Sixty or seventy-something Latina woman is watching young girls prepare for a quincenera. Everyone is excited and happy, and this sweet lady is getting her hair done for the event. That's why her death struck me as so sad. Death sucks. It ruins happy days, doesn't it???!!!
Brenda catches Nate scoping her racily-written work of "fiction" and breezily as always evades his questions about how much "fact" went into her fiction.
Keith rides Taylor's ass, still very stressed out about that shooting he was involved in. To his relief, he is cleared of any fault. I could have told him that. Now he feels at least his job is secure and Taylor can be provided a good stable home.
Claire, having been clued in to LACArts College by both her mom and her counselor Gary, is surprised, and perhaps encouraged, by the fact that her crazy mentor, Billy, is a graduate. She later gets a tour of the place. I still have no idea why anyone would glue a bunch of pool balls together and call it art, let alone use the name "Jesus" in this so-called ART.
Nikolai is clearly sick to death of Ruth. Perhaps his Russian manliness was insulted by the fact that she helped pay off the mob.
Aaron, the young cancer patient, is interested in cremation. As he pretends to be hard-as-nails, you only hear the lamentation in his voice. Does he think he's an asshole? Does he have regrets about his life? Is he afraid to die? Does he give a shit about anything. Of course he does.
Mrs. Perez' son is a successful doctor who seems not to have had much time lately for his mama. But Rico's had lots of time. He just happens to live across from the lady. Sometimes he's helped her with yardwork and invited her to backyard BBQs and birthday parties. When the rich surgeon finds out that his mother picked out a certain kind of casket to be laid to rest in, he gets all pissy and uppity-up. It looked to me like he was ashamed to be Mexican, or Catholic, or something. He didn't seem to have any posthumous respect for Mom either.
Somehow this death sparks memories for Rico, of how he came to know the Fisher family and embark on the career he is now proud of. It's a wonderful backstory that provides plenty of screentime for the lovable Mr. Fisher.
David, Keith and Taylor swarm around their place, in anticipation for the social worker's visit. Having told his father to stick it up his ass, Keith is now feeling confident that he and David will raise the little girl with love and stability. But you can't be too careful in this world, so they hide anything that seems "too gay".
Gary Deitman, Claire's guidance counselor at school, is leaving. Why? Did he and Parker do it after all??? He's curt and moody with Claire. Does he perhaps think that, if indeed he and Parker had sex, Claire told someone and got him ousted??? But then, he simply says that cutbacks are being made in the district. Claire makes some self portraits with her camera and gives one pic to Gary.
Ma and Pa Chenowith are renewing their vows. Margaret is excited. Brenda could care less, really. She still thinks her parents are idiots.
Ruth ends up breaking up with Nikolai in the middle of Blade 2, knowing full well he won't take that step even though it's clear he no longer wants the relationship.
When Margaret and Bern get re-hitched, Billy is happy for them. He can't stand it when Brenda begins her usual trash-talking. She then goes on to insult Billy himself. "God, what happened to you?" Well, dear, what happened is you nearly got your tattoo removed with a filthy carpet knife, you placed your deranged attacker into an environment that was safe for both of you; he underwent treatment and therapy, learned some constructive coping skills and is trying to be better. Isn't that what Brenda wanted? But no, she felt the need to insult him. Who needs treatment now? Even later, when Nate tries to cuddle her in the elevator, Brenda just looks miserable.
Billy's nothing of the kind. He seems to be doing better every day. He writes a generous letter of recommendation for Claire to get into LACArts. As he compliments Claire almost every ten seconds, it's all the more obvious that he has morphed into this sweet person, with none of the ulterior motives of Season One to be found.
Rico and Vanessa are flabbergasted when they are told that Mrs. Perez gave them all her money, instead of giving it to her son, who is livid. It was bad enough that he wasn't allowed to get rid of the chola casket. Now this young upstart has his mother's money???!!! This little plotline didn't end realistically, IMO. Nobody, no matter how rich they are, will give up that money they believe is rightfully theirs.
Just as things seemed to be looking brighter for the Fisher/Charles household, Keith gets called into a domestic dispute. Obviously a sore spot with him, having grown up in a volatile home. He beats the abusive male to a bloody pulp, and as usual, the wife/girlfriend/whatever starts shrieking, "Why did you do this??? What's wrong with you???!!!"
And now for the main event. It's Fisher Vs. Chenowith in a battle royale!!! Watch out, Brenda's body language is saying she's guilty...OOOOOOHHHHHH. Nate hits the canvas!!! What a blow!!! He's down for the count!!! But wait, he's getting up!!! He cold-cocks her with some terrific accusations. "Did you fuck your brother???" It looks bad for Brenda. Oh, but wait!!! She's making a comeback. She's not done yet!!! She's picking him apart with some pretty powerful truths, folks. What??? Look, look, look!!! He's got the ring!!! He's taking it off!!! He's throwing it in her face!!! She's down!!! One...two...three...it's all over!!! IT'S SULK-A-MANIA FOLKS!!!
As Ruth says goodbye to Nikolai, she says hello to a new important member of her life, her new granddaughter. After all that ruckus with Nate and Brenda, it was nice to have this excellent episode close with some really pretty and haunting piano music as Ruth experiences the first moments of grandmotherhood, Keith faces the music for his actions, and the rest contemplate the huge changes they are facing. Oh yeah, and Kroehner is going under. They won't be bothering the Fishers anymore. I thought this was rather sudden and just a clean breakaway from the plotline, but oh well. I give this episode an A-.
Music by Richard Marvin
