The relationship between Abby and Becca Riley in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” has become surprisingly captivating. Despite limited screen time together and a connection solely through Jake, their dynamic is undeniably complex. In a show built on the intricate realities of divorce, while Abby and Jake’s scenes are anticipated, it’s the interactions between Abby and Becca that often resonate most deeply.
Becca’s character was an unexpected addition to the show. Initially, the idea of a young CW actress navigating the complexities of divorce seemed improbable. However, “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” excels not because of its characters’ lifestyles – the glamorous outings and flawless appearances are far from realistic for parents – but because of its core subject matter: divorce. Divorce is a pervasive experience in America, touching nearly everyone’s lives directly or indirectly. Whether it’s personal experience, family history, or witnessing friends navigate separation, the impact of divorce is widely felt. Becca, despite her youth and lack of direct experience, is thrust into this world by circumstance, and her journey, alongside Abby’s, is portrayed with remarkable nuance. Both women, despite missteps, are genuinely trying to navigate a challenging situation, making them compelling characters to support.
Of course, Jake’s ongoing missteps complicate matters significantly. His inability to “get it together” often overshadows the progress these women make.
While the absence of Lyla is still felt, the show has adeptly moved forward, evidenced in this episode’s insightful metaphors surrounding Lilly’s upcoming birthday. These metaphors, though plainly stated, are remarkably effective and set the stage for an unforgettable, albeit absurd, teenage birthday party. The first metaphor, discovered by Charlie, Charlie’s imaginary friend, points to a literal “crack in the foundation” of Abby and Jake’s house. This discovery occurs as Abby and Jake, fresh from their recent encounter, discuss the tryst. Jake and Max arrive to assess the damage, both literal and metaphorical.
The conversation quickly shifts to the uncomfortable realities of their post-divorce, yet still intimate, relationship. Questions about protection and birth control, typically confined to early relationships, resurface between these soon-to-be-divorced individuals. They are confronted with a house requiring a $20,000 repair – a crack in the foundation mirroring the cracks in their relationship – and Abby finds herself at the gynecologist, addressing the consequences of unprotected sex after being off birth control. The doctor’s judgmental gaze underscores the unconventionality of Abby’s situation, as she receives a prescription for the morning-after pill.
However, the potential pregnancy is momentarily sidelined by the looming presence of Lilly’s 14th birthday party. Lilly’s enthusiastic announcement that Jake’s “CW girlfriend,” Becca, has accepted her invitation throws Abby into a spiral. As Abby later confides in Delia and Phoebe, Jake’s “embryo Becca” has inserted herself into Lilly’s birthday, and Jake, characteristically passive, offered no resistance.
While Abby perceives Jake as clueless, Becca’s motivations are more nuanced. Lilly invited her, and Becca, unsure of navigating these unfamiliar family dynamics and receiving no guidance from Jake, accepted. Abby’s initial silence upon hearing the news erupts into a breakdown at school later. This outburst is fueled by a confluence of stressors: the pregnancy scare, a career in disarray, the recent intimacy with her soon-to-be ex-husband, and the absence of her best friend, Lyla. Abby’s emotional outburst, “There’s a crack in the foundation!”, becomes a symbolic cry. She fears the metaphorical collapse of her family, envisioning Becca’s presence at Lilly’s party as the final blow to the family unit she and Jake built. She demands Jake uninvite Becca, or she will take over the party planning entirely.
Ultimately, Abby’s actions are driven by her daughter’s well-being. Amidst personal turmoil, Abby and Jake are still parents to Lilly. Abby reminisces about past birthdays, recalling a “mom-hero” moment when she secretly hired a Princess Jasmine for Lilly. Now, however, the “princess” Abby can offer Lilly is Becca, Jake’s new girlfriend. Despite her discomfort and initial demand to uninvite Becca, Abby ultimately relents, leaving Becca a message to attend the party. She refuses to be the “princess killer” on her daughter’s special day.
NEXT: The Teenage Pool Party Debacle
Lilly, however, has her own teenage agenda. Despite Abby’s efforts with snacks and a DJ, the party is initially lackluster, with guests anticipating Becca’s arrival. Abby observes Lilly retreating to the pool house with a “sketchy” friend, Jade. They soon reappear, and just as they do, Becca Riley makes her entrance, sending the teenage guests into a frenzy. Abby notices some girls exhibiting excessive excitement, and the horrifying realization dawns on her: they are intoxicated. Having hidden all the alcohol from the house in her car, Abby and the other adults frantically search for the source of the intoxication. Phoebe, surprisingly endearing in this moment, recounts her own teenage escapades with sneaking alcohol – water bottles of liquor, raiding medicine cabinets, even nutmeg inhalation.
However, none of Phoebe’s past experiences prepared her for what unfolded next: teenagers jumping into the pool, clutching themselves and screaming. The horrifying truth emerges: vodka-soaked tampons. Abby’s horrified screams of “They soaked tampons in vodka…their vaginas are on fire!” become a darkly comedic highlight amidst the teenage chaos. While the concept of vodka-soaked tampons is a known urban legend, its televised depiction is both shocking and memorable. The parents are summoned, and Abby, already emotionally vulnerable, now faces the added humiliation of being the mother who presided over a “vaginally drunk” teenage party. The episode culminates in a parent yelling at Abby, declaring, “By the way, your daughter is a delinquent and your mommy book is bullshit!”
While the vodka tampon incident dominates the narrative, other storylines unfold. Delia’s entanglement with her client and Phoebe’s forced realization that her “concubine” arrangement with her ex is ending take a backseat to the party chaos. Phoebe’s character development, acknowledging her inability to be the carefree spirit she envisions, hints at future growth, hopefully away from “choking baby photo shoots.”
Then there’s the unraveling relationship of Jake and Becca. While searching for the source of alcohol, Jake discovers Abby’s unopened morning-after pill. Becca enters as Jake is comforting Abby. Prompted by this display of intimacy, Becca investigates Jake’s phone and uncovers the Uber receipt to Abby’s house from the night of their shaman retreat. Confronted with the evidence, Jake still cannot admit to sleeping with Abby, forcing Becca to explicitly state her knowledge. She ends their relationship, demanding Jake leave. While not inherently malicious, Jake is, in this moment, clearly not the partner Becca deserves. Becca was investing in their future, while Jake remains entangled in the cracks of his past.
A glimmer of hope emerges with Lyla. She calls Phoebe to announce she has taken her children to Portland and convinced Dave to join them, at least temporarily. Lyla’s journey to find happiness, even if it includes “small batch artisanal pickles,” provides a welcome contrast to the surrounding drama. For the other characters, the future remains uncertain, mirroring the mixed tones of the episode. Abby, in the final scene, contemplates her unopened morning-after pill, a glass of water untouched beside her, leaving her future, and potential pregnancy, ambiguous.
What will become of Abby’s potential pregnancy? Is reconciliation possible for Abby and Jake? Was Lyla missed? And finally, vodka-soaked tampons… fact or Bravo fiction? These questions linger, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.”
