Jill Gordon's script is more visual and less talky than the previous episode.
Ron Lagomarsino's direction captures it all beautifully.
The first act is different. It begins in the print shop, cuts to school and around. Angela is at Sharon's house for the first time in the series, though she "practically lived in Sharon's house" in the past. In Sharon's crisis, Kyle seems as dependable as Jordan previously. In Act III, Jordan does come through for Angela. He asks why she's crying and comforts her before walking off with his sidekick. Though Camille is having a crisis, she comforts the usually unflappable Patty. Quite a contrast to Angela's studied avoidance of Sharon. Graham has just dealt with Patty's possible pregnancy, now faces his mortality.
In the scene where Angela is the only one who's hungry, even Graham is not. And isn't "Hypnotized By Food" his Indian name? And didn't he just recall a colour by thinking of saffron rice? Sharon insists she can stay at home alone. Either she feels uncomfortable staying with Angela or she wants to meet Kyle somewhere other than the cold basement of love. Angela wants to hug Sharon, but doesn't feel she has that right.
Act II lightens the mood a bit. Brian overhears Kyle and Sharon arguing, discussing, whatever. Sharon cries on Brian's shoulder, creating an opening for Rayanne. She says of Sharon and Angela that if they're friends again "you don't have to conceal it. I can take it." Brian is chummier with Rickie. Then he's in Angela's room, which has changed. Things get erotic with Patty and Graham, who has realised how much she needs him, much to Graham's surprise.
Act III next morning has delightful music and the discovery that there's nothing edible in the house.
Another great Sharon-Rayanne bathroom scene. ("Stop looking at me ^ 2") She winds up getting Tino, who loves hospitals, to take them to Sharon's mom. But Angela won't cut Bio. Sharon is devastated that Angela's so not there for her.
Then there's the whole "Daddy can't be disturbed sequence." When Graham doesn't want to talk about it, Patty won't let it go, like Angela when Jordan doesn't want to discuss his reading problem. Of course, Patty won't back off, trying to be comforting. Graham tries to get her to let it be, says "I can't breathe" and leaves. Danielle gives Patty a castigating look.
The tension between Sharon and Angela comes to a head when Kyle phones. Angela tries to lay a guilt trip on Sharon, who blurts out that Rayanne told her Brian is in love with Angela. Angela states firmly: "Brian Krakow is not in love with me." It's unlikely Brian missed this high-volume conversation, but he just stares when they leave the room. And no one's hungry... again.
In the finale, Patty is woken by Camille, who thanks her for sending Graham over. Patty's confusion could be from being disturbed, but she's just confused. Cut to Camille and Graham. She says of Andy, "He loves his work. It's his life." Graham says "that must be great" in a great little scene. And no overkill, like Graham saying "Gee, I wish I loved my work."
Angela is the last person to hear Mr Cherski is okay. She says to Rayanne, "So are you friends with Sharon now?" "So, you are, right?" says Rayanne. At this point, Rickie handles a bit of exposition that gets them to make up. Ordinarily, it would be a corny scene, but his delivery makes it all seem perfectly natural. Cut to Angela returning Sharon's bag. "What are you listening to?" "A group you probably hate." So much for Sharon's musical preferences. There's a touching crying and squeezing scene.
Angela passes Brian going home. He's working on his bike and his first words, "You're in my light." When she passes on the information about Sharon's dad, he says "your friend Rickie told me." So, like, they aren't friends? While Brian continues being standoffish, Angela says Sharon didn't need somebody, she needed Brian. "It doesn't work with anyone. I think she needed you." It dawns on Brian that Angela is referring to him as a person and he blurts out, "like did you give this thought or something?"
It ends with a voice-over about different kinds of friends. Again, it could be sappy, but isn't. The episode shows how people come together. During Angela's soliloquy, Graham kisses Patty as she leaves for work, hands her her lunch. He'll be home deciding what to do when he grows up. Contrast this with her earlier request for a kiss before going to work. "I'm sorry, I forgot. A kiss must result in intercourse." [‘Dancing in the Dark’]
Okay, I admit it. Jordan takes a back seat to Sharon in this episode,
so that makes me like it even more. Sue me!
MIDPOINT ANNOUNCEMENT - PATTY