The next morning, Lux and Ryan have a heart to heart and he tells her he saw how happy she was Cate and Baze adopted her. He noticed that Lux was giving him the cold shoulder. If she’s not ready for them to get married, he can accept that but she has to tell Cate. I can’t explain how much this scene pulled at my heartstrings. Ryan really is a saint but at the same time, he has flaws. He was nervous to get married too. Lux goes to do just this and learns that Baze didn’t come clean about his feelings. After hearing this, she tells Cate that she loves Ryan and she needs to marry him. Lux is so wise, yet I wish that she had known the whole story.

Baze confronts his demons — in the form of his father — and admits that he’s the reason why he can’t step up and admit he loves Cate. His dad seems completely unfazed by the entire thing, but redeems himself later by showing up at Baze’s bar. As if we hadn’t already had enough tear enducing moments, Baze’s dad tells Baze that he loves him, and he doesn’t know why he berates him all the time. This is the spark that Baze needs to go tell Cate the truth, but of course, there is awful traffic and Baze gets to the church afterCate and Ryan say “I Do,” and right before the moment when Cate kisses Ryan. If ever there were a moment to be on Team Baze, this is it right here. I’m not saying I wanted him to completely ruin the wedding and for Cate to run off with him “The Graduate” style, but I wanted him to get his chance. I wanted Cate to be able to decide between Ryan and Baze without any mixed messages.

What a cliffhanger to end season 1! This episode was filled with so many intense, emotional moments. There was even a toast to bong lamps! So here’s what I’m going to say to the CW. Life Unexpected has good numbers. They even beat some other CW shows which have already been renewed. It has a loyal fanbase that wants to see more. In just 13 episodes, it has TV Critics and bloggers alike talking about how much they love it. Personally, I think it represents a return to the CW/WB Network dramas that I fell in love with. At first, it reminded me of Gilmore Girls and it still has those touches of quirky-ness and human emotion that you only see in a show that is well written and incredibly well done. I want to see more. I want to see more bong lamps, road trips, Starship singing, Baze messing up and redeeming himself, turtle racing, radio show bantering, and the forming of a truly unique family. There are a lot of shows out there that don’t deserve to be on, let alone to be saved. CW, if you don’t renew this show, you will be disappointing a lot of people (myself included, of course). Life Unexpected has worked its way into my heart, and I don’t want the last I see of it to be Cate getting married to the wrong guy (at least at the wrong time if it’s not the wrong guy). I want to commend Liz Tigelaar on an absolutely amazing season and I can’t wait to see more. Because right now, I’m counting on a season 2.

At the radio station, there is much confusion amongst the callers about Cate’s former and present love life. Everyone seems to like Ryan but not Cate. After their show, Corporate shows up to hold a meeting about their ratings and likeability. It turns out one of the ”corporate” bosses is Trina, who Baze tried to pick up in the coffee shop. (The scene between Baze and Trina is pretty hilarious). Trina tells Ryan and Cate that Baze will be their co-host the next day to clear up the confusion about Cate’s life. The next day, Baze joins the two of them in the studio and it turns into a Cate bashing session, where he shares with listeners that she dated her dictionary in high school. It then comes out that something happened between Baze and Cate post high school, and Ryan questions Cate about it. She tells him nothing happened and that she also wants less Baze in her life. Cate goes to tell Baze this, and walks in on him shirtless (I can’t say I didn’t love this moment) about to have sex with Trina on the pool table. She storms out, and Baze follows her. She says there is nothing between them despite Baze claiming otherwise and asking her why she continues to lie every day to her fiancee.

Meanwhile, in Lux world, she goes with Bug to his hearing and his lawyer encourages him to take a plea where he would only spend 6 months in jail as opposed to 2 years. Lux encourages him to take the deal, but he insists that he isn’t guilty and doesn’t want to comply. She tells him to do it for them, so they don’t have to put their relationship on hold for 2 years. He tells Lux to talk to Jones so he can drop the charges. At school, Lux talks to Jones who says he will drop the charges if Bug gives him his motorcycle. She explains that he won’t give it up, his dad gave it to him, but Jones will only drop the charges under those conditions. Bug reluctantly agrees, and after school, Lux notices Jones having trouble starting the bike. She helps him and shows him where Bug grew up. Bug’s dad was abusive, his mom was an addict and he still has nothing. In a sweet moment, Jones tells Lux that Bug has her. He agrees to give the bike back and still drop the charges, but not without trying to kiss Lux first. They return to Cate’s house where Bug is waiting. Bug gets incredibly defensive and insults Lux telling her to go be with Abercrombie (kind of a great nickname for Jones if you ask me) and that “White Bread” just wants to know what it’s like to be with damaged goods. (I believe my mouth dropped open at this line). Lux tries to explain that nothing happened and that Jones is giving his bike back, but he won’t have any of it. Bug punches Jones, and Cate pulls up in the nick of time and orders Bug off her property.

Cate and Lux share a heart to heart and an interesting discussion on the truth. Cate tells Lux that relationships can’t be built on lies. If the truth leads to one person leaving, then it wasn’t meant to be. Cate tells Lux that she deserves to be treated better than the way that Bug acted towards her on the front porch, and he needs to know that. Lux asks if Cate has feelings for Baze, and she tells her that she has angry, resentful feelings towards Baze, but she loves Ryan. The distance between love and hate is very small, and there is clearly more there than Cate is admitting to. Cate encourages Lux to talk to Bug, even if she fears the worst. In a wonderfully put together montage, Cate goes to talk to Ryan and Lux goes to talk to Bug.

Lux tells Bug essentially what happened with Jones. He tried to kiss her but she pushed him away. She was trying to get his bike back for him by showing Jones where he lived and how he grew up. He doesn’t apologize or offer any reason for his behavior. She tries to get more out of him but when he doesn’t say much, she ends up storming out. Cate goes to talk to Ryan (at his apartment? I thought they lived together?) and lies. She says that Baze kissed her and she pushed him away (way to take a story from your daughter Cate). Ryan asks point blank if they slept together and Cate lies to his face. Of course she didn’t sleep with him (lie), there’s nothing between us (lie). Hence that perfect title “Truth Unrevealed.”

Later that night, Cate is waiting on the couch for Lux to return home. She had gotten a phone call at school about Bug, but we don’t know what happened. At the time, Jones was trying to give Lux a locket (in the midst of telling Jones how Bug grew up, she told him a story about a locket her horrible foster mom gave to her that she hung onto anyway because it made her feel wanted). Lux comes home and tells Cate that Bug left. A crying Lux seeks comfort in Cate’s arms, as we see Cate’s face, torn apart by the lies she just told Ryan, and trying to comfort Lux for being courageous enough to do what she couldn’t.

This episode literally gave me chills. Everything was bound to come out regarding Cate and Baze’s recent one night stand, but it’s interesting to see this hypocritical side of Cate. She obviously wants to hang onto Ryan (who wouldn’t?), but this secret can’t last long. It’s only a matter of time (probably the next episode) until Ryan finds out the truth. And there is definitely something between Cate and Baze, besides just a high school crush history. I’m not sure whose “team” I am on…I like both of them. Can I be on both teams? It’s not quite as controversial as rooting for the Yankees and the Red Sox, right? (I don’t do that, I’m just saying). I want to see the Cate and Baze relationship explored more. In the pilot, Cate didn’t seem all too pleased to say yes to Ryan’s proposal. So maybe they need a break? Or something where they both explore other options before discovering that they are right for each other. I mean, I love the chemistry between Shiri Appleby and Kerr Smith and I think they are a great on-screen couple, it’s just in any show we are never going to get that happy love story right away. It would be a cop-out, and Liz Tigelaar doesn’t strike me as the kind of creator who would allow her characters take any easy paths to happiness.

As for the whole Lux/Bug drama, I think he will be back. I would also like to see Lux come to terms with her feelings for Jones. She has a lot on her plate, and inevitably she is going to find out that Cate lied to Ryan. There’s also probably going to be some sort of aftermath once Lux finds out Cate couldn’t even follow her own advice. I am excited to see whatever comes next. This show has never had any disappointing episodes, and I can’t wait to see more. Seriously, CW, what more do you need to keep this show on the air?

Life Unexpected airs Monday nights at 9 pm on the CW.

Liz Tigelaar (the amazing creator) previews the episode:

Clip #1 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Clip #2 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Clip #3 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Be sure to tune in tonight to the CW at 9 pm for “Truth Unrevealed.”

Lux then goes out for a fun night with Baze and friends. They have eating contests, and Baze tries to figure out how he could use this to bring revenue to the bar. Baze and Lux have a “father/daughter” talk about Jones (who also happens to be the quarterback of the football team), and Baze tells her that if she gets in with him, she’s golden. She asks him if they’d be friends in high school, to which he replies that he doesn’t know if he could be friends with someone who does an annoying victory dance after she beats him at air hockey. I absolutely love that this episode focused on the Baze and Lux relationship, which is one of my favorites. They are straddling the line between a friends and parent/child, but they just click so well. Sometimes there is almost a role reversal between the two of them, as we see later in the episode.

When Lux returns home, Cate is waiting for her, scared that something happened. Cate explains that she gave Lux a cell phone for a reason, and that she should use it. Lux tells her she’s fine, she was with Baze, and not to worry. This prompts some radio station discussion over whether Cate is laid back and fun. She and Ryan discuss attraction and a caller says she doesn’t see how they are attracted to each other because they are such polar opposites. Ryan tells a sweet story of their first date, but Cate is still struggling with how to be a “cool” mom. She is jealous of Baze because he seems to have this really close bond with Lux that they don’t have yet. And everyone at the station forgot about the station manager Alice’s birthday. Cate promises her a girls night out with “boozy fun” her.

Meanwhile, at the bar, Baze, Math and Jamie are continuing to try to figure out ways to bring more customers to the bar. They brainstorm and throw around the idea of installing big screen TVs (too expensive) and then turtle racing (much cheaper). Baze’s dad comes by for the rent check and Baze tells him his big turtle racing plans.

Back at school, Brin tells Jones that her parents won’t be out of town when they originally planned, so they can’t have the party at her house. But it’s Lux to the rescue! She tells Jones that they can have the party at Baze’s loft, and that he’s cool with anything. Of course Baze agrees to it, and party preparations begin. While she is getting ready at Cate’s, Cate asks her about the party, and why they couldn’t have it at her place. Lux tells Cate that Baze’s loft is just more casual, and it’s no big deal. When she is about to leave, Tasha and Bug show up, reminding her that they had a surprise planned. Bug managed to get a hold of a car, and they bought tickets to see Shaun of the Dead at a drive-in movie theater. Lux makes up some bogus excuse about not feeling well, when we hear Cate shout that they are leaving for Baze’s in 5 minutes. Lux continues to weave her web of lies and tells them that Cate has to go out, so she is going to Baze’s so he can keep an eye on her. Lux, don’t we know where lying gets us?

The party at Baze’s begins. Downstairs, the bar is almost empty. Math and Jamie ask Baze if he did any advertising or promotions for the turtle racing, but he tells them to have faith and people will show up. Upstairs, Lux’s friends show up wanting booze, so she gets the keys to the store room, and lies to Baze that she just wants chips and soda. Cate shows up with the station manager and proceeds to sneak into Lux’s party. She sees beer all over, but decides she wants to be cool and fun. She joins in on a game of beer pong. Meanwhile, Tasha and Bug show up with soup and a Shaun of the Dead DVD, and they are pissed.

The turtle racing seems to be kicking off (Alice is having a great time minus Cate) however, and Baze is outside distributing flyers when something drops out the window. He storms upstairs and at the sight of beer pong, and minors drinking declares “Oh hell no!” and kicks everyone out. He yells at Lux, and in a very atypical Baze move, calls her stupid, and she leaves. Bug is outside and tells Jones and company that they can continue the party at the drive-in. He offers to drive Jones’ car because he’s been drinking, and decides to “steal” the car with Lux in it. Baze and Cate come out, and Jones says he’s going to call the police. They tell him not to and Tasha says she knows where Bug is going. Cate and Baze run off to find them. And in a poignant conversation between Bug and Lux (as poignant as you can have in a stolen car), he tells her that she will never be one of them, and she should stop trying. The police stop them, and Cate and Baze pull over right after and try to get Lux and Bug out of this jam. Cate approaches the officer and taps him on the shoulder and is quickly cuffed, followed by Baze doing the same thing. The whole crew winds up in jail (although not in the same cells). Baze makes friends with the officer, and he and Cate talk about how everyone likes him. Baze explains that he might be friends with Lux, but that Lux considers her to be her mom. Cate seems to soften after this conversation.

Lux tries to call Ryan, and as a last resort calls Baze’s dad. He shows up to bail them out, and they share an uncomfortable ride home. Cate encourages Baze to talk to him after they get out of the car. Baze opens up to his dad and tells him that parenting is hard, and he wants to start over with his dad. He invites him in for a beer, but he doesn’t accept the invitation. When Baze comes back into the bar, he and Lux talk about what happened. In this scene, Lux shows such maturity, and tells Baze that the first thing his dad asked when she called was if he was alright. Lux tells Baze that his dad really loves him, he just doesn’t show it in the best way. All of the Baze and Lux scenes were so brilliant and well done. Everything from Baze breaking up the party to their conversations just shows how versatile Britt Robertson is as an actress, and how complex and layered each character is. Baze isn’t just a “man child” as Cate calls him earlier in the episode, he truly has a lot to him. He acts like this for a reason, but deep down, he is trying to do right by Lux (and Cate). He and Cate then share a sweet moment where there seems to be some romantic tension, when Ryan storms in and interrupts.

Not long after, Baze’s father returns to the bar for a drink and puts money down on the three legged turtle (an underrated star of the episode if you ask me), because he wants to root for the underdog for a change. They share a beer in what I hope to be the start of a new phase in their relationship.

I absolutely adore this show, if you couldn’t tell already. This episode was fantastic. I love how Baze’s friends are taking on a more prominent role, and how the Lux/Baze/Cate relationships all continued to develop. We didn’t see much of Ryan, which is fine. I love Kerr Smith, but I’m sure there will be many future Ryan storylines. There is nothing about this show that is conventional. The relationships between each character are entirely unique and I think that’s what makes the show so great. Lux seems to be getting past her “running away” and settling in (as much as Lux can settle) to her new life. She is struggling with holding on to her old life (Tasha and Bug), and it will be interesting to see how her two lives continue to merge. I have high hopes for this show, and I really want a pick up announcement soon. Come on, CW, let’s make it happen!

Life Unexpected airs Monday nights at 9 pm on the CW.

Sure, I will be watching the Olympics pair skating long program tonight as well, but I am really excited for a brand new episode of Life Unexpected. Check out a few clips from “Turtle Undefeated,” and be sure to tune in tonight to the CW at 9 pm! I adore this show so much.

Liz Tigelaar (awesome creator) previews “Turtle Undefeated”:

Check out a couple of preview clips:

But if you just can’t wait until tonight, here are some great preview clips:

Liz Tigelaar (the wonderful creator) talks about the episode:

Trailer:

Short clip from the episode:

One more short clip:

Be sure to tune in tonight at 9 pm to the CW for “Bong Intercepted.” And tell your friends to watch, too!