The Comeback Recap: The Firing Squad

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Last time, I started by sharing how happy I was to finally see a clip of Mrs. Hatt. Let’s do that again – I was so excited to watch Valerie Cherish on Hot Ones. It was a perfect moment – the kind of scene that would make a strong case for another season of the show. I was practically in tears laughing at Val trying to stay calm while snapping at the host (“What’s funny about this to you, Sean? I think you’re a sadist”), but I think I laughed even harder at her resigned, “Sean, I can’t hear you, I’ve got ringing in my ears.” It’s good to focus on the positives, especially when talking about a show and a character I really care about. While the second-to-last episode of season three is a little better than the one before it, the show still has some basic storytelling issues that are preventing it from being truly great.

The latest episode of “Valerie Chases the Truth” begins right after the previous one left off. Mark’s return from Burning Man is marked by a questionable decision – a large tattoo reading “ANYWHERE ELSE” on his back. Val is understandably upset, especially when Mark reveals it’s meant to represent his current unhappiness – something she feels doesn’t need a permanent reminder. She believes in moving forward from bad situations, not dwelling on them. This sentiment sets the stage for the episode’s focus on resolving the fallout from the AI leak, though the show seems to rush towards a solution without fully exploring the complexities. The episode also features a quick reconciliation between Val and Jane, who assures Val she wasn’t the source of the leak and doesn’t deserve the backlash. Billy apologizes to Jane for previously kicking her off the lot, explaining he was protecting the company. Jane counters that she was protecting humanity, which raises questions about why she’d be pleased about the leak. While it’s good to have Jane back, her reasons for acting as she did feel unclear.

Valerie is so dedicated to finishing her documentary that she even brings the camera from her Oscar-winning short film. This impresses her producer, Val, enough to let her continue filming. They go to a coffee shop frequented by Paulie G, hoping to catch him on camera admitting he leaked a story about AI. However, they’re immediately confronted by the angry writers who have been attacking Val online. One of them accuses Val of ruining their careers, claiming she’s forced him to take his kids out of private school. A scuffle ensues, and coffee gets thrown at Val and her assistant, Billy.

The show is raising interesting questions about who to sympathize with – the writers struggling in a changing industry, or Val, who seems oblivious to the impact of her actions. It’s pointed out that the writers most affected are those who were already financially vulnerable. Outside the coffee shop, they run into Paulie G, who denies leaking the story and claims he actually supported Val privately. Surprisingly, he isn’t angry with her, and even thanks her. Working briefly on a TV set reminded him of his passion for writing, and he’s now accepted a lower salary to work on a different project. The show presents a complex moral dilemma for Val, but it seems more interested in portraying her as a well-intentioned person than in truly exploring the nuances of the situation.

It’s clear Valerie hasn’t smoothed things over with everyone. The backlash isn’t just from protesters; there’s a real split among the crew, who are upset they found out about the AI writing last. Evan is being bullied again, and even Val’s friendly colleagues are angry with her. Zeke bluntly states she lied about the AI, and Bev, while supportive, doesn’t hold back, saying Val lied by not being upfront. Honestly, the focus on the lie feels less important than her decision to work on a sitcom written by AI in the first place. When a camera operator refuses to work, Bev has to step in and address the crew. Her speech captures how difficult the situation is: she compares AI to a difficult director – you may not like working with them, but you do it because you love your job and have responsibilities. Not everyone can afford to make a stand on principle. I respect anyone who refuses to participate in something that could make their job obsolete, even if Mary was difficult, she had a point.

Valerie goes outside for air, and we’re finally introduced to Malin Akerman’s character, Juna. A highlight of the episode is Val hilariously running from someone calling her name, joking that a writer has escaped. Valerie explains that everyone is upset with her because she misled them about the AI. Juna suggests the experienced team behind the show must have always known, questioning the lack of writers on set. While Val apologizes for her behavior, Juna surprisingly refuses to accept it, claiming Val simply doesn’t treat people badly. It’s heartwarming to hear Juna acknowledge Val’s past kindness and support when she was starting out, recalling their connection during ‘Room and Bored.’ However, it feels like Val is being excused for her actions too easily. Juna’s line, “To me, you’re ‘it,’” which makes Valerie emotional, should be touching, but instead feels frustrating. The show seems determined to portray Val as inherently good, which is a bit much. It’s worth remembering that last season, Juna readily confronted Valerie about her involvement in the distorted story surrounding ‘Seeing Red.’ While Juna doesn’t need to be the voice of reason, she shouldn’t be another person defending Val and claiming she did nothing wrong.

I keep returning to how disappointing the consequences of the AI leak are in this season. The Comeback has always excelled at portraying complex, flawed characters, so I wish the show would fully explore Valerie’s mistakes here. I enjoy seeing characters who aren’t perfect! This season feels too quick to ask us to sympathize with Valerie without earning that sympathy, and it minimizes her responsibility by focusing only on her keeping NuNet’s secret. What is she doing to fix the harm caused by taking this job? I feel similarly about the reveal of Mark’s past. While Valerie is filming Finance Dudes, Mark receives a call about accusations of misconduct. He steps away, and Valerie follows, urging him to explain that he was fired for a bad joke to avoid worse assumptions. But the truth is much more serious: he admits to having slept with multiple employees who may have felt pressured to comply because of his position. He expresses deep regret, acknowledging he never questioned his behavior before the #MeToo movement. Lisa Kudrow and Damian Young deliver a powerful scene, and I appreciate the show tackling difficult subjects. However, it feels like these issues are addressed superficially, just to move the plot forward. While Valerie tells Mark he’s changed, it’s unclear what specific steps he’s taken to make amends—and he’s been portraying himself as a victim all season. Ultimately, Valerie encourages him to take responsibility and move forward, which motivates him to quit Finance Dudes and her to attend a press event she was avoiding. It all feels a bit too convenient, considering the seriousness of the situation.

Val braced herself for a tough time at the premiere event, knowing she’d likely face criticism. Her prepared statement about AI – that it’s a helpful tool for writers – felt unconvincing, but she remained calm, according to Patience. Jane was impressed by Val’s composure. However, the show doesn’t actually show us Val dealing with the fallout. Instead, we see her after the event, meeting Ridley for the first time. It wasn’t surprising to learn that NuNet leaked the AI story to generate publicity before the premiere, even though the idea that any publicity is good publicity feels questionable. Val was shocked by the encounter, but even more surprised to see Billy, who was dressed in an extravagant outfit inspired by fashion icon Jordan Roth. Billy confessed to Val that he’s tired of acting and wants to be a star. The show has unexpectedly made Billy, a previously minor character, a central focus, and with Paulie G gone, he seems to be filling the role of the season’s antagonist. The writer just wishes the show wouldn’t push so hard to portray Val as the hero.

Give Her Another Take

It’s a shame the funniest moment of the episode – Val’s appearance on Hot Ones – is saved for after the credits. It’s similar to what happened in season one when Val felt Aunt Sassy’s one joke on Room and Bored was also stuck at the end.

Although the show seems to be excusing Val’s actions a bit too easily, I’m glad to see her becoming more aware of her own mistakes. When she explains to Jane who might be leaking information, she finally realizes and admits, “It’s me! I told too many people.”

I realize it requires some imagination, but it’s difficult to believe Mark wouldn’t have lost his job at Finance Dudes after appearing in just one scene. Honestly, he never should have been hired; he’s terrible on camera.

I honestly found Val’s efforts to create drama quite entertaining. She commented, “Those guys don’t seem very dedicated to finance,” and then added rumors about them using drugs and going out all night. It’s exactly the kind of thing Andy Cohen would appreciate.

The mention of “chocolate” streaks in Frank’s underwear was likely unnecessary, as Val pointed out.

• Paulie G.’s last name is Giappino. The more you know!

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2026-05-04 07:56