The TV Chick

Some shows lose their momentum after a few great episodes, but Life Unexpected certainly has not. It just continues to dig deep into the complex lives of the characters, while keeping the perfect balance of funny and serious. Last night’s episode centered around the ramifications after Lux’s big lie to her friends at school. Bug picks her up on his motorcycle and her ex-friends make comments about him being homeless and call her bong girl/lying freak/you name it. Jones (Brin’s boyfriend and intended recipient of the bong lamp) comes up to Bug and starts talking about motorcycles with him. Jones then tells Lux that because he never got the bong lamp, he gets to throw a huge party at Brin’s house, and that the bong gave him leverage. This exchange puts Jones in a positive light, as he is the only one who doesn’t seem to care about Lux’s past.

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.