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Episode Recap: "The Hypnotherapist"
I swear, nothing cures a case of the Mondays like some good prime-time comedy. Although this whole writers' strike thing has already started to affect many of the shows I love, Samantha Who? is still going strong and it looks like it will continue to bring us new episodes for the next several weeks. Another reason to love this show and its writers!
This week Sam met with a hypnotherapist, hoping the good doctor would be able to cure her amnesia. As the episode got under way, Sam was preparing some dinner at Todd's apartment. Todd arrived home just in time to stop Samantha from burning the place down and to let her know she was allergic to the oregano she was using in her tomato sauce. That night she met up with the girls for some drinks at their favorite hot spot. During Andrea's time to vent, Sam learned that a hypnotherapist just might be the solution to her problem. Upon discussing the idea with her folks, both parents were against it. Nevertheless, Sam decided to see for herself. And in her first session with the hypnotherapist, Sam discovered she was adopted.
While discussing her situation with Dena and Andrea, both friends had their own opinions on the matter. Dena was excited over the possibility that Sam's real parents could be a princess and a ninja, while Andrea advised Sam against dating older men for the time being in case her biological dad is hot. All the stress made Sam crave a cigarette, a habit she discovered she had through hypnotherapy — she had started smoking way back when she and Dena were trying to fit in with the cool kids at school.
When she went home to confront her parents, they denied she was adopted but refused to show a birth certificate to prove it. As she rummaged through her room looking for a leftover cigarette, she found a necklace that she believed was a gift from her birth parents. Not able to trust the people who raised her, Sam sought shelter at Andrea's. Alas, Sam had no luck getting Andrea to let her stay over. Apparently, they had tried the arrangement once before and a fight over a scrunchie led the girls to throw lamps at one another, creating a hole in Andrea's wall. Back to Todd's place!
Just when Sam was thanking Todd for how kind he's been to her since the accident, Todd confessed that his apartment was actually hers. She kicked him out and declared her apartment a liar-free zone. But after a series of mishaps, Sam learned that living on her own isn't as fun as it seems (especially with a case of amnesia). Later on, as Sam recalled her recent discoveries about her life to Frank the doorman, he pointed out to her that her memories of a heart-shaped locket and adventures with a tall bald man and a dog were actually the story of Little Orphan Annie, a role she performed in a school play.
While Sam contemplated the mess she'd made of her life at the prospect of being adopted, her mother swung by the apartment for a visit and a nice mother-daughter heart to heart. The two discussed why Regina (Sam's mom) had such an issue with Sam going to the hypnotherapist, and it all came down to her fear that Sam would remember that she wasn't the best mother. Realizing that she was not quite ready to live on her own, Sam decided to let Todd have her apartment as she returned home to live with her parents.
Thus concludes another wonderfully enjoyable episode. The dynamic between Sam and her parents gets better with each episode. I love how they treat her like she's still a child and each episode ends with her realizing that she kind of is, despite being in her thirties. We also saw Dena with a bit of edge to her. Not only did we learn that she was once a smoker but she even poked fun at Andrea for a change when she pondered whether Sam's real dad might be hot. And finally, Todd showed that he isn't the perfect guy we all thought he was. I was starting to get annoyed by the fact that he seemed to be the only one in her life without his fair share of issues. It'll be nice to see how he develops over the rest of the season. See y'all next week!
Memorable moments:
• Sam's defense regarding her fear of elevators:
"Have you ever been in an elevator? It's like riding in a coffin falling down a mine shaft."
• Andrea's reaction to Sam being allergic to oregano:
"I would kill to have a food allergy! It's like nature's diet. I spent five years trying to become lactose intolerant."
• Andrea's thoughts on Sam being adopted:
"What? Who cares? You're adopted! It's so in right now I can't even tell you. Really, get some bronzer and you could be from anywhere in the world!"
• Sam trying to order takeout
• "Cheer up Miss Newly, the sun will come out! Guess when?"
"You don't play adorable well... it comes off as snide."
Quote of the week:
Andrea's justification for not letting Sam stay with her:
"I care about being your friend way too much to be here for you!"
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Nov 20, 2007 1:24 AM
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The episode was hilarious as usual. I understand why the parents and Todd would not tell Sam she owned the apartment. But why didn't Andrea tell her? She would have known the apartment belonged to Sam.
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Nov 20, 2007 9:00 AM
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Cute episode! I am glad that Sam and her mother have cleared the air a little bit.
I loved it when Sam was ordering take-out and asked the guy on the phone to stay with her while she tried everything -- just in case she died.
"I'm hungry and I keep starting fires."
Fantastic.
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Nov 20, 2007 10:00 AM
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Jean Smart is so hilarious. Wouldn't you just hate to have a "best" friend like Andrea. Sam needs support and Andrea says that is not what I do as a best friend. Her selfishness was so great as a contrast to who Sam is trying to be. You can just see the old Sam shining through in Andrea. Each episode Andrea is the callous witch who only thinks of herself and yet it doesn't get old, because you keep hoping Sam stays on the wagon of being a nicer person.
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Nov 20, 2007 10:31 AM
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Watching Sam try to talk with a swollen mouth (due to her allergic reaction to oregano) had me laughing outloud throughout that scene. Christina Applegate pulled that off so effortlessly, it was a comic wonder to behold!
She is absolutely charming. I can't think of a better word for her.
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Nov 20, 2007 5:39 PM
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The doorman totally was the best part of this episode. I love all his scenes with Samantha.
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Nov 20, 2007 10:57 PM
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Frank: Just keeping moving in a forward motion. LOL
It was a fantastic episode again. I love that Sam is building an honest relationship with her parents, but in baby steps. Regina's admission that she was not a perfect parent and was selfish was something that made me believe that perhaps she is the reason Bad Sam turned out the way she did after all.
I also loved the discussion about what hypnotherapists can help you with..memories, smoking..
Dena: Fear of dinosaurs.
M - http://www.samanthawho.org/
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Nov 21, 2007 1:11 AM
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