Sometimes with this show, I feel so accustomed to stories which deal with abuse, drama, and horrible things that while you recognize the situation is horrible, it doesn't emotionally get you. This episode though, due to Sherri Saum/ Lena, I was crying tears and just thinking about her performance brings water to my eyes. And with that potential spoiler, let's talk about the episode!
Topic 1: Twins Conflict – Mariana and Jesus
The twins for the episode, especially Mariana, only really focus on Jesus trying to not be upfront with Haley and Emma. Which, while a bland story, among Jesus trying to sell the moms bed, it did make them come off as siblings more than ever. But, at the end of the day I still feel these two get the least amount of investment when it comes to stories.
Topic 2: You Can't Shut Yourself Off – Callie & Jude
With a Liam flashback leading to Callie asking Wyatt to stop when they were being intimate, she has distanced herself from him. So much that he even approaches Brandon to see if maybe those two have started something up again. But Brandon reassures him nothing is going on, and just to be difficult he doesn't even try to help Wyatt understand why Callie is shutting him out. However, he is kind enough to relay to Callie that Wyatt is worried. Showing that he is truly over her if he would help the only competition he would have.
Thing is though, with Callie there is an issue expressing the things which truly affect her. Little things like discovering her dad are manageable and stuff she has no issues sharing, but the stuff which honestly troubles her she keeps held close. Something Brandon tells her she can't always do for it pushes people away. Plus, when you think of it, look at the example it sets for Jude whose decision to be mute is a similar coping mechanism as opposed to talking.
And I think with what Brandon says to Callie, she realizes that she is in fact a major reason why Jude has decided to be mute. However, she takes it to the point where she makes it seem everything is about her and I didn't understand why. After all, as much as you can understand her becoming his half-sister would mean something, there are so many factors I think of equal or greater weight. Such as him possibly coming to terms of what people perceive as his sexuality; the fact Lena was having a kid which would mean he wouldn't be the youngest, and would also get less attention from her due to the baby; and lastly, let's consider that in school just last year he was struggling and the thing which started this all was him being asked a question which he honestly may not have known the answer to. I'm just saying, as much as the show revolves around Callie and Brandon's actions, there are so many reasons Jude could go mute without Callie being a part of the reason. Though, with Callie telling Jude he needs to open up and not shut people out he speaks. Wrapping up that storyline.
Topic 3: Redemption & Heartbreak – Mike and Lena
In the last episode we were presented a situation in which it looked like Ana and Mike were making secret lover rendezvous. Truth is though, all that is happening is Mike has become Ana's hands on sponsor. Something which came from his own guilt for he really did want to kill Ana that night he got blackout drunk. Luckily for him though, all that happened was an argument and him being found by Dani.
As for Lena, well we begin to fully understand why she wanted to have a baby. For, as she explains, everyone has a blood connection to someone in the house. Jude has Callie; Brandon has Stef; Mariana and Jesus have each other; and Lena is left with just the love she has for everyone in the household. Something which she values, but sometimes feels like it isn't enough. Especially when it comes to disciplinary actions for she feels the kids may say to her "Well you're not my mom." This is despite Brandon coming to her over Stef a good portion of the time, despite her being his biological mom; Jesus and Mariana never referring to Ana as their mom; and with Jude and Callie both bonding more with Lena than Stef. But still, even acknowledging that her kids love her, there are those moments between Brandon and Stef you can see she wants. Especially the idea of watching a child of her blood grow up. Something which sadly isn't going to happen right now. For, 20 weeks in, Lena is put into a situation in which keeping the baby could possibly threaten her life. So she is forced to terminate the pregnancy for between a spike in blood sugar, and protein in her urine, it seems her body isn't quite able to carry the baby to term. Something which leads to a lot of tears, especially when her mom comes in and has one of the few moments we see between them in which there are no arguments, just the words and actions Lena needs. Making for quite an emotional episode.
Topic 1: Twins Conflict – Mariana and Jesus
The twins for the episode, especially Mariana, only really focus on Jesus trying to not be upfront with Haley and Emma. Which, while a bland story, among Jesus trying to sell the moms bed, it did make them come off as siblings more than ever. But, at the end of the day I still feel these two get the least amount of investment when it comes to stories.
Topic 2: You Can't Shut Yourself Off – Callie & Jude
With a Liam flashback leading to Callie asking Wyatt to stop when they were being intimate, she has distanced herself from him. So much that he even approaches Brandon to see if maybe those two have started something up again. But Brandon reassures him nothing is going on, and just to be difficult he doesn't even try to help Wyatt understand why Callie is shutting him out. However, he is kind enough to relay to Callie that Wyatt is worried. Showing that he is truly over her if he would help the only competition he would have.
Thing is though, with Callie there is an issue expressing the things which truly affect her. Little things like discovering her dad are manageable and stuff she has no issues sharing, but the stuff which honestly troubles her she keeps held close. Something Brandon tells her she can't always do for it pushes people away. Plus, when you think of it, look at the example it sets for Jude whose decision to be mute is a similar coping mechanism as opposed to talking.
And I think with what Brandon says to Callie, she realizes that she is in fact a major reason why Jude has decided to be mute. However, she takes it to the point where she makes it seem everything is about her and I didn't understand why. After all, as much as you can understand her becoming his half-sister would mean something, there are so many factors I think of equal or greater weight. Such as him possibly coming to terms of what people perceive as his sexuality; the fact Lena was having a kid which would mean he wouldn't be the youngest, and would also get less attention from her due to the baby; and lastly, let's consider that in school just last year he was struggling and the thing which started this all was him being asked a question which he honestly may not have known the answer to. I'm just saying, as much as the show revolves around Callie and Brandon's actions, there are so many reasons Jude could go mute without Callie being a part of the reason. Though, with Callie telling Jude he needs to open up and not shut people out he speaks. Wrapping up that storyline.
Topic 3: Redemption & Heartbreak – Mike and Lena
In the last episode we were presented a situation in which it looked like Ana and Mike were making secret lover rendezvous. Truth is though, all that is happening is Mike has become Ana's hands on sponsor. Something which came from his own guilt for he really did want to kill Ana that night he got blackout drunk. Luckily for him though, all that happened was an argument and him being found by Dani.
As for Lena, well we begin to fully understand why she wanted to have a baby. For, as she explains, everyone has a blood connection to someone in the house. Jude has Callie; Brandon has Stef; Mariana and Jesus have each other; and Lena is left with just the love she has for everyone in the household. Something which she values, but sometimes feels like it isn't enough. Especially when it comes to disciplinary actions for she feels the kids may say to her "Well you're not my mom." This is despite Brandon coming to her over Stef a good portion of the time, despite her being his biological mom; Jesus and Mariana never referring to Ana as their mom; and with Jude and Callie both bonding more with Lena than Stef. But still, even acknowledging that her kids love her, there are those moments between Brandon and Stef you can see she wants. Especially the idea of watching a child of her blood grow up. Something which sadly isn't going to happen right now. For, 20 weeks in, Lena is put into a situation in which keeping the baby could possibly threaten her life. So she is forced to terminate the pregnancy for between a spike in blood sugar, and protein in her urine, it seems her body isn't quite able to carry the baby to term. Something which leads to a lot of tears, especially when her mom comes in and has one of the few moments we see between them in which there are no arguments, just the words and actions Lena needs. Making for quite an emotional episode.
