Watching Showtime

And with that last tremendous episode, Meadowlands has left me clamoring for more, desperately hopeful that the show will return for another season. I will admit I’ve been a nay-sayer off and on, with some episodes leaving me breathless and others leaving me unsatisfied. But this episode takes the cake!

Focusing on Brenda, Jezebel and the Brogans this week, so many more Meadowlands secrets are revealed. The espisode begins with the bar finally opening up, and Danny running around town handing out invites to everyone from Meadowlands residents to those who work to keep it running smoothly. He wants to make sure everyone is there so that no one will see the family escape into the night. Danny and Evelyn have everything timed out, from the music to the drinks to the lighting; all are being used to their advantage.

Brenda seems to find herself in increasingly worse situations, however. Tom, who normally takes her to Meadowlands functions, tells her he can’t this time because he’s taking Zoe, calling her his last hope (smells like Jack Donnelly!), and she’s being visited by the ghost of a man she once knew. To top it off, she has been in Meadowlands for a year, and discovers the hard way life hasn’t changed much. She happens upon Jezebel heading back to her bedroom where a half-naked Mark awaits her.

Fighting with her daughter repeatedly about Mr. Paulson, the man she sees everywhere when she’s alone, you come to find out a little more about Brenda’s past. Her last boyfriend used to pick up young teenage boys hitchhiking through town and murder them. She covered for him, and after he was arrested anyhow, the public seemed to hate her more than him; makes sense, as she covered for someone she knew had done horrible things. The move to Meadowlands was Brenda’s way of making sure she and Jezebel would be liked, but it has backfired as Jezebel steals all the attention leaving Brenda feeling just as isolated and loathed.

Abigail blindsides David in his office with her desires for divorce, and her whole demeanor reeks of self-importance. This is a woman who cheated on her husband simply for the thrill of it and thinks huge ribbony neck chokers are still in style. To say I loathe her is an understatement. David’s no prize either, but in their marriage I would have to bet against her. She ruins her chances at divorce, however, when she announces her pregnancy. Why doesn’t he question the father? For all we know, it could have been Jack and she just found out about it. Regardless, David will have to be her doctor through the whole ordeal as he’s the only one in Meadowlands. Awkward!

As Danny confronts each family member individually about leaving Meadowlands, none seems keen on the idea. In fact, they go so far as to stage an intervention to keep him from leaving. As the day wears on, however, each comes to a decision separately to leave their new home. In the process, Mark and Danny tell the two Brogan women the truth about the night of Jack’s disappearance. They handle it surprisingly well.

Cut to the hopping party, Danny’s creepy speech, and drunk Dr. David (or Dr. Doom as Zoe fondly nick-names him). Threatening to tell Danny everything, Evelyn finally breaks down and tells Danny of his infertility and her affair 18 years ago. He freaks out and drives off in some random strangers car, despite his kids being outside waiting for him. Driving through the night, Danny blows past the only gas station in town and the motel where Samantha is dealing with her own issues (of the Wintersgill variety). By morning Danny is tired and desperate for a place to pull over, but screeches to a halt at what turns out to be …

a huge ravine. As the camera pans out in all directions, we all learn the horrible truth about Meadowlands. It is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded on all sides by rough mountainous terrain. How do they get in, and how do they get out? For now, it looks like Danny is trapped.

And I’m stuck craving more Meadowlands for an entire year. Bollux!!!

Meadowlands, Brogan family, Danny Brogan, Evelyn Brogan, Zoe Brogan, Mark Brogan