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« Ugly Betty
Episode Recap: Twenty-Four Candles
Hey old friends (and hopefully some new ones!) It's been a long time. I've missed you! Well, not you really but I have definitely been missing my Betty. I recently even checked out the Ugly Betty celebrity playlists on Itunes and cracked up at some of the song selections the cast had made. But it wasn't until the "Previously on Ugly Betty..." came on this week that I fully realized how much I actually missed the show. Damn strike! But on a positive note, I read somewhere that America Ferrera and the writers spent their post-strike hiatus coming up with ways to bring the show back its original charm that some felt had been lost at the start of season 2. Let's see if it worked.
The episode started out with Betty in wonderland. Betty's birthday has arrived and her boy Henry waited for her in a horse-drawn carriage. They kissed passionately as they watched fireworks. Time to wake up! Betty started out the day with the usual Suarez family breakfast before heading off to the Poconos with Henry. Meanwhile in Manhattan, Willie went over to Daniel's apartment to warn him about her sister and Christina was getting a bit of cabin fever being locked up in Willie's swanky pad. She decided to make it her mission to figure out the mystery that is Renee. When Betty reached Henry's apartment to begin her romantic weekend getaway, she was horrified to find a very pregnant Charlie answering the door. Cue opening credits.
Henry apologized profusely for having to deal with Charlie during what was supposed to be Betty's birthday extravaganza. Over at Mode, things were business as usual. Daniel and Alexis were trying to figure out what to do with Mama Meade's new magazine "Hot Flash" and Amanda was rocking a Kiss t-shirt to support her newfound daddy. Now that her weekend with Henry was ruined, Betty needed something just as good to do in New York to make up for it. While perusing through Daniel's invitations to countless social engagements she came across a concert in Central Park accompanied by a fireworks display. Perfect! The only problem being that upon learning of her cancelled weekend plans, the Suarez family decided to throw their own party for Betty.
When Renee showed up for lunch with Daniel, he decided to confront her about the things Willie warned him about. As Betty continued to plan the perfect birthday celebration for herself (shouldn't that be Henry's job?) Gio arrived on the scene sporting a new, much shorter, hairdo. While Betty went down the list of all the great things she had planned for the night, Gio suggested the one thing she hadn't yet booked but dreamt about the night before; a carriage. Betty was a little freaked he had suggested it and fled the scene. Over at Willie's apartment, Renee called her sister out for trying to break apart her and Daniel while Christina eaves-dropped and took notes.
Hilda brought some of Ignacio's homemade cupcakes over to Henry's apartment and decided to use the opportunity to threaten Charlie for trying to come between Betty and Henry using her most powerful weapon...acrylic nails. Charlie wasn't going to give up that easily and so she played the only card she had left, sickly mother-to-be. And of course, Henry took the bait. He tried to cancel his date with Betty but her newly bedazzled cell phone cause his voicemail to get muffled. Betty met him at the restaurant only to get stood up. Back at Willie's apartment again, Marc brought over some baby supplies only to find that Willie was MIA. Renee seized the opportunity to get some info out her sister's loyal assistant. How'd she get him to spill the dirt? Choco-tinis! As the drinks flowed so did the stories. The juiciest bit of info being the truth behind Christina's pregnancy and Willie's plot to have an heir to the Meade empire.
At the Suarez home, Ignacio and the rest of the family got word that Henry wouldn't be making it to dinner to meet Betty. Rather than feel sorry for poor B, they saw this as an opportunity to throw her the party they've to have all along. Gio dropped by the Mode office to give a piece of birthday cake to Betty only to have Amanda reveal that Henry cancelled Betty's big romantic plans. Leave it to Gio to save the day! Just as Betty was about to leave the restaurant lonely and heartbroken, Gio came in the horse-drawn carriage that Betty imagined for her ideal birthday date. The Slater sisters met up once again so Renee could blackmail Willie with the info that Marc drunkenly confessed. Desperate for a way to take down her sister once and for all, she sent Marc to sneak into Daniel's apartment. Gio and Betty rode around the city and discussed her unrealistic hopes for a Romeo & Juliet romance (minus the whole death thing.) Gio decided to take Betty on the romantic date she'd hoped for. However, the night didn't go as well as he had hoped either. The carriage wheel broke and Betty fell off. Dream date or not, Betty and Gio still got to share the romantic evening that she had originally planned with Henry. Over at Daniel's, Marc got into the apartment and got busted so confessed fake feelings for Daniel to try and get out of it. By the time Daniel and Renee were finally alone together, she decided to come clean and tell him the truth about her mysterious past. Apparently she literally went a little crazy in college and takes pills to keep her sane. Daniel didn't mind and invited her to move in with him. Before Marc got kicked out of the apartment though, he was able to switch out Renee's crazy pills which means she'll lose her mind any day now. And according to Willie, that could lead to some very violent things. When Betty returned home, the rest of the family was asleep. She found Henry sleeping on the couch. He woke up just in time to wish her a happy birthday before the day was over.
First off, my apologies for this ridiculously long blog. It's been so long since the last recap and I didn't want to miss any of the details. I also realize that I didn't really discuss the whole Claire Meade and "Hot Flash" magazine thing. It was a pretty weak part of the episode and didn't really develop into much aside from Alexis not having any money to devote to the magazine's launch. Overall, I was a little disappointed with the return of UB. Henry acted completely ridiculous this week and it really ruined the episode for me. Anyone would have been able to see through Charlie's manipulation (even a nice guy like Henry.) However, it looks like next week we might finally reach the end of this Henry/Betty/Gio triangle. I'm so ready for Henry to be officially gone. I am still loving Gabrielle Union as Renee though. I can't wait for her to go psycho next week. I would have loved to get more Amanda and more from the Suarez family. So what'd you all think? Was it worth the wait? Should Betty jump right in with Gio or live the single life for a bit? I leave you with a few of my favorite moments:
-Justin bedazzling Betty's cell phone and referring to it as fierce (someone's preparing for Christian Soriano's arrival next week!)
-Amanda trying to be all weirdly sexual like Gene Simmons
-Amanda to Betty:
"What's your favorite part about getting old? Is it your hair thinning or kids asking you about Vietnam?"
-Claire to Betty (in the bathroom)
"Betty, I'm so sorry...I try to keep up the appearance that I never use the bathroom. I hope you won't think any less of me."
And in case you've forgotten what's been going on with Betty and the gang...check it out it our online video guide!
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Apr 25, 2008 12:56 AM
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Is it wrong that Christian is what has me most excited about next week's episode?
I get why Henry did what he did. It isn't about Charlie, it is about the baby. If something really had happened and he hadn't taken her to the doctor he wouldn't be able to live with himself. His feelings about being a good dad to his child make this a very in character move.
The Henry/Betty?Gio triangle sucks because they are all too NICE! Neither Gio or Betty acted on the obvious chemistry. If nothing else she should have been uncomfortable with the amount of atention Gio was giving her. I would still root for Betty even if she kissed Gio while still loving Henry. She should be allowed to be vulnerable to a man who wants her and is able to put her first. That would be very attractive in light on the whole baby thing.
I just feel like all the plotlines are a bit forced. Like the writeers aren't letting each storline naturally intertwine and evolve. Maybe this is because of the short season/strike but it is a bit jarring.
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Apr 25, 2008 1:48 AM
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I'm sick of Charlie, NOT Henry actually!
I have hope for Henry and Betty yet! I agree with you though, he was obnoxious and such a fool this week. I'm really curious about how they are going to play this pregnancy thing out. Do we know if Charlie got the paternity test and SHOWED a copy to Henry, or if she just told Henry a lie or something.
I still am not feeling Gio on this series or as a romantic interest for Betty.
LOVED Hilda this ep!
It wasn't back to its original Betty, but I was satisfied with the ep. Not over-the-moon in love with this ep, but very satisfied. 
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Apr 25, 2008 7:28 AM
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Not thrilled with last nights episode. Henry has GOT TO GO. Jeez, and I really loved him in the beginning. Sad
LOVED Gio with the new do. He looks adorable with his head shaved
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Apr 25, 2008 9:16 AM
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I am so sick of Henry and Charlie. Betty does not deserve to be treated this way. She needs to kick his butt to the curb....before he does the same to her to go live with Charlie and the baby.
Betty and Gio are so cute together and unless they bring another clitch in the system, he has no babies on the way and no other real hang ups. Betty needs this in her life!
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Apr 25, 2008 9:28 AM
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I am really liking Gio! He was so thoughtful and so sweet! Plus with his new hairdo, he is cuter than ever! Plus he has no strings attached to someone else that we know of, so he is completely available! Henry, on the other hand, is a fool for letting Charlie always manipulate him! And of course, Hilda opened her mouth and inserted foot when talking to Charlie or Charlie wouldn't have even known at the time.
I wasn't as excited as I should have been for this episode, but I was just excited it returned! They probably could've just stood there looking at the screen and I would have been so excited -- well, maybe not, but you get my point!! LOL
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Apr 25, 2008 9:42 AM
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Before I read anything, I just want to say that in our house, the chant of the evening was, We want Gio! We want Gio!
ahem.
Not the greatest eppy, but wooohoooo Betty is BACK and fabulous.
Thursday is once again the best night on TV because of Betty, Supernatural and Lost!
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Apr 25, 2008 10:00 AM
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I LOVE Mama Meade!
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Apr 25, 2008 10:08 AM
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I've always been rooting for Gio - Henry's a boring dweeb with a disturbingly tiny waist. Henry's got too much baggage and he's cloyingly naive. Gio lights a fire under Betty and he's got a strong personality. And he's sexy! And childless! (As far as we know.) Betty always seems to pick geeks, so she should change it up. I really hope Henry is gone soon. I don't get what she sees in him at all.
Nobody mentioned one of my favorite parts of the episode: Daniel's gift to Betty. He knew he'd forget. Very cute.
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Apr 25, 2008 10:19 AM
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I've always been rooting for Gio - Henry's a boring dweeb with a disturbingly tiny waist.
LOL- My thoughts exactly. Ever since we saw that scene where we saw how tiny his waist was, it was all down hill for me. It's almost creepy.
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Apr 25, 2008 10:48 AM
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The minute Gio drove up in that carriage, I was like "Henry who?" Betty was stunned when Gio mentioned that a horse-drawn carriage should have been part of her date with Henry, after she had just dreamed about it. It's not the first time we've seen a kind of psychic connection between these two. Go Gio, go Gio!!
The most romantic part was when Betty laid her head on Gio's shoulder as they watched the "fireworks" from the welding torches. In the closing scene as she snuggled with Henry, she didn't look happy at all.
Mark coming on to Daniel? Classic!
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Apr 25, 2008 10:54 AM
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Well i for one wasn't feeling the Gio love. Not only was his new buzzcut horrible, there's only too i can take with dropping the giant anvils. And i didn't buy the story of the cousin conviently having a horse and carriage. Also no one seem to quite notice the strong Henry parelels with Gio's acitons. Knowing her tastes, the speech in the street about how great she is, not mention dream parelels.
As for Henry himself, most of his actions are centered around the baby's concern. His on childhood makes him very concern with being in the baby's life. It would make sense he would believe Charlie's lie, he's thinking of the baby's health. As for his realtionship with Betty, i think i can feel it's coming to end, hopefully not an angsty end. But he'll need time with the baby, and Betty we'll need time to be single and grow some more. And hopefully without any help from Gio. His presence is starting to make me think the writers only put him there to be there to "help" Betty, when she doesn't need a boyfreind to make her feel better when she's one of the strongest characters on the show.
Besides that. Love the Betty/Claire interacton, Hilda threatening Charlie with her nails, Christina and Marc's sleuthing ablities, and Justin's bedazzlement of the Betty's phone.
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Apr 25, 2008 10:58 AM
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Not sure why, but the show bored me last night. It seemed so .... over the top. It lacked something, which I can't define, but for me it was superficial.
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Apr 25, 2008 11:03 AM
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Betty does not deserve to be Second Fiddle to anyone. Charlie and the Baby situation is so weird to me. In an old fashioned world, Betty would be a hussy and yet people are rooting for them. LOL
I just wish they would either let Henry find out that it's not his baby (it was the Dentist or whoever wasn't it?) or just have him go off and live near Charlie and the baby and leave Betty alone.
Gio, on the other hand, brings out the best in Betty. He's always wanting her to be happy and encouraging her in the right ways. He just seems like a perfect fit for her much more than that naive baby daddy.
GO AWAY HENRY!
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Apr 25, 2008 11:16 AM
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Thank you bettified!!!!
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who wasn't feeling Gio!!!
While Freddy Rodriguez is an amazing actor, something about the way the character is being written just doesn't mesh with the rest of the series nor do I feel any chemistry from him and Betty. Which is a shame, because I like the "idea" of Gio.
I think that people are writing Henry off because he seems like he's abandoning Betty. But didn't we (as the audience) ALL fall for Henry BECAUSE he was such a sweet guy? A tad more seasoned than Betty in the "big bad city", but still not exactly "street smart". I really love the combination of the two personalities. You have Betty who is sweet, naieve of the fashion world, but street smart and Henry who is a tad less green in the fashion world, but still very green as a New Yorker and VERY sweet.
Silvio, please don't turn Henry into a much cuter and better version of Walter!
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Apr 25, 2008 11:19 AM
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