seacliffsal

Don't forget 'they'll help each other grow' along with 'opposites attract'....

Okay, unpopular opinion, but I like Shae. I like that she's not fooled by Mattie's 'aw shucks' role playing. Nobody else is challenging Mattie's undercover secret agent motivations, so bringing Shae in to try to create tension is good IMO. Mattie can't have it too easy-this is supposed to be a well known law firm. It still boggles my mind that apparently Shae is the first person to contact one of Mattie's (fake) references. Where is the background check on Mattie?

So many great insights and perspectives in this thread. I thank you and acknowledge that you all were far more eloquent than I in expressing these viewpoints. As for the custody case in this episode, I didn't like either parent and felt that the boy was most relaxed and at peace while talking with the court appointed counselor. Sarah should have been fired well before this episode when she went after Mattie and turned against Billy. This episode? No partner is going to accept Sarah's inappropriateness while interacting with staff or potential witnesses like the neighbor. There is no way she is a brilliant enough lawyer to override her inappropriate responses and actions. I felt like this episode was the start of a retcon of the overall plot. Perhaps the writers realized their original premise was flawed and could not be sustained over time. But it seems they are making Ellie's and her parents far more complicated than originally thought. It also seemed like they are changing the timeline. It used to be '10 years' but seems to be '14 years' now. And, they are showing more divisions between Mattie and Edwin. She is definitely the 'mover' who has caused them to uproot and relocated, allow Alfie to focus on revenge while concurrently breaking laws and missing school, go undercover to expose who knows what, etc., etc. Oh, and to add, the basic premise in the premier was that Alfie chose the name Matlock because he used to watch the show with his mom and they enjoyed it. Not so much if he was taken away from his mom while still an infant (or toddler). Did we then lose the whole reason this show is called Matlock?

So, maybe Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane will end up in the same prison and decide to put on Broadway musicals together-maybe something like Springtime for Hitler?

I think a difference is that people associate Rob with strategy and Parvati with social game (even though the reality is that she is very strategic). This enables the others to think 'well, my social game is just as good as hers, so she isn't a threat.' People tend to really overestimate their abilities to play the social game, but being 'friendly' or 'fun' isn't the same as understanding how to socially manipulate others. There is also a level of denial involved such as 'there's no way she is playing me...'

I don't even know why Gordon bothers with some of these restaurants. IMO they're not going to be able to come back from being a million dollars in debt. Sure, the mom may have been more cooperative in the kitchen while the cameras were there, but I doubt she lasted long that way. It seems like Gordon is giving these restaurants all the same menu with easier to prepare meal (and lots of sandwiches/burgers). I don't even know how some of these owners have the credit/money to get so far in debt. How are they able to continue buying food/supplies? I would really like to see episodes in which Gordon is actually able to help a restaurant recover long term.

What bothered me the most this episode (and there were plenty of things) was how Madison was justifying her cheating and misleading Allen. She said that she and David were both in bad marriages and consoled each other. How was her marriage to Allen bad? No, she wasn't attracted to him after the wedding, but she kept saying her feelings were growing and kept changing him to suit her preferences. Oh, and the whole hoping the experts would comfort her. No. So, no, Madison, there's no way you're a victim. And her whole 'needing' to tell Allen her perspective/justification so that she can feel better. Just stop. Go to David's basement bedroom and go for it. Loved how production showed that David and Madison returned to their apartments at the same time on the nights they were out. Like others, I was impressed with Karla this episode. Who knew she would be the voice of reason while clearly letting Madison know exactly what she thought of her. Juan also let David know how wrong his actions were and that his decisions would make things really rough. I really get the feeling that both David and Madison thought that the others (except Michelle and Allen) would support them and seemed a bit surprised that's not how it turned out. And, no, just because one has 'emotions' it doesn't mean one has to immediately act on them. Otherwise, people would be continually lashing out in anger as well as falling in and out of 'love' while hurting others. It's not just 'love' that is an emotion. Greed, anger, hate, etc., are also emotions and we don't accept or expect others to immediately act on those emotions.

I really want to see 'the family' broken up. CK is cold-she refused to hug Will even though he was willing to hug her because he understands this is just a game! I do agree with Will that this group seems entitled, but they also seem clueless to me. A lot of righteous indignation about...nothing. At least Will was willing to shake things up a bit. And, do I believe that he is done with reality t.v.? Sure, until he gets an offer he wants to take...

I keep trying to like this show. Don't want to give up on it. But, the writers/producers have to give me something. Meet me half-way, please... I like the characters of Emmett and Dakota. Even though I'm not quite there with her character, Melissa Peterman makes me laugh. Reba's character is hit or miss for me. The CPA is meh. But, Isabella is just horrible IMO and brings down the whole show. Have her move on-go get her Masters or go back home to her mom. If they really wanted to go with the idea that Happy left half his bar to somebody other than Bobby, maybe it should have been a secret investor or someone to whom he was in debt. This secret daughter storyline just doesn't work for me. But, I'll be back because I want to like this...

Wow. Justin had a horrible attitude, blamed others for her attitude and issues, found fault with others without being willing to help them, etc. Gordon's big mistake was trying to talk her into staying. He should have let her go and encourage the mom to hire a new lead chef. They are never going to be successful in the long run. As soon as Justin gets in a snit again, she'll be out and the mom will bend over backwards trying to appease her rather than see to the restaurant.

I am so alone at my table with my unpopular opinion that I can't stand Flower and this episode so reinforced that. This episode had so many good moments and she just ruined it for me. Smashing someone's dream just isn't a 'fun' moment for me. Jay is such a good sport and he must have been heartbroken albeit temporarily. Again, lots of good in this episode.

When I saw that James Roday Rodriquez directed this episode I immediately thought what a great match as he certainly understands the character of a highly intelligent, observant character having played Shawn on Psych. He would totally get Morgan and her abilities. And, this episode reminded me of the ying/yang (?) episodes on Psych. Where's Gus? So, it took an elegant event and fashion on Morgan to get her police partner to be taken aback by how beautiful she looks? The extremely short skirts never did it? I never cared about cliffhanger season finales as I usually forget everything by the time the next season starts.

CK totally overplayed her hand with Lete. Trying to dictate to others never seems a good way to go, especially after Lete clearly stated that if someone saved her she would save them. And blowing up everyone's game? Only if one is sure they are leaving. I don't understand why they turned it into a cliffhanger. I would have to like this show a whole lot more than I do in order to be all 'oooooh, what's going to happen?'

First of all, I am in no way justifying what David and Madison did (and will comment on it), but Michelle just needed to stop. She even told the women that it felt like nobody wanted to hear her side, and she was right. Read the room. First was Ikechi's foolishness and then her relentless and desperate attempt to be the 'victim' that everyone would support and feel sorry for while telling off David. Nope, wasn't going to happen. They obviously did not want to keep rehashing everything at dinner. She needed to let it go-that was not the time or place to pursue the issue. And, she even then insisted on bringing it up to Allen who was oblivious. Why she felt she needed to 'clue him in' is beyond me, except that she so wanted to be a 'victim.' The only person for whom I really feel sympathy is Allen. Madison and David couldn't wait until after Decision Day? And why did Madison have to keep leading Allen on? And, she is full of it if one of her 'requirements' is that a man dresses well. Allen totally bought all the clothes she liked (and wore them at the retreat), while David dresses like a slob IMO. Like another poster, I couldn't believe that Madison didn't tell Allen and left that to David. Madison and David, while both liars, are cowards. Deny, deny, deny until there's no option but to admit-and even then with the lies 'oh, we haven't done anything yet...' Once Allen has some time he'll see all the signs/flags that he originally missed. The silver lining? Allen will so find someone after this (if only I were younger, lived in Chicago, etc., I like his quirkiness and think he's a good guy). Ikechi, of course, will be hugely disappointed as he wanted to be the center of drama for the season...

I agreed with the judges on the two that didn't get a chair turn. Don't really care for Kelsey. Some really good voices, I'm looking forward to the season. Glad Michael used his second chance button. Was surprised Ricardo (?) didn't get a chair turn as I liked his voice.