Season Four Talk: GGtD

[formerlyfreedom]

The place to discuss season four of Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce; please see the main forum for other seasons and places to discuss the show, cast, media, and more.

[voiceover]

*looks around*

Wow! a show so tedious, it hasn't rated an ep thread for its new season.

According to the opening credits, the new name is Girlfriends Guide to Bossing Up.  Let the "throw up" jokes begin.

[luna1122]

5 minutes ago, voiceover said:

*looks around*

Wow! a show so tedious, it hasn't rated an ep thread for its new season.

According to the opening credits, the new name is Girlfriends Guide to Bossing Up.  Let the "throw up" jokes begin.

i know, right?!

I had no idea this was back on, til I happened upon the final two minutes of last night's episode. I went and watched episode 1 on Demand and set my DVR for the 2nd episode. I don't hate it, and will watch the rest of it, but what I'm doing is probably close to hate watching. These women are all so shallow and depthless and sort of gross. We're supposed to THINK they're brilliant 'bosses', but it's impossible to actually see it. And Abby being against a Kardashian or a Real Housewife being the new website's 'influencer'....come on. She IS a Kardashian/Housewife. I also had no idea who that former old boyfriend of hers who showed up at the party they all crashed even was.

And I've now had to see gross Albert having sex with two of these women. I mean....just gross.

[gesundheit]

I didn't realize it was possible to make Abby MORE insufferable, but they manage to do it every season. I don't think even Carrie Bradshaw was every this awful. Definitely a hate-watch for me at this point.

[voiceover]

1 hour ago, luna1122 said:

And I've now had to see gross Albert having sex with two of these women. I mean....just gross.

Well, as long as we're doing this here...

Truly appalling that they've decided *this* is the guy that two hot women are fighting over.

And "magical" first-time sex???  Oh fer crissakes, they're actually going with that?

This is making Younger look like Pride & Prejudice by comparison.  And Younger is really a shadow of its first season.

[jcbrown]

This show used to be good and now I just want to slap each and every one of the original female characters. Repeatedly. Meanwhile I feel sorry for Rhetta for being associated with this dreck.

[voiceover]

On 8/25/2017 at 5:04 PM, jcbrown said:

This show used to be good and now I just want to slap each and every one of the original female characters. Repeatedly.

I think we'd all feel better...though I partly blame myself for tuning back in after I stopped watching last time around.

[luna1122]

So...if anyone's still watching...last nite's episode was very Miranda's-mom-dies-so-the-girls-rally-for-her , but parts of it did touch me. I mean, it'd be hard for it not to make you feel something, particularly if you've got aging parents or have already lost them. But Abby's screeching at her mom in the middle of the hospital made me want to smack her, as usual. And I also have a neurotic mom with hypertension who often makes me want to screech, but I don't, cuz I'm not, like, a teenager anymore. I figured her dad wouldn't die, as I couldn't see Barry Bostwick coming on the show to JUST lie in a hospital bed and have no lines, but I didn't see her mother dying like that. Also, Lesley Ann Warren is 71. She looks great.

Otherwise, Delia and Jo fighting over that creepy bald loser is still gross. And Phoebe...I forgot she had kids, cuz SHE never seems to remember, so her being so freaked out by the idea of losing custody was bizarro. They'd  be better off with their dad.

Delia wears leather pants to visit her friend at the hospital. Okay.

Retta has gorgeous skin. She glows.

[gesundheit]

Yeah, I have to admit they did get me at the end with everyone coming to comfort Abby after her mom's death. And then her dad waking up only to have to be told his wife has passed away. Little sniffle from me. But good grief with the Albert story. While it's true that Delia's being terrible with the whole "he's just doing this to get at me!" silliness, Jo should go friend-code on this one and say no.

[luna1122]

4 minutes ago, gesundheit said:

Yeah, I have to admit they did get me at the end with everyone coming to comfort Abby after her mom's death. And then her dad waking up only to have to be told his wife has passed away. Little sniffle from me. But good grief with the Albert story. While it's true that Delia's being terrible with the whole "he's just doing this to get at me!" silliness, Jo should go friend-code on this one and say no.

I agree. There are surely enuf men in the world that you don't have to poach from your friends past romances to get laid or married or whatever. And surely not when you know it's really bothering your friend.

[SunnyBeBe]

I used to like this show, then didn't, now I'm back on board.  Last night's episode was pretty good.  I enjoyed it, though, I do still have issues with some characters, like Jo, who, I detest.  I've never liked her character from day one.  She always annoyed me and still does.  I really wish that she'd be replaced.  I find nothing interesting, appealing or amusing about her character.  She was brought in as a replacement that never worked imo.  The show's never really recovered.  I cringe when seeing any scenes with that bakery.  Just noooo.....

I also had forgotten that Phoebe had kids.  She doesn't seem maternal at all and her having custody of two children is so bizarre.  It throws me.  She's so clueless. I wish she'd develop a little more or a lot more.  When she's reading her lines to her kids, it seems like a play she's filling in for.  Not authentic at all. 

I find it very hard to believe that Delia is fighting over her former lover.  Really?  I mean, who gets that upset over an ex?  Granted, it's with Jo, but, hey.  I learned IRL that the new gal is likely getting the same crap that I did.  She'll learn. Plus, isn't Delia smart enough to know that if she's still hung up on the guy, you don't show it.  Does she have no pride?  It's just ridiculous.   Why get into a screaming match over that little guy?  Such a stretch.  Can't believe it.  And he and Jo met how?  Surfing camp???? lol What planet are they on?

But, other than that....it was pretty good.  lol It has potential.  I love Abby's new business partner.  The show could recover with someone who has the nerve to make some bold decisions and put the characters in line, while deleting some completely, replacing, etc. and focusing on a more cohesive and solid script. 

Edited September 1, 2017 by SunnyBeBe

[John M]

I doesn't have potential, 3 more episodes and it's done. To be honest I am not even sure why I am still hate watching this  because it isn't even good hate but I guess I was committed to see it through after it was cancelled last season.

I guess maybe I am hoping that they somehow are about to celebrate the sale of Lady Parts to I dunno, Elite Daily and they all gather, every single one of them in that pastry shop and die in a horrific cupcake fire

[voiceover]

I missed it, because I forgot what night it was on.  But I think it was my psyche trying to save me, since I knew from the preview what it was going to be about.

I lost my dad, quite suddenly & unexpectedly, two years ago.  And I'm not really over it.  So why watch the ep where that's meant to be the plot, right?

I'm hate-watching at this point, but that would have been, "Hate-myself-watching", so -- phew.  Glad I missed it.

[jcbrown]

I was unmoved by this episode. I lost my mom ten years ago and my dad is currently in a memory care facility and suffering from kidney failure. As a result, I expected to be a big marshmallow at this episode when I saw the plot but not a single tear. And I am really easy to bring to tears so I think the writing, acting, or something is really off this season. I find I do not care about any of the characters. At all.

Edited September 3, 2017 by jcbrown

[HouseofBeck]

I've been sort of enjoying this season so far, because it seemed like they gave the women different things to do. Though I thought they burst the tension between Jo and Bald Eagle way too soon. I'd have liked to see that consummation happen at the end of the season, not right in the first episode. But then there'd be a whole different plotline for them and Delia wouldn't have a chance to act like an asshole about this. 

I see that unfortunately, Abby's devil-child son will return, but I guess that balances out Phoebe's kids that I'd also forgotten she'd had. Too bad about J.D. 

Barbara continues to ace. 

I am a terrible person because when Abby's mom died, I burst out laughing because of COURSE the writers would go there. 

[bichonblitz]

On 9/1/2017 at 8:35 AM, luna1122 said:

Otherwise, Delia and Jo fighting over that creepy bald loser is still gross

Really! Nobody would look twice at that guy IRL!

Did we ever see Abby's mother or hear Abby speak about her, ever? Then she appears on one episode, of course there is friction and fighting and then she dies. These writers are throwing anything it can think of against the wall in hopes something will stick. 

Edited September 6, 2017 by bichonblitz

[voiceover]

There was actually an ep in Season 1 (I think, can't be bothered to check) where both her parents came to town, and IIRC, Mom tried to get her to reconcile with Jake.  Anyway.  They were supportive of her by the end of the hour.

Boo that Jake's not showing for the funeral.  Paul Adelstein probably dodged a bullet, but I would've enjoyed the funeral sex that I'm sure would've resulted.

Great.  Delia & Jo making Abby's mother's funeral all about THEM.

*Now* I'm done with them.

[gesundheit]

5 hours ago, voiceover said:

There was actually an ep in Season 1 (I think, can't be bothered to check) where both her parents came to town, and IIRC, Mom tried to get her to reconcile with Jake.  Anyway.  They were supportive of her by the end of the hour.

Boo that Jake's not showing for the funeral.  Paul Adelstein probably dodged a bullet, but I would've enjoyed the funeral sex that I'm sure would've resulted.

Great.  Delia & Jo making Abby's mother's funeral all about THEM.

*Now* I'm done with them.

I was bummed at the lack of a Jake appearance, too, but couldn't blame Adelstein. Or Jake, frankly.

 

It's just amazing that Abby can call someone else self-involved and not get struck by lightning. Dear lord that eulogy.

Edited September 8, 2017 by gesundheit

[luna1122]

I actually liked last nite's episode. Sure, the chicks are annoying, as always--all the screeching--but there was some conversations I thought seemed organic and true, and I liked the wacky chick rabbi. I also found Barry Bostwick touching. I thought the talk of him having to live with one of the kids was a little premature....he just suffered a stroke (or was it a heart attack, i don't even know) and his wife died...he's disoriented, of course, but they're talking like he's got dementia, which I don't think they established, unless I wasn't paying attention.

Albert? Still so gross.

Just read that Jo/Alanna had a baby recently...when were the last episodes filmed? She sure never looked preggers, she's so tiny.

http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/alanna-ubach-gives-birth-to-a-baby-boy

[HouseofBeck]

I liked it, too. I was pre-cringing for Abby's eulogy, but it turned out pretty great at the end. The real tragedy of course is her father, and those moments at the piano when she sees him start to realize, and goes over to sit with him as it comes crashing in--that was really, really well done.

[voiceover]

Fond as I am of Barbara, that felt like WAAAAYYYY too big a decision to make without consulting your partner.  That was some serious blindsiding on national TV, and I think Abby, for all that Barbara accused her of tonight, was right to be pissed as hell.

This isn't some "I made an executive decision on the logo/site layout/hiring"...this was committing to a decision about funding a start-up.   Up yours, Babs.

Now I'm about to have another "Get off my lawn!" moment...but one of the truly grating elements to this series is the control the kids exercise over the lives of their parents.  I like Zoe and hope by next ep she's calmed down some.

Here's what I enjoyed: the return of House Porn @ Phoebe's estate sale.  

[HouseofBeck]

Yes! What a blindsiding on Abby, plus Babs seemed to be expecting her to be completely caught up the second she walked back into the office with no adjustment time needed. You'd think Babs had never worked with anyone before. And at the very least, the new assistant should have seen a picture of Abby somewhere, it's not as if she ever changes her look...

Zoe bugged me with her self-righteous act. She's so good at reflection, why didn't she think that maybe Jo was so hesitant to tell her about Albert precisely because she was afraid of how she'd react?

Phoebe is being dumb again, but maybe whoever is at her door in the season finale comes bearing $$. 

[SunnyBeBe]

Abby really is over the top.  I can't imagine why she hasn't had a stroke yet.  I wonder if her therapist is not doing her a disservice by not recommending her to a psychiatrist for some medication.  She seems to be in extreme emotional pain and over the top anxiety.  I can't recall if she used to take meds or not.  I'm not sure why she seems to be reuniting  with this man, whom she seems to love.  She needs to address her issues.  I think she was trying to tell this guy that, but, he just reassured her that she was fine.  She's not fine.  She needs help.  She was right in her concerns. She'll ruin the next relationship, with her antics and over the top compulsion and anxiety.  He can't see that? 

Why did Delia have to break her news to her boyfriend just before he went on stage to give a speech?  That is so very mean and selfish.  What's wrong with her?  I think that guy is too good for her.

We are supposed to believe that Jo's new boyfriend is to going to just give her millions of dollars to buy a commercial building.  I thought, his offer sounded like a loan, but, then she said it was a gift.....how rude.  but, he went along with it.  Hard to swallow for me.  Also, most people would do an analysis on rental property to determine what the gross net income is going to be  I'm not impressed with her approach to business.  But, I hope things work out for her and her venture. 

I really wish writers would have the respect for people who have dementia to do their research and properly portray facilities that care for them.  Nursing homes are for people who require skilled nursing care.  Abby's dad would most likely require Memory Care, not a nursing home. And why must they portray  long term care facilities in such a negative light?  There are many fine facilities.  This issue is close to me, since I have a person in my family who is affected in this way. 

Edited September 22, 2017 by SunnyBeBe

[luna1122]

I keep watching this show because I do think the acting is consistently quite fine, and it's fun to hate watch the clothes (cuz we all make breakfast for our kids in a $2000 dress), but man, these women are entitled, neurotic messes. Abby definitely needs to be on meds. She's deeply high strung and insecure and yet smugly sure of her rightness, and she absolutely has no problem making screeching scenes everywhere she goes. But I did think most of last nite was deftly acted.

I agree that Abby surely could have found better arrangements for her dad, who at this point is only exhibiting mild signs of dementia. She has money, resources and a guest house, and she could have found a better home healthcare nurse than the insulting sterotype (overweight, drinking diet soda, surly, hateful, ungrateful and mean) she apparently had hired.

I hope Delia either isn't really pregnant or goes thru with the abortion, cuz her as a mom would be even more disastrous than me as one. Yeah, telling the babydaddy right before he has to go onstage is ridiculous. These women have no edit buttons, discretion, sense of timing or appropriateness or awareness.

[gesundheit]

Abby is so insufferable. Usually I just hate-watch her, but I do find her sympathetic in the situation with her dad. Hard to watch those scenes -- my dad has Alzheimer's and they're really nailing early symptoms (I'm assuming we're beyond stroke here), with all the forgetting and then trying to play it off when corrected ("Oh ha ha, I totally knew that, just been a bit scattered lately" when that's utterly untrue). My dad used to say "gotcha!" whenever anyone had to correct him, pretending that he'd just been playing a fun trick. Anyway, that assisted living home was kind of ridiculous. It looked like a multi-million dollar facility for rich folks, and yet they had some dumb tap-dancing kid as the entertainment? I can speak from experience that there's no way an expensive L.A. facility wouldn't have top-notch guest performers. (Also, did I miss something? She was insisting he couldn't move in there and then the next scene with him looked like she was moving him into a facility -- did I miss a beat while getting coffee?)

And it looks like they're going to wrap up Delia's story with her having a kid. Guess what, Hollywood writers, sometimes middle-aged women don't have children and are JUST FINE!

[voiceover]

The only thing getting me through the sulks is the preview for 2018, because: yay! Jake's back!

Not saying he's the solution, but despite their messy history, at least they could have an occasional adult conversation without Abby melting down/turning it into sex.  Co-sign the previous posters who suggest that she needs serious help & probably anti-depressants.  Then maybe she'd recognize that some newly-divorced coach, no matter how attractive, is not the next step.

Yeah, Delia's right-before-the-speech reveal was a revisit to a stupid plot twist trope I hate.  17 Again was very entertaining, but it took me a long time to recover from the girlfriend breaking the baby news *right before* the big game.  Hi: he's not going to disappear into the space/time continuum.  Get a latte, have a cig, wait it out.  Then maybe you won't get the "divided attention" reax.

[voiceover]

Okay: in the predawn hours, as I watch it again, I am struck anew by how fucking. Stupid! these women are.*

Phoebe is the one that drew the "smartest" straw in this season.  I was even sympathetic to her freakout over the escrow.

*I hate writing that more than I hate thinking it.

[gesundheit]

What is even happening with this show? I thought this was it, but now it's just a mid-season break and more next year?? I'm so confused.

[voiceover]

2 hours ago, gesundheit said:

What is even happening with this show? I thought this was it, but now it's just a mid-season break and more next year?? I'm so confused.

Yeah, I was confused too, but you're the first to mention it, so I thought I'd misread before.  The DirecTV guide said "Season Finale, Series Finale" on the 1st run of that ep, but that had been "disappeared" by the 1st of 2 repeats.

Had they talked about this in any of the preseason media??

[bilgistic]

On 9/22/2017 at 9:20 AM, luna1122 said:

I keep watching this show because I do think the acting is consistently quite fine, and it's fun to hate watch the clothes (cuz we all make breakfast for our kids in a $2000 dress), but man, these women are entitled, neurotic messes. Abby definitely needs to be on meds. She's deeply high strung and insecure and yet smugly sure of her rightness, and she absolutely has no problem making screeching scenes everywhere she goes. But I did think most of last nite was deftly acted.

I marathon-watched the entire series over the past month because my 16.5-year-old cat died and I needed something to watch that I didn't have to think about. This was pure fluff and fit the bill.

Bolded part: Abby made me so anxious. That woman needs Xanax badly.

I love Delia even though she's not very self-aware. She's stunning, and I applaud the producers for hiring a woman of color (along with Retta and Alannah Ubach) who hasn't had obvious plastic surgery to change her "ethnic" facial features. Also, Lisa Edelstein is Jewish. The show is still Pretty, Rich People with Problems, but the casting is great.

I wholeheartedly agree that Jo shouldn't have stayed with Albert after finding out who he was. Him sending the pictures to Gordon on his and Delia's wedding day was pretty much unforgivable. Delia was obviously wrong for the affair with Albert, too. As stated upthread, friend code dictates you don't date/have sex with someone your friend has been with.

I really hope Delia goes through with the abortion and the story doesn't follow the trope of "my man wants the kid and I will magically become maternal during my pregnancy because of how he feels and tells me how I feel". She's knows she's not maternal and doesn't want kids. Period.

My final thought is that Charlie is incredibly obnoxious and I hated every moment he was on screen.

[Marsupial]

I think Delia will lie and say the test was negative, then have the abortion in secret. I agree that she is stunning, and love her unalduterated, unaltered look. 

Still enjoying this show for what it is, it is amusing and pretty to look at, but I hate the way the writers want us to believe that women in this age group have attractive, successful, wealthy men lining up to sleep with them and fall in love with them. Bullshit. Women over 40 are invisible, especially in a place like Hollywood. 

Bilgistic, so sorry for your loss. I have been there and I send many furry prayers and hugs.

[veronicalodge44]

i really enjoyed the conversation between abby and mike on her patio.  not only did it provide an occasion for abby to reflect upon her patterns that are hurtful to others (and ultimately to herself), but i realized partway through that it was one of the rare scenes where romantic partners on tv actually have a real and deep conversation.  to me, that is just as sexy as the rolling around in bed scenes; in fact, it makes them hotter.  i like relationships on tv - romantic or friendship - to have some depth.

 

and i also enjoyed retta and malcolm jamal warner's last scene together - she is so bold and strong but i like that they're showing her vulnerability.  and of course retta is wonderful.  (i did marvel, though, that in all of the interactions between abby and barbara - including in the therapist's office - that *no one* ever mentioned that it's a white woman being so bossy and critical of her black woman business partner.  that's a factor in how it must feel for barbara, at the very least.)