BWW Recap: Liza & Friends Kiss Things and Let Them Go on YOUNGER's Season Premiere

The wait is over, YOUNGER fans... and yes, it's a bit shorter than usual! That's right, the TV Land gods have rewarded us with a slightly less lengthy wait between seasons ... launching four months ahead of schedule (or at least from when they did last year; either way -> Yay!)

So now, as you gear up for apple picking, wool peacoats, and pumpkin spice lattes, you can add a weekly dose of Sutton to the mix! (Which is always a good thing... believe me!)

The Fall return works in our favor, too, as we'll sooner see how Liza's dilemma de jour (caught between a "Charles" rock and a "Josh" hard place) is resolved.

Yes, as you may remember, at the end of last season, Charles gave Liza a big ol' smooch-ero, before Josh announced he wanted to give it another go with his 40-year-old girlfriend. Which is great for him and for them as a couple... but it means Liza has to keep another secret from him. (I mean, she could also just tell him the truth upfront, but where's the fun in that?)

Oh, yeah... and on top of all that, everyone at Empirical still thinks she's 26. Liza, you've spun quite the web for yourself, girl.

So, let's dive in and see how it all works out, shall we?

When we open, we see Caitlyn preparing to go off to college. Hmmm... funny how as soon as Liza's life starts to twist and turn, Caitlyn's conveniently given an out... as if to suggest that having her sticking around might just complicate things further for Momma. (Well, it would, wouldn't it?) I mean, it's not that big a deal, I guess... but I'm dying to know what happens is Caitlyn really knew what was going on.

So, then Josh shows up at the door (with donuts, natch), and offers to help Caitlyn pack, reiterating to Liza that he's "all in" (a statement he declared upon getting back with her in the last episode).

Of course, that's all well and good until we get to Empirical, where Charles seems to have enjoyed the kiss he and Liza shared at the mall, where, off of Liza's recommendation, he bought the tie he's now wearing so proudly (Catch the look he gives Liza, and the look she gives him at that, when he mentions the "salesgirl that really gets [him]." Of course, that doesn't stop jealous Diana from attempting to make passes at Charles.... but a) that's a different story and b) regardless of what happens, I don't think that's gonna change much (and it shouldn't for the sake of the show! The fact that Diana's completely oblivious to the burning chemistry between Charles and Liza is HILARIOUS... and I, for one, can't wait to see what happens when it inevitably bites her in the butt!)

Oh, and P. S. While walking to the bus to see Caitlyn off, Caitlyn introduces Liza to her friend, Rose, and her parents, Bob and Julia, who seem Liza's introduced to Caitlyn's friend, Rose, and her parents, Bob and Julia, who seem incredibly put off by Liza and Maggie's "Bert and Ernie"-esque roommate relationship. Like... to the point where their conversation becomes really awkward and uncomfortable (IMO). Something tells me, just based on Bob and Julia's reaction here and how judg-y they are about people's sexual orientation... I just have a feeling there might be something more to Caitlyn and Rose's relationship. (Thoughts?) Not that there's anything wrong with it, it just might throw some people (Bob & Julia, cough cough) for a loop. That is all.

Moving on....

As is usually the case with YOUNGER's stellar writing, the author with which the Empirical staff is having a pitch meeting this week, has written a book that directly relates to Liza's situation in this episode. As the author, named Kiko Kagami, states in the meeting, the book centers around the idea that "all objects have a spirit, and we must work on lightening our load by setting free those objects which no longer serve us." Yeah, I can tell where this is going. Can you? "With a tender heart, [we must] kiss them and let them go." Oh, boy. Interesting, too, that Kiko actually says to "kiss them" before letting them go... because (directly relating to Liza), Liza's literally kissed Charles (and Josh), which is why she's in the predicament she is. And the most obvious question now is, of course, which guy will she have to let go?

As part of an exercise led by Kiko, Liza is asked to list her top four priorities in order of importance, and finds herself struggling between Josh and Charles as her fourth priority (Side note: Not to be the "realistic" police, but is one kiss with Charles really enough to have her consider him a life priority? Or maybe she meant listing him as a "boyfriend" and couldn't decide between Josh and Charles. Like instead of putting a name.. she could have used the generic "boyfriend").

Doesn't look like it'll get any easier to choose, as Kiko hits the nail on the head, telling the staff to "look carefully at what you have written in your fourth quadrant. Whatever it is, [it] will destroy you.... This is the vortex.. the vortex of death." (BTW: Diana kills me with her deadpan delivery of "I wrote: my mother"). Oh, Kiko. You have no idea how deadly this could actually be for our main character. And while Liza succeeds in destroying the evidence of the written word (something you'll just have to watch for yourself), it's clear that the decision to choose between the two of them is weighing on her.

Charles approaches her, offering an olive branch of sorts, to help her in that very process: "I would love to clear the air. If you're amenable, meet me at the Carlyle. If you show up, great. If you don't, that's completely fine."

Looks the decision is clear, as Liza opts out of plans with Josh, essentially agreeing to meet with Charles (after all, Charles is "a grown up [and] we talk about books," as she tells Maggie). But her plans to chat with Charles are soon thwarted when she notices Bob and Julie (Rose's parents!!) at the bar. We learn that Bob is actually Charles's attorney, and the couple is old friends with Charles (he's known Rose since she was very young). Man... I just knew they'd be some other connection with Rose's parents! That conversation was just waaaayyy too telling to be a one-time thing. (Still holding tight to my earlier prediction as well!!)

Also take note, this might be important: Bob is Charles's attorney... like law... so he might get involved should there be any legal action, like, if, say... Charles finds out Liza's been lying about her age!! And the fact that they're Rose's parents and know Caitlyn and Liza casually might throw a wrench into something too. Jeez... and you thought Michelle and Tom stirred up trouble.

But that said, it's nice to hear Charles talk about Liza the way he does. He really truly does have a thing for her - "There's something about her... like an old soul." (Of course, that's gonna come back to bite him later, when he figures out exactly WHY she's an old soul... cuz she is an old(er) soul... and she's been LYIN' about it!) But no... he's genuinely happy, and as a result, focused and goal-oriented... everything is just great. Which is why it's all the more heartbreaking when she bails on him - for proof, just take a look at his face - he's totally crushed!

So, letting that lie for a bit... let's look at the B-plot.

Kelsey's still reeling over the suddenness of Thad's death, insistent that his active Facebook page be deleted immediately. She enlists Chad's help to take it down (again, nice to see the writers kept Dan Amboyer around... so clever!!), but Chad seems more interested in doing other stuff with Kelsey, if you know what I mean. (Did I not suggest that in the last episode?)

Liza, for one, is relieved nothing's been figured out with the computer, because of course, opening it means files are opened, the secret is revealed, and the jig is up. Not to mention, Lauren's now butting her way into being Kelsey's grief counselor - what the hell is that about? I thought that was Liza's job!

(And I have to say, while the death subject is indeed a bit morbid, the cleverly worded FB posts Liza reads off allow for some very well-positioned comic relief: "Thinking of you on hump day!" LOL!)

And as we all know by now, Lauren's gonna Lauren. To that end, Kelsey's dragged to equine therapy. Not only is the Unorthodox practice a little odd, it also appears to do little good in healing Kelsey; while she evidently "gets a release" from the horse (something else you'll just have to watch for yourself), she's clearly still guarded and struggling to find that inner freedom.

So, at Diana's behest (if you can believe that), Kelsey next follows her boss to Marie's Crisis Piano Café (#ElsieFest, anyone?), where they attempt to drown their troubles in alcohol while singing through the canon of classic Disney showtunes.

I have to say it's quite a nice change of pace to see Diana interacting with Kelsey. I feel like whenever she's interacting with folks from work, she's either with Charles or Liza. I mean, understandably, because Charles is her superior (and her man-crush), and Liza's the central character (if not for her, there's no Diana), but still... it's nice to explore this relationship. (After all, Kelsey did work at Empirical before Liza did, so... she and Diana presumably have their own share of heated history).

It's nice that Diana takes the first step, too, offering to take Kelsey out. It adds another layer of humanity, and really displays that sense of "mothering" her employees. We're so used to see Liza mothering Kelsey... it's great to throw someone else into the mix. Just like when Liza broke up with Josh last season and Diana took her to lunch (LINK), she now has an opportunity to share that common ground with Kelsey, and it's great that she reaches out, 'cause she knows how that feels. (Okay, having your fiancé DIE is a little more on the extreme side than just a break-up or divorce, but still... it's loss).

With her respect/tolerance/admiration for Liza growing more and more with each season and each episode (yes, it's in spurts and hints, but you must agree - overall, we've come a long way from the Pilot), could this be the start of a new Diana, who shows genuine appreciation and admiration for Kelsey, too? Might be nice, and could rid her of the Trout Pout moniker. We can dream, can't we?

But anyway... as suspected, a night out drinking does more for Diana than Kelsey (read: the former is completely sloshed at the end of the night, dizzy to the point where she can't even stand). But even the spins aren't enough to stop her from "setting free and letting go of the object that no longer serves her": her wedding dress.

Now viewers, take note - this is a huge, pivotal moment for Diana. She's publicly agonized twice now about the repercussions of her relationship... in front of crisis-ridden co-workers, no less (so, #selfish). Not that that's too many times, but the fact that a few months (the time between mentioning it to Liza and mentioning it to Kelsey) go by and she's still mentioning it to someone is enough to show us she's still not over it, and the break-up's still weighing on her. So, to finally get rid of that thing is a huge deal.

Plus, when does Diana ever really admit she's wrong, and let things go? Huge-r deal, right? So, here's what I'm thinking: Perhaps it's God telling Liza she should come clean to Charles, right? Finally throw something away? I mean if Diana, of all people (drunkenness aside, of course) can do it, Liza sure can, right? Right??!!!!

And if Diana doing it wasn't enough, the real kicker occurs when Kelsey comes clean and spills her guts to Liza over why she's actually guilty about Thad's death: "Maybe I was marrying Thad just to prove everybody else wrong. When he died, a tiny part of me felt relieved... because now I didn't have to marry him." So, Kels didn't really want to marry him. (And perhaps, maybe that's why she didn't shed any tears? 'Cause she was relieved?)

Either way, it's, again, a huge deal for Kelsey to finally admit that. We can tell she's been under so much stress what with the non-wedding, the sudden death, and the private mourning, so we know she's had it bottled up for a while. Don't it feel good to just release it?!

BTW, notice to whom she's admitting all this info - remember how I noted last recap how it's a sign of who she really loves and cares for? #CharacterDevelopment (Take that, Lauren! Enough of your silly horse poo therapy! Liza's is Kelsey's true rock... and they both know it!)

So, that's Diana: 1, Kelsey: 1, Liza: Zip. And we can see from her face that Ms. Miller knows what she has to do!

(SIDE NOTE on the subject of Diana throwing away her wedding dress: considering she's completely sloshed in the moment, the boss presumably won't remember a thing that happened that night (a fact later confirmed to be true - ha!), and if there's anything we've learned about our history with Liza and Trout Pout, it's gonna come back to bite her later. (The writers even hint at it: when Diana asks, "Is there anything else I should know?," signaling she doesn't remember, Liza digs herself even deeper and responds: "That about covers it." Oooh... I can totes tell that's gonna come back in some way!)

But anyway... back to our story. So, Liza's gonna explain everything to Charles. She approaches him in a staff meeting (while Kiko Kagami's interview with Hoda and Kathie Lee plays in the background, no less, so phrases like "Do I really need this to be happy?" and Kagami's mantra "Kiss it and let it go" foreshadow the outcome of the whole conversation - genius!!) and offers an olive branch of her own.

His response? "It was just a kiss, Liza. Let it go." Oooh... this just got good! So, what you do think? Does he really recognize how inappropriate he was, and want to end it? Or is he just simply bitter about her blowing him off the other night (If he only knew... she had a good reason!!)

Either way, LOVE LOVE LOVE the way the writers played with the words in that sentence. The whole theme of the episode is about kissing things and letting them go... which, again, Charles literally has done with Liza. He's kissed her... and now he has to let her go. (Looks like Bob and Julia's words really got to him). And with the Kiko Kamagi interview playing in the background... it makes the meaning even more significant. Genius move! #WellDoneWriters

And I love that the camera stays on Liza for a bit before blacking out... we see how she's affected through the change of expression on her face - she can't believe it's really happening (and we see that, on some level, neither can Charles), and it pains her to accept it.

And that quick cut to the interview, wherein the subject protests ridding herself of her jewelry forever - it relates directly to how Liza feels about Charles... and it's just so gosh-darn clever!

On the bright side, at least Liza's got the #TeamCharles or #TeamJosh debate settled for her. Then again, look at her face just before the blackout - she wouldn't be that crushed and not try to face him again. I mean, it's only the first episode, people! I just know this is far from really being over. What'll happen next? We'll find out soon enough!!

Until then... stay YOUNGER. See you next week!

Photo Credit: TV Land

Matt Smith is a writer and theatre enthusiast based in New York. For more information or further inquiry, including additional writing samples, please visit mattsmiththeatre.com.

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