S02.E06: You Don't Have To

[Aethera]

Quote

Jen scrambles to contain the fallout from Charlie's vehicular hijinks, Judy faces questions about Steve, and Henry experiences a case of stage fright.

 

[preeya]

I was about to bail, but the last 10 seconds made me change my mind.

[stcroix]

Well I guessed (to myself) who the girlfriend was going to be when she walked in at the end of the episode.  This season doesn't have that many real surprises.  Everything veeeerrry convenient.  

And they made Judy's new friend too aware of her quirky personality too soon I think.  Somehow she knew Judy would be into astrology signs and crystals and even had a moonstone tucked handily in her purse to give her.  She comes on too strong.  Maybe it's just because I dont care for the actor.  I remember her in Grace and Frankie in an episode where she plays a cop with short semi bleached hair who tries to help Frankie who appears to be having a stroke.  She seems uncomfortable acting to me-- like she's just too aware of the camera.  Love the guy who's playing the twin brothers, though 🙂 

[ShortyMac]

Even though the twist with the detective being Michelle's ex was predictable, I loved it.

[tennisgurl]

This really is an extremely small town isn't it? 

I totally should have seen the detective being the ex coming, and yet I didnt. This season has been very twist heavy, maybe even more than last season, what with the twins and all that, but it sure does keep me guessing.

Edited May 12, 2020 by tennisgurl

[peachmangosteen]

13 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

I totally should have seen the detective being the ex coming, and yet I didnt. 

Yea, I totally did not see that coming. It never even occurred to me lol.

[Lovecat]

I figured it out right as Judy and Michelle were disappearing into the bedroom...and was very pleased with myself when I was proven right a few seconds later 🙂  I loved what they did with the soundtrack, slowing down "I Think We're Alone Now" to a distorted mess...a modern needle scratch, for those who remember records, LOL!

[dubbel zout]

On 5/11/2020 at 8:27 PM, tennisgurl said:

This really is an extremely small town isn't it? 

LOL. I loved that exchange at the police department, where the cop says it's not a small town, and Jen's gestures and grunts are completely disagreeing.

On 5/12/2020 at 10:15 AM, peachmangosteen said:

Yea, I totally did not see that coming. It never even occurred to me lol.

I guessed it, and once I did, I thought, Of course. Otherwise, why mention the ex so much?

I also loved Ben rocking out in the pew, and his heartfelt "So badly!" when Jen asked him how badly he wanted to be up there performing.

[Ashforth]

One of the things I appreciate about this show is the lack of nudity (which is usually almost exclusively female in TV shows and movies) even in sex scenes. I noticed it way back in scenes where Judy and Steve were having sex. If men were in charge of this, we would have had breasts and more all over the place - even the teen in the car with Charlie. They would have simply cast an actress over the age of eighteen to justify that it was okay.

I think this season started out in a bit of a sophomore slump, but it's picked up nicely. I'm entertained and interested to see where it goes.

On 5/9/2020 at 9:00 PM, stcroix said:

And they made Judy's new friend too aware of her quirky personality too soon I think.  Somehow she knew Judy would be into astrology signs and crystals and even had a moonstone tucked handily in her purse to give her.  She comes on too strong.  Maybe it's just because I dont care for the actor.

There's something about her that bugs. I can't put my finger on it.

Edited May 17, 2020 by Ashforth

[DiabLOL]

I feel the writers made Judy really needy and "the kindest person ever" so why not have her fall in love with a pushy lesbian. 

 

[chaifan]

Nice twist at the end.  I didn't see that coming.  But I was really really thinking that Michelle was an undercover cop/detective/PI, with all the questions she's been asking Judy, and being a bit too perfect of a match for her.  I think having the ex be the cop makes that less likely now, but still a possibility. 

This season really isn't measuring up to Season 1.  Like others, I'm really tired of the stupidity at every turn.  Having the kid take Steve's Benz is one thing.  But when that first happened I had an explanation within 5 seconds - Steve stashed it there before taking off down to Mexico, without Judy or Jen's knowledge.  He either stole the key from Jen or had the lock combo from some unspecified (totally made up) time when he helped them put Judy's things in storage.  But setting it on fire for the police to find, knowing about all the possible street cam footage, the girlfriend, etc.? 

Can someone give me a refresher on Nick?  I can't remember what happened with him last season. 

I can see the season cliffhanger setting up Season 3 - Jen plots to kill Karen, via poisoned margaritas, because the woman just won't shut up.  Lorna stops by, and Judy accidentally pours her a margarita from the same batch, killing both. 

[dubbel zout]

13 hours ago, chaifan said:

Can someone give me a refresher on Nick?  I can't remember what happened with him last season. 

Nick is the other cop, right? I think Judy did something to get him thrown off the force—admitted they slept together, I think?—and he had to make ends meet as a PI. He was getting close to what really happened the night of the accident, and then...I don't remember. Sorry, heh.

[camom]

Quote

This really is an extremely small town isn't it? 

What I laugh at is the lack of traffic in what is supposed to be Laguna Beach.  Except for private roads or those way off the main streets, it's really congested.

My recollection about Nick is that he was a cop (in Santa Ana?) and was on a psychiatric leave of absence after his partner was killed.  The Laguna detective offered him a job but he turned her down (gave her a file of info though).  But wasn't it him in uniform looking at the burned out car?

I think the rest of us are all safe from stupid decisions because the people on this show are using them all up.

[Ashforth]

15 hours ago, chaifan said:

Having the kid take Steve's Benz is one thing.  But when that first happened I had an explanation within 5 seconds - Steve stashed it there before taking off down to Mexico, without Judy or Jen's knowledge.  He either stole the key from Jen or had the lock combo from some unspecified (totally made up) time when he helped them put Judy's things in storage. 

Steve drove to Jen's in the Benz the night she killed him and then Judy drove it to and stashed it to the storage unit. That was part of the neighbor's street cam footage that Jen had to get rid of.

1 hour ago, camom said:

My recollection about Nick is that he was a cop (in Santa Ana?) and was on a psychiatric leave of absence after his partner was killed.  The Laguna detective offered him a job but he turned her down (gave her a file of info though).  But wasn't it him in uniform looking at the burned out car?

Yes, Nick was on psych leave from his job as a detective in Santa Ana when he met Judy at the retreat. When he went to the Laguna detective to accuse Judy of killing Ted, she pointed out the combination of that and his relationship with Judy just ending presented problems with his credibility.

How he suddenly became an officer (is he a beat cop or a detective? Detectives don't usually wear street cop uniforms, do they?) with the Laguna Beach PD completely flew past me.

[Racj82]

On 5/17/2020 at 5:48 AM, Ashforth said:

One of the things I appreciate about this show is the lack of nudity (which is usually almost exclusively female in TV shows and movies) even in sex scenes. I noticed it way back in scenes where Judy and Steve were having sex. If men were in charge of this, we would have had breasts and more all over the place - even the teen in the car with Charlie. They would have simply cast an actress over the age of eighteen to justify that it was okay.

I think this season started out in a bit of a sophomore slump, but it's picked up nicely. I'm entertained and interested to see where it goes.

There's something about her that bugs. I can't put my finger on it.

I never understood why anyone would have problems with nudity in sex scenes. I can understand finding sex scenes in general mostly pointless. But, people, for the most part, have sex in the nude. People often are still nude when they wake up after sex. Sleep nude. Walk around nude. I just never had a hang up about it. It's things like people sleeping under L shaped covers, having sex in bras, the starting a scene right after climax like network shows love to do and etc that's always take me out scenes and remind me that I'm just watching a tv show.

[dubbel zout]

1 hour ago, Racj82 said:

I just never had a hang up about it. It's things like people sleeping under L shaped covers, having sex in bras, the starting a scene right after climax like network shows love to do and etc that's always take me out scenes and remind me that I'm just watching a tv show.

Well, otherwise it would be porn. 😉

[Racj82]

1 hour ago, dubbel zout said:

Well, otherwise it would be porn. 😉

It wouldn't be. It would just be real life. United States will always make me laugh. All this time and sex/nudity is still such a taboo in mainstream media. 

[Ashforth]

5 hours ago, Racj82 said:

It wouldn't be. It would just be real life. United States will always make me laugh. All this time and sex/nudity is still such a taboo in mainstream media. 

I tried taking this to small talk because it isn't really about the episode, but it was an epic fail.

I am no prude. What I am talking about is the exploitation of women. Here is an article about it: https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/11/19/emilia-clarke-pressure-to-do-nude-scenes-on-game-of-thrones-common-for-young-actresses/

When I see as many penises as breasts, I will re-think my position.

Edited May 24, 2020 by Ashforth

[Racj82]

1 hour ago, Ashforth said:

I tried taking this to small talk because it isn't really about the episode, but it was an epic fail.

I am no prude. What I am talking about is the exploitation of women. Here is an article about it: https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/11/19/emilia-clarke-pressure-to-do-nude-scenes-on-game-of-thrones-common-for-young-actresses/

When I see as many penises as breasts, I will re-think my position.

Penises don't equate to breasts on screen for a bunch of different reasons imo but I'm moving on from this topic. It's just not something I applaud the show for. The show doesn't revolve around sex so none of the sex scenes are really gratuitous to me but I also don't clock these things. People have sex. People are nude some times. The strip club on the sopranos was gratuitous to me. Two people having sex in the nude or waking up in the nude as a extension of their relationship is not a issue for me.

[Ashforth]

On 5/22/2020 at 7:47 PM, chaifan said:

But when that first happened I had an explanation within 5 seconds - Steve stashed it there before taking off down to Mexico, without Judy or Jen's knowledge.  He either stole the key from Jen or had the lock combo from some unspecified (totally made up) time when he helped them put Judy's things in storage. 

@chaifan it literally just dawned on me that your explanation was what Jen and Judy would come up with to tell the detective. Duh.

 

10 hours ago, Racj82 said:

Penises don't equate to breasts on screen for a bunch of different reasons imo

This makes me curious, but I agree, let's not beat a dead... horse.

Edited May 24, 2020 by Ashforth

[chaifan]

2 hours ago, Ashforth said:

@chaifan it literally just dawned on me that your explanation was what Jen and Judy would come up with to tell the detective. Duh.

Yeah, it's what they should have been able to come up with.  If I, as a viewer, can have this pop into my mind on the spot, there's no reason for the writers to make the characters so stupid.  Watching them dig the proverbial hole deeper and deeper has gotten boring.  It would be more interesting to see something like this - a big potential screw up - and have them be smart/creative and get out of it.  I mean, they'd still have to deal with the video cameras and all.

 

[Ellaria]

On 5/24/2020 at 11:41 AM, chaifan said:

Yeah, it's what they should have been able to come up with.  If I, as a viewer, can have this pop into my mind on the spot, there's no reason for the writers to make the characters so stupid.  Watching them dig the proverbial hole deeper and deeper has gotten boring.  It would be more interesting to see something like this - a big potential screw up - and have them be smart/creative and get out of it.  I mean, they'd still have to deal with the video cameras and all.

 

I don’t think it is boring - not yet anyway - but torching the car on a not-so-desolate road is stupid. There are little annoyances in the story that I can hand wave away but, in the grand scheme of things, they support the silly decision-making. Why did Jen’s son go to the storage locker in the first place? (Maybe I missed it.)

I was surprised to see Nick in uniform. Did he join Laguna Beach PD after all?

[dubbel zout]

48 minutes ago, Ellaria Sand said:

Why did Jen’s son go to the storage locker in the first place? (Maybe I missed it.)

I think he found the key? I don't quite remember, but idiocy from a teenager is pretty easy for me to accept.

[Ellaria]

12 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

I think he found the key? I don't quite remember, but idiocy from a teenager is pretty easy for me to accept.

Thank you - I think I recall him finding a key.

[Ashforth]

1 hour ago, dubbel zout said:

I think he found the key? I don't quite remember, but idiocy from a teenager is pretty easy for me to accept.

Hadn't Jen said something about there being a bike or motorcycle of Ted's in the storage unit that she was going to let Charlie use at some point? I think that's what led him to search out the key (how he would know where the unit was is a different untold story). Also if she didn't want him to drive a car, it's truly inexplicable that she'd offer him a motorcycle. But it's been a while since I watched this one. 

[AG921]

On 5/25/2020 at 7:29 PM, Ashforth said:

Hadn't Jen said something about there being a bike or motorcycle of Ted's in the storage unit that she was going to let Charlie use at some point? I think that's what led him to search out the key (how he would know where the unit was is a different untold story). Also if she didn't want him to drive a car, it's truly inexplicable that she'd offer him a motorcycle. But it's been a while since I watched this one. 

I just watched and you are right. She said that she had his fathers bike in the storage unit but hadn't found time to go dig it out for him. Looks like he decided to go get it himself. I assumed she meant actual bicycle and not motorcycle because her whole point was that he's not driving yet.

[Chai]

Where did Charlie get the key to the storage unit? I must’ve missed that. (I know he found the weed under Jens bed  and the letter from Jen)but I didn’t  see him find the storage unit key

[mtlchick]

On 5/12/2020 at 10:15 AM, peachmangosteen said:

Yea, I totally did not see that coming. It never even occurred to me lol.

Just catching up to this now and I actually said "oh HELLS no."  

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I originally thought that Judy's new girlfriend was an undercover cop trying to get information out of her, but as soon as she started dropping anvils about her ex, I KNEW it was going to be Perez.

Charlie had a lot of nerve to go down to the storage place specifically to look for the car he thought he was getting, but to take it out when he doesn't even have a license? His utter lack of respect for rules was galling. And not only did he drive the car around without a license but then he went to pick up his girlfriend to impress her? UGH. Sometimes kids really are the worst.

But to top it all off, he didn't seem the least bit remorseful or seem to think that he did anything wrong. Jen being forced to listen to Parker's explanation of what a micro influencer is made me laugh because you know she wanted to tell her to STFU.

One thing I liked was Charlie slowly coming around to Judy. It was clear he had a lot of hostility towards her before but her attempts to talk to him about sex and relationships softened him up a little (while simultaneously grossing him out).

I loved that Ben was so unabashedly into that performance. And OF COURSE he was in the group too. I really liked seeing this little group of Jen, her kids, Judy, her new girlfriend, and Ben melding together and having fun. There has been so much loss and pain that it was nice to see them laughing together and forgetting about all the shitty things that have happened in their lives for a little while.

Edited July 24, 2020 by ElectricBoogaloo

[chediavolo]

On 5/17/2020 at 5:48 AM, Ashforth said:

One of the things I appreciate about this show is the lack of nudity (which is usually almost exclusively female in TV shows and movies) even in sex scenes. I noticed it way back in scenes where Judy and Steve were having sex. If men were in charge of this, we would have had breasts and more all over the place - even the teen in the car with Charlie. They would have simply cast an actress over the age of eighteen to justify that it was okay.

I think this season started out in a bit of a sophomore slump, but it's picked up nicely. I'm entertained and interested to see where it goes.

There's something about her that bugs. I can't put my finger on it.

She seemed to be hiding something but I think it’s just not so great acting. Also, this is petty, but her facial profile. Wow. Very strong. I would never let them film me sideways, so good for her. 

[Bellatrix]

On 7/24/2020 at 1:27 PM, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Charlie had a lot of nerve to go down to the storage place specifically to look for the car he thought he was getting, but to take it out when he doesn't even have a license? His utter lack of respect for rules was galling. And not only did he drive the car around without a license but then he went to pick up his girlfriend to impress her? UGH. Sometimes kids really are the worst.

But to top it all off, he didn't seem the least bit remorseful or seem to think that he did anything wrong.

I do not understand how he was not grounded for life. Actually, I do not understand why he was grounded for life already after the drug dealing.

On 7/24/2020 at 1:27 PM, ElectricBoogaloo said:

One thing I liked was Charlie slowly coming around to Judy. It was clear he had a lot of hostility towards her before but her attempts to talk to him about sex and relationships softened him up a little (while simultaneously grossing him out).

I loved that Ben was so unabashedly into that performance. And OF COURSE he was in the group too. I really liked seeing this little group of Jen, her kids, Judy, her new girlfriend, and Ben melding together and having fun. There has been so much loss and pain that it was nice to see them laughing together and forgetting about all the shitty things that have happened in their lives for a little while.

Completely agreed <3