The TV Chick

Last night’s episode of Make It Or Break It “Life or Death” featured a big wake up call for Kaylie and the girls of The Rock. I think it was a great “aftermath” episode, which left a lot of questions for the girls. There was also a lot of gymnastics, which I always love (seeing as it is a show about gymnastics). I’m curious what direction Emily will go in (will she be pregnant like in real life? Will she get kicked off the team?), how will Kaylie heal (now that she’s finally admitted she has a problem), and most importantly, who will be the new coach for The Rock girls?

At the beginning of the episode, the girls are preparing for an invitational meet against Dallas. Max is shooting some action photos of Payson for the meet program, and Lauren wants to get on the beam to have photos taken of her. She kicks off Emily by being a total biotch and making her suspicious of Damon. UGH, she has not changed a bit. I legitimately want her to get suspended from gymnastics for a while. She has manipulated everyone and it still hasn’t been revealed that she is the one who sent the tape to Ellen Beals. Also, random thought: Where is Ellen Beals? The random NGO guy Marcus shows up later but I don’t know where she went.

Anyway, Payson is talking to Emily about how they’ve been slacking off since Darby got there and they are going to look foolish at the meet. Dallas canceled apparently, so Darby got Pinewood (a notoriously really bad team) instead. The girls think the meet is a joke. Darby wants them to get a big win. Oh Darby, you are so foolish.

Of course, Darby tries to make amends with Payson, and asks to her rally some troops. In return, she will help her nail her vault. Yet again, Darby shows her inexperience as a coach. Asking Payson to get people on her side in return for helping her nail a vault is pretty inappropriate. And in crazy-town, Lauren asks Max to come over to her house that night to take her picture. Oh boy!

Back at casa Kaylie, Damon is playing his music about Emily in the recording studio and Kaylie sneaks in and listens. She sings a little to him and he’s impressed with her voice. They are bonding, when Maeve’s mom calls Kaylie and asks her to come to the funeral service and speak. Kaylie’s upset and doesn’t know if she wants to go. Damon tells her to write down her feelings. Aww. I like this new friendship. And that’s legitimately all I think it will be. Later, Damon offers to go to the funeral with Kaylie, as backup. What a nice gesture.

Back at The Rock, Max tells Payson he’s “offended” because she didn’t ask him to take her new head shots. Payson is obviously all Payson-like and nervous to have a boyfriend, but Kim tells her to start by being his friend.

After a fun time at Payson’s house, Max has to go take pictures of Lauren. Ugh. She is of course, being super scandalous. Payson calls when Lauren goes to change. They arrange a running “date/plan,” and then Lauren comes out in her underwear. Wooowww. She asks him to take shots for her personal portfolio. Of course, Summer comes in the middle of all this and gets the wrong idea. Lauren pulls out the tears and says she’s trying to change but she feels like no one loves her. Oh Lauren. Summer reluctantly agrees not to tell Steve. Gah. Seriously, this girl needs a good slap. It does take a good actress to play such a manipulative person though, so I commend Cassie Scerbo.

Back at The Rock, Emily is putting up fliers for Damon and Payson reminds her that she needs to focus on her own career. Of course, Lauren asks if Max wants to go the Pizza Shack to see Damon. Max asks if Payson will be there, and Lauren tells him she’s a lesbian. Oh goodness.

In a super appropriate move, Kim tells Darby she has to give Payson limits and not allow her to compete the vault. Darby reluctantly agrees and her and Payson butt heads. Darby tells the girls they are all going to be spending the night at The Rock to get into the meet spirit. Lauren of course blabs she had a date with Max. Lauren, step off it!

At the funeral, Maeve’s mom thinks she didn’t die from anorexia. She thinks Maeve was happy and healthy and getting better and wants Kaylie to say that. Kaylie knows that this clearly isn’t true and storms out of the funeral home. Damon follows her and she tearfully tells him that she is lying to everyone and herself. She is Maeve, and she doesn’t want to die. Awww Kaylie! Josie Loren was really fantastic in this scene and this whole episode. You can really tell she’s really gone through the journey with Kaylie. Again, I am so glad this storyline was given the proper amount of time, and that it’s still going. I want to see Kaylie become healthy (and win that gold medal!), and admitting she has a serious problem is the first step.

That night, Damon and Kaylie are at the Pizza Shack setting up. Kaylie wrote a few lines of his song, and he wants her to sing it with him that night…for Maeve.

Meanwhile, at the gym sleepover, everyone is miserable. Payson says she’d rather be at home. Lauren says she’d rather be at the Pizza Shack. Lauren suggests they all go as a team field trip. Darby agrees. Oh, Darby. Seriously??

At The Pizza Shack, Lauren shows her scandalous photos to Payson. Ugh. Kaylie gets on stage to sing with Damon and Emily is confused (understandably so). They sound super cute though. Josie sounds good! They hug and I think Emily gets the wrong impression.

While all of this is going on, Summer goes to The Rock to check in on the girls and no one is there except Marcus (the NGO guy). He guesses the girls went to see Damon based on the posters. After the set, Emily and Damon hug and she starts to tell Damon that she thought the song he and Kaylie sang was about her. Damon doesn’t get much of a chance to explain though because Summer shows up and drags Lauren away. Payson blows Max off because she obviously got the wrong idea from those photos. Aw. I like Max. Summer tries to get Emily out, when Marcus shows up. Payson covers for Emily, but Darby is there drinking, which does not look good.

The next day is the meet with Pinewood! Their team is stronger than anyone remembered. The Rock struggles – to put it mildly. The montage scenes in this were fantastic, though. Darby tells Payson to do the vault so they can win. She’s nervous because she’s only done the vault with a trampoline springboard. DARBY! Payson does the vault and lands on her back! UGH! After the meet, Payson gives Darby a big lecture on being a real coach. Go Pay!! Darby runs off, crying. What a great moment for Ayla Kell to show off her acting chops. Payson became a real leader in this scene. I know she won’t take over as coach but she really earned the “captain” title.

At the end of the episode, Kaylie looks at her calorie/weight book, and rips up the page. She starts writing a journal and it reads “My name is Kaylie Cruz, and I’m anorexic.” Aw Kaylie! It’s the first step to recovery for her, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the process.

Overall, a very enjoyable (and tough/emotional) episode. I’m very curious to see what will happen to Emily. My guess is that she’s going to be kicked off the team. It’s possible they might write in a pregnancy, but I feel like that would be a bit weird. I also would like to see Payson and Max become legitimate friends. I feel like she could use someone in her corner. Then there’s the whole coaching issue. This is obviously the perfect time for Sasha to come back, and I hope that he does sooner rather than later. The Rock girls need a serious coach; one that will whip them into shape. It also would be nice to see what happens between Summer and Steve once Sasha comes back. That relationship is clearly a disaster. They both have promised to be honest with each other but are being manipulated by Lauren into being dishonest. Sigh, Lauren. I want to see her get a very serious reality check because no one should be able to get away with half the stuff she does. I look forward to seeing Kaylie’s recovery, and the big build-up to the Hungary meet and the Worlds.

Make It Or Break It airs Monday nights at 9 pm on ABC Family.