In this episode, Ben is an overly qualified History teacher (I don’t know of many high school teachers with doctorates).  He is still a lying, manipulative, power-hungry man willing to sacrifice almost anything to get ahead.  And, therein lies the difference.  He is only willing to sacrifice almost anything.  As we all know, back on the island, he was willing to sacrifice absolutely everything for more power.  On the outside he always had a persona of superiority and wisdom, but as we found out, his role was actually very pathetic.  Yet, he watched Keamy kill his “daughter” Alex in order to protect the island.

However, in the alternate universe he seems to be redeemed.  When faced with sacrificing the future of Alex (who is apparently still Rousseau’s daughter, but only a student to Ben), he chooses to relinquish his desire to become principal.  This is in contrast to Sayid and Kate, who seemed to continue to make choices that were concordant with their character as we’ve come to know it on the island.  Jack didn’t have quite the same redemptive moment in his episode, but I think his relationship with his son was hinting at this.

So what does this all mean?  I think that the characters who ultimately side with Jacob will find redemption, as witnessed in their flash-sideways, while those that side with “Locke” will continue to struggle with the consequences of their poor decisions.

Interesting Notes

• Richard apparently confirmed that he is an immortal survivor of the Black Rock, which had been speculated for some time
• Widmore made a return appearance, in a cheesy submarine scene
• Did Richard indicate that none of the people touched by Jacob could be killed on the island?
• Are Miles and Hurley the most entertaining part of Lost these days?
• Ben was seen this week providing oxygen to his dad, in contrast to gassing him in the Purge
• What exactly is Ilana’s role?  She described Jacob as a father figure to her
• I suspect Principal Reynolds will appear as a character on the island soon

If you have watched past seasons of Damages, you will find a continuing piece of dialogue, “trust me.” And, if you have watched past seasons of Damages, you will know that when a character says “trust me” don’t do it!

This episode is filled with the continuing cat and mouse play between Patty Hewes (Glen Close)  and Ellen Parsons with Patty waking Ellen at 4:00 am to invite her to a dinner party on Thursday. When Ellen arrives to the dinner party, it is the “wrong” night and Patty and Alex Benjamin (Tara Summers) are at the apartment working. Just as Patty uses people, Ellen uses Josh by asking him to write a newspaper article on Alex Benjamin. Later Ellen tells Alex that Patty will not like the article and to show it to her before it is printed and apologize. When Patty sees who wrote the article, she knows the message is from Ellen. Do you think Alex Benjamin has any idea she is being used by both Patty and Ellen?

Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) is in Antigua following Tessi Marquetti (Vanessa Rug). He follows her into a bank. Tom, however, is asked to leave by the bank manager, (Andre Holland), because he does not have an account there. An informant calls Stuart Zedeck (Dominic Chianese) to let him know that Tom is in the country.

Patty and Leonard Winstone (Martin Short) meet. Patty offers Winstone the chance to walk away from the Tobin case. She warns him that he is “not a Tobin” but she will punish him like one. Patty also comments on his office decorating, and Winstone says that Marilyn Tobin decorated it for him. There are a lot of interior design references this season. Coincidence?

Into the future, Ellen is sitting in Detective Huntley’s (Tom Noonan) interrogation room. She is asked about the handbag. At first she says she has one like it. When he pulls her ID from it, she says hers was stolen.

Tom speaks with Tessi. She says she just cashes her paycheck at the bank. She signs three documents and receives her cash. Tom knows that only two documents need to be signed to cash a check. He and Patty feel the third document is a form to  move Tobin’s cash.

Zedeck and Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott) meet. Zedeck tells Joe about his father and Danielle’s baby. He also explains that Tessi is the courier but Patty Hewes knows about her.  Joe needs to find out who told Patty.

Joe meets with his sister and his mother. His sister, Carol, seems to be unraveling. Is this due to the fact that she killed Danielle or that she suffers from depression? After she leaves the room, Joe asks Marilyn if she told Patty about Tessa. Marilyn says she did and there is no need to protect Louis Tobin anymore. Joe give Marilyn the sable and explains that there is a lot of money hidden. The cloak of secrecy is now in place.

Meanwhile, Leonard Winstone takes a trip out of town. He goes to a nursing home to see Barbara Wiggins. He is told she has been dead for five months, and that her husband, Albert Wiggins, (Bill Raymond) took care of all the arrangements. Leonard goes to see Wiggins, and we discover he is Winstone’s dad. There is no love lost between these two. His dad demands more money, or he will expose Leonard for the fraud he is to the Tobins.

Three months into the future, a partial fingerprint is found on Ellen’s handbag. The print is from a Lester Wiggins. This leads us to believe that Lester Wiggins is Leonard Winstone, doesn’t it? But, again, this is Damages, so I am still not so sure.

Ellen learns from Danielle Marquetti’s doorman, that Carol Tobin, was at Danielle’s house the evening she died. Ellen goes in to tell the ADA, Chris Sharp (Darren Goldstein). Ellen suggest to Sharp that Patty Hewes would be a good ally. The ADA lets Ellen know he could care less about finding the money. Ellen does not tell him what the doorman said.

In Antigua, the bank manager comes to Tom with a request. He will help Tom with bank information if Tom gets Visas for his family because his daughter is ill. Before, Tom can meet back with him, Zedeck’s contact gets to the bank manager. The bank manager has a change of heart.

Ellen meets with Patty. Patty accuses Ellen of being jealous that she has been replaced at Hewes/Shayes & Associates. Ellen says, “You hired someone. You haven’t replaced me”. Ellen says it is time to work together and gives her the information about Carol Tobin and Danielle Marquetti. Ellen tells Patty she wants to help find the money.

Patty and Tom are both now in Antigua meeting with Horatio Emmanuel(Michael Potts) to try to get information. Although Emmanuel offers to do all he can, Horatio Emmanuel just happens to also be Zedeck’s informant. By the look in Patty’s eyes, I don’t think she is fooled for a moment. After all, didn’t she once say, “Don’t trust anyone”?

Just a few more thoughts:

Let’s be honest, just to keep us on our toes, sometime “trust me” does mean “trust me”. But how does one know?

We know that Tessi Marchetti met with Marilyn Tobin. What transpired there? How much does Marilyn Tobin know? Then again, if she knew Tessi was moving money why would she tell Patty about her?

Is Tessi Marchetti really Louis Tobin’s child or  could she possibly be Joe Tobin’s child?

“You Haven’t Replaced Me” is probably the most relevant title of the season.

Why did Louis Tobin leave that envelope with information in it for Patty Hewes in the first place?

Who really killed Danielle Marchetti?

We have seen into the future and know that Tom opened that apartment door to someone. Now we see Ellen’s purse, blood splatter, and a body with a its hand twitching in the apartment. But since we did not see the body’s face, is it Tom or someone else?

What other questions come to mind?

After hosting an Academy Awards party, I raced home to watch the Big Love Finale.  I didn’t care how exhausted I was; I wanted to find out what was up with Bill and the election.  Also what happened to Adaleen?  Bill sure has his hands full-he has an election coming up and the UEB Kansas compound is in the spotlight.  Let’s not forget last week’s Marilyn revelation-what are her true intentions? 

The episode starts out with Nicki inquiring about her mother’s whereabouts.  JJ’s freaky wife, Malinda, tells her and Cara Lynn that she went to Kansas to be with her loving sister wives. 

Bill and the election-the only ones truly behind him are Benny and Nicki (somewhat).  Bill approaches Congressman Paley on Marilyn’s shady ways-he gets scared and agrees to work on her.  Tell Marilyn to leave my casino alone or the press will get involved-them are fighting words.

Nicki isn’t convinced that Adaleen left freely, she asks Bill to check on it, and thank goodness he has a trustee member outpost in Kansas.  What is going on in Kansas?  Adaleen is being kept sedated by JJ and his son at the clinic.  News reports are featuring stories about the Kansas compound and possible intermarriage.  Bill asks JJ on the possible indictments in KS and Adaleen’s location.  JJ denies knowing anything.  Bill also questions Alby on the Kansas shenanigans-Alby is so cooperative (suspicious), he allows Bill to check the marriage rolls.  Alby appeals to Bill on his willingness to assist and offers his support for his upcoming election.  Bill seems a bit taken a back-Alby wants him to support his succession of Roman’s position.  He is on board, but only if Alby continues to follow Dale’s vision for reform.  Alby gets furious and accuses Dale of being a traitor.  Get it out Alby-you are still grief-stricken!

Since Bill wants to announce immediately after the election that they have a plural marriage and is feeling confident, he tells his wives to treat themselves at Dillard’s with new outfits.  While shopping, Barb and Marg notice that Nicki is transforming herself into a mini-Barb, power suit and all. Of course, Margene lets it slip that Nicki is having fertility problems.

At the casino, Leila is back!  She is pushing drugs on the floor.  When Barb learns that, she tries to persuade Tommy to notify the authorities.  He refuses and explains that Leila is his niece and this is a family matter, even if it means lying to the DEA.  Tommy tries to relay that he fully supports the casino, but family is family.  When Barb tries to tell Bill, he flies off the handle, he is worried that this will affect his campaign. 

Last week Margene mentioned that she didn’t want to be married to Goran anymore.  Is it like I predicted!  She is worried that she will fall for him; but in her immature way, she doesn’t explain her reasoning when Ana accuses Bill of forcing her to get a divorce from Goran.  She even states that Margene doesn’t want to give up her business.  Own up Margene!  She finally reveals to Ana that she finds Goran attractive; Ana understands and even mentions that she suspected it.  Margene feels better and shares an embrace with Ana and Goran.  Ok-did anyone sense a future threesome next season? 

JJ’s son calls Nicki with some bad news, the fertility treatments aren’t working.  She grows distraught and is offended when Margene offers her eggs for a possible pregnancy.  The conversation is disrupted when a rock is thrown at the living room window.  Who did it-JJ?  Nope, Don’s son.  Poor Don, he and his family have been struggling after the revelation that he was polygamist.  Despite his banishment, Don still supports Bill.

After delivering a motivation speech to his campaign volunteers, Bill is approached by a news reporter on his extramarital affair.  Initially Bill thinks it is Margene, “business partner,” but he means Ana and their “love baby”; he even has the paternity results.  Bill should worry; this could ruin the election for him.   He pleads with Marilyn to not leak the story.  She is willing as long as Bill stops campaigning against her.  What does Marilyn have on him?  Later that evening, Bill and his brood are watching the news reports….nothing on the affair with Ana.  Is this really the time to come out as polygamist?  Barb doesn’t think so-she confesses that she leaked the story to the press.  Here it is the night before the election and the whole family is still not on board with Bill. How can Bill trust Barb now?   The next day Barb and Bill both cast their vote, of course there is publicity.  I thought maybe they were going to show Barb vote for his opponent, instead she calls the casino.  She learns that the Flutes have been removed from the tribal council.   She is angry with Bill, he is worried about a possible drug scandal; I think he is just selfish.  Barb wanted to help them, plus Tommy is her friend.  Who is the righteous one now?  I want more of Barb and Tommy…maybe next season.  Marilyn isn’t out of the picture yet….she comes to the Henricksons’ home to call them out as polygamists.  The Flutes told her and is warning him that the public isn’t ready for plural marriage.  Bill defends The Principle, but Marilyn isn’t buying it.  She knows politics, plus she isn’t going to let Bill shame her for her scrupulous business ethics.  He is really going to face a “shit storm.”  I did like what she says to him about her sins being her own-not something justified by God.

So now we have Bill looking promising in the polls, but everyone else is miserable.  Good news for Nicki, JJ’s son calls to tell her he made a mistake with her test results-she’s pregnant.  She is elated and rushes to the compound to meet with the doctor.  Mute Wanda is in the background, too scared to warn her of him.  Wanda finally gets the strength to tell Bill that JJ is experimenting with fertility by implanting fertilized eggs in Adaleen.  This is the sick part-fertilized eggs of brother and sister-JJ and Wanda.  In the news stories on the television, they mention an unmarked grave of babies with deformities as well as Walker family experiments.  Really, is this all that is going on in Kansas?  How bizarre!  Next thing you know the storyline will include fertility treatments and goats!  Why is he doing genetic experiments?

Don’t count Adaleen out!  While being bathed by Malinda, Adaleen breaks free from her hospital bed.  JJ’s son meets with Nicki; he is going to give her a hormone injection, wink wink-it instantly knocks her out.  Enter JJ-he and his offspring-they are going to inseminate her with Cara Lynn and JJ-I had to see this scene twice to fully understand it-why?  JJ states that the three of them are a family again-GROSS-O!  Adaleen to the rescue (this season has been about mother’s courage-recall Lois)-she stabs JJ; Bill swoops in to save Nicki.  JJ runs away.

All that drama and still we don’t know how the election is going.  Benny calls to reveal that Bill won!  Barb is still not sold on the idea.  She drops the bombshell-she doesn’t need Bill anymore.  Wow!  Is she leaving him-to run off with Tommy?  Bill again relays him dedication to The Principle. 

The next day, Bill stands outside the state capitol to accept his candidacy and announce he is a polygamist.  What is interesting is that he calls up Nicki (sporting a new hairdo) first, then Margene-who looks very uncomfortable.  When he finally calls Barb, I thought for a second she was going to run off, but she took her position next to him.  The audience begins to disperse and you can even hear some shouting.  Was this a wise decision? 

The final scene shows JJ and Malinda (minus her wig) tied up in the clinic.  Adaleen is pouring gasoline all around the offices and out the front door.  She strikes the match and walks away as the clinic is engulfed in flames.

What is in store for the Henricksons next season?  What challenges will Bill face as a State Senator?  Will Barb and Tommy get together?  Will Alby get it together enough to run the UEB?  Will Joey come back from Mexico?  Will Adaleen be charged with arson/murder?  Was this season a bit ridiculous?  I mean-bird smuggling, inbred children, political war games?

Interesting comments: 

• Marilyn so angry and hurt that Bill called her a common criminal…tears?
• Nicki trying to justify Barb as first wife because she was the public wife….uh, because Barb was married to him first.
• Kissing cousins-trumped up charge
• Barb trying to take care of Tommy during lunch-what is in Barb’s heart?
• Alby’s wife asking for forgiveness and he cuts her-weirdos!
• Why does Margene have to sell her business in order to walk out on stage with Bill and his brood?
• Ana’s spirit baby….Goran will raise the child?
• Bill is like a big piñata!
• Shouldn’t Bill be concerned with saving his family rather than this election?  How desperate was Barb to leak the paternity test results to the media?
• Kansas compound-Walker family study in the 50s explains why JJ doesn’t have any fingernails and Wanda is crazy….
• Alby too busy to help Bill rescue Nicki-cuckoo!
• No incest without intercourse-Why are they making genetic mutants?
• Bill and his wives wearing Red, White and Blue

Challenge: Anyways, yes, the remaining ten designers are taking a trip to the local hardware store to see what they can find. They have $150 to create apparel AND an accessory.

While I’m not usually a fan out of the makeclothesoutofrandomjunk episodes, I am a little excited for this one, because they are all buying just that, random junk. Keys, sandpaper, copper, rope, trash bags. I do have to say nobody seems to be picking up similar stuff so I am looking forward to seeing a variety of runway looks. We get to the workroom and what do you know? Mila is doing some color-blocking treatment AGAIN. They are now joking about it. She makes me crazy. Amy is fanning the sandpaper and from the looks of it, she is going to redeem herself from last episode’s crazy fish pants. Jay is making these leather-looking pants out of trash bags. YESSS. I love him. Then we get to Emilio. The designers are making fun of him for making what appears to be a stripper costume. Oh wait, he ran out of material. It’s a bathing suit. An ugly one. Ugh.

(Two guest judges this week, Isabel Toledo and jewelry designer Stephen Webster). I already forgot they were making accessories. Why haven’t I seen any yet?!

Let’s get to the show already…

Mila: SUPER mod. Very shiny and I think therefore tacky. What in the world is it made of?

Jesse: Kinda superhero-ish. Kinda cool, but kinda reminds me of something Christopher Straub or Leanne Marshall made.

Jonathan: Cute! Looks like fabric to me! How adorable is the matching clutch?

Anthony: Forgettable. I hate lavender and I hate the belt. Sorry buddy.

Ben: Weird copper thing. Why does he do open backs so much?

Emilio: *speechless*….She might as well be naked.

Jay: LOVE him and these pants! And what is that belt made from because it’s awesome.

Seth Aaron: So futuristic but the hair matches it! Doesn’t matter though; he has immunity from last time.

Amy: I love this look! Creative and totally redeems her. She is still in my top 3 for Bryant Park.

Maya: The key necklace is cool, but is she trapped in a spiderweb?

My faves? Jonathan, Jay, Amy

Least faves? Mila, Anthony, Emilio

I am off from the judges this week but it only makes me conclude that they are insane. (i.e. Mila in the top? Jesse in the bottom?)

Top 3: Mila, Jay, Maya (Glad that Jay won. I think he’s definitely going to Bryant Park.)

Bottom 3: Jesse, Anthony, Emilio (Whaaaattt? I know this isn’t good, but not worth sending home!)

Why do the judges barely recognize Jonathan? I think he definitely deserved top 3. Are Mila’s designs always good and my personal dislike for her is preventing me from seeing that? And is my personal love for Jesse getting in the way here? While I didn’t think he was great, he didn’t deserve to go home. Back on Episode 4 I said that I have diagnosed Emilio with Christopher Straub syndrome. Meaning, even when you are well-deserving of going home, somehow you managed to escape it. (The only difference is I lovedddd Christopher and highly dislike Emilio.) I mean, how do you send THIS down the runway and stay in the game?!

Project Runway never ceases to amaze me.

“We live not according to reason, but according to fashion.”

Well, we spent a good portion of the show in Sayid’s parallel universe.  We find that as he is returning from Australia, the love of his life, Nadia, is actually married to his brother.  This is the same brother who we saw was unable to kill a chicken with his bare hands as a kid, and Sayid did it in his place.  So when he gets in trouble with a loan shark, he asks Sayid for help.  He knows of Sayid’s former role with the Republican Guard.  “I know what kind of man you are” is how he puts it.  Sayid tries to not get involved, at Nadia’s request, but gets pulled into the middle when his brother ends up in the hospital.  Not only do we see Jack at the hospital, but it turns out the ruthless loan shark is Keamy (who killed Alex a couple of season’s ago) and after Sayid kills all of the gangsters in typical Sayid fashion, he finds Jin in the meat locker.  Don’t ask me what all of this means.  In my opinion it’s all taking too much time and not really going anywhere, but I’m hoping the writers prove me wrong.  It’s like a bad movie with too many cameo performances.  The only excitement comes from guessing who you’ll see next.

Now, back on the island, things get interesting.  Sayid, still consumed by “the darkness,” confronts Dogen in a kung-fu showdown in which Dogen holds his own.  Instead of killing Sayid, Dogen asks him to leave the temple and tries to get him to kill Jacob’s nemesis.  The only catch is that he must stab him in the heart before he speaks.  Sayid is a couple of words late as he impales Locke with a dagger, and Locke pulls it out of his chest unfazed.  Not even a drop of blood.  He then instructs Sayid to head back to the temple with a message – Jacob is dead, and he will be coming to the temple at sundown.  Anyone who stays at the temple will be killed.

This is when things start to get interesting.  Sayid goes on a mini killing spree.  After Dogen reveals that he was brought to the island by Jacob under the premise that his son would be brought back to life (he was killed by Dogen while drinking and driving), Sayid drowns him in the murky waters of the pool.  Dogen has been guarding the temple ever since his arrival, but now no one can protect them.  “Dark” Sayid then slits Lennon’s throat just for kicks.   As Dogen put it, on the scale of Good and Evil, Sayid has moved to the dark side.

We get a couple of other visitors to the temple this week as well.  Wasn’t this secret temple the hardest place on the island to get to?  Not any more.  Kate jus knocks on the door, as does Claire.  Claire gets thrown into “the hole” which brought about a scene eerily similar to Silence of the Lambs.  I thought that Claire might snap Kate’s neck at any moment, but she showed some restraint. 

At sundown, the smoke monster enters the temple, killing as many people as possible, just as promised.  Kate falls into “the hole” and is kept safe with Claire.  Also entering the temple this week were Ilana, Ben, Lapidus and Sun.  They enter just before the smoke monster, and all manage to find a hideout in the temple along with Miles, except for Ben.  His fate is unknown at this time, as he was last seen trying to convince Sayid to take shelter with Ilana. 

So at sundown, as the episode closes, we have our characters divided into several groups.  Kate, Claire, Sayid and presumably Sawyer and Jin, are with “Locke.”  Ilana is hiding with Lapidus, Sun and Miles in the temple.  Jack and Hurley are off at the lighthouse, communing with a dead Jacob.  Dogen and Lennon are dead (?) in the “healing pool.”  There has been a lot of talk in the past about a “war” coming to the island.  It seems as though Jacob and his nemesis (can they not give him a name already) are gathering their armies.

Interesting Thoughts

• What’s with the vampire references?  Smokey comes after sundown and Sayid is supposed to kill him by stabbing him in the heart.
• Does this mean that Jacob will turn out to be a werewolf, since we all know that vampires and werewolves are sworn enemies?
• I’m guessing Dogen’s baseball belonged to his son, since he spared Sayid’s life after seeing it fall to the floor
• Either that or it’s signed by Babe Ruth, and didn’t want to get blood on it

This episode begins in the future with us learning that Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) was not yet dead when his car crashed into Patty’s car.

Back in the present, Patty is being dressed down by Judge J. T. Reilly (Peter Jay Fernandez) for not yet finding the hidden funds.

Tom is becoming more desperate to find Tobin’s hidden money. His wife (Jennifer Roszell) is upset about changing their lifestyle and his father-in-law can’t afford the medical premiums for his wife’s cancer treatments. On top of this, he is trying to be the perfect father by attending all his daughter’s school functions. At first Patty seems supportive, but later we see her annoyance. Tom has still not told Patty that he was invested with Tobin.
A run in with his investment banker at the school, though, leads Tom to connect Tessi Marchetti (Vanessa Rug) to private jets flying out of the country.

The ADA finds it too coincidental that Louis Tobin and Danielle Marchetti both died of a heart attack. He asks Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) to head the official inquiry. A person of interest is Richard Renfro (J. Tucker Smith) who just happens to be Patty’s client. (the one that Patty set up to fight Joe Tobin)

Meanwhile Patty goes to the prison and meets with Sterling Bittle (Wallace Shawn). Bittle is a great fan of Patty Hewes, even though she put him in prison.

At this point, I must interject a personal comment that I am a great fan of Wallace Shawn’s ever since the Princess Bride. I kept waiting for him to say “inconceivable!”

Now back to Damages:
Patty first asks for remodeling advice and then asks for money laundering advice. Bittle needs some quid pro quo, a congical visit. Who does Patty call for this service? Alex Benjamin (Tara Summers). However, in Damages fashion, a congical visit is not what it appears to be. Patty gets her information from Bittle.

Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott) and Leonard Winstone (Martin Short) are still busy trying to connect with Stuart Zedeck (Dominic Chianese).  Joe meets with Zedeck, and Zedeck explains how he and Louis Tobin trusted each other and acts concerned for Marilyn. Joe, however, just tells him that if he doesn’t disclose the location of the money he will turn all papers over to the authorities. Then Zedeck sends Joe on a treasure hunt only to pick up a sable coat, no money.  I did enjoy the metaphor of the “laundry” ticket. Joe found no humor in it and sends the coat back. Zedeck ends up in Joe’s hotel room telling him they must trust each other and leaves money in the dresser drawer. Has trust now been established? Did you notice that Zedeck’s side kick is the man that was outside Danielle Marchetti’s apartment?

Bittle’s interior designer shows up at Patty’s apartment. When Patty opens the door we find Julian Decker (Keith Carradine) standing there. Remember him from the earlier episodes when he was trying to pick up Patty? He suggest knocking out sheet rock to find what is hidden behind it, and Patty decides she is not ready for that just yet.
Of course, we have to assume that Decker is much more than a designer and that knocking down walls is yet another metaphor.

Another look into the future shows us Tom and Ellen together, with Tom giving Ellen a bag of money and saying, “Dont’ worry about Patty”. Later, that bag is in Tom’s trunk as the car slams into Patty.

Tom, Tom, always worry about Patty.

This episode didn’t have much, just setting us up for the season finale.  After last week’s bombshell of Margene marrying Goran and Joey admitting to killing Roman, I expected this episode to tie up some loose ends, but I was a bit disappointed.  Bill whined the entire time and Barb had another mini breakdown. 

The show opens with Bill’s campaign jingle, “Meet Bill Henrickson, Vote Bill Henrickson, He’s the kind of guy from right next door.”  Let’s see if I sing this all week long.  The Henrickson family is eating dinner together, Benny and Sarah included.  Nicki has a new wardrobe-cross between Sex and the City wannabe and 80s flashback.  Her wardrobe wasn’t the only topic at the table-Sarah and Scott are moving to Portland.  Tans/Teenie actually has a speaking role, “What about my birthday?”  After dinner, Barb finally comes clean about Marilyn-her contract and shenanigans.  Bill grows angry and fires her from the casino on the spot.  He walks off to tell Nicki about Joey. 

At the board meeting with Marilyn and Ron Reed along with Barb and the Flutes, Bill calls out Marilyn.  He accuses her of running a dog and pony show with Reed, meeting in Scotland and extorting Bill and the Flutes.  Bill doesn’t back down-he even threatens a trial on the bomb threat.  Reed freaks out and Marilyn retorts that won’t let some “State Senate Wannabe and a Made up Little Tribe” frame her.  Bill fires her/Marilyn quits.  Later, Tommy reveals that Marilyn’s computer files have revealed an extensive background check on Bill.

Barb continues to screw things up…while at Eagle Forum meeting, she babbles about being a Utah woman, trying to be perfect and running to prescription medications for relief.  I was proud of her when she refused Bill and attended the board meeting with Marilyn.  Did anyone catch her and Tommy’s embrace?  It was expected-setting us up for more to come.

Marg confesses to Bill about her marriage to Goran at the casino office.   Of course he is furious and accuses her trying to keep her business afloat.  Her only point was to save Ana’s baby from leaving the country.  She should have let me go to Serbia.  Bill tells her that she is either part of this campaign or not…Marg kisses him and tries to ease his anxiety….Marilyn sees all of this.  Later Marilyn visits Margene at her office and tries to gather info.  Marg lets it slip out that Bill is a backer in her business; Marilyn thought they just met at the convention…uh oh!

Later Bill tries to reason with Ana over Marg’s wedding to Goran.  Talk about double standard-he defends The Principle (multiple wives), but finds multiple husbands unnatural-he can’t share his wife with Goran and Ana.  He even goes on to state; a man needs to know a woman is his.  I loved that Ana called him crazy.

Alby is being questioned by the AG’s office on the investigation on Dale’s death.  As you recall, it was in Alby’s apartment.  He denies any awareness of the lease and even hints that Dale may have misappropriated funds.  How bizarre was Alby dancing to Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots are Made for Walking and holding Dale’s picture?!  Alby is seriously demented, as well as his sister Nicki!  She wants him to run away with her, but he pushes her away when he sees Roman.  He grows mean and calls Nicki a disgrace and whore.  She and that freaky wife are all you have-don’t push out!

Nicki is going through a rough patch.  She is searching for her identity and coming to terms with her fertility issues.  She also has come to the realization that she truly loves Bill.  When Barb accidently tells Nicki about Joey and Roman’s death, she rushes to the compound to see Wanda.  Crazy Wanda is catatonic-she isn’t talking.  Guess who rolls up?  JJ.  JJ tells her that Joey made her do terrible things, but that only makes Nicki sweep Wanda away.  What a scene when Nicki slaps Bill for not telling her about Joey!    Later, Bill apologizes to Nicki-some interesting revelations from her.  She doesn’t want to share him with anyone else. 

As for Bill’s campaign, it is threatened when his opponent uses Barb’s comments about Utah women. During a debate, Bill trampled on her comments and it obliterates his family platform.  Bill wants Barb to retract, but she refuses.  In an effort to combat this negative press, he arranges for an interview with the whole family.  Barb agrees to retract after seeing the new political ads against them. 

The episode winds down with a final showdown between Marilyn and Bill (Barb present).  She accuses him of having an affair with Margene.  She is prepared to go public, which will completely annihilate his family values platform.  Barb stands back stunned-this is how you play the game Barbie!  When they get home, Bill informs Margene that she needs to continue with her fake marriage.  Kudos to Barb for her reminding them all that Bill did have an affair (years before) with Margene, she doesn’t think Marilyn will use it.  Baby Margene stomps and whines that she doesn’t want to be with Goran now.   Did you catch that Marg is worried about repeating her mistakes, “You’ve seen him Barb.”  Goran is a hunk-is that what she was hinting at? 

Marilyn calls Barb at night; she calls her a liar, what sort of woman allows her husband to treat her like that?  Marilyn feels sorry for her and Barb defends her position.  I am sure Barb still asks herself-how did I get here?

As for Sarah her move to Portland, Bill and Barb are taking this really hard.  I believe Barb is sincerely worried about her daughter’s well being, but Bill seems to just be whining about her not being there for the campaign/family.  Not everyone share’s your ideas Bill!  Just when you think Bill can be a jerk, he does something wonderful.  I loved that he came to help Sarah pack up her apartment. 

As for big interview-Bill comes to Barb’s defense, she shouldn’t apologize for the pressures she is facing, the sacrifices she has made and the nurturing she dispenses.  Sarah surprises them all when she appears.

At Teenie’s birthday party, Sarah is presented with a homemade quilt with patches from her family’s clothing.  This touching scene is extended with Sarah looking at her family from the kitchen.  What is her future? 

Next week is the Season Finale!

Interesting comments:

• Sarah’s intervention at the wives’ meeting.
• Tancy/Teenie is popular; she isn’t going to give it up.
• Since Bill is the UEB Trust, he is sends Winston to Kansas for the scuttlebutt.
• Adaleen’s father in law calling her “Baby Doll”
• JJ Walker is so scary to me, but even scarier is his father.  At a family dinner, Adaleen is toasted by her new in-laws. 
• Goran and Margene’s meeting with Immigration
• Adaleen cleaning/snooping on JJ-what did she learn?  What is up Cara Lynn?
• Battle over Margene-Bill vs. Goran in tether ball.  I guess Bill was trying to prove something
• Should we be worried that Goran might take Margene for a ride (money)?

Granted, this isn’t quite as big of a faux-pas as trying to give high five to a blind guy, like he did to Scott Macintyre last season.  Oh well, I guess if you’ve got to do five hours of live TV every week, you’re bound to look bad occasionally.

So now that we can get emotionally invested let’s take a look at what the Top 12 Girls did last night. I’m going to do my best to remember the order they went in last night.  I’ve also included weather or not I think they are safe or not, and just like last year I’m always right on this.

• Paige Miles- “All Right Now” by Free: I think that whomever goes first during this part of the competition is at a real disadvantage, and Paige had that honor last night.  I thought Paige was good, but wasn’t really all that memorable.  I don’t think she is going home, but unless she steps up her game she isn’t long for the Idol world.  She is safe this week.
• Ashley Rodriguez- “Happy” by Leona Lewis:  I was disappointed with Ashley.  In her auditions and during Hollywood week she really was amazing, and tonight she was just ok.  Simon blasted her for her song choice, and rightly so.  Let’s face it if anyone knows Leona Lewis it’s Simon Cowell and it was a mistake to choose one of her songs.  She safe this week.
• Janeel Wheeler- “What About Love” by Heart: While I hate to agree with Kara, when you are right you are right and Janeel had no business trying to sing this song made famous by Nancy Wilson.  Janeel is one of my early favorites, but she is going to have to do something to make herself stand out from the crowd.  She is safe this week.
• Lilly Scott- “Fixing a Hole” by the Beatles: I always like seeing a girl with a guitar, and Lilly was good last night.  Randy referred to her as an indie artist, and I think he may have hit the nail on the head.  If she keeps this up she will make the Top 12.  She is safe this week.
• Katelyn Epperly- “Oh Darling” by the Beatles: I wasn’t as big of a fan of Katelyn as the judges were.  I thought the looked like a street walker and didn’t really care for her singing.  She’s not going home though.  She is safe this week.
• Haeley Vaughn- “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles:  I love the Beatles, but I think three songs in a row is too much for me.  Haeley had one of the worst performances of the night and may be the weakest girl on the show.  I really don’t know whey they put her though other than the fact that they thought she was going to be a black country singer.  She should have stuck with that vibe for now and then tried to show she could break out of it later.  She should go home, but all the hype they’ve been giving this girl might keep her around.  She is in danger this week.
• Lacey Brown- “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac:  Hands down the worst performance of the night.  It was almost if this girl can’t sing at all.  No way this girl isn’t going home.  She is going home this week.
• Michelle Delamour- “Fallin’” by Alecia Keys: Let’s see, if you look like Alecia Keys and you sound like Alecia Keys then you shouldn’t sing and Alecia Keys song.  You want to know why?  Because we already have Alecia Keys. Other than that mistake she was good, almost exactly like Alecia Keys.  She is safe this week.
• Didi Benemi- “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson:  My other favorite of the girls is Didi.  It thought she was great tonight, and I’m really looking forward to her in the future, but I hope she loses that horrible sweater.  She is safe this week.
• Siobhan Magnus- “Wicked Game” by Chris Issac: I’ll be honest I have no idea what to think of Siobhan.  Just like her I love that song, but I do think it was poor choice.  I think the fact that she doesn’t seem to have much of a personality and she’s kind of weird (a glass blowing apprentice?) is going to hurt her.  She is in danger this week.
• Crystal Bowersox- “Hand In My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette:  Hey look someone whitened her teeth.  I know that is a horrible thing to say, but this girls teeth were so brown it was distracting.  I like Crystal.  She reminds me of a lot of female singer-songwriters that I enjoy; and for that reason alone I don;t think she will make it very far on American Idol.  I hope she does but when she has to put that guitar down I think she will struggle.  She is safe this week.
• Katie Stevens: “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble- I think it is safe to say that Katie is the producers favorite going into the competition.  She was awarded the final spot of the night which is by far the best place to sing, and they have spent a lot of time on her back story.  I like Katie too, and I disagree with the judges.  I thought she was great last night.  She is safe this week.

Well there you go.  Your Top 12 girls.  There are three possibilities of who’s going home this week but if I had to put money on who it will be I”d have to say that Lacey Brown and Siobhan Magnus should go ahead and pack their bags before the show on Thursday night.  It should be Haeley Vaughn instead of Siobhan, but the sheer amount of exposure that Haeley was given before last night will keep her safe for at least one more week.

Remember folks, I know what I’m talking about.  I was 100% on who would go home when we got to the Top 12 last season and I don;t plan on being wrong this year either.

What does a horse, Uncle Pete (Tom Aldredge), Ellen Parsons (Rose Bryne) calling the shots, and bloody feet have in common? One of Patty Hewes (Glen Close) dreams.
What does it all mean? I decided to google dreams and this is what I found on dreammoods.com. To dream about a horse means that you have strength and power. To see the ghost of a dead relative in your dream, suggests guilt and regrets concerning the past relationships with that particular person. To dream of a colleague signifies your ambition, struggles, and competitive nature. If the coworker in your dream is not your actual coworker, then it may pertain to some psychological business that you need to work on. Last but not least, to dream that you are hemorrhaging, suggests loss of vitality, loss of faith in yourself, and lack of self-confidence. Is this what writer, Adam Stein, was trying to convey? Is Patty Hewes losing her power?

In this episode ADA Curtis Gates (Ben Shenkman) and Ellen meet with Patty Hewes and Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) and agree to depose Danielle Marchetti (Madchen Amick) together. As soon as they are both in their own offices however, Gates tells Ellen he wants sole access to Marchetti, and Patty tells Tom that she wants to depose Marchetti alone. Patty also remarks that Gates brought Ellen again. She asks Tom when he is going to find a new associate.

In the meantime, the Tobin family is burying Louis. Joe Tobin (Scott Campbell) tells his family that Louis took poison. Carol Tobin (Ana Reeder) plays a larger part in this episode. I believe she is someone’s pawn.  Joe meets with Leonard Winstone (Martin Short) and shows him the envelope Louis left for Patty Hewes. It apparently discloses where the money is and how to get it. Someone named Stewart Zedeck needs to be contacted.

Josh Restin (Matthew Davis), from the UNR case last season returns. He is now a reporter in New York and would like Ellen to be an anonymous source from the DA’s office for him.

The Tobins’ possessions are being auctioned off. Marilyn Tobin (Lily Tomlin) wishes to keep some plaques, but Tom refuses. If looks could kill, Tom would have been done in right then by Joe and Marilyn Tobin.

Winstone and Tobin make plans to meet with Zedeck. Zedeck sends someone to tell them that they won’t get money until Danielle is “no longer a problem.”

Joe gives Danielle a script on what to say in the deposition.

Patty meets with Marilyn Tobin. Patty is oozing compassion and understanding. She gives Marilyn the plaques. Marilyn tells Patty that Danielle had a child with Louis Tobin.
Lily Tomlin does a great job making Marilyn look like the suffering wife. Her scenes with Glen Close are the best.

Patty calls Danielle and tells her to take the fifth at the deposition. If Danielle does as Patty wants, she will take care of Danielle and her child. However, we see that Patty is not able to protect Danielle from the Tobins.

Tom brings in Alex Benjamin to interview with Patty. Patty sends her to ask Ellen what it was like to work with Patty Hewes. Ellen is carrying the Chanel purse and Alex even comments on it.

Now looking five months in the future, we see a little more in Tom’s death. But not much.

Questions raised by this week’s episode:

Why does Patty keep denying it is her birthday? This is probably of no consequence to the story. I think the writers like to put these things in the dialogue.

Why would Ellen send her cupcakes?

How did Carol find out about her father and Danielle when others didn’t know he was still seeing her? Who sent her to Danielle’s with the poison?

Why would Marilyn Tobin send for Danielle’s daughter?

I just don’t think Louis Tobin would have left all that information for Patty Hewes.

Did you notice that Ellen asked if it was Wes when she was told she had a visitor?

Why would Patty send Alex Benjamin to speak with Ellen?

Whom was Tom calling to say “I love you” ? We know from foreshadowing that he develops some kind of relationship with Ellen, but he also seems to really love his wife.