BWW Recap: Josh 'Ping-Pongs' with His Feelings Re: Liza's Age on S2E2 of YOUNGER
By: Matt Smith Jan. 14, 2016
Episode 2 - the second of the season premiere double header - wastes no time in getting straight to the point, as we open, just like we did last episode, where the previous half-hour left off.
Caitlin confronts her mother about what she saw in the window of the tattoo studio, and Liza then decides it's time to come clean - that she's dating Josh; she decides to hold back on telling her daughter she's posing as 26 (which, for the record, Maggie agrees is also, at this time, for the better).
But not knowing that age detail, Caitlin chalks up her mother's shenanigans to a midlife crisis that she wants no part in. (Oh, boy!) As a result, she moves out - temporarily - and goes to live with her dad, claiming that "it was getting awkward around here" and having her live with Pops will be a "win-win-win" for everybody. Given the circumstances in which Caitlin is leaving, I'd have a hard time believing she'll be back (in the flesh) in the next few episodes. Hope Maggie's right, though... and she does come back soon.
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And, too, Liza's obviously heartbroken over the fact that her daughter's leaving. (Though I do have to say, despite that, the jabs back and forth between David and Maggie are HILARIOUS: "You just forgot what she looked like happy" & "Love the robe. When's the big fight?") BUT, of course, in typical YOUNGER fashion.... Caitlin leaving is the least of her problems.
She meets up with Josh, and after she apologizes for all the weirdness that has been going on - to which he replies (with the BRILLIANT line, mainly because it pretty much sums up the series), "It's okay. We're weird" - she prepares to enjoy her first date with him, sans Caitlin, since the reveal.
But she soon finds out he's too wrapped up in trivia night and throwing back shots to actually spend time with her. :-( It doesn't get much better at home, as he teases her for being 14 years his senior, and then essentially bails on her during sex. (For the specifics, just watch!!)
Again, despite how terrible this all is for Liza, I gotta say, the writing here is pretty excellent. My particular favorite, in addition to the aforementioned "We're weird," is "Easy with the F word" in response to Josh using the word "forty." Love that wordplay - well done, writers!! (The writing is, after all, IMO, one of the best parts of the show!!)
Meanwhile, Diana requests that Liza "be surgically attached to [her] phone for the next 48 hours" to assist with obtaining the rights to a new book by Lauren Hillenbrand. She says, specifically: "The second it is released to the bidders, I will text you, [and] you will drop everything and sign out a watermarked copy from her agent's office and hand deliver it to Charles." It's not too important to the plot now - just wanted y'all to know, 'cause it'll be important later.
Liza takes Josh along to a gala celebrating Lauren's company, Hector and Dorff's new collection, but he's not into it - still caught up in her age. IMO, now that he knows her secret - and only he knows her secret - he feels the need, nay, the right, to joke about it. And because he's overplaying being Mr. Secret Keeper, he's completely oblivious to the fact that it all makes Liza feel uncomfortable. (Or, just maybe... and this is just speculation... but maybe, he's uncomfortable about the age thing, so he tries to seem like he's okay with it by making jokes. Hmmm...)
But things get more complicated when Lauren, Thad, and Kelsey all start pestering Josh about break-up details, leaving him to stage an elaborate lie himself in order to keep Liza's secret from getting out.
Fed up, defeated, and just not wanting to deal, he decides to leave the party. Liza notices and follows him out, but when she opens her mouth to apologize (again), she hears a buzz from her phone - it's the text from Diana (See? Told you it'd be important later). As she's looking at it, Josh walks away. :-( Bummer.
Liza arrives at Charles' place to drop off the manuscript, telling him how much she loves Hillenbrand. In response, he says, hopefully, "I wish I could ask you to come in and read this with me, but that could get us both in trouble." He clarifies that he means legally, but we all know from Liza's dumbfounded "Oh" - and all the subtle hints from last season - what she was really thinking he meant. How's that for #TeamCharles? (And don't worry, I was thinking the same thing, too, and I so hope it happens too! I'm sort of both #TeamJosh and #TeamCharles.... like, happy for Josh and Liza, but the Charles storyline makes everything so much more interesting. And, I mean, again, with all these teases, how could it NOT happen, like, soon?!)
Notice the look Liza has when Charles says "Wait... before you go." I think it's kinda leaning toward "this could get us in trouble" (maybe she even thinks he knows something about her secret), but again, I think she thinks she knows what he's gonna ask... and it's kinda hopeful.
And putting all this just moments after she had a falling out with Josh, and is basically flip-flopping between whether or not his relationship with him is inappropriate.... and then THIS comes along... like, it's too good! Again, well done writers!
But, anyway.... (and yes, I know I say that waaaay often), she goes back home to vent to someone about her problems with Josh, and with some input from Maggie (and Lauren, who has slept over... so I guess we know how that ended last season), she "knows what she needs to do."
No offense, but this all seems pretty much the same plot as last episode, what with Liza having a problem with her relationship, running to Maggie, and then suddenly having a bright idea, and bringing it back to Josh.
Furthermore, when she gets to Josh's place, she apologizes and tells him it's okay if it's over, and then he tells her it's not over and questions why would she think that, which is definitely exactly how the last episode ended.
TBH, I'm not sure I really like this whole "Liza questioning her relationship every episode, agonizing over it, and then apologizing, only to find out that Josh didn't really think those things and doesn't want to end it with her at all" every episode. I mean, granted, it is only the second one, but it's already too repetitive, and will get old fast. (Though, I will admit, the "going agro" line was pretty funny). To boot, ironically, Liza constantly questioning the status of their relationship is probably the very thing that would drive a guy away. If she was gonna obsess over the age difference this much, she shoulda just kept it a secret.
And, while we're on the subject... why does Liza keep interrupting Kelsey's legit professional issues, with her petty boyfriend woes? And Kelsey keeps saying they're "on again, off again"... she admitted she doesn't even know what's going on and "need[s] a scorecard to keep up." All the better to tell her and get everything out in the open, right? Well, we'll get to that.
But enough complaining. I really do love the show - that's just my one little gripe (and I think it's a fair one ;-) ). But what Josh does suggest to Liza - which he does not in the previous episode - is, in fact, that she tell Kelsey her secret: "She'd be shocked, but she'd get over it. And she's not gonna turn you in. Kelsey loves you." (Side note: Kudos to Josh for also actually expressing how uncomfortable he felt. Gives it the sense they're actually in a real relationship and not just fooling around, and he really does care for Liza regardless of her age [though he's clearly tired of having to hide it from everyone else!]).
But back to Kelsey - who's actually got a whole B-plot of her own this episode... and if her desire to STEP IT UP and get noticed at work last episode was any indication - boy, is this plot a big one!!
When it begins, she's extremely PO'd beause Rob Olive - an author with whom she has worked on several books: "I spent so many hours at the desk with that guy, literally milking every chapter from him" - has decided to end his relationship with Empirical and move to rival publishing house Hachette.
But when she meets Olive in person - to discuss his next book (so, he does admit he needs help from her), she finds out that Hachette wants to snatch her up from Empirical, and has actually made her an offer. (Side note: did Olive really need her to explain that detail?! Well, yes. To be fair, as a writer, I understand. Sometimes you need a little push. Guess he's got MAJOR writer's block!)
She considers the offer and weighs her options - with a little push for boyfriend Thad (P. S. Glad to see everything's okay with the two of them; we haven't seen Thad since they came clean to each other last season) - ultimately deciding that she should give Charles a chance to match the offer - "He gave me my big break [and] I owe him my career" - although she fears "he's always gonna view me as a former assistant, no matter what I do. Like, he's never really gonna value me as an editor in my own right."
So, she goes in to see Charles, who - thanks to a few words from Liza, given to him during their manuscript exchange, when they weren't trading subtle looks - is prepared with a counteroffer... and it's pretty huge: her own imprint. "[It's] geared toward 20-somethings, you'll choose the project, you'll have editorial control, and you can pick your team," he tells her. She looks at him, and she's, understandably, elated. "It's a big step up," Charles continues. "But I think you're ready." Sounds like he really values her as an editor in her own right! ;-) (See what fairy godmother Liza can do? Haha!)
She runs into her office, excited to tell Liza, who waits at her desk, eager (well, terrified) to spill a secret of her own. But Kelsey goes first... and then steps it up by telling Liza to join her in the venture:
"you're smart, you're young, you have great taste.... I don't want to do this without you." (Wait... what was that second one again?)
As evident by her facial expression, Liza knows there's no way she can tell Kelsey now. That'd be a definite mood killer. So, she pushes it aside, in favor of celebrating her friend's new accomplishment. Which is all well and good... for the present moment.
But now, she's wrapped up in a whole new predicament, representing an imprint "for millennials, by millennials" as a 40-year-old woman and (still) lying to her friend. Oh, boy, Liza. Just keep digging that hole for yourself.
What will happen next? And what will happen when Josh finds out what Liza has done? Guess we'll have to wait and see!
For now, check out this link to an awesome overview of the season, featuring appearances by Broadway's Martha Plimpton (reprising her role from last season) and Matthew Morrison. (And, for the record, Michael Urie, late of HOW TO SUCCEED, and SPRING AWAKENING's Camryn Manheim are also set to guest star in the coming weeks). Looks like it's gonna be one exciting ride! Can't wait to see how it all turns out!
'Til next time.... stay YOUNGER.
Photo and Video Credit: TV Land
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