Season 1 finale begins with Ross watching Owen, with Claudia and Julia around. Kirsten is sick (a cold-allergies) and, comes downstairs with Charlie to join the rest. Ross asks questions about Owen, and Charlie says he sort of feeds himself now. Julia tells he's 16 months (actually, he's 13-14) and notices for his face that he is pooping, so Kirsten decides to change his diapers, after all, she can't smell much anyway. And then, Ross, explains why he is interested in Owen's behavior, saying he filled adoption papers some months ago, and he recently got a call: he'll be able to adopt a baby girl. Claudia and the rest congratulate him, happy for the news. Bailey and Jill arrive, afraid that she might be pregnant, but turns out she's not. To celebrate, they go to buy clothes with Julia, Jill checks a coat for her brother because she lost one in LA, and then advices Julia to buy a cool shirt for Justin. Later, Julia shows the shirt to her boyfriend, but he doesn't like it, thinking she wants to change him. Then, there's a really happy moment: Kirsten, Claudia and Julia are playing scrabble, while Charlie is in the sofa with Thurber. Julia tells she is allergic to shrimp and thinks Kirsten is allergic to seafood. Instead, she thinks it's Thurber, now that she spends more time in the house for her thesis, and asks "it's him or me" (still, I know it's not the pet because finally she gets well). Charlie jokingly says "where would you go?", and all the girls laugh, knowing that would never happen, as they all love her. This was a very nice scene, and shows that now, unlike in 1x14, Julia already considers Kirsten like part of the family, as they all are able to laugh together naturally. Anyway, tragedy suddenly hits everyone, when Bailey comes and informs Jill's death after he called and Mr Holbrook said that her mother found her with cocaine in her room. About this, I'm not sure, but in the last scene where Jill appeared, she wished to have a clothes shop and running the business herself, but Bailey avoided supporting her, he just kissed her. So maybe, Jill fell into drugs one more time, thinking that she was alone, she didn't have enough support, from her mother, father, brother, Bailey. Would have been good to know the cause of her relapse, because, as Claudia told Bailey in the next scene after the news, is hard to explain, she was in the rehab program. Back to the story, she also cries and asks to go with him to the funeral, but he, initially mad at Jill, refuses. Charlie and Kirsten are shown sad in bed, and she, still shocked, wonders if he will be there next to her when she wakes up. He says he will, so she tells him to make love and he accepts. The next day, Charlie and Julia go to the funeral, with Bailey looking from the outside. Meanwhile, Kirsten takes Claudia with Ross to see the baby at the hospital. There, Kirsten suggests that he should name the baby after a family member, he says his mother's name is Mavis, so Claudia dismises the idea. Claudia also remembers when Owen was born, that everyone thought he was beautiful, but she called him a crying walnut, surely jealous. She says the baby girl of Ross is not like Owen. Then, Bailey's suffering begins: he tries to deny what happened, goes partying and gets drunk, even with Will watching him. He takes some girl's number, and to drive the jeep back home, he punches Will, who tried to prevent him from driving drunk. When he returns to the house, Charlie confronts him like his dad would, pushing him to the wall and remembering what means driving drunk. Will is there too, telling he can't go through this alone, and Charlie promises he won't let him self destruct, but Bailey avoids their concerns, saying that he thought the same with Jill, but everything was in vain. The next day, he refuses to go to see Jill's mother (who called Charlie to talk to Bailey), cries and promises not to love anyone again, saying it's too hard, and Charlie comforts him. On the other hand, Julia tries to comfort Griffin, Jill's brother, but he acts coldly and refuses her help until she gives him a late gift from Jill (the coat). Later, he and Bailey go to Jill's grave, and express what they feel. Griffin doesn't get why she went back to drugs if she was insecure, so for that he's mad at her. Bailey was too, but now he just wants to touch her again, and tells that she simply did a mistake. That scene was the best about Jill's demise. The set and the soundtrack helped. James Marsden did a good job portraying a cold, angry and shocked guy, and considering the case, he couldn't have an emotional part. Would have been better for him if his character was introduced a few episodes ago, so he and the viewers can get used to him, and that way he could have showed a more touching performance. Also, considering that Julie Ariola appeared before as Mrs Holbrook, the emotions would have been stronger if she was showed crying next to Jill's body, or Bailey seeing her in the funeral. That's part of why Jill's death wasn't felt so much. It wasn't very well handled, not even the cause was revealed. To finish this part, I have to praise Charlie and Will. Charlie acted like a true Father, he comforted him like their dad would, and promised to take care of him, showing that he loves his brother. Will behaved like a true friend, hw was worried and realistic about the loss, and protected Bailey the best he could.
Alternating sadness with happiness, the events have influence in Charlie and Kirsten: both of them have exactly the same thought, to get engaged, and they share the same reasons to do it. He tells his sisters that while watching Kirsten get dressed in their room, he thought why wait, if he wants her to be there in their room every day. He asks their permission to give her Diana's ring in a special way, even though they might want to use it one day. Claudia (deeply happy) and Julia accept, and later, Bailey too. While they are in the couch, next to the fireplace, reading, Kirsten proposes him, to Charlie's surprise, citing similar reasons: she thinks, why wait, if she wants to hold on to everything that matters to her, meaning him, forever. He obviously accepts, but tells he was supposed to ask her and was getting ready. Still, both really happy, get engaged and kiss. I keep wondering in which special way he was planning to propose. This scene is full of joy, and will be remembered, especially by Kirsten. Then, when Charlie gives her the ring, she is a little disappointed because it has a stone and is not so nice, but also remarks the sentimental value the ring has for the family. Then, Justin ends up with a windbreaker and Julia tells him that she likes him just the way he is, and that she won't change him. On the other hand, Ross fears about not having the baby because Kendra (the woman in charge of the adoption case) found out he's gay. Kirsten didn't know why he ommited the fact and tried to gift him Thurber and a mobile for the crib, so he tells that initially didn't mention it because he thought he wouldn't stand a chance. Claudia tries to comfort him too, but he is sad for it, feeling he already loves the baby. Anyway, Bailey talks to Kendra, explaining how Ross loves Claudia and how he treats her, giving the necessary reasons of why shouldn't matter that he is gay and all turns out well. I admit that it felt strange how someone in SF, California would deny this chance to Ross, considering the culture of the state. Maybe in 1995 was different, I don't know. Anyway, at the end, everyone shares a happy dinner in Salinger's, celebrating the engagement and that Ross could finally adopt a baby, named Tess. Despite the tragedy, the episode has a happy ending, and gives good sensations. After watching the whole series, future seasons, family moments like this feel much better than in the first impression, they become priceless.
I want to highlight some things that, sadly, predict the future: Justin jokingly said to Julia she would leave him for a typical bad guy with tatoos and taste (she will). Bailey "jokingly" said to Jill that he was never going to have sex again (and until the next time, passed nearly two years). Julia and Kirsten joked about Charlie planning and performing the wedding (will take four years). Besides, now Charlie gave Kirsten his mother's ring, and considering what will happen to her and then to Julia, was a lousy idea, that ring is cursed (it's like Diana Salinger wouldn't allow any other woman to use it, not even her daughter).
So with this not perfect but great episode ended the Best Season of Party of Five. We've seen Charlie, initially as a womanizer and immature guy, becoming a Man, a "Father" and unofficially, a Husband. Bailey, who started being responsible and caring, slowly becaming a guy his age and reaching the point of loving deeply a girl, what sadly ended in tragedy. Julia, who divided her time between friends (like Nina, Danny), dating guys (a girl of her age), being a sister (especially to Claudia) and missing her mother. Claudia, who being comforted by her older siblings, was mostly the voice of good, the moral compass of the family. Also, she acted like a sister to Bailey, Julia and Owen, and like a kind of daughter to Charlie and Kirsten. Owen, who appeared enough (almost every episode), being taken care by Kirsten, all the siblings and Bill. Kirsten, who little by little fell in love with Charlie and his family, making of Charlie a Man and a Father, also forming bonds with Claudia and Owen, becoming a valuable member of the Salinger family. The Salingers are a stable, steady family, despite the lose of the parents, and they are able to overcome dramatic situations and find happiness. So far, the series is wonderful and deserves almost a 10/10, and that's probably why it won the Golden Globe.
Alternating sadness with happiness, the events have influence in Charlie and Kirsten: both of them have exactly the same thought, to get engaged, and they share the same reasons to do it. He tells his sisters that while watching Kirsten get dressed in their room, he thought why wait, if he wants her to be there in their room every day. He asks their permission to give her Diana's ring in a special way, even though they might want to use it one day. Claudia (deeply happy) and Julia accept, and later, Bailey too. While they are in the couch, next to the fireplace, reading, Kirsten proposes him, to Charlie's surprise, citing similar reasons: she thinks, why wait, if she wants to hold on to everything that matters to her, meaning him, forever. He obviously accepts, but tells he was supposed to ask her and was getting ready. Still, both really happy, get engaged and kiss. I keep wondering in which special way he was planning to propose. This scene is full of joy, and will be remembered, especially by Kirsten. Then, when Charlie gives her the ring, she is a little disappointed because it has a stone and is not so nice, but also remarks the sentimental value the ring has for the family. Then, Justin ends up with a windbreaker and Julia tells him that she likes him just the way he is, and that she won't change him. On the other hand, Ross fears about not having the baby because Kendra (the woman in charge of the adoption case) found out he's gay. Kirsten didn't know why he ommited the fact and tried to gift him Thurber and a mobile for the crib, so he tells that initially didn't mention it because he thought he wouldn't stand a chance. Claudia tries to comfort him too, but he is sad for it, feeling he already loves the baby. Anyway, Bailey talks to Kendra, explaining how Ross loves Claudia and how he treats her, giving the necessary reasons of why shouldn't matter that he is gay and all turns out well. I admit that it felt strange how someone in SF, California would deny this chance to Ross, considering the culture of the state. Maybe in 1995 was different, I don't know. Anyway, at the end, everyone shares a happy dinner in Salinger's, celebrating the engagement and that Ross could finally adopt a baby, named Tess. Despite the tragedy, the episode has a happy ending, and gives good sensations. After watching the whole series, future seasons, family moments like this feel much better than in the first impression, they become priceless.
I want to highlight some things that, sadly, predict the future: Justin jokingly said to Julia she would leave him for a typical bad guy with tatoos and taste (she will). Bailey "jokingly" said to Jill that he was never going to have sex again (and until the next time, passed nearly two years). Julia and Kirsten joked about Charlie planning and performing the wedding (will take four years). Besides, now Charlie gave Kirsten his mother's ring, and considering what will happen to her and then to Julia, was a lousy idea, that ring is cursed (it's like Diana Salinger wouldn't allow any other woman to use it, not even her daughter).
So with this not perfect but great episode ended the Best Season of Party of Five. We've seen Charlie, initially as a womanizer and immature guy, becoming a Man, a "Father" and unofficially, a Husband. Bailey, who started being responsible and caring, slowly becaming a guy his age and reaching the point of loving deeply a girl, what sadly ended in tragedy. Julia, who divided her time between friends (like Nina, Danny), dating guys (a girl of her age), being a sister (especially to Claudia) and missing her mother. Claudia, who being comforted by her older siblings, was mostly the voice of good, the moral compass of the family. Also, she acted like a sister to Bailey, Julia and Owen, and like a kind of daughter to Charlie and Kirsten. Owen, who appeared enough (almost every episode), being taken care by Kirsten, all the siblings and Bill. Kirsten, who little by little fell in love with Charlie and his family, making of Charlie a Man and a Father, also forming bonds with Claudia and Owen, becoming a valuable member of the Salinger family. The Salingers are a stable, steady family, despite the lose of the parents, and they are able to overcome dramatic situations and find happiness. So far, the series is wonderful and deserves almost a 10/10, and that's probably why it won the Golden Globe.
