The TV Chick

I am usuallly a bit skeptical of crossover episodes (unless they involve Steve Urkel coming onto Full House, or Taj Mowry coming onto Full House — basically if it involves Full House, I’m okay with it), especially of a show I love SO much and one I don’t really watch. However, I never doubt Liz Tigelaar though, and this week’s Life Unexpected/One Tree Hill crossover is a treat. The way it is handled makes total sense in context of the story and at no point did I feel it compromised the quality of Life Unexpected, in fact, quite the opposite. The basic premise is that K100 (the radio station that Cate and Ryan work for) is having a big outdoor concert. Who performs at this outdoor concert? “One Tree Hill” characters Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) plays a producer who gets on stage as well and Mia (Kate Voegele). But that’s not all! Ben Lee, Sarah McLachlan and Rain Perry (the singer/songwriter of the Life Unexpected theme song) all perform, and their music weaves perfectly into the storylines.

The whole gang finds out about Cate and Ryan “trying” and it does not go over well with anyone. Lux and Baze both freak out, for good reason. Lux feels abandoned and jealous of the new baby that doesn’t exist yet. Baze very obviously still has feelings for Cate, and doesn’t want their family dynamic to be ruined. It all comes to a head at the concert. Hot Teacher invited Page on a date (whew boy), Tasha asked Jones to come with her and Lux and Baze asks a co-worker but also has to take his new boss Emma. But “Music Faced” is really about Cate coming to terms with her demons — her relationship with her mom, taking birth control, and feeling like a bad mother. She finds out that she and Haley have a decent amount in common and looks to her for advice. I thought this new found friendship was great. Cate doesn’t have a ton of female friends, especially ones that have gone through what she has and it was nice to see. We also find out a lot about why Cate is so flawed and why this might lead her to do some messed up things. I absolutely loved getting this back story. I love that nobody is perfect on this show because that’s how life is. Cate might be messed up but there’s a big reason she is, and if you wondered, it made me gasp. We also find out a bit about Lux’s jealousy and how that affects her relationship with Cate, Jones and Tasha. Fear of abandonment is a big issue for her and it makes sense that she wouldn’t be able to accept right away that her new family wont leave her. All of this interwoven with amazing music makes this episode one of my favorites.

“Music Faced” stays entirely true to Life Unexpected’s wonderful formula. It’s heart-wrenching, dramatic but also has some quirky hilarious moments as well. Someone ends up in concert jail! Tasha calls Lux “Slux!” And one of the funniest moments from the episode (that’s not a spoiler) was during a conversation with Emma and Baze where she says “Let me guess, your type is pint-sized, big doughy eyes, and looks like the chick from Roswell.” Brilliant! I can’t say enough good things about Life Unexpected. I look forward to it every week, and it needs a better audience! Watch watch watch! Show the CW that it deserves a full season!

Be sure to tune in tonight at 9 pm to the CW for the fantastic LUX/OTH crossover episode “Music Faced.”