Them kids is klassy!
We open to a scene of hideous music (New Kids? 98 Degrees? No wait - Menudo?) while wine is being poured into what looked like brandy snifters. Henry and Betty are toasting each other over dinner at his place. Gee, what could possibly go wrong now that Charlie's staying until the kid is born. And the timeframe on this kid gets less believable each week.
They toast to making the most of the time they have left together. It's like they're sitting Shiva on their relationship! Oh, and guess who walks on in? And they call it, Char-lie. "Uh oh. Am I too early?" Yes, beyotch, because apparently you left 15 minutes ago and Henry and Betty weren't eating Micky D's. Why does Betty's wine look like strawberry Boone's? Henry really does know how to treat a girl right. Or at least get her "fired up" before a night of quarter beers (junior year roommate flashback).
"I swear I stayed out as long as I could," she says.
"Really? Because you only left 15 minutes ago," Henry said.
"Oh, I had no idea. I can't wear a watch because my arms are so bloated from carrying your child." See, this is where Betty should have packed it in, and ABC should have moved right into Grey's Anatomy, A Very Whiney Episode, starring Amy Madigan Who Has Not Aged Well. Any woman with any self-respect would have been like, "dude, this game is over!" But not martyr Betty. And kids, this episode just gets worse on the self-respect level from here. Let's begin our judgment!
Wow, those wrists really are thick!
Charlie fakes a light head saying her blood sugar must be low and Henry jumps up to take care of her. How about eating some of your arm? Seems like there might be enough there for a snack. She tells Henry she needs some food and proceeds to sit down where he was sitting across from Betty, and eat his dinner. Again? Betty should have called it an evening, a relationship, and quits.
"She's a monster!" Betty says, talking to Christina at the park while the latter chows down on a Cinnabon on steroids (well, that's one way to get them). "She called 10 times while we were at the movies." Then turn the phone off! Because I'm pretty sure I was sitting next to you and you bugged the hell out of me. "Pregnant women are difficult." You know what else is difficult? Staring at that line across the front of your dress. It's either the bottom of your blouse showing through on that jumper, or a very odd panty line. I could not take my eyes away from it.
I'm eating for two...small countries!
"We're bitches," Christina chimes in. You know, for someone in charge of Mode fashions, she is wearing a very unfortunate belt. And she looks somewhat like a disheveled bag lady.
Betty decides to try to sneak in a lunch with Henry because Charlie will be at her prenatal yoga class. Man, she is just living the life. Christina says that reminds her she has to go to the baby doctor (doctor of babies or is her doctor 4 months old?) this afternoon because she's hit the first trimester and she wants to see if it has horns. Actually, she's worried he's going to make her go running. Which sounds right, since she's not a runner and this is an in-vitro pregnancy. Yes, please shake Willie's baby loose from the mortal coil. You'll want to soon. Betty's lunch plans with Henry are successful! For the time being!
Willie pacing in her kitchen. "Where is she?" she asks Marc.
"Eating. With Betty," he says Betty's name like it sickens him.
"Great. We need the baby to be healthy, not flabby."
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Comments (4)
With the writers strike, are they trying to cram in too much story to finish up the season? There's so much going on it's hard to keep up (or care) anymore. Bad episode. Lame. Get Charlie and Henry the hell outta there.. get Christina back to work where she belongs.. get Willie & Mark & Amanda back to their old scheming. Thank God that blowhard Gene Simmons is out, too. Sheesus.
The awful music at the beginning was New Kids on the Block, if I remember my horrific boy bands correctly.
1 of 4 | Posted by Memememe | Posted on May 16, 2008 8:07 PM
Let me first say that I adore you, Crabby! This season hasn't been very good so far, but this episode truly made Ugly Betty jump the shark. On second thought, the show jumped the shark the second we found out Charlie is pregnant. Why was Henry dipping his stick in that when he really loves Betty?
They're complete martydom is what binds Henry and Betty to each other, and is what makes me wanna throw up every time I see them together now. I don't know if the writers can dig this show out of the hole it's in.
Meme is right. The song at the beginning of the show is by New Kids. What's worse than me knowing that? I also know the title, the ironic (and clearly foreshadowing) "I'll be loving you forever..."
2 of 4 | Posted by blahblah | Posted on May 18, 2008 8:43 AM
Oops, I meant to write "Their complete martydom..."
3 of 4 | Posted by blahblah | Posted on May 18, 2008 8:47 AM
Why all the bitter Crabby? I love a snarky recap as much as the next person but it seems you have no love at all for this show.
Certainly this wasnt the best episode but it is still a fun and mostly original show that is A LOT better than half the crap out there.
I dont love it all but I dont think the show has jumped the shark. Whenever they bring Mark and Amanda together; they make it all worth watching.
4 of 4 | Posted by Jelliepair | Posted on May 19, 2008 10:33 AM