S05.E17: Makeover

[Lady Calypso]

Quote

Callie speaks on a panel about Ximena’s struggle and realizes she may have a passion for something other than art. Meanwhile, Mariana is torn between two suitors.

[Lady Calypso]

Brandon/Grace are still great, even with iffy material, though I just discovered that the actors have been dating in real life so that accounts for the chemistry factor (but also better writing than any of Brandon's other girlfriends and their age gap is significantly smaller). That being said, show, can you stop dropping the death anvils? With Grace telling Brandon to not stop his life for her to Grace buying Coachella tickets for the following year. We get it; she's going to die very, very soon, and probably very suddenly. We don't need to suffer through the anvils. 

And Jude's storyline of the week is about his look. Yawn. Also, Declan is an awful little shit. Telling Jude he has to change his look for the fans? Then demanding he change on a live stream to people who are not just minors but most likely adults? I am glad Lena is keeping up with Jude's live streams. That's good parenting. However, Jude lying about stopping the live streams? Is that supposed to get us to like the kid, especially a few episodes before the end of the series? 

Mariana's storyline of the week is about her and Wyatt, with a side of Logan. I forgot that she rejected Mat, although he'll probably still be endgame. At this point, I'd rather Mariana stayed single. She can find a new guy when she's in the spinoff and hopefully more mature. Not that she shouldn't be dating around, but she's so high and mighty about everything. Also, they've kind of ruined the good that was Wyatt's character, when he wasn't an idiotic stoner. This episode had some shades of the old Wyatt, at least. I liked him talking about his family, but he's stuck with Mariana, so I feel bad for him. Besides, I miss him and Callie as friends. 

Going back to Mariana/Logan, how rude was he on the phone before their date? I get that she was late, but I'm a little annoyed. Though I do understand that his home life is pretty much turned upside down right now, so I'm willing to handwave his rudeness. 

It was nice to see Brandon and Callie share some sibling scenes together. Plus, it's something not centered around Grace, as much as I like her and them together. 

I'm really liking Callie's story this season. It's finally leading somewhere good. Plus, Maia Mitchell does a lot less stuttering when Callie is passionate about something. 

I do feel really bad for Ximena and Poppy. It can't be easy to only have 30 days with your parents before they're deported.

[KaveDweller]

So I guess Mariana inadvertently stole Emma's idea? Or did she know what she was doing....I mean she must have known that drawing came from somewhere.

So Brandon decided what he wants to do with his life? I thought he already knew he wanted to be a concert pianist? All I could think during the reveal about that was whether they were setting him up with be on the spin off in LA.

[Lady Calypso]

7 minutes ago, KaveDweller said:

So I guess Mariana inadvertently stole Emma's idea? Or did she know what she was doing....I mean she must have known that drawing came from somewhere.

I think she thought it was Jesus'? We know Jesus can draw so either he drew that picture when Emma asked him, or Emma drew it herself. I do believe that Mariana thought she wasn't stealing Emma's idea, but still, she took a drawing from her brother's room without asking him if it was ok. But, this is typical Mariana. She's very selfish and doesn't really get how to stay out of other people's businesses or ask for things. She's always demanded things go her way. 

[Glade]

So now we're supposed to buy that Mariana is so brilliant that, while all the other applicants spent months working on their designs, she can lazily come in at the last minute with a plagiarized design and win the scholarship anyway?  That's bullshit, the other kids would blow her out of the water.   And in a few months we're supposed to take her immature, lazy, stealing ass seriously in her career as a woman in tech?  More likely she'd be working at best buy.  Seriously, fuck this spinoff.  Brandon is headed to LA, so does that mean that he really is the third character?  Are the negotiations really taking this long?

I did appreciate that we finally got a life update on Wyatt, but I'm not sure he'd be able to sae enough money for that studio apartment--more likely he'd be in a tiny room in a house crammed with a dozen college students.  But I'm glad he's not homeless anymore.  I'd rather he and Callie connected as friends then to see him wasting his time on Mariana.

Edited March 7, 2018 by Glade

[ShortyMac]

2 hours ago, Glade said:

So now we're supposed to buy that Mariana is so brilliant that, while all the other applicants spent months working on their designs, she can lazily come in at the last minute with a plagiarized design and win the scholarship anyway?  That's bullshit, the other kids would blow her out of the water.   And in a few months we're supposed to take her immature, lazy, stealing ass seriously in her career as a woman in tech?  More likely she'd be working at best buy.  Seriously, fuck this spinoff.  Brandon is headed to LA, so does that mean that he really is the third character?  Are the negotiations really taking this long?

I did appreciate that we finally got a life update on Wyatt, but I'm not sure he'd be able to sae enough money for that studio apartment--more likely he'd be in a tiny room in a house crammed with a dozen college students.  But I'm glad he's not homeless anymore.  I'd rather he and Callie connected as friends then to see him wasting his time on Mariana.

Agreed to all of this. 

 

Yeah, it only took them five seasons, almost the end of the series, to give Wyatt some depth. Somehow, he has been able to live on his own, without a guardian, as a minor, when he returned from Indiana.

[possibilities]

I want Mariana to get busted for stealing the maze design. She knows she stole it from someone, even if she thinks it's Jesus and not Emma.

I'm sick with disappointment that they seem to be sending Brandon to the spin-off. I don't hate him anymore, but he's not that interesting.

I am actually growing more disappointed that the show is ending, because in a lot of ways I'm enjoying this season and really think there are more stories I'd like to see them tell.

I am loving Callie, and I like her friendship with Ximena.

Jude is annoying as hell, but I find it credible, even if not all that interesting. What happened to the kid who had the confidence to wear the blue nail polish? Now he can't take any peer pressure at all? It's like he's a completely different character.

Did Stef suddenly get over her panic attacks?

I agree Wyatt would not be able to afford that apartment and support himself on an after school job while in school. I wish I knew why he likes Mariana so much, though.

Edited March 7, 2018 by possibilities

[MaryHedwig]

3 hours ago, Glade said:

I did appreciate that we finally got a life update on Wyatt, but I'm not sure he'd be able to sae enough money for that studio apartment--more likely he'd be in a tiny room in a house crammed with a dozen college students.  But I'm glad he's not homeless anymore.  I'd rather he and Callie connected as friends then to see him wasting his time on Mariana.

Since Wyatt is going to Anchor Beach, wouldn't Lena or the school counselors have been aware of his financial status and lack of familial support and have stepped in to provide him services?  I would have like the plot better if Wyatt had been living with one of those dedicated male teachers.

Weren't the Moms supposed to been on a retreat this episode? Did Grace and her mom steal their gift certificate for their own bonding spa weekend?

Weren't we supposed to learn this episode why Stef was not happy with herself?

Are being set up for Stef to be killed in the line of duty before the end of this series?

Will Xiomara be deported along with her parents? 

Where was Jesus?

[Aliconehead]

The thought of Grace and her mom going to the Golden Door seems far fetched to me. That place is really expensive. Like $10,000 each a week. Heck, they provide you with clothes. And it’s not someplace you go to for a few days. 

That said Mariana is pissing me off. They better not let her win this internship. 

[KaveDweller]

2 hours ago, possibilities said:

I want Mariana to get busted for stealing the maze design. She knows she stole it from someone, even if she thinks it's Jesus and not Emma.

She probably won't, I think the teacher thinks Emma stole the idea.

Although it sounded like Mariana was more ambitious...hers will supposedly solve any maze, and Emma just was going to solve just the one. Although, I don't know how they expect us to believe Mariana can do that in a short timeframe. Last time she was doing STEAM she had to start taking Jesus's pills to keep up with everything.

[paulvdb]

Maybe I missed something, but didn't Mariana just find a drawing of a maze? And that inspired her to build a robot that could navigate a maze? Or did she find more than just a drawing? Based on what I saw I don't think she intentionally stole the idea.

[tennisgurl]

Poor Ximena and Poopy and their parents. That was a heartbreaking ending for them, its just so needlessly cruel to this family. At least it seems like Ximena will get to stay, but will see? Her and Poppy could leave with her parents, didn't that happen in the first season with their last deportation story? Also, I am pretty sure that Ximena has more than just friendly feelings for Callie, even beyond the kiss they had. She seemed to be giving Callie some serious gogo eyes a few times. 

Callie going into law school could be good for her, it would mean she could actually save the world legally, and not with breaking and entering and running off with pimps to save teenage hookers. 

This Jude story is pretty lame, it sucks this is where they are deciding to end his story. I do think Stef overreacted a bit to his live stream (as she is working a case involving child porn and works often helping teen sex workers who are victimized) but that doesn't mean Jude should keep going, especially with his dick new friend pushing him to look better and "show skin". Ewwww. I did like his scene with Lena at the start. It was cute, and actually felt like the character we first met. 

I still really like Brandon and Grace, but holy crap are they drooping the death anvils for her. Not looking forward to that at all. I did enjoy his plot this week quite a lot, and I still am baffled that it took them this long to really give Brandon good stories and a good love interest.

[Perfect Xero]

Have to give Brandon credit, he heard the spinoff was going to be in LA so he suddenly became interested in working in film.