Well, we’re in Boston, Rich is ready to croon some Sinatra, and the women have apparently decided that a Frank Sinatra tribute is the perfect venue for a friendship demolition derby.
Last episode ended with Alicia crying in the car after Liz challenged her childhood experiences. Jo-Ellen attempted to play peacemaker, which, as we’re about to discover, is possibly the most dangerous occupation in Rhode Island.
Let’s pick up where we left off.
The women arrive in Boston for Rich’s performance, and Alicia is still visibly upset. Liz, however, seems to have absolutely no intention of backing down. The argument about whether Alicia was homeless has become something much bigger than a disagreement over terminology. Alicia feels that Liz dismissed a painful part of her childhood, while Liz believes Alicia is exaggerating her circumstances.
Jo-Ellen tries to check on Alicia and smooth things over. She is uncomfortable with the tension and wants everyone to get along. Unfortunately, Liz interprets Jo-Ellen’s attempts at compassion as another example of her being fake.
Apparently, offering someone a little emotional support is now suspicious behavior.
When Ashley arrives, she immediately senses that something is wrong. Jo-Ellen is trying to keep things light, Alicia is emotional, and Liz is still simmering. The group is supposed to be enjoying an evening supporting Rich, but the women are already treating the restaurant like a reunion stage.
Monique also joins the group, and Alicia feels that she would have been more supportive during the earlier argument. It’s becoming increasingly clear that Alicia feels isolated among the women, particularly when Liz is involved.
Eventually, Alicia makes an effort to reconcile with Liz. She tells her that she loves her and doesn’t want to fight. Liz gives an apology of sorts, but then starts describing herself as the monster.
And there it is. The classic non-apology apology, followed by a little self-victimization for dessert.
Liz eventually steps outside for a cigarette, and Jo-Ellen follows her.
BIG MISTAKE.
Jo-Ellen wants to understand why Liz is so angry with her. She explains that she was simply trying to support Alicia and doesn’t understand why Liz has suddenly turned against her.
Liz, meanwhile, believes Jo-Ellen is being disingenuous. She questions her motives and accuses her of pretending to be everyone’s friend while secretly taking sides.
Jo-Ellen keeps asking what she’s actually done wrong. Liz seems to have a whole list of grievances, but instead of explaining them calmly, she continues escalating.
The problem is that Jo-Ellen genuinely seems to believe these two are close friends. Liz is increasingly making it clear that she doesn’t view their relationship the same way.
And while all this is happening, Rich is inside preparing to perform.
The poor man has no idea that his Frank Sinatra show is about to become the opening act for the Liz McGraw-Jo-Ellen Tiberi friendship apocalypse.
Back inside, Rich begins singing. At one point, he’s performing “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which is almost comically inappropriate given the emotional carnage taking place at the table.
While Rich croons about romance, Liz and Jo-Ellen are busy exchanging hostile looks and continuing their argument.
Jo-Ellen says she considers Liz one of her best friends. Liz disagrees.
And then things get physical.
Liz reaches over and pulls Jo-Ellen’s hair, also pushing her chair. The other women are stunned, and Alicia immediately tells Jo-Ellen not to react.
“Jo-Ellen, do not react!”
It’s an important moment because Jo-Ellen actually listens. Rather than escalating the situation, she gets up and leaves.
She decides to drive back to Rhode Island by herself.
And Rich? Rich keeps singing.
Somewhere in Boston, a man is simply trying to deliver a Sinatra performance while his wife’s dinner guests are reenacting a particularly hostile episode of Jerry Springer.
Honestly, give the man a tip.
Meanwhile, let’s check in on Kelsey, who is finding herself in the uncomfortable position of being caught between Liz and Jo-Ellen.
She invites Jo-Ellen over to her apartment to paint. The two women talk about the situation, and Kelsey explains that she wants to maintain her friendships with both women.
Jo-Ellen is disappointed that Kelsey didn’t defend her more forcefully. She suspects Kelsey is afraid of Liz and doesn’t want to become her next target.
Kelsey doesn’t necessarily agree with everything Jo-Ellen says, but she understands that the situation is complicated.
Then the women get creative.
Kelsey paints a lovely sunset, while Jo-Ellen creates a portrait of a pig. Not just any pig, either. This is a slam pig.
The infamous Rosie insult has officially become an artistic movement.
Kelsey is delighted with the portrait, particularly Jo-Ellen’s rather suggestive artistic interpretation of the pig’s lips.
Honestly, if we’re going to turn an insult into a craft project, at least we’re keeping busy.
Meanwhile, Liz has found herself a new lunch companion: Rulla.
Remember when these two weren’t exactly on the same side? Well, nothing brings women together quite like a mutual dislike of Jo-Ellen.
Liz tells Rulla about the confrontation in Boston and her growing suspicions about Jo-Ellen’s authenticity. Rulla is more than happy to agree.
Rulla has had her own problems with Jo-Ellen, particularly over the rumors surrounding Brian’s alleged affair. She believes Jo-Ellen has been far too involved in her marriage and suggests that perhaps Jo-Ellen should spend more time examining her own relationship with Gary.
Rulla even brings up rumors that Jo-Ellen may not be entirely faithful herself.
Oh, excellent. We’re moving from one alleged affair to another. Rhode Island really needs a spreadsheet to keep track of all these accusations.
Rulla seems delighted that Liz has finally started seeing Jo-Ellen the way she does. Liz, meanwhile, appears to have found someone who will validate every suspicion she has.
And that’s always a healthy foundation for a friendship.
Elsewhere, Alicia celebrates her daughter Celina’s dance championship with her family. The conversation naturally returns to the argument with Liz and the question of Alicia’s childhood.
Her family supports her recollection of what happened when they lost their home and had to rely on relatives for a place to stay.
Alicia explains that the experience was traumatic for her, regardless of whether Liz believes the word homeless is technically accurate.
Her relatives are protective of her, and some suggest that Liz may be jealous.
Alicia doesn’t necessarily buy into that explanation. She knows her life isn’t perfect, and she doesn’t want people assuming that because she’s financially comfortable now, she has never experienced hardship.
It’s a good reminder that the circumstances of someone’s childhood don’t magically disappear because their adult life looks different.
Meanwhile, Rosie spends some time with Rich and his family. The conversation turns toward marriage, children, and the possibility of grandchildren.
Rich’s parents are interested in the prospect of expanding the family, and Rosie finds herself navigating the familiar questions about whether she and Rich will have children.
Rich jokes about their age difference and Rosie’s appearance, with Botox naturally making an appearance in the conversation.
Rosie responds with humor, and we get a much softer side of her than we’ve seen during the Kelsey feud.
It’s actually nice seeing the two of them together without a screaming match happening in the background.
Ashley and Jared also have some serious conversations about Audrey’s. Running a coffee shop is demanding, and the couple is thinking about what the future of the business should look like.
The shop has been a major part of their lives, but the financial and operational pressures are taking their toll. They’re trying to figure out how to make the business sustainable without allowing it to consume everything else.
Ashley has already had her share of emotional moments this season, and the stress surrounding the business isn’t helping.
Then there’s Kelsey and Bill.
The two sit down to discuss the status of their relationship. Kelsey has been navigating a complicated personal and financial situation, and the relationship is moving toward something more serious.
She opens up about a significant discovery from a previous car accident. During the medical evaluation, doctors discovered a brain tumor.
It’s a startling piece of her history, and she explains how the experience affected her perspective on life.
Kelsey also makes her relationship with Bill official. After all the discussion about her previous relationship and financial arrangements, she’s ready to acknowledge where things stand with her current boyfriend.
It’s a meaningful development for Kelsey, who has spent much of the season defending her unconventional circumstances.
But back to the main event: Liz and Jo-Ellen.
Eventually, the two agree to sit down and discuss what happened in Boston. They meet at Il Massimo on Federal Hill, hoping to get some resolution.
A storm is rolling in, and the weather is practically providing its own dramatic soundtrack.
Jo-Ellen attempts to lighten the mood with a joke about being cold and her nipples being pointy. Liz briefly plays along, but the friendliness doesn’t last.
Both women believe the other owes them an apology.
Liz insists that Jo-Ellen was being fake by trying to mediate the argument between Alicia and herself. She believes Jo-Ellen was taking Alicia’s side while pretending to be neutral.
Jo-Ellen argues that Liz was unnecessarily cruel to Alicia and that she was simply trying to help.
The conversation goes around in circles.
Jo-Ellen wants Liz to acknowledge that she behaved badly. Liz wants Jo-Ellen to admit that her peacemaking was disingenuous.
And then Liz delivers the real blow.
Jo-Ellen says she considers Liz one of her best friends.
Liz tells her to stop saying that because they have never been best friends.
Ouch.
That seems to hurt Jo-Ellen more than almost anything else in the conversation. She genuinely believed the friendship meant something, and Liz is now telling her that the relationship was never what she thought it was.
Jo-Ellen responds that Liz’s behavior isn’t real friendship. She describes it as cruel.
Liz continues insisting that she’s authentic and that Jo-Ellen is the fake one.
The argument returns to the physical confrontation in Boston. Jo-Ellen brings up the hair pulling and the chair pushing.
Liz denies doing it.
Not a little denial, either. She flat-out refuses to accept Jo-Ellen’s description of what happened.
And that’s particularly interesting because we, the viewers, actually watched it happen.
Liz calls Jo-Ellen a freak and the devil, and the conversation becomes increasingly hostile.
Jo-Ellen is trying to get some acknowledgment of what happened, but Liz seems completely unwilling to offer it.
Eventually, Liz decides she’s had enough and leaves.
No reconciliation. No meaningful apology. No friendship repair.
Jo-Ellen is left emotional and disappointed. In her confessional, she reflects on how painful it is to realize that someone she considered a close friend may not have felt the same way.
And that’s a much sadder ending than another round of name-calling.
The title of this episode is “Fools Rush In,” and it’s hard to decide exactly who the fools are. Jo-Ellen may have been foolish to keep following Liz outside and trying to repair a friendship that Liz seemed determined to destroy. Liz, meanwhile, has taken a relatively manageable disagreement and turned it into a full-scale personal war.
Kelsey is caught in the middle, Rulla has found a new ally, Alicia is still trying to defend her childhood, and Rich has probably sung enough Sinatra for one lifetime.
But the biggest development is the apparent end of Liz and Jo-Ellen’s friendship.
And here’s the thing: Jo-Ellen can be messy. She can insert herself into conversations that don’t involve her. She can be overly invested in everyone else’s business.
But none of that makes pulling someone’s hair and then denying it a reasonable response.
Liz has officially graduated from blunt to downright nasty.
And if this is what happens at a Frank Sinatra show, I’m almost afraid to see what these women do at a regular dinner party.
Rhode Island, keep the champagne chilled. We’re not even at the finale yet.
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