There's a lot going on in the second episode of Royal Pains. The daddy drama continues and HankMed takes on a couple new cases: a possible case of syphilis and someone suffering from serious heartache. While I was never a regular fan of Fox's 24, I did watch Season 5 pretty faithfully so I'm really happy to see a guest appearance by 24's Chloe, Mary Lynn Rajskub. It's great to see her on a much lighter series and her performance refelcts that. There's angst but we aren't buried in it. She plays Ms. Newberg's stressed-out step-daughter Blake who comes home to the Hamptons to show off her man and then move on to her new life with the yoga teacher. Blake seems to have changed everything for this guy and her step-mom immediately shows her disapproval. In the end, her fiance didn't like the woman she changed into and broke up with her in a very douchebag sorta way: via text. Text message is the new post-it when it comes to break ups apparently. Every time life (or her step-mom) steps up the pressure, Blake's heart can't take it. So it's not a heart attack that plagues her, it's a broken heart. Hank's prescription is some medication, lots of talk therapy and an order to Ms. Newberg to cease and desist all worrying about her fragile step-daughter's love life. Normally Ms. Newberg would be an annoying role but I find Christine Ebersol's performance really joyful. Glad she's recurring and now it seems we are going to see even more of the rich self-centered socialite. She's hooked up with Hank and Evan's dad Eddie.
As for Eddie, he's still trying to insert himself back into the lives of his boys. He doesn't have to try that hard with Evan, although working it so his youngest can meet a couple golfers with deep pockets does the job. He also pays back the money he owes. However, I don't think Hank and Evan have cashed the check yet. Here's where Evan really bothers me. I know he's glad dad's back, I get it. I just wish he'd let Hank feel what he wants to feel. He's so willing to write off 20 years of their father being absent like it's nothing. I guess it was 19 years for him but still, you get my point. He's so impatient for Hank to get over it. And he's so smug when Eddie pays back the money. It's downright frustrating. I just wish he'd lay off his big brother and let a reconciliation between Hank and Eddie happen naturally and gradually. And until Eddie R. Lawson comes up with a reasonable explanation for his behavior, Hank has the right to be skeptical about every single one of his father's actions. I am curious how things are going to work out now that it seems like Eddie's golden considering he just hit it big with Ms. Newberg. I'm really enjoying Henry Winkler on the show. His scenes with Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Constanzo are crackling with intensity and humor and an overall sadness at what has happened to the Lawson family. Like Hank, I just can't trust a single thing Eddie says or does. I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out.
I believe I said in my blog for the season premiere that the writers need to figure out a way to incorporate Jill into scenes with the rest of the cast. In "Lovesick" they did just that. Jill holds a yard sale so she can rid her life of the excess baggage that had accumulated, most of which had to do with her ex-husband. Is he an ex yet? He signed the divorce papers, right? I can't remember. So far this season, we haven't seen hair one of Bruno Campos so I guess he's out of her life, at least for now. Jill and Divya are bonding although it's still a bit awkward. Jill Flint's chemistry with the rest of the cast needs work. As for occasional friends with benefits Jill and Hank, they did partake in some benefits in the garage. I'm surprisingly okay with it for now.
Jill's neighbor Sheri is responsible for the other case. Her husband the cop turns on the siren and stops Hank for what the doctor thinks is going to be a ticket but it's not. The officer has a mysterious rash. His wife has a mysterious rash as well. Before the two completely go War of the Roses on each other, Hank discovers the problem. It isn't syphilis as he originally diagnosed. It turns out Jill's belt-making neighbor actually picked up the rash after she was nicked by an armadillo (she makes belts out of the creature). She picked up Hansen's Disease (also known as leprosy) which also gives a false positive on syphilis tests. Neither Sheri or her husband cheated. Case closed.
This episode of Royal Pains was even better than the premiere. It continues to be really enjoyable even though it can be slightly annoying at the same time.
Random Thoughts
To prenup or not to prenup? That was the icy cold question Divya and Raj were dealing with in "Lovesick." These two always seem to be on a different page but they do share a cute chemistry. Is it love? No. It's more a friendship vibe than a romantic one even though Divya was opening her mind to not waiting before marriage. She wants to know how compatible they are in the bedroom. We'll see how that goes.
Love how Blake calls Ms. Newberg "Two Two."
Love the running jokes on the show. How can we get our very own Hank Med-Heads? And I'm now confused how to actually use the term "subliminal" in the correct context.
That's two episodes in a row where Evan flirts with a woman who has an overly muscled African-American significant other. Coincidence?
Is there an ex-As the World Turns casting director working on this show? This week, Marnie Schulenberg guest-starred on Royal Pains as Sheri. She currently stars as Alison on the now-cancelled CBS soap (ATWT ends its five-decade run in September). And Meredith Hagner (Tucker's girlfriend Libby) played Liberty on the same daytime drama for about three years before recently leaving the show.
Dysfunctional Dialogue of the week:
Evan (about Eddie): "At some point, you're going to have to forgive him."
Hank: "At some point, you're going to have to realize I won't."
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