The TV Chick

Last night’s episode of Make It Or Break It titled “What Are You Made Of” tested just that out of each of the girls. The big National Team practice comes to The Rock, and everyone is nervous about it. Kaylie is overtraining, Emily is questioning her skills, Lauren is well, Lauren and Payson is going to ballet class to reinvent herself as a gymnast.

Kellie Parker and other national team girls come to The Rock. They are super bitchy. But Lauren has a competitor for bitch of the gym! Ellen Beals is back too. She’s very skeptical of Emily. But I say: Go Em, show them what you’ve got! The practice starts with conditioning drills, where the other girls try to throw The Rock girls off their game. Ugh. Of course, Kaylie’s mom and Marty have an awkward run in, where he tells Ronnie he loved her. This was interesting to me, and I think it set up the possibility for a future romance between them which would be much to the chagrin of Kaylie.

But back to the practice. Marty tells Kaylie to do her original mount. Ellen tells her to butt out, tells Sasha about why Emily didn’t compete in Callait. She kicks him out of The Rock. Ughh Ellen Beals, you suck. Beals is also being a jerk to Emily, and everyone keeps alluding to Emily’s endowment fund believing in her. This obviously will not end well. I think Beals has a thing for Steve Tanner, and can’t stand when people break the rules. But everyone (even Kaylie) spoke up for Emily, yet she kept putting her down and trying to throw her off her game.

In an unexpected turn, Kellie Parker picks up on Kaylie’s new body type, and tells her she is hurting herself. She’ll keep the secret but tells her to be careful. I thought this was interesting that her rival noticed but her friends, coach and family don’t. A lot of times it’s someone you least expect to figure this type of thing, who ends up putting the pieces together. And for those who keep asking, Josie Loren didn’t lose weight or become anorexic for this part. She has a fantastic body, and was made to look skinnier by lighting and makeup. She posted about it on twitter, and I wanted to point it out as well. She was great in this episode, showing Kaylie’s strength and vulnerability at the same time.

Ellen Beals wants Steve to win parents board and find dirt on Sasha. She tells him he’s putting money on the wrong horse: Emily. Chloe walks in on them and get the wrong impression. He lies and says he told Ellen to be supportive of Emily and Lauren. There are so many things wrong with this scenario. I can’t see how there is more dirt on Sasha, because we already found out about his injured gymnasts, and one who died. He seems like he is such a great guy and I would hate for there to be something shady about him. More on Sasha later. I also think Steve needs to sto being so shady if his feelings towards Chloe are actually real.

Ellen announces the 10 gymnasts going on to world trials will be decided that day. Emily rolls her ankle at practice on floor. Marty tries to give her a minute, Ellen Beals wants her to keep going. Ew, Bitch! Marty tells Ellen she is bullying Emily. He wants her to give Emily a break, and bitches her out! Go Marty! Of course, Beals fires Marty as National Team Coach. My goodness, I hate her a lot. He talks to Emily, and gives her a big pep talk. Beals takes over as coach, naturally. This whole story reminds me of the Karolyis a bit. Marta took over as National Team Coordinator with a ton of power over the sport. But unlike Beals, she was a quality gymnast and knows about coaching elite gymnasts. Beals seems like she knows nothing. However, I like that they went down this path to reflect on the current state of the sport.

Beals continues to pick on Emily, and of course, she gives Lauren paperwork for her dad (you know, for the private endowment fund that sponsored Emily) and in true Lauren fashion, she spills to Emily about it. You know that Beals just did that to get under Emily’s skin. As I’ve mentioned in the past, Chelsea Hobbs has really gotten a chance to shine as Emily this season and this episode she broke through again. Emily overcomes her own doubt and others and even after finding out about Steve Tanner’s secret fund, she returns to practice and kicks total ass on the floor. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am totally Team Kmetko! I think I relate to her the most, because I didn’t always have the level of self confidence that say, Lauren has, and I love seeing her grow. In the end, all The Rock girls make it but not without drama. Lauren is incredibly pissed at her dad for funding Emily, and Kellie Parker tells Beals that Kaylie’s getting too skinny but she of course doesn’t listen. This is bound to blow up in Beals face, and I hope she gets blamed for anything that happens.

Away from The Rock and the drama was Payson’s journey to become an artistic gymnast. Her ballet class is rather hilarious, but in a very touching move, Sasha joins the class with her. He is rather horrible at ballet. At the end of the episode, Sasha lends Payson his gold medal to inspire her. I love that Sasha is an unconventional coach and is encouraging Payson’s unconventional journey to the Olympics. Payson is a champion and I think she will be a champion again. Hopefully it doesn’t mean ousting Kaylie on the way. Can’t we have a 1-2 finish like Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson at the 2008 Olympics? That’s what I wish for!

Each girl is going through some intense times. Some will triumph, some will break down, and I am really anxious to see who is next to figure out Kaylie’s eating disorder. My guess would be Payson. I also want to see Kim Keeler defeat Steve Tanner as the President of the Parents board. There is so much to wrap up and only a few episodes left. One thing is for sure, I adore this show and I can’t wait to see more.

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