BWW Recap: Liza and Josh Come to a Head, Cheryl Sussman Returns on YOUNGER

Hello, YOUNGER-ians! Hope you've had a great week, and are ready dive into our weekly YOUNGER recap. This week is chock-full of action, offering some rocky twists and turns for two of our three main couples, a(nother) potential book deal for Millennial, and guest spots from not one, but two (yes, two!!) of Broadway's best!! Intrigued? Well, after that short description, why wouldn't you be? (Lolz). Onward with the recap!

We open at a bar, where Josh proudly announces to Liza he's been chosen to be profiled for a piece in THE NEW YORK TIMES. Great news, right?! Well, yes, but Liza's a bit trepidatious, as "they have fact checkers... people whose entire job it is to pry into your record and dig up every single mundane thing... they might as well call it 'The New York Times - How Old Are You?'" So, to Josh's chagrin, she decides to steer clear, to avoid blowing her cover.

I don't know... IMO it's a little much... like, she's so protective of her age, she's willing to forego time with her boyfriend?! It's a little, for lack of a better word, nuts, to be honest. If you were that paranoid, Liza, you should've just stayed 40. The whole thing definitely sounds a bit fishy... I just hope it doesn't all blow up in her face.

But then again, she did support him last week, so I guess he owes her this one (but again, does he really?!).

It's definitely a bit weird; so weird that Maggie even calls her on it - during one of their girl talk sessions, no less, where she's usually sympathetic - and the tone which Liza uses in her reply (just listen for it!) suggests she, Liza, is also having her doubts.

It certainly doesn't help that she passes his studio mid-shoot on the way to work, or that he tells her, "The more I talk to Greta, the more I realize how big a party of my story you actually are." They're not allowed to kiss - Liza's rule, lest that gives anything away - and Josh, in that vein, also cannot refer to her as his girlfriend. (And notice how crushed he is when he introduces her to Greta as his "really good friend.")

They depart with a fist bump (Ouch!) and oh yes... there is certainly some significance as to why the camera stays on Josh's face after she leaves. He's totally not okay with the sacrifice, and I bet he's more pissed that Liza's clearly oblivious... She's selfishly using this all for her own gain, to avoid getting caught, and not at all thinking about how this affects him - even though it is his big article in the first place.

So, something's clearly bound to happen there, don't you think? But let's put it on the back burner for now, and explore this week's B-plot (which is really more of a second A-plot... or maybe Josh's story is the B-plot?) Anyway....

At work, Kelsey and Liza seem to have put the Jade debacle behind them, and are wasting no time in searching for another author for their first book deal. They arrive at a conference at the office of Dr. Jane Wray - "a PhD who specializes in dropkicking lazy twenty-somethings out of their parents' rec room and into adulthood" - as one of many publishing teams in line to meet her and convince her to sign with them.

Liza totally thinks they have a chance... but who also appears to be attending the conference? Why, Cheryl Sussman (Broadway's Martha Plimpton) who, after her tumultuous blackmail attempt with Liza last season, wastes no time in taking a few jabs at the fact that the 40-year-old Liza's pitching with "Millennial" Print.

There goes that optimistic feeling. Nice to see you again, Cheryl. Glad to see you're no less of a b*tch than you were last season.

While we as viewers know that Cheryl's no match for Liza (for reference, see how she foiled Sussman's plans in last season's finale), the former does still manage to strike fear into the latter by reminding her that here (in Dr. Wray's office), the stakes are upped: "You may be able to fool a few morons at Empirical, but Dr. Wray psychoanalyzes 20-somethings for a living.") Uh oh... does that mean she may be at risk for being caught? And in the same room as Kelsey?! This could be disastrous! (Well, what else do you expect when Cheryl becomes involved?)

Guess we'll find out one way or the other, as we cut to Dr. Wray herself (who, BTW is none other than SPRING AWAKENING's Camryn Manheim - Broadway shout out FTW!)... who unfortunately, doesn't seem too amused with the ladies' pitch.

Side note: for Liza's "attempt at millennial slang" du jour, note the awkward smile she gives Wray as she throws out terms like "Buzzfeed listicles" and "Periscope" - you can tell she totally doesn't know what she's saying, but she's trying to keep cool so she doesn't blow her cover! And it's HILARIOUS! Foster is the BEST!

As only she can do, Wray turns a couple harmless questions about Kelsey's age (note the irony) and career path into a grilling session, in which she probes the young editor on the idea of marriage and having kids, cautioning her to "Beware the no-criteria relationship."

Kelsey's, understandably, a bit flabbergasted, at first, but, regardless of how harsh they are, realizes the impact of Wray's words: "Why haven't we been freaking out about our futures more?!" she nervously exclaims to Liza post-meeting.

Liza attempts to dish her "motherly" advice (and kudos to the writers for again having Liza use her own 26-year-old experiences to influence the actual 26-year-old), but Kelsey's not having it. She's instead convinced Wray's "wrong about Thad" anyway and they're, indeed - however slowly - inching toward marriage; she's met his parents and his brother, and she's meeting his boss at a charity event later that night.

Cut to that event, where Kelsey effortlessly impresses Thad's boss - !! - while Thad himself initially fumbles, and later, responds to Kelsey immaturely. Newly enlightened as a result of her conversation with Dr. Wray, Kelsey finally decides to take a stand against her boyfriend and confirms out loud her newfound realization: "This is a no-criteria relationship ... You need to grow up, and I can't waste any more time waiting for you to do that." And, just like that, she walks out... and they're over.

So, that's one relationship that's down for the count. Let's check back in on how our other one is panning out.

Well, it's not looking good... as Liza's attempt to reconcile and reconnect with Josh is thwarted by Cheryl Sussman (drat!!), who calls Liza for an urgent lunch meeting (Hmmm). During said meeting, she, of course, threatens once to again to - surprise! - blackmail her friend, stating "the only reason Millennial is in the running is because Dr. Wray thinks you're 26." Again, just like with the Ellen book before, it's a freaking publishing deal. I mean, I get that your job is on the line here, but it is, as Liza says, just one book. Besides, Cheryl, if you're that obsessed with getting Liza to reveal her age (yes, I'm referring to all your dirty low-blow tricks - and so's Liza, who brings up the e-mail conversation) that you'd continually threaten your supposed friend (like, they were friends before this, no?), you've got other things going on at home, if you know what I mean.

But Cheryl's adamant on bringing Liza down. So... Liza (sneaky, sneaky Liza) devises a plan to beat her to the punch... and tells Dr. Wray herself the whole truth directly through a session as a patient.

But that's not all she does. Once she's lured Dr. Wray in, Liza further uses her "situation" (or lie, as Wray corrects her) as a way to explain why she understands the importance of Wray's book, and why, therefore, the doctor should sign with them.

Surprisingly, it works (but is it ethical? Hmmm....) and needless to say, Cheryl - as evidenced by that phone slam - is enraged. (It also helps her in no way that Dr. Wray also calls her out for blackmail and invites her in for a session to discuss "her anger issues". Major burn!!!)

So, Liza's free and clear once again (I mean, it's Cheryl... we kinda knew Liza'd succeed, didn't we?), but this does raise a few questions. The first is, of course, with Cheryl now pushed to the edge,

how will the she-beast raise the bar in her attempt to expose Liza in Season 3 (Yes, ICYMI, the series has already been renewed)? Or will Liza have already spilled her secret to everyone by the time Ms. Sussman returns? Hmm...

Second, Dr. Wray did say she'd sign with Millennial under the condition that she use Liza as a case study. Though Wray claims she knows how to keep a secret (and why wouldn't she? She's a psychologist!), this is Liza, and as we've seen before, certain things with our "40-year-old-turned-26" have been known to get a little out of hand... so could this secret come back later and turn awry?

Knowing how things work on this show, I wouldn't say it couldn't be a possibility. Plus, it would give Camryn Manheim a reason to return. Why not? I'm in! Who's with me? And what do you think might happen next? Will this plot continue... or fall to the wayside? (You really never know on this show.. haha!)

Side note: kudos to Dr. Wray for actually stating out loud what we've been thinking all along: "[This] is a completely ludicrous idea, and you are pulling it off." Oh, Liza. So true... but it's why we love you. Keep on keeping on.

So, to review our current standings: Kelsey and Thad are done; Liza and Josh are together, but having major difficulties; and, in work land, Liza and Kelsey have just landed a book deal with Dr. Wray. All caught up? Great! Let's move on.

Cut to Kelsey's birthday dinner, where Lauren and the lady of honor are perusing Josh's profile piece in the TIMES - wait, it came out early?! Yikes!!! That it did, and the girls are aghast over the fact that Liza has been left out.

As was the case earlier in the season, we once again see Liza's problem with telling only one person the truth about her secret. Josh, while completely innocent, is also once again to blame - both in absentia and in person - and a rather drunk Kelsey, still riding high from her enlightenment from Dr. Wray, reams Josh for his "mistake": Do you care about her at all? Does she mean anything to you? I mean, do you have one shred of a soul, or did you think you'd bank a few more tramp stamps if you seemed a little more available?" (And P. S. The death stare from Josh when Kelsey said, "We're all getting a little too old to play pretend." Like... this is no joke).

While that's, of course, not the case at all, Josh, by Liza's orders, cannot defend himself. He's forced to sit down and shut up... and clearly, he's had enough. And not just "take a break" enough. Like enough enough. Despite Liza's protests, and whatever he said in earlier episodes (i. e. "Some secrets are worth keeping"), Josh is done. He walks out of the restaurant and (for now) out of Liza's life. :-(

So, what do you think? Obviously, this is Nico Tortorella, a series regular, so it's safe to assume we haven't seen the last of Josh. But, while I know it's heartbreaking, speaking strictly story-wise, this is a great way to shake things up! Does this mean she'll be more available for Charles?! (I know, I'm really pushing that, but let's be honest... who isn't?!) Assuming Josh'll be back and depending on how he'll now relate to Liza, it might be nice to see them as friends and not as a couple. Switch it up a bit? Get Liza with someone her own age. I mean, Josh knows the truth anyway, so it's not like she's hurting him... and also, wasn't this whole age-guise for the job anyway? (And didn't Liza say that, like, a million times?) So, Liza... you've got the job. Now go out and be free...... with a certain someone who's been stealing glances and sending signals since the day you two met.

So, lest you thought it all ended there... then, Liza enters back into the party, completely crushed - but just in time to catch Thad, who, though uninvited, has run in with an important message for his ex: "You were right. You deserve more. You deserve everything that you want. And I know that I can give it to you. You hit all the criteria that I'm looking for. And a couple that I never even thought of. ... Will you marry me?" And of course, as we know from every rom-com to exist, she obviously replies, "Yes."

Wait... WHAAAAT?! So, she just takes him back 'cause he showed her a ring?! Oh, this must be KILLING Liza! She must have so much "motherly advice" to give about rushing into marriage, and even simply rushing back into a relationship just because the guy's proposed. But that's obviously for another time. Liza's going through a lot right now... and it doesn't help much that it's all showing on her face.

"Liza, are you crying?" Kelsey asks her friend. Yes, Kels, but it's something you may never understand. :-(

So, Kelsey's waaaay "up" and Liza's waaaay (waaaaay, waaaay) "down." And thus ends this week's outing.

Couple notes: Just want to say... LOVE the juxtaposition of the storylines this week, in terms of how Liza's honesty about her age both saves her in one scenario (with Dr. Wray) and kills her chances in another (with Josh). Interesting to consider, 'cause at one point, the outcomes were swapped - Cheryl could've killed her chances with Dr. Wray and Empirical, and Josh was at first willing to give the May-December relationship a try (albeit, not without a few missteps, but still). I just love the way the writers' played with that! Additionally, to have the juxtaposition of Kelsey and Liza both crying at the end... Kelsey because she's just patched things up and headed in a wonderful new direction with her beau; Liza because she totally blew it and killed the relationship with hers; LOVE it!! I've said it before... I'll say it again: Well done, writers!!!

Second, in order to equalize the screen time of the individual characters, who's in line to get the shaft this week? That would be Diana, whose whittled down to a one-scene character, only appearing to first scold Liza for behaving poorly toward Cheryl Sussman at the Wray pitch conference (boy, does she not know what she's missing!), and second, to demand her assistant bring her back a Cobb salad for lunch (I don't even want to know what'll happen if the dressing isn't on the side! LOL!) Hope to see her back next week... want to find out what happens next with her and her man.

And then finally, the promo for next week gives us Matthew Morrison, late of FINDING NEVERLAND (Man, Darren Star is KILLING it with these Broadway guest spots this season!), who appears to be stirring something up with our main character. Could Morrison's "philosopher-shepherd" be Liza's rebound from Josh?

Well, my pretties... I guess we'll just have to wait and see. ;-)

'Til next time, stay YOUNGER.

Photo Credit: TV Land