Bunheads is settling into a rhythm in which the story and setting matter don’t matter much except as a vehicle for the quirky characters to do quirky things while making quirky conversation. And because Amy Sherman-Palladino is the quirk behind the quirky, it workys, er, works.
A lot happened in the week without a new episode. Michelle sent for her things from Las Vegas and her old landlord decided to send everything he wanted to get rid of, which is way too much for the tiny guest house.
Fanny, meanwhile is preparing to host the Joffrey Ballet auditions. And she is in prime Emily Gilmore mode getting things ready.
Despite the chaos, Fanny and Michelle have formed a friendship comfortable enough for Fanny to stroll into the guesthouse at 3 a.m. for girl talk and help with unpacking. The fact that Michelle’s sound asleep is no problem for Fanny, who’s happy to have someone to talk to.
One of the most entertaining scenes from this episode had nothing to do with the leads. Boo and her mom Nanette are at the Paradise Farmer’s Market, where Boo is collecting healthy produce for her Joffrey diet. If you can watch this without thinking of Lorelai and Rory, you need to rent the first three seasons of Gilmore Girls immediately.
Sadly, Nanette isn’t quite as convinced that her daughter is perfect as she says. Boo finds this year’s version of the consolation cake already in the fridge. Aw, Boo.
Sasha, meanwhile, either has forgotten just how bitchy she was to Boo last episode or she feels so guilty that she’s trying to make up for it. Sasha is full of encouragement and smiles – and even buys Boo a pair of pointe shoes to replace broken ones, pretending her dad got her a pair three sizes too big. Seems that Sasha’s mean girl exterior isn’t so rigid when her friends need her.
I have to say I’m on the verge of Boo/Sasha shipping after this week. “Basha” anyone?
We also learned more about Trudy this week. (Everybody knows that’s Stacey Oristano, who played Mindy in FNL, right?) It’s curtains for Michelle.
I haven’t decided what I think about Trudy, but at least she’s being civil to Michelle. Maybe she’ll be her Sookie.
Best scene of the night goes to the interaction between Fanny, Boo, and Michelle during the audition. Watch for the Little Women reference (Sutton Foster once played Jo).
Astonishing.
Random ASP moments:
“I’m being robbed in reverse!”
“No nooks, no crannies, not with the Joffrey people coming. I don’t want them accidentally opening a closet and the end table from Blue Velvet lands on their heads.”
“I’m detecting a wee bit of snark here so I’m going to take my toolbox, and leave you in this rabbit hole you’ve spiraled down. Send a postcard.”
“Oh, by the way, I think I figured out why Sylvia Plath killed herself. She was trying to hang a curtain rod. She was probably trying to hang herself on the curtain rod, so it was onto Plan B.”
“Oh, hey! Do you guys do layaways? See, when I was a kid, there was this store called Contempo Casuals and you could put a really cute outfit on layaway for three months and as long as you didn’t get fat by September, you’d have a really cute outfit.”
“No one wants to do me – or your floors.”
And the Game of Thrones bit you have to see to believe.
You can watch the entire episode on Hulu. What did you think of this week’s Bunheads? What was your favorite moment? Did you ever shop at Contempo Casuals?
