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« Ugly Betty
Episode Recap: "Burning Questions"
Hey guys, Mickey O'Connor here filling in for Adam tonight. I'm an avid watcher of Ugly Betty, but my love for the show is a tough love, so I apologize in advance if I seem too negative or if things aren't up to the quality you expect around here. In the meantime, worship me, bitches! We've got a lot to cover…
I'm sure it's tough juggling an ensemble cast of gifted comedians such that Ugly Betty boasts, and tonight's episode demonstrated the difficult choices the producers and writers must have to make every week. I love this show, but unfortunately, for me, they seem to have made some strange choices tonight. Some tired stories got the spotlight while more intriguing ones enjoyed little screen time. Let's survey the damage:
Henry vs. Gio: I am a fan of Freddy Rodriguez as an actor, and loved Rico, the very real character he portrayed on Six Feet Under, but boy, is he misused on Ugly Betty. Here's the problem: I really like Betty and Henry together, and while Gio is a perfectly innocuous guy, I don't believe in the idea of Betty and Gio getting together. So while the producers have tried to up the dramatic tension, forcing us to take a Team-Jolie-vs.-Aniston-type stake in Betty's choice, it's really no contest for me. I feel the same way about Charlie and her pregnancy. (I'm also a fan of Jayma Mays, who has done great work in guest spots on Heroes and Pushing Daisies.) I think the romantic comedy that Betty and Henry provide really works, and I hope to see more of that in the future.
Christian Siriano and Nina Garcia: On the other hand, I wish that Project Runway celebs Christian Siriano and Nina Garcia were permanent fixtures in the Betty world. Both displayed very un-cameo-like line readings, and played well off their real-life (or reality-TV-life?) personas. Christian's entrance was flawless, and he didn't make me hate the words fierce or hot tranny mess as much as I did every time he spat them out on Runway. So, bravo (so to speak), writers, for giving them excellent stuff to work with!
Marc and Willi: When Bradford Meade died and Willi and Marc left Mode, it let some of the air out of their wickedness. I know they'll be back eventually, but in the meantime, their illicit pregnancy is going to take nine months to hatch, and it's left them in a bit of a holding pattern. Their machinations to convince Dr. Facial Hair to put Renee in the booby hatch seem to lack motive. I mean, what's the endgame in breaking up Renee and Daniel besides just plain enjoying it? I suppose if Daniel is heartbroken, you might argue the magazine would suffer and they'd need Willi back, but come on, how much work does Daniel really do anyway? In the past, Willi's schemes have had much more precision, furthering her ultimate goal to take over Mode. We need to get back to that somehow. For now, their bumbling lacks teeth.
Renee: In TV time, it only took Renee seven days to go totally – as Amanda put it – ca-ha-ha-ra-zee. Anyone who has followed the career of Gabrielle Union (Bring It On, Deliver Us From Eva) knows that she has the potential to be a true leading lady. And again, I really liked Daniel and Renee together, so I feel like tossing her the nutjob card really does her a disservice. I'm sure the strike truncated what could have been a more complicated storyline. So I wonder if that's the last we've seen of our beloved pyromaniac. I hope not.
Amanda: A puffy-shirted Gene's Kid had a nice moment with Daniel, advising him to be more sensitive to other people's feelings when he lets them down. Of course, since it's Amanda, her advice is totally misguided, since Betty isn't in love with Daniel at all (yet). Otherwise, Becki Newton's fierce comic timing was fun to watch as Alexis yanked her out of Christian's conference room walk-off.
Alexis: Speaking of Alexis, you've probably already heard that Rebecca Romijn will be around less frequently next season (see below). As sad as I am to see her go (she acted the hell out of what could have been a one-liner story), I feel like Betty's momentum is moving away from the Meade family, so it's probably all for the best.
La familia Suarez: Though, as always, it's Betty's family that represents the true heart of the show. I have to admit that the idea of Hilda's beauty salon intrigues me, and I'm hoping they make better use of it as a setting in future episodes. Ana Ortiz really inhabits her character, and together with Justin and her papa, they make you realize why Betty is as genuinely nice a person as she is.
Betty: The producers have announced their intention to get America Ferrara back to the charming Betty with whom we all fell in love last season. And I think we're getting there. Her superhuman assistant skills are fun to watch (check out that schedule, so many Post-Its!), and if any of you ever get a job in which you have to extinguish a fire in your boss' apartment, quit immediately. But it's fun to watch Betty do it, right? "You don't pay me enough," Betty complained, as she waved away toxic fumes. Indeed.
Quotable Quotes:
"Hilda's Beautility, are you ready for a glamour opportunity, a glamourtunity?" –Justin, cold-calling for Hilda
"Crazy train, now arriving at Gars du Renee…" --Marc
"Don't pout, Marc; you haven't the lips for it." –Willi
"You shouldn't feel bad; everyone gains weight on a cruise." –Hilda, to Gina
"Go away, you wanker!" –Christina, to Marc when he offers her a "decadent foot rub"
"You smell good, like muscles and power." --Betty, to Daniel, in a dream sequence
"Mur-der!" --Christina, in that awesome Scottish burr
"This is Prada; this is nada." –Hilda, to Gina, comparing their shoes
And, of course...
"Worship me, bitches!" –Christian Siriano, spawning his latest soon-to-be-annoying catchphrase
What do you think? Was I too hard on "Burning Questions"? Who are you rooting for -- Henry or Gio? Will Willi and Marc ever get their well-toned butts back into the Mode fold? What did you think of Gabrielle Union's guest-starring arc, assuming it's finished, of course? And how about Ausiello's scoop that Lindsay Lohan might be appearing in a few upcoming eps (see below)? Work it, my friends, in the comments section below.
Related:
• It's Official: Ugly Betty Demotes Rebecca Romijn
• Exclusive: Lindsay Lohan Finally Getting Ugly?
Watch full episodes of Ugly Betty in our Online Video Guide.
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May 1, 2008 10:55 PM
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Willi's point for driving Renee crazy was simple... Renee knew the truth about baby Meade. (At first she just wanted them to break-up, which is why she mentioned Stonybrook. She only escalated it when Renee got Mark drunk and found out about the baby)
But we need more Amanda/Mark interactions... and more Justin!
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May 1, 2008 11:09 PM
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I still keep hoping they'll hook Gio up with Hilda. I thought they were a cuter, better match than Betty-Gio.
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May 1, 2008 11:38 PM
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Mickey,
Can you keep writing this blog? It's better than Adam's. I don't feel like I'm reading a 5th grader's book report with yours.
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May 2, 2008 8:40 AM
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I guess I thought her whole point in the Renee thing was two fold: one to get her sister out of the way because she knows too much about her past, and two to get Daniel to think she really is looking out for his best interests. I saw this as a ploy to get in good with Daniel. Maybe I was wrong?
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May 2, 2008 9:49 AM
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Thank you Mickey!!!! At first I thought that I was the only one who (a) LOVED Freddy Rodriguez and (b) loved him, but HATED the Gio-Betty thing. I couldn't have said it any better!
I agree with my fellow posters, Renee was targeted by Mark and his Wili because she knew their secrets.
This was a pretty good ep. I was very impressed with Ana Ortiz in this episode. When Gina's husband came in and told her off (without knowing the details), man! Ana's facial expressions were amazing at conveying all of the emotions!
Christian and Nina were delightful in this ep! Hilarious! I will say that I hoped that there would have been more said about why Christian isn't doing Elle aside from "he's only doing one."
Renee being off of her meds for a week and she gets that crazy? Seriously? Without getting into details about psychopharmacology, it was a little much to ask the audience to suspend THAT much belief.  I also didn't really like how Betty essentially talked her down and then we next saw Betty extinguishing the fire herself. That was a little much.
Aside from the Renee storyline, I really enjoyed this episode. I hope that Daniel suspecting Betty having feelings for him isn't some type of foreshadowing. I hope that they NEVER put Betty and Daniel together! Ick, ick, ick!
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May 2, 2008 10:09 AM
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Christian Siriano totally made my night! I just wish he had been on longer! I hope that this won't be his only appearance on the show.
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May 2, 2008 10:44 AM
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I'm still in the Gio/Betty camp, but if they can't be lovers, they would make great best friends...if Henry would allow it.
I'm glad to see more of la familia Suarez; we don't get enough of Hilda, dad and Justin. Speaking of which, Mark Indelicato had a MAJOR growth spurt during the strike! Sounds like his voice is ready to change, too.
Please get Wrinkle-mina, Marc and Christina back to MODE ASAP!!!
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May 2, 2008 11:24 AM
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Yes I agree with the comment from Kyle. Can you please keep doing this blog? It is so boring to read just a standard recap of the show since we've seen the episode. It's much more fun to read someone's thoughts on the show and the opinions offered. I loved this blog!
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May 2, 2008 11:25 AM
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OK, since most everyone seems to have an idea of who they want to be together (or definitely don't want together... hello, Betty and Daniel), here's my wish:
1. Betty and Gio - I think they have great chemistry, and something about that new haircut of his just rubs me the right way. 
2. Hilda and Daniel - Others have mentioned these two before, and I love it!
3. Henry and Amanda - I know! But ever since, early in this season, Henry got mad and raised his voice, to which Amanda said, "Is it me or did he just get really hot?", I thought these two would be kind of sweet together.
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May 2, 2008 11:31 AM
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I like Gio, I'm just not all that hot on him as a love interest for Betty. However, I do like that he's assertive; Betty is getting more so herself, and will not be happy with a milquetoast like Henry for long. I love Henry, except for the whole getting-Charlie-pregnant thing, and his subsequent spinelessness where she's concerned.
I'm fine with getting Wilhelmina and Marc back to mode, as long as Willie isn't able to wrest any real power away from the Meades. I hate seeing her play Daniel for a fool.
I have never seen Project Runway, but I'm already sick of Christian Siriano.
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May 2, 2008 11:36 AM
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Well I might get burned at the stake for this, but I really want a Gio-Betty thing.....I was all about Betty-Henry, but Henry isn't standing up for their relationship. The whole Charlie thing is getting on my nerves already.
Anyway, loved the episode!!
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May 2, 2008 12:44 PM
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I think I'm the minority here, but I'm really looking forward to the time when Betty and Daniel hook up (that is, if it's ever planned that way).
Though I'm sure that won't happen for a few years/seasons.
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May 2, 2008 1:09 PM
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The whole storyline of Renee was a little over the top for me but still love this show. Also, wanted to say what a terrific blog Mickey!
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May 2, 2008 1:47 PM
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I loved Christian Siriano on Project Runway and I loved him on Ugly Batty. They should have him back agin as a guest star.
I like Betty & Henry.
Willi & Marc need to be back in the Mode family.
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May 2, 2008 1:48 PM
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