Watching Ugly Betty

The second episode of the season titled ‘Filing for the enemy’ did not disappoint. Technical difficulties once again prevented me from watching my taped copy. I was able to finally watch it today. The season is getting back to the status quo while introducing new plots. More after the jump.

The episode begins at a photo shoot for Player magazine with scantily dressed women on the courthouse steps. Apparently it’s a layout inspired by Betty’s idea to show more professionals in the magazine. It might be Betty’s idea but it’s Daniel’s interpretation that shows a lot was lost in translation. Betty notices Daniel has a copy of the mock up of Mode. Daniel has made some changes to which Betty takes that Daniel misses being Editor-in-Chief. Daniel says he is happy where he is and hands Betty the book. Betty then takes the book to Alexis. Alexis agrees that the changes are good and shows it to Wilhemina, who figures out that the changes are actually Daniel’s suggestions. She then plots a scheme to hire Betty and to nip this problem in the bud.

Betty eventually agrees to work for Wilhemina and after proving her worth, Willie takes her ‘under her wing’ so to speak. Marc is - of course - jealous and outraged by this. Betty is put in charge of the Mode re-launch party. Marc is convinced by Betty to help her with it but doesn’t take orders from her. Instead, he gives her one - to make confetti from a mailbag full of letters. While working on the shredding, Betty notices that the letters are actually letters to the editor that are positive about Daniel as Editor in Chief. She shows them to Daniel and tries to convince him to show it to Alexis. At the party, Betty - deciding that working for Willie isn’t really how she wants to get ahead in this business - turns in her two week notice. She is about to leave the party when Claire Meade tells her to hang around as the party is just about to get good.

In walks Alexis and Daniel. Alexis makes the announcement that Daniel will return as EIC and that Wilhemina will be the creative director once again.

Other plots thickened this week is Christina expects Stuart of being on drugs and has his hair tested. She confronts him about the positive test and threatens to have him deported. When she is leaving the party, she decides to take the stairs when she is pushed and falls down a flight of stairs. This is the cliffhanger that ends the episode.

Hilda is asked out on a ‘date’ by Tony. His wife is going out of town, so he will have a free night to spend with her. Hilda is waiting at the restaurant when she calls Tony. His wife didn’t go out of town, so he couldn’t make the date with Hilda. Betty finds out that Tony is with another woman and tells Hilda who then tells her that he is married.

Daniel, Jr.’s grandparents want him to come live with them in France. After avoiding asking him where he wants to live, Daniel finally asked his son. He responds by saying he wants to live with his dad.

Those are the major high points of the episode. It’s so hard to watch Hilda date someone who is probably just going to hurt her in the end as she deserves real and lasting happiness. It’s nice to see Daniel return to Mode but it would have been fun to have seen Wilhemina in the role a little longer. Still a good episode. Is Christina and the baby OK? Who pushed her down the stairs? What new scheme will Wilhemina hatch now that she is no longer editor? It’ll be fun to watch it all unfold in season three.