As the season passes, little by little starts to include more characters to the cast, which is getting excessive, despite Sarah's departure. In the part that I didn't like of the episode, the minus point, Julia starts to have feelings for Evan, her editor, a man twice her age. At a Halloween party, being jealous of Isabel (her friend) and of other woman, she intercedes but her hand is accidentally injured by Evan with a door. In the hospital, she calls Charlie for insurance information and when he leaves, she sees that Evan stayed for her so she kisses him, and he says he doesn't know what it means. Unfortunately, seems like Evan will have more screen time (I would skip it). It's clear she misses having a boyfriend but she chose the wrong guy. And Julia didn't give Josh Macon a chance in late season 5 because she wanted to be alone. What a waste. As for Claudia, she deals with Cameron, who breaks up with Alexa because she is too superficial. He's now interested in Claudia, given her good honest personality, and he kisses her in their last scene outside the house. At the same time, she had to comfort a saddened Alexa. It's interesting how Claudia will handle this, considering her morality.
With Sarah gone and Julia each time more absent, Bailey hires Victor as a nanny for Owen. Owen doesn't seem surprised and tells that usually his nannies don't last more than 2 days (that's because he doesn't remember all what Kirsten did for him, also Bill, who was his nanny for almost a year). Anyway, he begs to launch Victor's idea of a Haunted House, inviting a lot of people for Halloween in the house. Julia doesn't care, Claudia approves the idea while Bailey is not in the mood. With Griffin's help, who is working in the shed, they prepare the house. In the meantime, Bailey finds Will, who took a year off college and now is an intern for the Wrestling Fed, which initially seemed a joke for Bailey, and also for Will's parents. Bailey asks him why he never called him, so Will says that probably he didn't want to hear for him, considering what happened with Hannah a year ago. Will seems to be regretful and hurt by remembering that, and Bailey tells that they have been friends for a long time, so he forgives him. He decides to accompany him to the airport where his friend must be the driver for a big wrestler, Mr Mayhem. Mayhem (Tyler Mane) forces them to drive him to Walnut Creek so he can see his wife. He throws Bailey to the balcony so he can let them inside his wife's house,as he wants to surprise her. This story was funny and entertaining, as Bailey was forced to apply his wrestling skills to fight with Mr Mayhem's wife, given that she didn't want to let him leave the apartment when she arrived. Besides, the wrestler throwed away his cellphone, leaving him without chance of reaching Sarah while he's out. Will still calls Bailey a middle aged man, but he's glad to be that grown up, instead of dealing with the wrestlers. Still, the sad parts comes next, when Bailey returns home, disapproving but not caring much about Owen's party, only waiting for Sarah's call, and listens a message from her saying "I'm sorry that I keep missing you, I love you". The party goes well and Bailey is not mad, but sad, while Owen, Claudia and many other people enjoy it. So Victor helps him to enjoy a little (but what a terrible pink costume he chose, Will said it). He finally tells Will he'll try to take more risks and be more spontaneus, as his friend and Sarah. Anyway, first episode without Sarah, and Bailey already needs her, he would be much happier with her around.
Still, the best part of the episode is how Charlie and Kirsten struggle with having a child. In their first and happy scene, she visits him at the school, with coffee for both, calls him Mr Salinger and he calls her Mrs Salinger, with no complains (she wasn't sure of being called Mrs Salinger in Dearly Beloved) and they share their plans for a baby: he took adoption side while she made research about a surgery for her endometriosis or IVF, excited about having their own baby. Considering the laparoscopic procedure has some risks for ectopic pregnancy, she convinces him of taking IVF also because the odds are better, and says she called and they have to meet a specialist that same day at 3 pm. He's insecure because he has no time to think but accepts and they happily hug. Then, in the clinic, while waiting, they hear conversations of other women about the risks, saying she would need hormone injections that affect her mood, that the situation is very stressful for both because it costs much and they are in 3rd-4th try. For all this, Charlie starts to have doubts and fears. Hours later, at home, while discussing about it, Charlie reveals an important fact about Kirsten's depression, she still is on antidepressants, and for IVF, she has to go off the pills temporarily. This implies something obvious but that wasn't mentioned since season 3: Kirsten was able to heal and spend time with Charlie in seasons 4-5 and now, in part because she was always on medication. It's clear that in Chicago she was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, and as a chronic illness, requires the patient to be on medication as a long term treatment. Sadly, today or in the past wasn't mentioned which medication Kirsten is taking every day, so I guess like in past reviews that she's on lithium and some other. The problem is that if she goes off the medication, there are higher chances of relapse on depression. And also, if she gets pregnant, her dosage might need to be adjusted. And those are Charlie's biggest fears now and why he argued with her for not giving him time to deal with the risks, and for hiding it from him. But she said that she didn't do it on purpose, the specialist had a cancelation, and she was excited that they could go. She says she's ready for the risks, it's her emotional state, so he tells that the decision doesn't depend only on her and that if she rushed to the appointment, she wanted to avoid the truth. Despite the reality of her illness, I think he was harsh on her in this scene, she suffered a lot for him with her depression, and for not being able to have kids, so she didn't deserve his lecture about risks. Given that he mentioned here two times how she and Paul had the intention to have kids, he probably felt hurt by the memory, but she downplayed it aware that Paul never really wanted kids. Still, if Charlie felt hurt for that and for the risks of relapse, he knows that his actions in mid season 2 triggered her illness, so he has to take care of her if she has a relapse, like he did in early season 3, it's his responsibility. And now, as her official husband, her parents can't take her away from him. She forgave him for his mistakes, she loves him more than anyone, so he has to support her now. However, then, they go to the house for Owen's party, and in the swing chair at the backyard, a saddened Kirsten tells him about her dreams, of a child of their own, who has his eyes, her nose, his laugh, "and cries like me". She reminds him a little how was her depression for both of them, recognizing she mostly doesn't, making it harder for him in some ways. She knows he remembers how hard it was and that she can have all those dreams, but she knows what was real. This wonderful scene (the best and most emotional of the day) tells that there's nothing in the world she would miss so much than having her own baby with her beloved husband, the love of her life. After all what she suffered, her patience and love of always taking care of other children, she deserves the chance. Then, Kirsten leaves the party early, still feeling sad while he goes to solve Julia's insurance situation in the hospital. Finally, back home, Charlie realizes that he has a big family, so he can't blow up his wife's dreams or the chance of a blood sibling for Diana because he was afraid. Probably sleepless waiting for his arrival, she reaches him in the kitchen and he tells her that if she is ready for the risks, he is too. And that way, he finally assumed his responsibility, being able to overcome his fears to allow her the chance of having a baby together, despite the risks.
Each time that Kirsten's depression is mentioned or touched in an episode, the story is special, those 5 episodes in season 3 were really touching and emotional, not to mention her sadness of not having children, especially in seasons 1-2. I praise the writers choice today to bring back Kirsten's depression storyline. During the series, I felt that it wasn't mentioned often because audiences never understood the true nature of what Kirsten suffered. Persons with psychiatric and neurological illnesses are often discriminated, misunderstood in real life, so the writers efforts should be acclaimed. They never forgot Kirsten, and there were always signs that her chronic illness was still there. To finish, I'd like to highlight a detail about the final scene: Kirsten asked Charlie if Owen was mad that she left early the party, and Charlie said no, that he was fine. This means that Kirsten still cares about her "first child", but she and Charlie already accepted that Owen currently wants to live with Bailey, Julia and Claudia, instead of them. For this, now that Sarah's gone, it's sad that Owen will spend the whole season without a mother, would have been much better for him to have his "adoptive mother" always around. Reminds me that the custody fight may have contributed to Sarah's departure and some great moments in late season 5, but also affected Owen's storyline this season. Talking about kids, Diana and her mother were absent in this episode, but that means they spent these days together.
With Sarah gone and Julia each time more absent, Bailey hires Victor as a nanny for Owen. Owen doesn't seem surprised and tells that usually his nannies don't last more than 2 days (that's because he doesn't remember all what Kirsten did for him, also Bill, who was his nanny for almost a year). Anyway, he begs to launch Victor's idea of a Haunted House, inviting a lot of people for Halloween in the house. Julia doesn't care, Claudia approves the idea while Bailey is not in the mood. With Griffin's help, who is working in the shed, they prepare the house. In the meantime, Bailey finds Will, who took a year off college and now is an intern for the Wrestling Fed, which initially seemed a joke for Bailey, and also for Will's parents. Bailey asks him why he never called him, so Will says that probably he didn't want to hear for him, considering what happened with Hannah a year ago. Will seems to be regretful and hurt by remembering that, and Bailey tells that they have been friends for a long time, so he forgives him. He decides to accompany him to the airport where his friend must be the driver for a big wrestler, Mr Mayhem. Mayhem (Tyler Mane) forces them to drive him to Walnut Creek so he can see his wife. He throws Bailey to the balcony so he can let them inside his wife's house,as he wants to surprise her. This story was funny and entertaining, as Bailey was forced to apply his wrestling skills to fight with Mr Mayhem's wife, given that she didn't want to let him leave the apartment when she arrived. Besides, the wrestler throwed away his cellphone, leaving him without chance of reaching Sarah while he's out. Will still calls Bailey a middle aged man, but he's glad to be that grown up, instead of dealing with the wrestlers. Still, the sad parts comes next, when Bailey returns home, disapproving but not caring much about Owen's party, only waiting for Sarah's call, and listens a message from her saying "I'm sorry that I keep missing you, I love you". The party goes well and Bailey is not mad, but sad, while Owen, Claudia and many other people enjoy it. So Victor helps him to enjoy a little (but what a terrible pink costume he chose, Will said it). He finally tells Will he'll try to take more risks and be more spontaneus, as his friend and Sarah. Anyway, first episode without Sarah, and Bailey already needs her, he would be much happier with her around.
Still, the best part of the episode is how Charlie and Kirsten struggle with having a child. In their first and happy scene, she visits him at the school, with coffee for both, calls him Mr Salinger and he calls her Mrs Salinger, with no complains (she wasn't sure of being called Mrs Salinger in Dearly Beloved) and they share their plans for a baby: he took adoption side while she made research about a surgery for her endometriosis or IVF, excited about having their own baby. Considering the laparoscopic procedure has some risks for ectopic pregnancy, she convinces him of taking IVF also because the odds are better, and says she called and they have to meet a specialist that same day at 3 pm. He's insecure because he has no time to think but accepts and they happily hug. Then, in the clinic, while waiting, they hear conversations of other women about the risks, saying she would need hormone injections that affect her mood, that the situation is very stressful for both because it costs much and they are in 3rd-4th try. For all this, Charlie starts to have doubts and fears. Hours later, at home, while discussing about it, Charlie reveals an important fact about Kirsten's depression, she still is on antidepressants, and for IVF, she has to go off the pills temporarily. This implies something obvious but that wasn't mentioned since season 3: Kirsten was able to heal and spend time with Charlie in seasons 4-5 and now, in part because she was always on medication. It's clear that in Chicago she was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, and as a chronic illness, requires the patient to be on medication as a long term treatment. Sadly, today or in the past wasn't mentioned which medication Kirsten is taking every day, so I guess like in past reviews that she's on lithium and some other. The problem is that if she goes off the medication, there are higher chances of relapse on depression. And also, if she gets pregnant, her dosage might need to be adjusted. And those are Charlie's biggest fears now and why he argued with her for not giving him time to deal with the risks, and for hiding it from him. But she said that she didn't do it on purpose, the specialist had a cancelation, and she was excited that they could go. She says she's ready for the risks, it's her emotional state, so he tells that the decision doesn't depend only on her and that if she rushed to the appointment, she wanted to avoid the truth. Despite the reality of her illness, I think he was harsh on her in this scene, she suffered a lot for him with her depression, and for not being able to have kids, so she didn't deserve his lecture about risks. Given that he mentioned here two times how she and Paul had the intention to have kids, he probably felt hurt by the memory, but she downplayed it aware that Paul never really wanted kids. Still, if Charlie felt hurt for that and for the risks of relapse, he knows that his actions in mid season 2 triggered her illness, so he has to take care of her if she has a relapse, like he did in early season 3, it's his responsibility. And now, as her official husband, her parents can't take her away from him. She forgave him for his mistakes, she loves him more than anyone, so he has to support her now. However, then, they go to the house for Owen's party, and in the swing chair at the backyard, a saddened Kirsten tells him about her dreams, of a child of their own, who has his eyes, her nose, his laugh, "and cries like me". She reminds him a little how was her depression for both of them, recognizing she mostly doesn't, making it harder for him in some ways. She knows he remembers how hard it was and that she can have all those dreams, but she knows what was real. This wonderful scene (the best and most emotional of the day) tells that there's nothing in the world she would miss so much than having her own baby with her beloved husband, the love of her life. After all what she suffered, her patience and love of always taking care of other children, she deserves the chance. Then, Kirsten leaves the party early, still feeling sad while he goes to solve Julia's insurance situation in the hospital. Finally, back home, Charlie realizes that he has a big family, so he can't blow up his wife's dreams or the chance of a blood sibling for Diana because he was afraid. Probably sleepless waiting for his arrival, she reaches him in the kitchen and he tells her that if she is ready for the risks, he is too. And that way, he finally assumed his responsibility, being able to overcome his fears to allow her the chance of having a baby together, despite the risks.
Each time that Kirsten's depression is mentioned or touched in an episode, the story is special, those 5 episodes in season 3 were really touching and emotional, not to mention her sadness of not having children, especially in seasons 1-2. I praise the writers choice today to bring back Kirsten's depression storyline. During the series, I felt that it wasn't mentioned often because audiences never understood the true nature of what Kirsten suffered. Persons with psychiatric and neurological illnesses are often discriminated, misunderstood in real life, so the writers efforts should be acclaimed. They never forgot Kirsten, and there were always signs that her chronic illness was still there. To finish, I'd like to highlight a detail about the final scene: Kirsten asked Charlie if Owen was mad that she left early the party, and Charlie said no, that he was fine. This means that Kirsten still cares about her "first child", but she and Charlie already accepted that Owen currently wants to live with Bailey, Julia and Claudia, instead of them. For this, now that Sarah's gone, it's sad that Owen will spend the whole season without a mother, would have been much better for him to have his "adoptive mother" always around. Reminds me that the custody fight may have contributed to Sarah's departure and some great moments in late season 5, but also affected Owen's storyline this season. Talking about kids, Diana and her mother were absent in this episode, but that means they spent these days together.
