Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce Season Finale - "Rule No. 101: Know When It's Time to Move On" Retrospective. Crazy Love.

Season 1, Episode 13

Air Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 10 pm ET/PT on Bravo

Rating: ★★★★★

“Abby, just because we signed the papers doesn’t mean we have to file them.” – Jake

Abby has the divorce papers all ready for both her and Jake to sign.

At the end of last week’s episode, Jake (Paul Adelstein) was just about to lock lips with Abby (Lisa Edelstein) when the doorbell rang announcing Will’s (Warren Christie) arrival. Cooler heads must have prevailed because the season finale, “Rule No. 101: Know When It’s Time to Move On” (“Rule 101”), opens showing Will admiring the diamond necklace Jake bought Abby, and planning a trip with Abby to Baja to celebrate her divorce. Well, Abby and Jake aren’t divorced quite yet. While there are no lingering issues to be resolved, they still have to sign the paperwork and submit it to the court. Even though Abby and Jake act like everything is copacetic, I don’t believe them.

We finally learn what the “unfinished business” is between Kori Wingo (Suki Kaiser) and Phoebe (Beau Garrett) during Phoebe’s conversation with Marco (Brandon Jay McLaren). Let’s just say, it’s pretty damn bad and not at all what I expected. But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Phoebe lets her emotions get the better of her during a confrontation with Kori at school over photographing Phoebe’s kids, Anouk (Lilah Fitzgerald) and Luco (Callum Seagram Airlie). I wish everyone could have as good a friend as Abby when she tells Phoebe, “I’ve got your back,” which gives Phoebe some much needed nerve to explain herself to the school board. Garrett shows off her acting skills in a very emotional, heartbreaking scene, where she dissolves into tears on Marco’s shoulder. Kori and Phoebe’s backstory certainly explains a lot about Phoebe’s personality. Kudos to Marco for being such a stand-up guy.

With Jo’s (Alanna Ubach) daughter Zooey (Alison Thornton) in therapy with Connie (guest star Lisa MacFadden), Jo would be wise to pay attention to what Connie says—something easier said than done for a crazy person like Jo. I love the way Connie finally shuts Jo up—all polite like but with a serious undertone to the message she wants to convey. Too bad Jo doesn’t listen (no surprise there!) and quarrels with Zooey about visiting her father. If there’s one thing I learned from my two divorces, it’s never wise to talk shit about your kid’s father. Thornton absolutely blows me away in this scene. Thornton has a maturity about her that belies her young age and lack of experience. While Thornton has only been acting for two years, I see great things ahead for this young lady.

I got a kick out of Albert’s (Brian Markinson) description of Delia—“a pitbull in Manolos”—during their partnership meeting. While Delia is awarded the partnership status she has long coveted, she’s not happy with the terms of the agreement, and gives Albert and his partners a first-hand look at her “pitbull” nature. Given the amount of business Delia’s paramour Gordon (Matthew Glave) brings to the firm, the partners would be wise to accept the ultimatum Delia threatens.

Speaking of Gordon, Delia finally makes her decision about marrying him, although it’s not so cut and dry. In an emotional scene where Delia bares her soul to Gordon, offering him an “alternative” to marriage, I was as shocked as Delia by his response. While I understand both sides of this dilemma, I don’t necessarily like where this plot point goes. Gordon is a shit for not understanding Delia; he’s all about himself, always has been, and probably always will be. He makes Delia seem like a piece of chattel when he tells her, “I want the whole world to know that I’m yours and you’re mine.”

Everyone but Abby thinks a divorce party is a good idea.

Contrary to Abby’s wishes—“I refuse to enjoy it”—Jo throws Abby a divorce party. The divorce isn’t the only thing being celebrated; Abby’s book, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, will be published once the bidding war is over; Delia commemorates making partner at her law firm; and Phoebe celebrates having Marco back in her life. The best part of the party, though, is everyone taking turns firing paintballs at Abby’s old wedding dress and Abby subsequently waxing poetic about marriage..

Jake pleads his case to Abby.

GG2D has done a fabulous job of portraying the five stages of divorce throughout the season—denial, anger and resentment, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Except that Abby isn’t quite ready to accept her marriage to Jake is over—nor is Jake—as is evident, at least to me, in more than one scene. But are they ready to be “Jake and Abby 2.0” like Jake proposes? I will admit I’m more than a little surprised at Abby’s reaction when Jake tells her he wants to give their marriage another shot. She’s been doing a lot of flirting with Jake throughout the season but especially in “Rule 101,” or, as Jake puts it, “You have been giving me some serious vibes.” So why Abby says, “I’m shocked…I’m appalled,” I don’t understand. I wonder whether she’s trying to convince herself or Jake that their marriage is over. The acting by both Edelstein and Adelstein is superb in this scene. I was so engrossed, it was like I was witnessing my best friends in the middle of an argument.

One of the things GG2D does well is pair up its music with a particular scene. In “Rule 101,” Gin Wigmore’s “Dirty Love” plays in the background as Abby opens the divorce agreement awaiting her signature. With lyrics like “You’ve taken all my money/You’re a bad boy now, but I want you. Dirty love,” could the song be anymore apropos?

I can’t believe what they do to Abby’s wedding dress!

Then, there’s Elbow’s aptly titled “Grounds for Divorce” that plays when Jo, Phoebe, Delia, and Abby paintball Abby’s wedding dress. This is such a fun scene, with everyone laughing, shooting at the gown for their own reasons. Edelstein absolutely shines in this scene….well, in the whole episode, for that matter. I wish I had thought to do this when I got divorced…both times!

And, let’s not forget “Crazy Love,” the perfect song to use as the episode is about to end that addresses the status of Abby and Jake’s marriage; Max (Patrick Heusinger) and Forde’s (J. August Richards) marriage; and Delia and Gordon’s relationship. Contrary to what these scenes depict, not everything ends happily ever after.

Overall

I would like to take a moment and thank series creator Marti Noxon for making my job as a reviewer so easy with Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. She gave us an amusing and very entertaining series about the road to divorce that knew when to be serious and when to poke fun. “Rule No. 101: Know When It’s Time to Move On” is a great season finale in that Noxon, as the writer of this episode, uses it to set up season two perfectly. While I’m sure fans of GG2D are thrilled with the evolution of Abby and Jake’s relationship, I can’t help wondering what Noxon has in store for these two going forward, especially where Becca (Julianna Guill) is concerned. What a shocker when Becca shows up at Jake’s door! Speaking of moving on, Delia may think she’s happy now but I don’t believe she’s the kind of woman who wants to be tied to a guy like Gordon.

One of the biggest story lines left up in the air concerns Max and Forde’s marriage. Both men are kidding themselves if they think everything is “all love and trust and forgiveness” at home. And Phoebe has a lot on her hands with the surprise she gets from Kori at the end of “Rule 101.” Plus, while Zooey assures Jo she’ll return after visiting Frumpkiss, I wouldn’t be surprised to see season two begin with Jo going nuts over Zooey’s abandonment.

What did you think of “Rule No. 101: Know When It’s Time to Move On?” Do you think it’s time for everyone to move on, or stay with the status quo? Were you happy with the way Season 1 ends? Hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV or leave me a comment below to let me know what you think.

Tune in to Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, Tuesdays at 10/9c, only on Bravo.

For more on the show, visit GG2D’s official website at http://www.bravotv.com/girlfriends-guide-to-divorce.

LIKE GG2D on Facebook.

Follow GG2D on Twitter @BravoTV using hashtag #GG2D, as well as @BravoGG2D, and @GG2DNews. You should also follow Lisa Edelstein @LisaEdelstein, Paul Adelstein @adelsteinPaul, J. August Richards @jaugustrichards, Beau Garrett @beaujgarrett, Necar Zadegan @zadeganand, @Alannaubach, and writer/creator Marti Noxon @martinoxon.

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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!