'Kyle XY' puts on his dancing shoes

Tonight's episode of Kyle XY continues the march of meaningful information and plot points. Huzzah!

Captain! Thar be spoilers ahead!

There's a school dance that Amanda (who gets less annoying every episode, thank goodness) asks Kyle to. Hillary and Lori break the news to him that it's a date, which makes him anxious ... especially since he can't dance. Fortunately for him, Josh knows a step or two and teaches Kyle some moves. This section made me cringe a little, not because Josh is a bad dancer but because these types of scenes always make me cringe. Matt Dallas' reactions are spot on this episode. He's great and should be getting far more attention for his work.

Kyle and Josh get to show said moves off at the "alterna-dance" organized by Andy, Lori and a host of others to protest the school's refusal to sell same-sex couples tickets. Lori and Hillary had planned on going together since they're trying to live a boyfriend-free existence for the time being. Despite being told that, the school still refused and Andy spearheaded the protest movement.

Kyle and Jessi meet for the first time. She wanders into his room and he finds her sitting in his tub. They share a brief exchange --

Kyle: "You don't think it's strange I sleep in a tub?"

Jessi: "Is it?"

Kyle: "Maybe a little."

- and when she leaves he notices that she's put together the unassembled radio on his desk. Between this and their second encounter at the alterna-dance, Kyle seems to recognize, at least on some level, that they share a connection.

Poor Jessi. This girl can't catch a break. Jessi makes her debut at the high school. Declan's in her first class as well as Lori and Hillary, who walk in to see Jessi and Declan staring longingly in each other's eyes. Hillary tells Lori to "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" and befrienemy Jessi, which she does. Later that day, Emily walks in on Jessi and Declan making out in their apartment and forbids Jessi from seeing him and from going to the dance. All the yelling and stress kicks in one of Jessi's powers (like Foss yelling at Kyle a couple episodes ago) and the lights start shorting out before Emily reins her in.

After taking the time to talk to her, Lori actually wants to be Jessi's friend and decides to help her sneak out to the dance. Naturally, Emily finds out, shows up and yells at her in a way the screams child abuse. This doesn't sit well with Nicole or clearly with Jessi who ends up blowing the power in the building (by accident) and interrupting Kyle's potential first kiss with Amanda. The writers do well in using that moment between the two of them as a distraction from Kyle noticing what was going on with Jessi.

Declan made considerable strides this episode because I didn't hate him, not once. Amazing! He makes a big turn and I'm glad. I was starting to hope Tom Foss would take him out with a sniper rifle. Declan's immediate attraction to Jessi (and vice versa) is completely understandable since Kyle and Jessi are, for all intents and purposes, twins. Declan's behavior towards Kyle the first few episodes this season reminded me more of a jealous lover than a concerned friend. Now Declan can make out with Kyle without having to actually make out with Kyle.

Declan and Kyle make up at the end of the episode as Kyle decides to let him in on everything that's been going on. Declan shows him the surveillance photos and threat against Lori, indicating Foss left it for him. Too bad neither of them is paying attention to Lori, who just got knocked out in the alley by an unknown assailant.

Other bits and pieces:

• Amanda, who got in trouble for posting protest flyers along with Lori and Kyle, snuck out to go to the alterna-dance -- she was grounded by her harpy of a mother. Way to finally give her some backbone. I'm tired of seeing her all dewy-eyed.
• Andy and Josh continue to get closer. They're cute and he needs a girl like her to deliver verbal smackdowns to keep him in line.
• We're shown another flash of Andy having a headache. I'm guessing it's a brain tumor or something and that she's going to die, which will suck because I really like her. Also, her parents are her mothers -- a fact that was revealed but not harped on. Kudos.
• Speaking of killing off characters, I keep getting the feeling that something bad is going to happen to Amanda the Bland. Hopefully not, if for no other reason than I don't want to see Kyle descend into the deep, dark Peter Parker spiral of angst.
• Jessi continues to wage a battle between her programming and the person she wants to be. Jaime Alexander does an excellent job switching between the subtle differences of Jessi's programmed behavior and her natural, innocent reactions to things.
• Emily continues to make nice with Stephen. She's two to three episodes away from making a full-court press, I guarantee it.
• Speaking of Emily, who else thinks that she and her kid (the one she was talking to on the phone last episode) are the long last family of Tom Foss?
• Jessi asks Lori if she still wants to be with Declan. Lori says that a part of her does since it ended badly but clearly Declan's moved on. Jessi also makes note of the necklace Declan gave Lori, which she's wearing at the time.
• Jessi asks Declan if he's over Lori and his response is "I'm with you aren't I?" That wouldn't make me feel too secure but it's seems to have worked with her.

Did I miss anything? Have any favorite quotes? Want to see Declan and Kyle actually make out? Share, my friends, share.

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