BWW Recap: Liza (Sorta) Comes Clean, Kelsey Steps it Up on YOUNGER's Season Premiere

Hey, all you YOUNGER fans! Guess what?! Sutton Foster, Miriam Shor, Hilary Duff and the whole Empirical/Bed-Stuy gang is back! Last we saw them her, Liza she had her cover blown with Josh, but, because she had that irresistible charm, Josh pledged to continue dating her, anyway. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how that'll all play out this season, especially in terms of how well he'll keep her secret. Because....

Diana, Kelsey, Lauren, and pretty much everyone else, are all still hoodwinked... and it appears that as her relationship with each of them grows deeper, the shenanigans she gets dragged into with all of them are that much more ridiculous! (I know that's not really saying much given the premise of the series, but according to a variety of bus ads, this season promises to be edgier, "bolder, wiser [and] sexier" than the last.) So, I guess only time will tell what's in store for Liza and her crew! But, let's dive into this week, shall we?

We open up at the airport, the day after last season's finale took place, where Liza and Maggie await Caitlyn's arrival, and Liza stews over whether or not she should come clean to her daughter. (I have to say, I'm a real fan of this plot point: it's the reverse of what's been going on with the rest of the characters - here, 40-year-old Liza has to come clean that she's 26). When they get back home, Liza tries to rip off the Band-Aid, but ultimately, chickens out. (But not before opening up a whole 'mother can of worms, where, for a hot second, Caitlin thinks her mother's transitioning).

But, anyway.... Feeling abandoned as a result of Caitlyn's newfound independence, Liza, at Maggie's behest, decides to text Josh (who, apparently, Liza thinks - just a day later - may not be ready to date her as a 40-year-old. She says, specifically: "I think I should give him more time....I worry that I really may not be the person that he fell in love with." Okay... so where was this attitude last episode when all you wanted him to do was get back together with you?! Is she really that wishy-washy?! I mean, it's only been a day! Come on, Liza! But, anyway...)

Really love Liza's commentary here re: her struggle to understand the texting lingo - i. e. "Will someone please explain the [three] dots to me?" She's like almost every other (IMO) non-millennial in the world! What 18-30 year-old cannot relate?! Nice touch! (P. S. Thumbs up to Maggie's LOL response: "The dots can be very fickle.")

And... what's more? Josh agrees to meet her at the East River Bar that night, while Maggie keeps Caitlin at home and in the dark. Huzzah!

BUT... it seems Liza's waiting at the bar a while, and after an awkward exchange with a younger guy who tries to pick her up, and a confrontation with a "drunk mean girl" named Dora (Hello, Broadway's Ryann Redmond!), she finally gets the ill-fated text from Josh: "Sorry. Can't make it work." :-(

Liza returns home, dejected, and, after a frank talk with Maggie (remember those?), she finally tells herself the truth: "It's time to move on."

But that proves to be easier said than done - especially when Caitlin returns home from her night out with a Sanskrit tattoo on her side (uh oh), which she says she received "from the hottest guy [who] owns this place called Inkburg." (Double uh oh). Guess we know what's comin' next.

But let's put that on hold for a while and look at the B-story of the evening: Diana and Charles plan a dinner meeting with Bobby Flay to discuss publishing his new cookbook.

If we've learned anything from last season, despite the meeting being strictly for business, Diana can't help but giddily imagine that's it's something more. (Watch for her hilarious "subtle" hints of flirting during the meal: "I think [Flay]'s gonna find the combination of us as a team hard to resist" & "Show me a nice piece of meat [and] I can't keep my hands off it"). Unfortunately, her attempts to seduce Charles go completely awry when she chips a tooth on a peppercorn, and all but loses Empirical the book deal with Flay.

To make matters worse, when they go in to fix the tooth, Charles falls for the dentist... who seems to hit it off with him as well. (Jealous Diana also tries to keep them apart when later, the dentist calls in to her office).

Poor Diana. Welp, it's a par for the course. But, on the other hand, Empirical does actually end up landing the book! Yay!

I wonder if we'll ever see Dr. Sarkisian again. IMO, we won't, BUT I think she'll be the first in a whole line of women to float in throughout the duration of the season, all of whom Charles will meet and hit it off with.

And this, of course, will pull him further and further out of Diana's grasp, fueling Trout Pout's jealousy. (Case in point: Look at how helpless she looks as Dr. Sarkisian grabs hold of her mouth!) In any case, I can promise you this certainly won't be the last we see of her pining for him.

But then, of course, we bring out the big kicker: what will Diana's reaction be when Charles inevitably falls for Liza. (Oh, come on... it's not a far stretch. The way they look at each other, it's bound to happen, people! The only questions are: how and when?) Would love to see how that plays out in the workplace!!

And in the shortest plot of the evening....

Kelsey, wanting to up her game and become more noticeable, pitches a book about what women think while they're giving a blowjob, using a popular Tumblr page as a jumping-off point: as Liza says, specifically, "It's like 'Goodnight Moon' for adults... with blowjobs." Lolz. Unfortunately, Diana's not having it ("It's not literature"); similarly, Charles tells her it's a "swing and a miss," and to keep searching for the next Bjonberg. (So, as a side note, I think we all now know how that relationship ended - kudos to the writers for sneaking the detail in in that way, and for letting us know how it turned out for the company).

To add insult to injury, rival publishing company Little Brown scoops up the rights to the book shortly after the meeting. May not have been such a "swing and a miss" after all. ("You've got good instincts," Liza tells her friend).

And yes, that's all we're given of this plot this time 'round. But something tells me - given her "killer instincts" - this arc definitely isn't over. The way it's set up from the get-go - she's pitching new ideas, she knows she's good enough - it's clear it's going develop into something that'll last all season.

I mean, she wants to change her image and get noticed for her work - that's not going to last just ten minutes (and the snippets from the recent promos suggest there's more to this plot line, too). Additionally, right before it ends, Kelsey says, "I hate to lose." Hmm... something tells me that's gonna come back later as well.

I will say, though, it is a shame that Liza switches the subject so quickly... especially to talk about Josh ("I know the feeling. I think I lost last night"). Like, the two (boy problems and advancement in the workplace) don't even equate! Rrrrgh! LIZA!

But, now that I've brought it up... going back to said character and the girl with the Sanskrit tattoo....

Liza, furious, storms down to Josh's shop and confronts him head-on - for the tattoo and for the breakup. A frantic Josh confirms two things: first, that he did not know Caitlin was Liza's daughter, and second: that he did not, in fact, break up with Liza, nor does he want to; Liza just misread the text because - as she's quick to point out - there's some missing punctuation. Josh, apparently, meant it to read: "Sorry. Can't make it [to the bar]. [Have to] Work." Gotta remembers those contextual words and punctuation, kids!

Relieved, Liza kisses him passionately, and, after apologizing, Josh (of course) kisses her back.

So, it seems like all is good... until the camera pans over to the window, where Caitlin stands - horrified - watching them through the glass, having, presumably, seen the whole altercation. Yikes!

So, what does this mean for Josh and Liza? And Liza and Caitlin? And the ruse in general?! I mean, I know Liza wanted to come clean with Caitlin, but having Caitlin find out in this way (where it may still be a bit unclear) throws a whole 'nother wrench into the fire!

Sorry... I know I sorta used that expression twice. But can ya blame me? It's gettin' crazy up in here! How will Liza cope?!

Guess we'll find out soon enough. And 'til then, stay YOUNGER.

Photo Credit: TV Land