There’s nothing more exhilarating for me than receiving a stack of fast food delivered right to my doorstep, just as Brittany did. Being a self-confessed junk food aficionado, I can’t help but agree with her impeccable taste. Domino’s is a timeless favorite for good reason, and it wasn’t just pizza and Parmesan Bread Bites she ordered; she also got the star of the show, the Marbled Cookie Brownie, which we in the Moylan household affectionately call the Brookie, a treat that has always been worth avoiding the Noid for me. All these treats are perfect for enjoying with friends who drop by to help pack up your soon-to-be ex-husband’s belongings before he leaves rehab. Taco Bell is equally appealing, with an individual taco, a Gordita Crunch, and some cut-up quesadillas. However, McDonald’s, oh McDonald’s, nothing makes me cringe more than the thought of a big bowl of their fries. I shudder just thinking about Brittany pouring ten large fries into a bowl. Who wants to handle a bowl full of rapidly cooling McDonald’s fries? The mere thought of that slimy film forming on my tongue is enough to make me queasy.
Apart from fast-food scenes, this episode showcases some delightfully petty moments that I find amusing. For instance, Kristen, in a move reminiscent of a prank, sorts all of Jax’s clothes into garbage bags as if he were moving into a summer house, the Jersey Shore house. She even disperses his sneakers among various bags, making it challenging for Jax to reassemble them. This is one reason Kristen Doute remains famous and continues to have a career in reality television.
Equally petty is Zack and the gang’s action of placing a large sign that reads “Britt’s” over the existing sign at Jax’s bar. They even went as far as manufacturing t-shirts with the corrected logo and displaying Brittany’s image all over where Jax’s used to be in the bar. The editors then present a series of scenes showing how Jax attempted to involve Brittany in the planning process. However, it seems that not a single picture of them together adorned the bar. If there is one thing consistent about Jax, it is his knack for doing the least.
It seems like only Jesse is troubled by this situation, possibly because he understands how easily he could be replaced in Michelle’s life, just as the group aims to remove Jax from Brittany’s. He may not be incorrect in predicting that Jax leaving rehab and discovering the trick will enrage him, potentially leading to trouble. However, I side with Brittany. Jax’s first day out of rehab should be his most resilient and committed to embracing a new way of life. If he can’t cope with the news on that day, then he would have gained no real insight and essentially wasted a $60,000 hotel stay.
Upon everyone’s arrival at the bar, Jason shares with Jesse his suspicion that Jax might find it amusing. Jesse concurs, stating that Jax will indeed find it humorous, recalling how Michelle found humor in Jason calling her a prostitute. While Zack and their group’s antics were lighthearted to boost Brittany’s spirits, they should be seen more as a prank rather than an analogy. The comparison here is not applicable.
Jason calling Michelle a prostitute was never a joke; it was a disrespectful personal attack meant to belittle her and gain the upper hand in their custody battle. Conversely, what Zack and company did to Brittany was intended as a friendly jest to lift her spirits. These two instances are as dissimilar as a gourmet meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant and a cheap bowl of fast food that Brittany tried to pass off as edible to her friends.
In a twist that leaves things unclear, there’s another puzzling event involving Jesse. At Kristen’s housewarming party, where the hosts seemed indifferent about cleaning up, Zack introduced Jesse to Jenna, a friend he met through Scheana Shay. Jenna mentioned that 18 months prior, she had dated Aaron, who is now with Michelle. This information has left Jesse questioning if it was Jenna that Aaron was dating when he was supposedly with Michelle, and whether all these events are connected in some way. However, there could be alternative explanations. For instance, perhaps Aaron wasn’t with Michelle when he was dating Jenna, meaning she wasn’t cheating on him. Or maybe there is a misunderstanding and they were simply friends. Alternatively, Jesse might be speculating about Michelle’s past in an attempt to tarnish her reputation, but we find it hard to believe any of the stories presented.
As Jesse continues to exhibit monstrous behavior, Jax is preparing to leave rehab and reveal the various transformations he’s undergone. However, it seems he’s just the same old monster we’ve been following for more than a decade. In an attempt to deceive everyone, Jax called his sister Jenny, claiming he was going to the hospital due to high blood pressure. Unfortunately, Brittany learned from his therapist that this was a fabrication. When the rehab receptionist refused to lie for him, Jax became aggressive and managed to make her cry. (I’m assuming the receptionist is female, which might be somewhat sexist given Jax’s history of making even grown men shed tears.)
After recognizing that Jax isn’t changing, Brittany decides to take action rather than wait for him to leave. She consults with her divorce attorney, Naz, who confirms that Jax indeed has issues and this behavior is far from normal. While Brittany may find this revelation obvious, it seems Naz hasn’t had access to basic cable for a while, as she would have seen the same things. Furthermore, Brittany reveals that the high mortgage payments are due to Jax owing $1.2 million in back taxes and facing jail time if he didn’t pay. This unfortunate situation certainly makes sense. Frankly, I don’t want this man reappearing on our screens or being anywhere near us again. Can we please bring a swift end to him?
Who else among the cast of The Valley has not left a strong impression on me, apart from Lala Kent? I find it strange that she was the one chosen to ask Michelle questions in one scene when there are other viable options such as Nia, Jasmine, Brittany, or even a casual friend of Michelle’s. Scheana can stay, and it’s not just because she continues to invite Brock to pool parties. She is the heart of this social circle and brings people like Jenna into it. She knows all the latest gossip, and she receives all the calls. She seems to be there naturally. Lala appears to have been forced upon us like a privileged individual who is about to climb the corporate ladder without any real effort or merit.
In this scene, I couldn’t help but empathize with Michelle due to the revelation of her mother’s cancer battle, which seems to be one of her toughest trials next to marrying Jesse Lally and then divorcing him. To make matters worse, while Brittany is enjoying parties and bar nights, Michelle appears to be left in the dust. As Erika Jayne would say, “Where’s her pizza party?” It seems that maybe Michelle should speak up more for herself. If she organized a “Jesse is Terrible” party, I believe many would attend. Perhaps if she asked for help and support during these difficult times, it might be offered to her.
From my perspective as a fan, it seems unfair if she has to endure such treatment. The distinction lies in the fact that Jesse is constantly present, which seemingly prevents people from openly criticizing him like they have with Jax. Witnessing Jesse’s alleged mistreatment of this woman in Santa Barbara, one would expect more solidarity and support from those around her. She was even denied a ‘Brookie’, a token of friendship that she deserved. Let’s give Michelle a ‘Brookie’!
In this episode, while much attention has been given to Jax and Jesse, and the notion that men can be abysmal in general, there are other conflicts that either conclude or intensify. Jasmine and Melissa engage in a long-overdue dialogue with Jason and Janet. The discussion commences with Jasmine denying she started the rumor about Jason not wearing his wedding ring, which they accept as truth. This exchange is an adult conversation that should have occurred earlier, but for dramatic purposes, some heated reactions are welcome, even if unnecessary.
Later on, Jasmine acknowledges her mistake of labeling Janet as a “Karen” and overreacting during their previous encounter, explaining she was taken aback and felt surrounded. She clarifies that she doesn’t believe Janet fits the description at all. However, Janet interjects, “Hold on a minute,” because even she understands she embodies the Karen persona. After researching the term, she discovered a picture resembling her own face holding Dave and Buster’s tickets, to which she responded, “Indeed, it does look like me.” Janet’s honesty in this moment is quite relatable.
The climactic confrontation revolves around Darkside Danny, who makes an appearance at One Night at Britt’s gathering and secretly takes drinks despite his wife’s trust, interfering in a conversation between Kristen and Janet, attempting to reopen matters with Jasmine that have previously been resolved. He becomes incoherent, saying things without meaning, prompting Nia to swiftly remove him from the scene to ensure he doesn’t cause any trouble. While it appears Danny’s relationship with alcohol is problematic and convoluted, I still find these accusations exaggerated. Despite Danny’s reprehensible behavior when under the influence (grabbing a colleague’s posterior being quite abhorrent!), he remains preferable to Jax, Jesse, or a bowl full of unappetizing cold fries.
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2025-06-11 05:54