Awkward Turtle
Something you would never expect to see: Lauren in church. But she’s there with her dad and Summer. The priest talks about being washed clean and forgiven for their sins. Hmm talking about sex? (Kaylie checks her phone and has no messages from Carter who is showering. Huh?) Lauren and her father discuss how he and Summer aren’t sleeping together. “Unlike all those other women and girls who sleep with everyone.” Subtlety. Also, ew, why are you talking to your daughter about this? Lauren suspects that Summer’s never been to church but the pastor knows her well and says she’s awesome. And acts, as Lauren quips, like eHarmony. “Better snatch up this awesome woman before all the men come stampeding for her!” Lauren gets a phone call from the Rock.
Cut to Emily who says the coach is calling them in which is bad because she’s supposed to do a double shift at the Shack.
Well, since the girls were so sure they couldn’t be caught, Sasha of course found out that the girls went to a party. Though we never find out how…curious. (And did he not know that Carter was there? Or was he just jumping on this excuse to get all the girls together for some bonding. Need to fix that lure after all!) So he calls the girls in for their day of reckoning. Kaylie is hungover. She feels like dog. Payson worries that he knew about them but when Lauren comes in they are relieved because she wasn’t there. Sasha comes down tosses each a beer and “cheers!” He gives them a speech about how they are the kind of teenagers who want to go to parties and get drunk rather than be exceptional. Payson scrambles to say she didn’t want to go. (Here she makes herself slightly lame, though legitimately since she didn’t even drink AND even got her parents’ permission.) Payson apologizes and insists they’ll never do it again. Otherwise he’ll fly home. Kind of sad that he’ll leave the entire gym because of a few girls. (Kaylie and Payson are in their signature colors though Lauren has a different leotard on. Where’s the orange?)
Emily’s mom goes to the Shack to find out that they are slammed and Emily will lose her job if someone doesn’t cover her shift. So her mom steps in. Wow, something to actually like her mom for. In walks brooding Damon to cover Razor’s shift. Emily’s mom introduces herself as Emily’s sister. Ew. (Do they let inexperienced randoms cover shifts?)
Payson’s mom is all sad because no is around to spend time with her on family day. Becca makes a sweet offer that she joins her and a friend at the movies, but Kim is kind enough to turn down the offer. (Ha, what would Becca have done if she accepted?)
Working Out
Sasha has the girls doing these weird arm things while lying on their backs that don’t look all that difficult. Lauren accuses Payson of tattling because she “loves punishment.” Kaylie agrees until Payson says “hey, whose side are you on?” (Payson would never risk tarnishing her reputation so let’s be honest, she didn’t tell.) Lauren brings up Carter being at the party and Kaylie drops her legs Sasha says they have to start over. Only Payson doesn’t drop her legs to the floor in annoyance.
Carter shows up at the Cruz Castle (mansion) and when Kaylie’s not there he talks to Leo and spills that he cheated on his sister. He really regrets his actions. Leo says he won’t hit him even though he deserves it. Should Carter tell her? What if Lauren tells her first? Carter resolves to go to the Rock and Leo sucker punches him.
Never climbed a rope before but ouch
The girls to rope climbs with legs out. (This is the only part of their “bloody” conditioning that seems even remotely difficult.) Lauren’s dad comes and she thinks he’s going to get her out of conditioning, but for once he doesn’t come to her aid. Steve’s reason for coming: he wants to be the Rock’s manager again. He says the other parents have personal agendas. Right, other parents, he doesn’t at all. Sasha doesn’t seem to care. He wonders instead if Lauren has anyone to talk to. He says he’ll think about Steeve’s offer and then walks away. And since the Rock has no garbages indoors, he goes outside to get a garbage can for one of his next exercises.
Carter tries to get into the gym but Sasha basically says the gym is closed so go away. Carter calls Leo to bring him a key. (Since Lauren still has his cell, he uses a payphone. Good job continuity.)
Sasha tells them to stop doing upper body work that doesn’t look too tiring and gives them a speech about needing teammates. So he tells them to write down their resentments. They would then throw them in the garbage bin and burn them so they could start on a clean slate. Payson starts writing immediately, the others only reluctantly. Now, anytime someone says this to you, you HAVE TO KNOW they will likely read them aloud first. Rip them up first or make something up. The girls freak out a little.
This is the moment where I lose a little respect from Payson because her resentment is that she works harder than everyone and Sasha doesn’t recognize that she is better. (Even though she’s mostly right. The other girls seem shocked at this despite repeatedly confirming that she’s better.) To her credit she at least looks embarrassed about it. (Missed opportunity here. This was a chance to give Payson something more to her character. Maybe she feels left out since she’s sort of on the periphery of the threesome’s friendship. Maybe she worries that once her gymnastics career ends she’ll have nothing…whatever. Just something more than “I’m awesome and everyone should know it”.) Kaylie’s upset that her best friend tried to get her kicked out and won’t believe she’s not dating Carter. Lauren’s upset that her friends didn’t stand up for her when Emily (“trailer trash”) knocked her out of first place. Emily’s says “I resent that no one has made me feel welcome here.” I resent that statement for the others. Well, for Payson and Kaylie anyway. They’re not going to suddenly be best friends and Kaylie seems to be slightly socially retarded around her, but come on. Payson gets everyone to cheer her on, they tell her not to worry about Lauren, they go out to smoothies and then a party with her, they talk with her during practices. What more do you want after only like 3 days? Four maybe. I think she resents having a harder life than the others.
After burning the papers they have to clean all the mats. Emily freaks because she needs to get to work, though she doesn’t want anyone to know. Payson immediately agrees to do as he says. He asks for their cells. Kaylie attempts to text Carter first (ooh wouldn’t it be interesting if Carter’s phone, in Lauren’s possession, rang when she sent a text). They’re upset that Payson thinks she’s the best and say she should just do it herself–Lauren’s still trying to blame her for him finding out . To try to insult Lauren, Kaylie says Emily legitimately beat her at the trials. Payson says when they’re competing it’s against themselves so they should get things done. When Lauren points out she thinks she’s better than them and Payson says it’s because she works the hardest. They seem shocked by this, as though Kaylie didn’t previously say “maybe we should all work as hard as Payson. When was the last time we stayed late?” Emily flips out that they are whining about petty things when she has to take care of herself and might lose her job.
Cleaning the mats (or at least pretending to)
While cleaning mats they talk about Emily’s job.
Lauren: Will your boss really fire you if you don’t come?
Emily: That’s how the real world works.
Kaylie tells her to go and they all agree–Lauren grudgingly–to cover for her. How? Swing her out the windows. Luckily, Kaylie’s dad calls Sasha to discuss wanting to manage the gym, distracting him. Lauren, hysterically, can’t throw her backpack high enough for Emily to catch from the window. She’s supposed to be strong! Sasha comes in and they tell him Emily’s in the bathroom.
Payson’s mother comes to pick her up but Sasha says she’ll be staying late to clean mats. Kim’s angry that he ruined their one free day, their family day, for cleaning mats. Sasha wants her to manage the gym because she cares about the kids not the politics.
Back to Chloe Kmetko and Damon where her mom ruins her gymnastics secret. Emily’s very private. But her mother reveals that she’s never been kissed. SERIOUSLY! Even a blabbermouth knows better than to say something like that.
The remaining girls talk about secrets and Lauren reveals that she lost her virginity, something that is obviously more important than their fight. Being a little nice again, Lauren doesn’t say that it was Carter. Payson is shocked! “How could you? We aren’t like every other girl! What if sex stimulates your hormones or something? Gives you big boobs or hips.” Payson doesn’t understand taking the risk, they’re bodies are everything. She won’t have sex until at least after she has a gold medal. (Another minus for Payson here. Not about the not having sex thing, just thinking that sex will rapidly change your body. Overnight?!?! It lends itself to the Bring It On question, “Where is that girl from? Romania?”) Kaylie admits to having a boyfriend and Payson’s angry that she kept it a secret. “Why isn’t gymnastics enough for you!” She points out that they are the girls who stab each other in the back. They all cry, apologize, and hug. While Payson’s not looking they attack her with water, which means they are friends again.
Leo finally arrives with the keys. Carter’s desperate to get to Kaylie even if it means his possible expulsion. He gets in and Kaylie kisses him in front of everyone. Payson tells him to leave though so they don’t get in trouble. Lauren stares after him, looking forlorn.
Emily seems annoyed with Damon and doesn’t want to really talk to him. But she starts asking him questions anyway. (She reveals that her father, like most men, was not the stick around kind of guy and that her mother has moved them around the country for fresh starts). They even have a bit of a heart to heart until she points out exactly what everyone is thinking. “Somebody’s been watching Dr. Phil.” Damon offers to cover for her if she does a standing tuck so she can get back to the Rock before Sasha realizes she was missing.
Sasha comes in to inspect, sees that Emily is missing, but she manages to reach them just in time. Whew. Sasha leaves them with the message that their job is to help light each other. The Triple Threat hugs for their success and Kaylie offers her to join.. When she rejects them they all attack her with water. Somehow they are not even remotely wet when they walk outside to be picked up. (Payson wears a purple tank when she leaves the gym.)
Payson smiles brightly and doesn’t believe her mother when asked how she’d feel if her mother managed the Rock. Emily is good enough to thank her mother for filling in for her. Her mother does the “well Damon’s so cute” thing again. Eye roll. Carter apologizes to Lauren and takes the blame and Lauren says “it was no big deal, it’s not like it was my first time.” He thanks her for not telling Kaylie and asks about his phone. She says she has no idea where it might be. So, she’s just keeping his phone? That’s kind of stalker-y. She keeps the lovesick puppy look on her face as the credits roll.
Check out the episode summaries:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
And misc. show things:
What Might Happen
General Thoughts
Stunt Doubles
The Cast
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Feel No Fear by Bela Karolyi Book Review
