'Lipstick Jungle': Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got
Lipstick Jungle is all about the backstory tonight, finally revealing who Nico was before she became the successful businesswoman she is today. Who was she? Just call her Nico from the block.
Nico starts the hour on a high note as everything is going strong with Kirby, so strong in fact that she decides to invite him to a fancy charity function and even calls him her boyfriend. Her happiness is short-lived, however, because her father (played by veteran actor Dan Hedaya) shows up at her office and tells her that her brother George has been arrested and needs her help. She is very reluctant to help, especially when she hears that he's been charged with insider trading. There is obviously some bad blood between the siblings, which Nico so kindly reveals to Kirby so the audience can catch up. It seems her brother has always been sort of a screw up, and they haven't even spoken in six years because he stole a check from her wallet and took thousands of dollars from her with it. Yeesh, I thought my brother was bad but he only, like, gives me noogies and stuff. What Nico doesn't say is that she obviously has some issues about growing up as a lower-to-middle class Greek girl in Queens with a diner owner for a father.
Nico's situation becomes more complicated when it turns out that her brother was being used by some Wall Street hot shots to get the insider trading info while he takes the fall for their misdeeds. The story gets so big that it ends up being brought up as an article idea in a Bonfire story meeting, and while Nico quickly shoots down the idea her new boss Griffin seems intrigued. At the charity banquet, he keeps pushing for it until Nico is forced to admit that the limo driver is her brother and she'd like to keep the story a bit more private. Griffin agrees, and then flirts with her like mad. Uh oh. Do I see some competition for Kirby in the near future? As for her brother, Nico finally decides to do what is best for her family and helps him get a lawyer and makes amends with her father in the process. In the end, she invites Kirby to Queens to see the house where she grew up and starts to come to terms with her past.
Wendy has some turmoil of her own this week as she adjusts to her life as a newly fired person. At first she tries to make do by being a superwoman, making (unwanted) homemade breakfasts for her family and scheduling an appointment for every doctor in her iPhone, but she quickly grows tired of being home. She also has some shame, which is evidenced by her lying to her children (and telling them she quit) and lying to the other moms at school (by not telling them she's out of work at all). Nico even has something to say about Wendy's situation, telling her she doesn't agree with what she did at work because she made an emotional decision and, as a woman, men will use that as an excuse to discount all women in positions of power. Harsh, Nico. It all eventually blows up in Wendy's face when she arrives at the charity function and immediately sees Griffin and can't even bring herself to go into the party. When her family arrives home later she completely breaks down, admitting that she doesn't really know how to deal. She decides to start small and finally tell her kids that she got fired for doing something bad and then lying about it. She even goes so far as to admit that she did it because she thought she could get away with it because she was the boss and untouchable. That is the most self-aware thing Wendy has ever said, and I sort of love it. I don't know if it was necessary to tell her children all of that, but I'm just glad she said it.
Victory is still sort of in the place she was last week, dating Rodrigo and trying to fit him into her newly crazy life. Things are going well and he even wants her to meet his daughter Celia, but things there go wrong when Celia takes an immediate dislike to her, which Victory completely deserves because as soon as Celia starts to be rude, she inadvertently she gives away the ending of the book Celia is reading (Charlotte's Web, which we all know is NOT a book you want to give away the ending of). Oh, Victory. Things just go downhill from there and come to a head at the charity function when Victory basically ignores Rodrigo and Celia because she has to attend to all of her PR duties with Daphne. The next day Rodrigo protests that their lives are too different, and while Victory does stick up for herself and say that parts of their lives are very much the same, she gives Rodrigo what he wants and basically breaks off their relationship. Boo! I liked him. Does this mean we have to go back to annoying Joe now?
What did you guys think? Are Griffin and Nico going to keep on flirting? What will Wendy do now? And are you happy or sad that Victory and Rodrigo are done?


"Are Griffin and Nico going to keep on flirting?" Probably, but I like the premise that an older woman/younger man relationship can work for all the right reasons. Kirby shows so much more maturity than Nico that she'd be crazy to jeopardize what they have. Now, I've always like the actor who plays Kevin so can we find him someone else to play with? Victory, maybe?
"What will Wendy do now?" Not sure. Start her own business, but at what? Her field takes a lot of money (studio making movies, TV shows). An agent, maybe? Have another kid?
"And are you happy or sad that Victory and Rodrigo are done?" I don't mind it. Roderigo is hot but I didn't fall in love with him. And his kid doesn't like the new woman in her dad's life. Ho hum, cliche.
I like Joe. He's an entitled snob but can have a great character arc if he learns to open himself up to Victory. There's more potential for growth and interesting angst.
Well, knowing Victory, she's not letting Rodrigo go THAT easily, although with that snotty daughter of hers I'd consider it, too. I really liked them together so I hope she doesn't end up going back to Joe.
THAT said, if she doesn't get rid of the Rosie Perez character, she's going to lose a lot more than her boyfriend - like her ability to think for herself. I see problems all over the place with Rosie leading her down all the paths for the wrong reasons INCLUDING her having that little chat with Rodrigo, which could certainly account for him pulling back the way he did.
I'm really enjoying this show and that completely shocks me.
amend above - daughter of HIS.
I really like Nico and Kirby together. I want more storylines about Nico's husband's mistress. I see a huge lawsuit coming on, and as long as Nico comes out on top, I'm going to enjoy that drama!
I didn't notice any flirting between Nico and Griffin. I hope she does not wreck a good thing that she has with Kirby and ruin her friendship by getting involved with the man who fired Wendy. (That would be the fight that Victory can't break.)
Didn't it seem like Rodrigo's daughter should have already read "Charlotte's Web" for the first time?
Was it just me that Kirby was the first man that Nico showed her history to, by showing him the house she grew up in?
Wendy is a lucky woman to have a husband who wants her talk to him, listens, consoles her, supports her, and be the man that will always be there for her.
That Rodrigo's got some front! He complains about Victory's life when he brings a sulky 10 year old into their relationship? Why do some parents think their rude brats should just be accepted by single people after just a couple of dates? And why does it not occur to him that his daughter might be very jealous of any new woman he brings into the relationship?
Reading a book at someone else's dinner table is just rude serves her right she got the ending spoilt although I'm sure it was just Victory's nervousness that made her tell it in the first place and I'm pretty sure one of her little friends already told her what the ending was - the movie's been out for ages for goodness sake - what's the big deal?!
I hope Wendy goes back to work - I really miss her great staff and now they've all gone. I'd love to know who's in her job now as well and how they're coping in it and what's Wendy's Mum, Mary Tyler More going to say??
I live Nico's and Kirby's relationship - he didn't even complain when she bought him a suit - my younger man wouldn't even have gone in the shop with me if I even suggested shopping for him!
Nico's a better woman than me - both her Dad and brother spent too much of the episode yelling at her and making her feel bad for being a success while they ungratefully took, took, took - no wonder she ended up marrying her professor.
No Joe and his bad Cary Grant impression this week, I must admit I'd rather see him than Rosie Perez whose character is just annoying.
I definitely thought Griffin seemed interested in Nico but I didn't think see anything from Nico. If Kirby gets clingy again (he seemed to notice Griffin's flirtiness) or the fact that they are at such different points in life comes up again that could change though.
I hope Victory and Rodrigo aren't done. I think they need to give the daughter time to adjust. Bringing the kid to the party wasn't a good idea but Rodrigo knows Victory has never dated a guy with a kid before. That incident shouldn't be the end of it.