“Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” thrives on the intricate dance of relationships amidst the turmoil of separation, and no bond captures this complexity quite like that of Abby and Becca Riley. Despite their limited screen time together and their connection solely through Jake, their interactions are undeniably captivating. In a show built upon navigating the choppy waters of divorce, the scenes featuring Abby and Becca consistently resonate with a unique emotional depth. While Abby’s scenes with Jake are anticipated, it’s her moments with Becca that often leave a more profound impact.
The introduction of Becca’s character initially felt unexpected. Could a young actress from the CW truly grasp the nuances of divorce? However, “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” cleverly sidesteps superficiality. Its relatability doesn’t stem from perfectly mirroring everyday appearances or lifestyles – few juggle clubbing with parenthood as seamlessly as the characters. Instead, the show’s strength lies in its exploration of divorce, a universal experience touching nearly everyone in America. Whether directly or indirectly, divorce permeates our lives, from personal experiences to those of family and friends. Becca, through no deliberate choices of her own, finds herself navigating this landscape. Her journey, and Abby’s interactions with her, are portrayed with admirable nuance, showcasing characters striving to navigate a difficult situation, even with missteps along the way. They become figures to genuinely empathize with and root for within the “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” narrative.
However, the narrative isn’t without its frustrations, particularly concerning Jake’s character. His consistent missteps, metaphorically “killing the princesses,” become a recurring point of exasperation. The desire for Jake to simply “get it together” underscores the emotional investment viewers have in these characters’ journeys within “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
While the absence of Lyla’s character is subtly felt, the show adeptly progresses. This particular episode of “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” employs two distinct yet potent metaphors, both interwoven with Lilly’s approaching birthday, culminating in a birthday party scene of spectacular teenage absurdity. Chad, Charlie’s imaginary friend with a focus on bodily functions, first reveals the “crack in the foundation” of Abby and Jake’s house. This discovery coincides with Abby and Jake, who had recently rekindled their physical intimacy, catching up. Jake and Max arrive to assess the structural damage.
The dialogue takes a strikingly realistic turn as questions like, “Do you and your girlfriend use protection?” and “Are you still on the pill?” are exchanged between soon-to-be divorcées who have just slept together. This uncomfortable yet authentic exchange epitomizes their current reality. The “crack in the foundation” physically manifests as a $20,000 retaining wall repair, while Abby finds herself at the gynecologist, disclosing unprotected sex and her off-pill status. A judgmental glance from her doctor leads to a prescription for the morning-after pill, highlighting the unplanned and complicated nature of their post-separation intimacy in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
Amidst this personal turmoil, Abby is also tasked with planning a 14th birthday party for Lilly. The teenage drama escalates when Lilly excitedly announces to both parents that Becca Riley, Jake’s famous CW girlfriend, has accepted her birthday invitation. Abby later confides in Delia and Phoebe, describing Becca as “Jake’s embryo Becca” who has invited herself to Lilly’s party, with Jake passively reacting like a “dead-eyed shark from Jaws.”
While Abby perceives Becca’s presence as an intrusion, the reality is more nuanced. Lilly extended the invitation, and Becca, uncertain of navigating these unfamiliar family dynamics and receiving no guidance from Jake, accepted. Abby’s initial composure crumbles when she encounters Jake at school. This breakdown is fueled by a confluence of stressors – a potential pregnancy, a struggling career, the recent intimacy with her divorcing husband, and the absence of her best friend. In a moment of emotional outburst, Abby cries, “There’s a crack in the foundation!” expressing her fear that Becca’s presence will taint Lilly’s childhood memories in their family home. She demands Jake uninvite Becca or face Abby throwing a separate party, underscoring the protective motherly instincts at play within the context of “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
Ultimately, Lilly becomes the central focus. Despite personal crises, Abby and Jake are fundamentally parents to Lilly (and Charlie). While planning the party, Abby reminisces about a past birthday where she hired a Princess Jasmine impersonator, achieving “mom-hero” status. Now, however, she can’t simply offer Jasmine; she feels compelled to offer Becca. Despite initially demanding Becca’s disinvitation, Abby, facing Jake’s obliviousness due to script excitement and his tendency to be “thoughtless now, say sorry later,” relents. She leaves Becca a message, extending a genuine invitation, choosing to prioritize her daughter’s happiness over her own discomfort, demonstrating a key theme within “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”: parental sacrifice.
NEXT: The teenage party descends into chaos…
Lilly’s meticulously planned party, despite the Funyuns and DJ, falters initially due to Becca’s absence. The teenage attendees anticipate a celebrity sighting, not just Abby, Phoebe, Delia, and an abundance of chips. Abby observes Lilly retreating to the pool house with a friend, Jade. Shortly after, they emerge, and just as they do, Becca Riley arrives, triggering teenage pandemonium. Abby notices some girls exhibiting excessive excitement and realizes the horrifying truth: they are intoxicated. Having hidden the household alcohol in her car, Abby enlists the other adults to search for the source of inebriation. Phoebe, in a surprisingly endearing moment, recounts her own teenage escapades with illicit substances – liquor-filled water bottles, medicine cabinet raids, nutmeg inhalation.
However, Phoebe’s teenage recklessness pales in comparison to the current situation. Suddenly, a girl plunges into the pool, clutching herself and screaming, “They soaked tampons in vodka…their vaginas are on fire!” Abby’s horrified scream echoes the absurdity and terror of the moment. The televised depiction of this infamous, albeit often-rumored, teenage practice is both shocking and darkly comedic. Parents are summoned, and Abby, already emotionally strained, is now labeled the mother who allowed “vaginally drunk” teenagers at her daughter’s party, facing accusations of “bullshit mommy book” advice, highlighting the chaotic parenting realities often explored in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
While the vodka tampon incident dominates, other storylines progress. Delia’s entanglement with her client deepens, and Phoebe is forced to confront the end of her casual relationship with her ex, as he develops genuine feelings for someone else. Phoebe’s realization of her own emotional limitations marks a moment of character growth, raising questions about her future choices in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
The episode also revisits Jake and Becca’s relationship. While searching for alcohol-soaked tampons, Jake discovers Abby’s unopened morning-after pill. Becca enters as he processes this discovery. Perhaps witnessing Jake’s comforting gesture towards his ex-wife, Becca examines his phone, finding an Uber receipt to Abby’s house from the night of his supposed shaman retreat. Becca confronts Jake, forcing him to admit his infidelity. She evicts him from her home, recognizing his inadequacy in that moment despite his generally good nature. Becca sought to build a solid foundation for their relationship, while Jake remained entangled in personal turmoil, mirroring the cracked foundations metaphor on a personal level within “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
A glimmer of hope emerges with Lyla’s storyline. She calls Phoebe, revealing she hasn’t stolen her children but has relocated to Portland, persuading Dave to join her, at least temporarily. Lyla’s pursuit of happiness, defined by her children’s well-being and artisanal pickles, offers a moment of levity and resolution amidst the surrounding chaos, showcasing the diverse paths to happiness explored in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”. The episode concludes with Abby contemplating the 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 within “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”? Does she truly desire another child? Is reconciliation possible for Abby and Jake, now both single and potentially co-parenting another child? Did you miss Lyla’s presence? And finally, vodka-soaked tampons… a genuine teenage phenomenon or a Bravo-fueled urban legend? These questions linger, prompting anticipation for the unfolding narratives in “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”.
