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Flourishing and Crumbling Relationships. Review: Smash – “Understudy”

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  • April 10, 2012

  • 8 mins to read

Review, Smash, S1, E10 – “Understudy”

Air Date: Monday, April 09, 2012, 10/9c on NBC

Rating: ★★★★★

Movie star Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) signs on for “Bombshell” but is a no show at rehearsals. Julia (Debra Messing) suffers the fallout of her affair with Michael (Will Chase). Karen (Katharine McPhee) is asked to be Rebecca’s understudy, and problems arise between John (Neal Bledsoe) and Tom (Christian Borle). What an entertaining episode “Understudy” turns out to be!

Rebecca Duvall (Uma Thurman) and crew finally arrive, in the last minute of the episode

Rebecca is a no-show because she’s in Cuba, so Derek (Jack Davenport) asks Karen to be her understudy. Ivy (Megan Hilty) isn’t too happy when she hears this news, muttering “little usurper” under her breath. I don’t blame her but after her fiasco in “Heaven on Earth,” she can’t get a job anywhere. I feel sorry for Ivy when she sees Derek, Karen, Sam (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Tom laughing it up outside the studio and then walks down to the theater where “Heaven on Earth” is being staged. Singing Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway”—beautifully, I might add—during this scene makes me realize how left out Ivy feels but she really has no one to blame but herself.

Tom presents Julia with her anniversary gift

Julia tries her best to reconnect with Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) but he wants no part of her. She puts on a good face but you know she’s suffering within. However, that doesn’t give her the right to walk out during Tom’s speech as he’s presenting her with a gift on the anniversary of their first collaboration, “Three On a Match.” It’s rude, and she hurts Tom’s feelings, as well as the people staging the production. As much as I think she deserves what’s happening, the scene of Tom comforting Julia when she tells him the real reason she left the auditorium (Frank left her) is heartbreaking. Messing’s portrayal of a broken woman, who has to face the consequences of her selfish actions is spot on, to the point where I’m beginning to feel sorry for Julia.

Ivy gives Karen a Marilyn momento

Ivy once again befriends Karen, giving her good advice about playing Marilyn and dealing with Derek, especially because he’s being so evil towards her in rehearsals. While I like nice Ivy, I’m not sure I trust her. I guess her reasoning of killing them with kindness to get back into “Bombshell” might just work in her favor.

While I find it a bit strange that Eileen is dating a bartender, Nick (Thorsten Kaye) seems to have her best interests at heart. He calls his rock musician friend Randy Cobra (Terrence Mann), who decides to solve Eileen’s money problems by investing in the show. Randy is a bit of an odd duck but I love when he sets fire to Eileen’s investors’ “vultures’” contracts. The look of disbelief on their faces is priceless, and I have a good laugh at their expense!

Backers Manny Azenberg (as himself) and Gary Garrison (Larry Block) watch, along with Ellis and Eileen, as their contracts go up in smoke

While Karen and Dev’s relationship appears to be falling apart, Ivy and Derek’s relationship seems to be working. I’m glad for Ivy because she doesn’t have anything else good in her life. I also like seeing the more personal side of Derek. Davenport is a genius at moving from tyrannical director to understanding and loving partner so smoothly.

I don’t understand why Dev attacks Derek outside of his and Karen’s apartment. I have a lot of questions about this scenario. Is Dev trying to defend Karen’s honor? When did he go from a loving and trusting boyfriend to an angry jerk? And why doesn’t Dev tell Karen he didn’t get the job promotion? Is Dev jealous of Derek or is he just feeling left out of Karen’s life? Perhaps he realizes there’s more to Karen and Derek’s relationship than just director and understudy. They do seem to be getting a bit closer. It’s painfully obvious Dev loves Karen more than she loves him when he asks her if she’d move if he got a job elsewhere. Their relationship is quickly crumbling but to be honest, I don’t particularly care. I think we could do just fine without this storyline.

Thoughts and observations:

John doesn't like that Tom and Sam are getting closer

Trouble is brewing in Tom and John land. Remember my prediction in my review of “Hell on Earth” that Tom and Sam were going to end up together? Well, they’re not quite there yet, but John sees a bond forming between the two and doesn’t like it. I feel sorry for John when he walks into the rehearsal studio and sees Sam and Tom sharing a laugh about Derek. Sam and Tom may be polar opposites, but they do have more in common than Tom and John. I like John and hope this isn’t the last we see of him.

The original song, “Don’t Say Yes Until I’m Finished Talking,” an all-male number performed with Tom standing in for Daryl Zanuck, had me smiling the whole way through. It’s a happy song, fun to watch, and even grouchy Derek likes it. I’m very impressed with Borle’s singing and dancing and wish we could see more of it.

Ellis (Jaime Cepero) takes it upon himself to investigate Randy, but goes a little too far when he gives Eileen some ‘dirt’ he’s dug up on Nick. I don’t blame Eileen for being angry, but now I really want to know what Ellis found! Something tells me this is going to come back and bite Eileen in the ass.

Looks like Karen and Derek are getting closer

Is it me or does anyone else feel an electric spark between Karen and Derek? They do have chemistry, you know.

Memorable/witty lines:

John, about going into a show: “Tom, should we go in?”

Sam: “Well, have a good time. I hear it’s a train wreck.”

John: “So why are we going?”

Tom and Sam simultaneously: “Because it’s a train wreck!”

***

Sam, after witnessing Derek being nice to Karen: “Do you think he only has a week to live?”

Tom: “Maybe he found the Lord.”

Sam: “I’ve seen this kind of behavior before in stroke victims.”

Tom, laughing: “Maybe he had a stroke!”

***

Tom: “Sam? I barely know him; he’s a friend of Ivy’s.”

John: “And you light up like a candle whenever you look at him, and you never look at me like that. You just don’t.”

***

At the end of the episode, as Karen sings “Never Give All the Heart” with Ivy watching from the doorway, Rebecca and her assistant finally show up. The look that passes between Derek and Karen is one of regret, understanding and hopelessness. But I get the feeling this isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Karen in the starring role.

Tune in to Smash, Mondays at 10/9c, only on NBC.

All photos © 2012 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!