Episode Report Card Potes: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT If I Was Your Girlfriend
By Potes | Season 4 | Episode 11 | Aired on 07.08.2012
Back at the Gorga house, Joe explains to Melissa's mom and aunts that therapy with Teresa was a horrible experience, because the therapist didn't say anything. Except that they should forget about the past and move forward and that Joe should talk to himself and play with his mind before going to his sister's house. Okay, first of all, none of this is what the therapist said. And second, Joe would only find therapy successful if the therapist told Teresa that she was totally wrong, and that as penance she should wash Joe's feet with her hair. Therapy is not for them, Joe says, and they're not going back. Somewhere in New Jersey, there is a very relieved therapist. But Joe and Teresa are going to move on and work on it themselves. Because that's worked out so well in the past! Melissa's mom and aunts seem totally sensible, by the way. It's so rare on this show that I felt it deserved a note.
Back at the Giudice house, Teresa tells Joe that the therapist suggested reinstituting Sunday dinners. She also thinks that their foray into therapy is done, mostly because the therapist didn't like her. Back at the Gorga house, Melissa tells Joe that if the therapist suggested having Sunday dinners, she'll do it. Joe says that he's playing football on the coming Sunday, and Melissa tells him that he's not, because it's Sunday and he's a family man. And everyone will love it. Except for when they get in a screaming fight and someone flips the ham. Sigh.
After a break, the party is in full swing. The human centipede turns out to be a lawless nightmare, as predicted. Teresa and the girls arrive, and now it's time for Melissa and Teresa to discuss the whole therapy thing. Blah blah blah, Sunday dinners. Arrangements are made for Sunday dinner at Melissa's, and arrangements are also made for Teresa and Joe to ignore everything else that the therapist said aside from, "Have Sunday dinners." Melissa theorizes that Teresa is faking her enthusiasm, but then shrugs her shoulders like maybe she's not, but with a half eye roll that indicates she probably is. Meanwhile, the Wakiles arrive, Joe gets a temporary tattoo, and Teresa braves the human centipede. I do think that Teresa would be a pretty fun mom, until you got old enough to know that you should be embarrassed. Melissa thanks Jesus for fixing her broken family, because obviously His whole purpose these days is to see the Gorga clan reunited.
Melissa talks to Rosie and Kathy about their adventures in lesbian clubland. She's sad that she wasn't invited, because she will not be happy until she can be the center of attention for everything that happens, ever. Rosie explains that she has a drinking problem, and also met a pretty lady named Brianne. Except no one actually remembers Brianne's name. It is only through the magic of flashbacks that we are informed of this important fact. And then, awkward times! Just as Teresa is telling Joe about her big blowout with Jacqueline, Jacqueline arrives at the party, directly behind them. Joe can clearly see her, but doesn't tell Teresa that she's there. That's cold. They have an uncomfortable but civil interaction, and then Jacqueline excuses herself to get a drink. Former friend sadness! And then it's time for Antonia to pose next to her straight-from-the-bordello cake, and soon Gia hugs Jacqueline. Oh, the innocence of youth! Jacqueline maybe is softening on the whole Teresa issue, but maybe not. Kathy can relate. She thinks that perhaps the Napa trip will provide Jacqueline and Teresa with some time to talk. Oh yeah, a big bottle of pinot noir should really calm their nerves for such an encounter. Melissa comes over to insincerely say that she hopes Jacqueline and Teresa work things out. That is precisely the opposite of what she hopes, and we all know it.