The TV Chick

Last night’s episode of Life Unexpected was quite amazing. So many important things happened, and so many things were left unresolved. The title “Truth Unrevealed” fits perfectly with the episode, which showcased the incredible acting ability of the entire cast. The episode centered around the Baze/Cate/Ryan love triangle. At the beginning of the episode, Cate wakes up to find Baze using their bathroom because he stayed over again. Of course, this pisses off Ryan who tells Cate that it has to stop. Lux is getting ready for Bug’s hearing, which Baze told her she could skip school for. Later, Jamie accuses Baze of losing his touch with women. Jamie identifies a girl in a coffee shop he should try to pick up, and he fails miserably. Baze admits to Jamie that he slept with Cate about a month ago, and Jamie accuses him of having a thing for her (which he denies of course).

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.