It Has To Mean Something

Suburgatory, S02E09

George was forced to hide and help Fred when he was trying to keep secrets about the nature of his job hidden from Shelia.  Tessa, left alone on pain medication, freaked out about aliens stealing teeth after she had gotten her wisdom teeth pulled.  Dallas thought George was only humoring her when he agreed they were ready for "joint decor."  Ryan tried to figure out where he stood with Tessa when came to deliver her homework.

Sadly for George he had a front seat to another chapter of Shay Family Crazy Time.  It was fine for him to give Fred shelter while he worked out his problems, but when Shelia got involved, it was a lot more trouble than it was worth.  I was nearly thinking it was a waste of his time to hide Fred until Fred asked George to go to his house to steal a gift basket that would reveal his real job.  I liked when he tried to walk into the house and ran into Ryan.  They were both trying their best not to seem suspicious to the other.  If George wasn't after that basket, he might have considered what Ryan was sort of suggesting about his intentions with his daughter.  It got even better when Lisa caught him about to walk out of the door.  The two of them had my favorite lines from the story:

[George] I'm not stealing.

[Lisa] I don't care.

It cracks me up that Lisa can look at her neighbor creeping around in her house and not give a damn about what he might be trying to do.  You would think she would be the slightest bit curious, but no.  Lisa always keeps me on my toes because I never know how she's going to react to things.

I have no idea how the hell Fred got from the basement to an ariport shuttle outside when it looked like Shelia was about to gas the basement.  I suppose that's one of those mysteries like when George got the cardboard in the previous episode.  I don't care if Shelia did know his secret after all (not a surprise).  I was just glad Fred was gone from their house.

Tessa was amazing this week because we got to see a side of her we usually don't.  She tends to be pretty cool and collected, but under medication she was so paranoid and wide-eyed.  I loved it.  She was really cute when she was throwing juice at Fred and scared that George and Dallas' souls had been captured in crystal.  I really like seeing characters act outside of their norm for a while.  It's funny to see a different side of them, especially when that side is high and insane.

My favorite part of the episode, though was when Tessa had gotten her mind back and Ryan had visited her.  That whole scene between them was just so great from start to finish.  I loved Ryan putting the sock around her head and telling her she looked like a bunny, him saying that their kiss and his attraction to her has to mean something, and him arguing that they could work because opposites attract.  It just makes me smile when I think about their conversation, even if they haven't quite decided if they're going to give their relationship another shot.  But I'm really hoping that Tessa takes a chance on Ryan again.  He was just so sweet with her that I'm dying to see more scenes like this.  They just have to get together again!

Dallas and George moved into the "joint decor" phase of their relationship, which I wasn't sure that he was really feeling.  But thanks to Tessa (who was also to blame a little bit for the problem in the first place), Dallas learned that George really liked that crystal picture of them sitting on the couch.  Personally, I would think that a picture would have been better, but I guess nothing says Dallas like something etched in crystal, so it might be the best way for George to be reminded of her every time he looks at it (you know, besides her face staring back at him). They're moving along pretty well recently, which is good, but I feel like they might have some kind of bump soon (just because nothing goes this well in TV or life, I guess).

I have to say I just loved this episode because of Tessa and Ryan.  Tessa was so funny when she was shouting about signs of sixes and aliens.  We'll probably never get to see her so unraveled again.  Of course, that was nothing compared to her scene with Ryan.  That has to be one of my favorite moments in this show yet.  If they don't get together again, I'm going to flip out.  They may not be perfect together, but you can't help but wish for them to give it a try anyway.  Like Dallas suggested: if George and her can make it work, then opposites like Tessa and Ryan have a chance at happiness as well.

Old Friends, Old Scooter

Suburgatory, S01E17

Dallas finally opens her crystal store and invites her sorority sisters for the event.  Tessa strives for independence from George "mothering" her and takes up a part-time job at Dallas' store.  Despite that Dallas has to face an old rival, ain't no one stopping her Steve-free express train to happiness.  Tessa has a longer way to go before she's traveling George-free yet, but her scooter is a nice start (once her dad lets her drive it).

The best thing about Dallas' reunion with her girls was the appearance of the "ol' bitch" that she didn't invite in the first place, Tulsa.  She was played aptly by Robin Givens, and I loved their interactions.  Tulsa was trying to steal the spotlight (which she did) with her endless moaning about the death of her ex-husband.  If she didn't clearly enjoy destroying Dallas' happy moment, I might have felt a sliver of sympathy for Tulsa.  You have to give props to Dallas who remains classy and upbeat, even when faced with her nemesis hinting that she may have slept with her ex-husband.  Seriously?  If Steve was doing someone like Tulsa, a woman that Dallas knew personally, then he is a bigger scum than I thought.  You couldn't cheer Dallas on any better for embracing her single life with that tidbit of information.

The best thing about Tessa story was the very first scene where she was arguing with George why she couldn't walk home from the library if he insists that walking "builds character" (Haha!):

[George] Because it's dark out.
[Tessa] You think it's safer for me to sit alone outside a dark, empty building?

She brings up a good point.  After George suggests that if she wants independence then she should get a job and buy her own set of wheels, Tessa manages to achieve that in about a day, thanks to Dallas' pay advance.  Since Tessa didn't even show up for her first assignment, does that mean Dallas will fire her?  Dallas seemed a little displeased with her absence, but it's hard to tell if she is truly mad or not.  It certainly would be a benefit for her to have a girl like Tessa who would probably keep things practical while Dallas is floating on her crystal cloud nine.

It's crazy that she had enough money to buy a used scooter even from Craigslist, but it was even crazier that Tess went to pick it up and chose Lisa to accompany her.  She would have been better alone if the bitch is gonna push her into a probable creeper's home!  I couldn't even be shocked that Lisa did that and ran for the hills.  I was more surprised to see her helping Tessa move it after it turned out the shirtless stranger could be trusted to sell her the scooter without mishap.  Tessa must be hurting for friends because I would have slapped the hell out of Lisa, regardless of her intense "survival instinct."  I like Lisa because she's so ridiculously paranoid and misinformed, but I would trade her for the first better friend I could find in a quick minute.

Now that George has gone to talk to Tessa's grandmother Helen, I wonder if we will finally see her mother.  If she's anything like Helen, we're going to be looking forward to another bitch on the screen.  I guess I forgot or something that Tessa's mother wasn't dead, but rather just not in the picture.  According to the conversation George and Helen had, George sued for full custody and won, which means that the mother had to have had some serious problems going on (I don't know why my first thought is drugs, but a mental instability is likely as well).  George is a good guy, but he's a little clumsy as a parental figure and would only look good in the midst of an obviously incompetent guardian.  He's loving, for sure, but he definitely doesn't have the smoothest parenting skills.

It would be pretty cool to see Tessa getting around on that scooter--it seems to fit her style better than a car.  I think George will cave and let her drive it (probably under some kind of condition).  It would also be interesting to see Dalia express more of her true feelings about the divorce (we almost had a tender moment between she and Dallas, but her texting showed that she is still all about the things she can get out of it).  And as always, let's get back to Dalia versus Tessa.  I'm sure if Tessa keeps working at Dallas' store, Dalia's bound to find a way to disrupt Tessa's life.  Crossing my fingers on that one.