Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Slump (2)
By Kim | Season 2 | Episode 12 | Aired on 02.05.2000
Toni the counselor fires up another coffin nail and stares at Felicity, who is sitting across from her. I have to warn you that all of the scenes between these two consist of lots of meaningful looks, emotional face-making and some dialogue. While they were interesting to watch, and I thought both actresses did a great job, they are really, really boring to recap. I'll do my best, but don't call me Annie Sullivan because I'm no miracle worker. Felicity feels that the alcohol counseling is a "waste of time" because she doesn't drink. Toni says, "It says here you drink." Felicity states that she drank, but she doesn't drink, and that she was just "blowing off steam." And ogling Ben's nearly naked body. Well, she leaves that part out, but you know she was doing that too. Or maybe I'm projecting. Toni asks where the "steam" came from. Felicity says that she just found out her parents were splitting up, but that it's not a big deal since it happens to everyone. Toni frowns and says it doesn't happen to everyone. Felicity says it will be fine, and that she and her parents are going out to dinner that night. Toni asks how that will go. Felicity says (again) fine, and she knows that Toni is trying to get her to say something "revelatory or whatever," but that she doesn't usually get into trouble. Toni exhales a long plume of smoke, stands up, walks over to a box on the floor, pulls out a frame and shoves it in front of Felicity's face. It's a diploma. Toni says, "I'm a real pro. Therapist. Licensed. So when you're ready, come back and we'll talk." I need me a kick-ass therapist. I wonder if Toni has a sliding rate?
At dinner, Felicity walks into the restaurant and sees her parents sitting there not looking at one another and not talking. Everything is in slow motion. In a voice-over, Felicity tells us, "I never caught my parents having sex, but this must be what it feels like." She goes on to talk about how this is a glimpse into her parents' intimate life. After she sits at the table, Felicity asks her mom about the flight. Everyone makes really, really, really awkward small talk. Mr. Porter mentions a dinner where he will be honored and Felicity asks her mom whether she is going. There is some more awkward conversation, and suddenly Felicity starts crying. Her mom is all, "What's wrong?" and her dad says that he told Felicity about the separation. Felicity insists, "It's okay, mom! It's okay!" but her mom and dad start bickering over whether her dad should have told her or not. Their voices fade out and the opera music from Toni's office starts playing (presumably in Felicity's head, although now that I think about it, the restaurant might have piped it in).