Just as 3 seasons ago, in Spring Breaks I, when he nearly lost it all, now again, and this time in a most unfair way, Charlie is abandoned by his entire family. First, he is seen getting ready to take Owen and Claudia to school, she goes to get dressed upstairs while Owen is playing with an airplane and disappears from his sight. Kirsten suddenly arrives, and tells him that Owen passed like a kamikaze through the stairs, Charlie is happy to see her but is stunned when she returns him the keys. Smiling, she says she's looking for a new apartment in SF, and is excited because is the first one since... (the hurtful mid season 2), anyway, she has a friendly farewell with Charlie and baby Diana and asks him to greet Claudia for her. Considering their joy by looking at each other, was clear that they still love each other, so it's strange that they have spent all this time without saying anything. Anyway, at almost the same time, Griffin visits to leave the keys too, and also wants to look for an apartment. Charlie shows to be regretful about his past treatment towards Griffin and tells he can stay, so Griffin says in a friendly way "thanks" but that he wants to get a new life. Although it was a nice scene to see (the most happier of the episode), that's how the first two persons abandon him in this episode.
Soon, Charlie gets a subpoena from Bailey. Bailey decides to have Owen's custody fight out of court with a judge and Charlie reluctantly agrees. In the first day, Owen's teacher is called and says the same things she said before, Owen needs 3 hours per day for his learning disabilities, Claudia says Charlie doesn't have the time for Owen because he can pick him up from school, he mostly cooks dinner, but the rest of the afternoon he is busy with Diana. He says he can make the time if needed but Bailey disagrees. Kirsten is called, obviously refuses to testify againt Charlie and tells Bailey that she minds all this process, but she can't answer the question about Charlie's plan to raise two kids on his own (although she doesn't know yet, herself was the right answer). Griffin takes Bailey's side, saying Charlie can't handle it, anyone alone could. Mr Day from social services, tells that since Charlie is the guardian there were 4 insatisfactory visitations including the one in 4x17 (the other 3 were: 1x11, surely mid season 2, and 5x17), and wonders why they weren't informed about Owen's broken arm. Still, later he takes Charlie's side, aware that taking a kid away from his familiar place causes more damage than a minor issue with the parent. The detective (from 1x14), tells Bailey's building is unsafe, unlike Pacific Heights where the house is, and mentions the gun incident with Albert Terry, so she is on Charlie's side too. Sarah tries to defend Bailey's side, but when questioned about her experience with kids, she has no words (I thought she had babysitting jobs, according to 4x03). Charlie's previous cancer (the following treatments like antibiotics are mentioned) is used against him so Charlie uses Bailey's alcoholism. Julia is asked about Bailey's choice of dropping out college and if he has the tendency to take on big projects and then not being able to go through them (who'd have thought, that will happen). Sarah must talk about the accident, AA, and if he had any slip up, while Claudia must recall the failed intervention. At the end, the judge gives Owen's custody to Charlie, but in the process, Bailey, Claudia (surprisingly) and Julia turned against him, abandoning him. Of the three, only Julia defended Charlie sometimes and seemed to be on his side, but in the final day, she stood with Bailey and Claudia. According to Claudia's words, in the nights between the custody fight out of court, Charlie spent time in his room with Owen and Diana alone, without talking to her, Julia or Bailey. Anyway, later in the house, Charlie tells Owen that he loves him and what means that, so asks him what he wants. Ultimately, Owen's words (off screen) meant that he too abandoned Charlie, so the guardian of the family sadly goes and leaves him with Bailey and Sarah in the loft. Finally, Charlie is left alone in the house with Diana (he wouldn't even talk to Claudia). After watching episodes like this, I remember why Charlie is the good Brother and Bailey the bad one. Despite all the mistakes he made, he still proves to be the better Man of the family, the "Father". He raised Owen during all the last seasons, with some help, especially from Claudia (and Julia in season 4). He was Owen's father all the seasons, while Kirsten, now his long lost wife, was Owen's mother overall in seasons 1-2, early season 3, late season 4 and early season 5. The obvious solution to Charlie's problems of raising two kids, was to get back together with Kirsten a few episodes ago, before Bailey started to interfere. There's no one better than her to raise Owen, and for his learning problems, she has a degree in Child Psichology, besides she always loved him as her own child. So considering that, and the future, this turn out and all the Owen's custody fight seems totally meaningless. Also, concerning Kirsten, I didn't like many parts of the process here. She was called just "Charlie's best friend" by the judge, so seems that no one said a word that Kirsten was the most involved woman in Owen's life, the only mother he ever met. Besides, the judge and Bailey talked about Daphne leaving but she never had a part in Owen's life, she barely could handle Diana. Kirsten's on-off yet key role in the Salinger house during the last 5 seasons was completely ignored in this episode, and that's very unfair. Also, talking about unfair, Bailey's words were hurtful and far away from the truth. He accused Charlie of never wanting to take care of the family, that he hated it. Charlie, damaged, answered that he hated to let go all the things that he loved (the designing, the Seattle job, even Kirsten I'd say) to stay in the house, but he did it, he loved being Owen's father and he would do it again. Many episodes of the series prove that Charlie loved being the Man of the house, the Father, especially when he had Kirsten with him. His words in 3x13 are a clear evidence, he loved it but he just wanted something else for him, and now, still without Kirsten, he was somehow ok with Diana. Anyway, whatever happened, happened, the result is not fair, and in the future will be undone (JLH will leave so, go figure), proving all this wasn't necessary. So what happened here was just writing dramatic situations, a story made basically to produce great performances. In some ways, this was similar to the Wedding episode, the story and the turn out is unbelievable, unfair, unrealistic considering the past seasons, but was very well done, and intense. And again, I believe the writers didn't think in the consequences, in how taking Owen away from Charlie would affect season 6. Knowing what's next, probably season 6 would have been much better if Owen wasn't living with Bailey. And all could have been avoided so easily if the writers had decided in 5x14-15 for Kirsten and Charlie to stay in the house together, both raising Claudia, Owen and Diana, in a similar way like the good old times (seasons 1-2), when the series won the Golden Globe.
The rest of the episode had two more sides. Ned stalks Julia at Stanford and the hallway of the court. First he tries to get back saying that Richie called her and then he says he's getting help with Dr Kessel. The third time he seemingly tries to make her jealous by flirting with other girl, but Julia still ignores him. Anyway, she goes to see Dr Kessel because she still cares about Ned and asks if he's getting better. He answers that Ned never visited him again (what a critical moment there). Then, she lures him in her dorm for a "friend date" and when he arrives, Dr Kessel is there. She reveals that she finally she called the police, his parents, and the college to make sure he doesn't hurt any other girl again. She doesn't even give him the chance to answer and leaves. It was strange that Ned chased Julia even to the court, but she and Claudia managed to kick him out threatening to call the brothers. Anyway, it was an interesting story, especially Dr Kessel and Julia's interview. It was a perfect way to end Ned's storyline. On the other hand, Kirsten and Griffin search apartments, end up in the same one, and both have useless attempts to move on from the Salingers. Still, they agree that all the Salingers care too much. About the place, she thinks the neighborhood is not so safe and is kind of away from everything but the price is great. Griffin thinks the neighborhood is fine but is too expensive. About this misunderstanding, I guess that Gene and Ellie gave her some money considering she has been unemployed for 2 years and a half, otherwise, there's no way she could afford the place. Finally, Griffin lets the apartment for Kirsten, as he can't afford it, so she allows him to crash in the couch, until he finds somewhere else. But then, he decides to be in another place so they won't keep thinking in the Salingers. Fortunately, she can't and she won't.
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