Watching Ugly Betty

I think I say it every week but Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is my favorite episode of Ugly Betty. This episode was quite bittersweet, a lot of comedy was involved but there was just as much dramatic moments and the ending was heartbreaking….

It’s the day after Claire Meade’s confession, and a reporter is outside the offices of Meade Publications. Bradford has just been released from prison; the reporter tries to interview Betty as she walks by. Betty says “no comment” but is so distracted she walks smack dab into the glass plated bus stop.

It’s the next day and in the Suarez home we see Justin is at home replaying the action of Betty bumping into the glass and Hilda is trying not to laugh. Betty shares with Hilda that she feels guilty because she talked Claire Meade into confessing. Ignacio is going crazy from being on house arrest, but still has 4 weeks t o go until his hearing.

Alexis has been fired by Bradford and goes to her office to pick up her things. Bradford is waiting for her and they share a touching father son/daughter moment as he finally gets a good look at his new daughter. They snipe at each other at first: “In the life I wanted you were behind bars” (Alexis) In the life I wanted you were a man” (Bradford)

Bradford shows Alexis the painted rock she gave him when she was six and tells he when she was dead he kept it in memory of the son he used to have, then he throws it into the trash because now it only reminds him of the son he never should of have. They both say their relationship is finished (and you can see just how much these two are alike).

Marc turns down Amanda’s invitation to a Prada fashion show his mother (Patti LuPone) is coming into town for a cat show. Amanda is informed that Marc dumped her as his pretend girlfriend because his mother, Mrs. Weiner was starting to hint at their getting married.

Bradford goes to see Claire in hospital where she’s receiving detox. Claire is handcuffed to the bed and scared of what’s coming. Bradford tells Claire she should have left him in jail and tells her he will always be there for her. Claire tells Bradford she hopes he’s still on her side when he finds out what she’s planning to do. Bradford doesn’t own Mode magazine (just Meade publications), and can’t fire Alexis. Claire rehires Alexis and makes her and Daniel coeditors.

Betty tries to cheer Daniel up over the news with a pep talk. Daniel is beginning to doubt his abilities compared to his brother and flashes back to his morning runs with his brother where Alexis would always have to pull ahead at the last minute just to show he could.
Daniel and Alexis have a meeting with Wilhelmina to inform her of the changes that have taken place where Alexis claims she wants nothing to do with the magazine.

Once Daniel leaves Wilhelmina begins to spin her web of evil and tells Alexis she needs to stake a claim! Embarrass the father that doesn’t want her anywhere near his precious magazine by splashing herself all over it. Alexis has no problem taking the magazine away from Daniel. Wilhelmina in an act of “good will” gives Alexis her office. In reality she wants to make sure Daniel sees his sister as a threat so they will begin to rip at each others throats.

Marc’s mom is in the building! With her cat “Lady Buttons of Camelot” She reprimands Amanda for breaking her “Marcy Marc’s” heart with her indiscretions with men, women and her drug use. Amanda gets upset and decides to get her revenge on Marc. She tells Mrs. Weiner that Betty is his new girlfriend. When Betty almost lets it slip that Marc is gay he shuts her up with a kiss!

Marc and Betty talk in the bathroom and she agrees to help him when he tells her he has valuable information that will help Daniel keep his job. Amanda is still up to no good! When Mrs. Weiner insults her once again she makes sure she talks to Betty’s father when Betty’s phone rings and now Marc and his mother are coming over to dinner at the Suarez home.

Betty tells Daniel that Alexis is planning to take over and force him out. Daniel goes to see her and meets her new assistant who seems to have a bit of hero worship. Alexis lies and tells Daniel she will follow his lead, and they will split everything equally. As soon as she finds out that they go to press at noon the next day she steps it up to midnight and plans to make sure Daniel’s issue is never shown.

Marc and Betty are rehearsing for dinner with the parents with flashcards! Betty is able to answer all of the questions about Marc correctly. Including the fact that ‘N Sync is his favorite boy band and High School Musical is his favorite musical. Marc on the other hand doesn’t know any of the answers to Betty’s questions. Henry comes up behind them and is able to answer all of the questions correctly. Betty and Henry have a short little moment where they each ask how the other is doing and pine for each other with their eyes.

Alexis decided to put herself on the magazine cover and shoots a photo shoot! Marc and Wilhelmina stop by to check on the progress and Alexis shares that she thinks Daniel is clueless. Alexis has used the letter from the editor to continue her tirade on dear old daddy. When she leaves the room Wilhelmina is ecstatic over how well her plan is working.

Betty talks to Daniel and tells him his letter to the editor is too impersonal. Betty tells Daniel he needs to create a public statement about the scandals going on in his family. He admits to Betty that he’s never written any of the editorials before just signed his name to them. Betty gives him a pep talk and tells him to try.

It’s time for dinner! Marc, mom and Lady Buttons arrive in the Suarez home with a cactus plant. Everyone is sitting around in the table in awkward silence. Mom mentions Marc’s old roommate Chuck and a funny conversation takes place when Marc tells his Mrs. Weiner he and Chuck weren’t that close they were just Poker buddies. Betty and Marc’s act isn’t fooling anyone and Betty asks to speak to Marc in private.

Betty tells Marc that no one is falling for their and it’s time to stop lying to his mother. Marc admits to Betty he’s been lying for ten years he doesn’t think she will accept the real him. Betty reminds Marc that seeing his mother for two visits a year and on Christmas is not a real relationship. Marc thinks it’s too late but Betty tells him his mother is still alive and he still has the chance to make her a part of her life. Marc is upset and tells Betty that his family is nothing like her family and wants to continue the charade.

When they get back downstairs Justin is back and the charade really falls to pieces. Justin is prattling on in his usual way talking about swimsuit season and his dad trying to take him to a fast food restaurant. When his mom asks Hilda tells her she was never married, Justin is showing off his silk screen designed t-shirt for freeing Claire Meade of murder charges. When Justin and Marc begin to chat about Dreamgirls begin snubbed of an Oscar Marc almost loses the act and tries to cover by talking about Beyonce’s figure.

When Hilda takes out the trash Lady Buttons runs out the back door. Ignacio gives chase and his tracking monitor goes off and she finds out he’s an illegal immigrant. Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Marc Daniel shows up and Justin explains his appearance by saying he’s Betty’s ex boyfriend.

Wilhelmina visits Claire in the hospital pretending to be her “incredibly tanned sister”. Tells her she’s concerned for her children and that they will destroy the magazine and each other. She tries to talk Claire into giving her power of attorney so she can protect her kids. Claire is no fool and she’s not falling for it. So instead Wilhelmina tries to bribe Claire with alcohol (you can just see Claire’s mouth watering).

Daniel gives Betty his letter to the editor, and tells Betty he bought it over in person because he likes to see the look on her face when she’s not disappointed in him. Daniel leaves and Betty tries to proof his letter when Marc lets it slip that it doesn’t matter anyway because Alexis is sending the magazine to the printers tonight. Betty takes off in pursuit of Daniel.

Marc tries to cover for Betty running out on him by telling his mom he’s breaking up with Betty. His mom is relieved and promptly insults every member of the Suarez home. When she calls Justin “That” and “Swishy” Marc has had enough. He tells his mother that she doesn’t get to talk about Betty and her family like that and they did a really nice thing for him. She tries to leave when it become obvious Marc is trying to tell her he’s gay. Marc tells his mother to open her eyes and get to know the real him. She tells him if this is the life he’s choosing for himself she has no interest in knowing the real him.

Betty and Marc were in a taxi but the traffic was deadlocked. They decide to run to the printer’s office instead. Alexis is in a taxi as well and when she sees them her and Daniel begin to race. Daniel tells Alexis they aren’t kids anymore but Alexis tells Daniel she’s still going to win, and she does.

Daniel text messages Betty to meet him in a bar where he tells her Alexis won. Betty tries to convince Daniel to still go to the printers and stop the magazine but Daniel has given up hope. Daniel tells Betty he’s a failure and no one in his family ever thought he could do a good job running the magazine. He tells Betty he’s got a lot of catching up to do with his partying.

Wilhelmina is working late and so is Bradford she decides theirs only one way she can get the editor in chief position by becoming a Meade. So Wilhelmina goes to visit Bradford in his office offering a late night meal and herself wrapped only in a fur coat.

When Betty goes home Marc is sitting on her front steps and tells her he outed himself to his mother. Betty tells Marc the lesson she learned tonight about families, “Their not always the ones who love you the most, sometimes it’s the family that you make for yourself”. Marc gets it and tells Betty it’s his mother’s loss if she doesn’t want to be part of his life. Marc walks away and tells Betty she will always be his “little chimmy chonga”.

Betty reads Daniel’s letter as the show ends and we see what the members of the Meade family are up too. Alexis is feeding Claire, Bradford is in his office looking at the magazine Alexis left for him (looks like he kicked Wilhelmina out?). Daniel is in bed getting drunk with two women. In the letter he welcomes back his sister and says how glad he is too have her back because now he’s no longer alone and we can see the loneliness on his face. Betty goes in the house to play games with her family.

Episode Trivia

This is the second time Wilhelmina has walked around the offices of Mode in only a fur coat.

This is the second episode in a row to talk about Beyonce. In the episode Icing on the Cake Constance is trying to get a Beyonce hairdo in order to catch Ignacio’s interest.

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