Judy is in rehab and has to deal with the baby alone. Her annoyed rant is both funny and depressing, and that is what the show is all about.
The funny thing is, Judy has not told the secret to Jen yet. To keep up appearances, she buys a poncho. It hides the bump rather well and Jen does not seem to notice. When Judy says she has prepared a wine tasting for Jen, she is caught in a lie but recovers well. She has a house showing anyway and it is Karen’s. The two are seating and Jeff insists on selling to move away from his married life. Certain smells can upset the fetus and that will make Jen vomit, as she does when Judy brings in Gorgonzola and Chorizo.
She goes outside and sees Ben standing in front of the house, back from rehab. But he comes as a bearer of bad news – for us, not for Jen. He is leaving town and going back to his life in the North. He emphasizes he has no “reason” to stay back as Judy tries to elbow Jen to make him stay. Jen knows Jen has feelings for Ben and wants her to admit them before it is too late. Jen does not budge and reluctantly sees Ben leave. The entire scene reeks of awkward energy making for comedy gold.
Judy pushes Jen to tell the truth to Ben about everything – Ted, Steve, all of it. But Jen does not think it is a good idea. She tells Judy about the pregnancy and Judy gasps in horror and excitement. But more of the former as she walks into the swimming pool (yes, “walks”, not “falls”) and screams in anger at God for not giving her the opportunity to become a mother. She has flashbacks to the time she was pregnant and miscarried after the accident happened. Jen and Perez have a fight when the latter presses Jen to reveal who was behind the hit-and-run.
When Judy says Ben, the detective says she will go through with the investigation either way. Jen and Judy reconcile to some extent, although Jen understands why she feels a bit repulsed by the new baby. Jen watches an old video of the family, while Judy shuts her laptop in horror after googling survival chances for Stage IV patients. ..
Nick takes his findings to Perez. He confronts her about not sending the evidence to the FBI. But he thinks she doesn’t trust him and thinks he’s a bad cop. Judy shows up with Ben after having previously told Jen she should tell him the truth about the baby. But she actually told him that it was Steve who hit Ted with the car. Ben too was in it that night. He apologizes but the police soon show up and arrest him. ..
The Episode Review
The show’s strengths come in its ability to keep you guessing until the very end. Episode 7 was a great example of this as it had you on the edge of your seat the entire time. You never knew what was going to happen next.
The appeal to his boss that he is a good cop was touching and shows how even outside the core attention, Dead to Me has layered characters. One of the best moments in the episode was when Judy slides down into the pool and screams. It is such a real emotion and interpretation of what she felt when her best friend revealed to her she was pregnant. ..
Judy has been a mother to her son, Max, since he was born. She has also been a Judy-esque figure in the way she interacts with her son and others. She is strict but loving, and she often provides support for her son when he needs it.
In a season that has been full of surprises, Cardellini’s performance as Lucia was one of the most powerful and affecting moments. Her manifestation of her feelings became so real and palpable that it was difficult to forget what she was saying or how she felt.
