Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Let's Spend The Night Together
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Aired on 09.27.1999
Lily returns home to find Zoe and Grace camped out on the front stoop because Grace forgot her keys again. Jake pulls up almost immediately after Lily to take the girls for the night. They race inside to grab their things, leaving Lily and Jake standing awkwardly on the stoop. He asks how she's doing, which prompts B/W Lily into action. She explains that "Jake was always so attractive [she] didn't even like him at first." You know what they say about first impressions? Well some clichés exist for a reason. Back on the stoop, Jake tells Lily she looks like she's lost weight. B/W Lily tells us how hard it was to resist Jake's charm, especially when he pursued her as intently as he did. Which, I suppose, indicates that she still doesn't trust herself to resist him. Jake tries complimenting her again, telling her she's "skinny" and "looks great." She gets defensive. The kids emerge from the house just in time to save her from Jake's charms. She doesn't bother letting them know that her engagement at the school has been cancelled, but instead watches them leave with an expression of relief.
Eli, meanwhile, is trying to set the record straight with Jennifer. He chases her down in the hallway to let her know that he didn't, in fact, make out with Grace. She slides down the lockers and settles on the floor, admitting that she knew the rumor wasn't true. Her insecurities about Eli and sex come tumbling out, and it becomes clear that she was acting angry because she wanted to get a reaction out of him. She points out that he didn't even call her the day after Rick caught them. It also comes out that she was going to have sex with him because she thought that's what it would take to keep him around. He tells her that he'll wait until she's really ready. "Yeah, but how long?" she asks. He doesn't have an answer for her.
Meanwhile, Rick is giving David a whole steaming pile of thanks, just as I figured he would, for sending Lindsey to interrupt his date with Lily. David calmly points out that he's overreacting, since Rick has no commitment to Lily. Rick says maybe he wants one. David insists that it's ridiculous to think that way, especially since Rick and Lily haven't even slept together. He suggests that Rick test out the goods before making any decisions and, romantic soul that he is, advises that the best course of action is simply to "get it over with." He should really get a job at Hallmark.
The ladies continue the whole Mars/Venus contrast. Lily's got sex on the brain, too, but she's reacting very differently to the prospect of shagging down with Rick. She frantically runs between her closet and the mirror, telling Judy that she doesn't know how she can sleep with someone she doesn't even know. She admits that it's all been leading up to that and wonders, "What message have I been giving him?" "Slut," Judy supplies without hesitation. She's kidding, but Lily doesn't get it. "I know!" she cries emphatically. She fills in Judy about the girl at lunch, and it's obvious she's pretty insecure about the whole situation. Flying back to the closet, Lily fiddles with a belt and then impatiently throws it aside. "Have I lost weight?" she asks. Without waiting for an answer, she rattles on: "God, I've got two kids! How can I take my clothes off?" I think we're supposed to find it reassuring that even Lily, played by the gorgeous Sela Ward, has body issues, but quite frankly I don't.