kimchibucatini

It is the same actress (Alba Rohrwacher)! Alba has also been the narrator (Elena's voice) through the entire series.

With SO much speculation following the last episode re: Greg winding up on top, I'd like to throw another vote in for Tom. There was something to him putting it ALL out there for Shiv. Also - and I wish I could take credit for this but I read it either on a thread here or Reddit - his last name is akin to Bill Wambsganns, a second baseman in MLB in the mid 1910s-1920s. "He is best remembered for making one of the most spectacular defensive plays in World Series history, an unassisted triple play."

Not Micah trying to play the victim 🙄

Agreed that Chelsea/Kwame photoshoot was bizarre. I don't see any real chemistry between them - it all seems really celebral if that makes sense. There's a lot of talk between them about how in love they are and A LOT of platitudes especially coming from Chelsea, but the vibes from Kwame are that he's following her lead (talk of kids, moving, etc.) and I'm not seeing any of this intense connection they keep talking about. I feel bad for Chelsea.

Echoing everyone here that felt this episode was fantastic. I’ll only add that in the final scene where June and Luke are in the yard with Nicole is being juxtaposed with June describing Serena to Tuello, I think we’re clearly meant to compare Serena to June - although they both embody similar characteristics for very different reasons. June used words like hate and rage and misery, and described Serena as “doing anything to feel ok” and “doing anything to get what she wants.” The camera intentionally focuses in on Luke when June says “rape.”

Even CT had "feelings" about this!

Colin sums it up:

100% agree with this. Maybe it seems harsh of me to call them racist, but they are culturally insensitive and ignorant (willfully at times) of racial issues. The way I see it, they are in a position of privilege and they cherrypick when to acknowledge race/culture on their terms when it benefits them (incl. the birthday party; the many excuses Linda gives on the stand for not acknowledging May Ling's race like "they don't make Asian dolls!"). I also want to acknowledge something else I haven't seen discussed: We don't really know what Mark's deal is. When I say "they" (re: McCulloughs), I realized I'm mostly talking about Linda, because thinking back, Mark's most memorable scene to me is at the birthday party when he was trying to lure Bill in another room to watch sports.

But they *are* racist. They might be "well-meaning" racists but they are still racist.

Thank you for saying this - I haven't seen this brought up in any other thread. The lack of empathy for Bebe really shattered me when I started reading comments. This may be in part because I read the book last weekend and then immediately binge watched the show (the portrayal differs and important details are left out). Also, my kids are still little, so I'm only a year out from the last time I had a newborn. I'm privileged in that I didn't want for food or heat and I have a supportive family. I also had no issues breastfeeding, but if I did I had the means to buy formula. But I still suffered PPA along with pretty common but very powerful postpartum issues (lack of sleep, colicky baby, hormonal fluctuations, etc. etc.). I cannot imagine facing that on top of not being able to provide food for my child and being totally alone with no support. I could easily see how she'd make that desperate decision to ensure her baby was fed and then later regret it. It made me really uncomfortable how the show set up the situation to perpetuate the idea that biology is everything - it's obviously not, and I can see how this would tick off a lot of viewers. I think they totally missed the opportunity to put a spotlight on PPD/PPA (tragically under diagnosed) and the lack of postpartum support/care in this country. As far as race is concerned and comments on how the lawyer set up his argument - I think he was so direct in hammering the race issue home because unfortunately a lot of viewers would see zero problem with a white family using fortune cookies/panda bears to celebrate a one-year old Asian baby's birthday party as a "nod to the culture" (I may have misquoted Linda, but this was the essence of her testimony on it). And it IS problematic. Much of the court battle seemed to me to be a commentary on the b.s. notion of "colorblindness" that some white people use to signal that they are inclusive (Lexie uses the term when she's having the breakup fight with Brian in her bedroom; Linda basically says it doesn't matter that May Ling is Chinese). There are a lot better and more qualified sources than me who can describe why "colorblindness" contributes to racism. I applaud the show for acknowledging it, but I think using the lawyer to illuminate the issue is the reason there are multiple comments on here saying that his only argument for Bebe getting custody is that she is Chinese. This is essentially Elena's argument. And it doesn't address the question or issues surrounding why would a mother be driven to do this in the first place.

OMG I cringed when she ordered that for him! Also, was he eating a T-bone?

This episode would’ve been a total snoozefest if it weren’t for Gary in the kitchen with Kristina serving up some REAL TRUTHS about Amber. It felt so cathartic to hear him finally say it!

So much going on this episode, but I can't get over this ridiculous wedding! I knew it was going to be good when MTV editors/trolls teased it with the wailing organ before commercial break. Where TF to begin; Rhiiiine smacking his mouth on chew during the nuptials, Mack's nuclear spray tan? What was up with him grilling her about $ the entire reception? As he's demanding to know where this $ went, you can see him frantically trying to figure out how he's going to pay his dealer. I've never seen a couple with less chemistry. I can't for the life of me figure out what's in it for them -- the Teen Mom salary surely can't be the only driver behind this train wreck of a marriage.

Did I hear Kristina say she wanted to adopt Leah? I may have heard incorrectly (and deleted from my DVR before I could rewind!). It broke my heart hearing Kristina talk about Leah not understand why Mom left Matt but still isn't coming around. And Amber having the audacity to take off for Hawaii. I can't believe this whole s**t show is going to be preserved for Leah to watch later in life. At least she can bring the tapes to therapy instead of having to rehash her mommy issues.

I 100% agree with this! Those scenes were gut wrenching to me. I'm also a parent. I can't imagine having to make that choice at 16 (and I had reasonably stable/supportive parents, unlike Caitlin) and then see it play out while actually raising a child. The "what ifs" would eat me alive Cait has faults like the rest of us, but I do very much feel for her. There was no universe in which she could've succeeded with the mix of toxic people surrounding her. And I don't even want to start with that hack of a social worker.