SEASON 3

EPISODE 5: THE TRAP

A bickering couple, lost while hiking, stumbles upon the skeletal remains of a man who died about 3 decades earlier.

Russell asks Claire to go with him to a family wedding. At first Claire accepts, thinking why not? but later she changes her mind. It constitutes a "date" and she's not sure she sees Russell as someone to "date". As a matter of fact, Claire seems to view Russell as something like a brother, or a best friend. Olivier offers Claire what sounds like a dream job, and Russell seems just slightly envious of that. Later, it's proved that there was nothing to be jealous of.

Ruth is once again cleaning the cupboards. My those cubbies hold a lot of relics!!!

In the chorus, David becomes acquainted with a main who has the audacity to call David's singing style "prissy"! Terry's entire personality is prissy!!! Where does he get off??? The annoying Terry becomes more annoying still when he mentions the Sears episode. Why would David, who is in love with the absolutely divine Keith, have ever been attracted to that, that thing???!!!

Nate's wife goes through the bills circling "problem purchases", and preaches about how he is not a single man anymore.

We can ask the question: Is it Lisa or is it marriage in general that Nate hates? Is it possible that this ill-fated union with Lisa will shape Nate's future love-life, making it impossible for him to separate the 2 words marriage and misery?

Partner Rico has come up with a new money saving strategy: internships through Cypress Mortuary College. Introducing Arthur Martin. Actor Rainn Wilson presents the new intern as a creepy, yet very sweet, innicent man-boy in nerdy spectacles. Ruth, who had not wanted a stranger moving into her house, responds to the arrival by imposing a ludicrous eating schedule to help her avoid contact with him.

For the first time in the season, Brenda appears, making an unannounced visit to Fisher and Diaz, wanting to talk urgently with Nate. He's shocked to see her, maybe a little pained, and even a little irritated, but deeper feelings lurk far down. They run some errands and then find a place to eat, where Nate tentatively opens up.

It's so easy to say that Nate isn't built for committment, that he's always going to feel like he's in prison whenever he's in a committed relationship. But he seemed fine when he was engaged and committed to Brenda. Or did he? The brilliance of this storyline with Nate being so miserable is that his own issues and emotions are just as legitimate as the fact that Lisa is an insufferable killjoy. That and the fact that she hates anyone else in Nate's life, especially his romantic past. He could have and should have kept his drink with Brenda a secret. But he goes home and tells Lisa immediately. And of course he gets his head bitten off. Don't be honest with Lisa, Nate. It doesn't pay!!! She can't let it go. Even later, when she digs through Nate's pockets, and finds the receipt, she is angry. You'd think she'd found a bail-bonds receipt for thousands of dollars.

During their lunch, Brenda tried to tell Nate that to be totally free, with no strings, is to have nothing. But I'd rather have nothing and die lonely than be married to Lisa.

Ruth is saddened that her pal Bettina is taking off for Montana for a while to help out her crazed militia daughter. Bettina really is a barrell of monkeys, but Ruth is about to make a new friend.

This is a good episode. I've decided recently that Brenda is either my favorite or my second favorite character. She competes with David. Whenever she is around, the show feels more like itself. I give this episode another A-.