Episode Report Card Jessica: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Queens For A Day
By Jessica | Season 1 | Episode 3 | Aired on 10.11.2006
After the ads, Betty sniffles in the ladies' room. Daniel comes in, saying that he just wanted to make sure she was okay. "It's just another day at Mode," she snuffles. He tells her not to listen to anything Wilhelmina says: "She's a jerk." Betty cries that she's the jerk, thinking that a new hairdo could make a difference "on someone like" her. Oh, the self-pity portion of the hour. My favorite. Although the poor girl has certainly earned a little wallow time: Wilhelmina IS a big jerk, and a bully as well. Daniel looks very sympathetic and admits that he doesn't know what to say: "This is the way this place works. It is a fashion magazine. Appearance means something here." Ah, the truth. That's very refreshing. Daniel seems genuinely sad that Betty is so upset, which is kind of dreamy, I will admit. He smiles that she'll feel better at lunch. "You can order anything you want," he adds, kindly, grinning a bit. He really is rather sweet. Okay, fine: I love him. Betty tells Daniel that she's not going to lunch, and he's stunned. He tells her that Bianchi wants to meet her, and reminds her that she's the whole reason the lunch is even happening. Betty cries that Daniel should just take Amanda, because she'll fit right in: "Just go. You're going to be late. And don't forget the proposal." I really do feel for her. I do. But do we have to sit through this Betty Feels Sad, Considers Quitting scenario every week?
So Daniel sits and waits in a town car. The door opens, and Bradford slides in. "I didn't know you were joining us. Afraid I might botch things up with Bianchi if I were on my own?" Daniel asks. Aw, he's full of doubt and self-pity, too. It's annoying for the viewer, but as a way to have Daniel's characterization mirror Betty's, it works nicely. Bradford just says that he had a craving for the quail at Madison 6. Finally, Amanda opens the car door and crawls in between the two men. "Okay. Betty Suarez is here. Shall we?" she asks. This is going to go beautifully.
Back at the mag, Wilhelmina fiddles with the giant vase of black lilies in her office, while Marc mans the phones. She has this fantastic Hollywood Regency-y mirrored credenza in her office that I totally want. Marc comes in and tells her that the Senator is "running late to pick [her] up." Wilhelmina looks ever so slightly disappointed, but not surprised. Very subtle work from Vanessa L. Williams there.
Over at Madison 6, Vincent is unimpressed by the restaurant, and by Bradford, but he is pleased to meet "Betty." Amanda grins wildly. "HOLA," she says, with a hard "H," and props her boobs up in his face.