Hardcore movie snobs might not agree, but if there's one instance that Casablanca's iconic love song, ''As Time Goes By,'' was appropriate for Ugly Betty, tonight was it. Hands down. With the way events had been playing out, though, I didn't expect to hear the tune's romantic notes — or any romantic tune, for that matter. Possibly some heart-wrenching music as Henry slunk away, sad and lonely.
But then, bam! After a sorrowful goodbye that had me convinced we'd seen the last of these star-crossed lovers as a couple, Betty bounded back down her steps and into his arms: ''I know you're leaving in five months,'' Betty said with her heart on her sleeve. ''And I know everyone's going to say it's a big mistake, and I know I'm gonna get my heart broken. But maybe it's worth it.'' Henry's response (definitely no ''Here's looking at you, kid,'' but we'll take it): ''Are you sure?'' For God's sake, Henry, yes, she's sure! Yes — a thousand times yes! Kiss her!
Then...he did! That delicious, consummating kiss that we've all been waiting for. Finally! And truly, the smooch had a lot behind it — namely, pent-up geek lust. The relief was so palpable after watching the awkward Henry and Betty hem and haw around it for so long. Who cares that Henry has a baby on the way or that he's leaving in five months? Or that a breakup/misunderstanding/crazy mix-up is likely lurking right around the corner to ruin this bliss? Or that dating a coworker is never a good idea? I'm living in the moment with this, and you should, too. Enjoy it, TV Watchers, 'cause happiness doesn't last long on Betty.
We got that message loud and clear with the drama that went down between Daniel and Alexis during Bradford and Willy's oh-so-awkward family dinner. Alexis found out Bradford hated her before she lost her memory, and Daniel discovered that Alexis was at fault for the finale-episode wreck. (On a side note, what the hell was Willy wearing during the dinner scenes? Love the silver mini and fierce bob, as per usual, but the dust ruffle around her waist made her look like a maid! Or was that the point, and I just didn't get why in the hell she'd want to look like a maid?)
Claire, poor Claire, has resigned herself to an Italian excursion with Yoga. Her from-the-heart plea to Bradford two episodes ago at Mode's Black and White Ball made me develop a soft spot for the boozy old hag. After all that fighting (and actually lugging a gun from Montauk), Claire's really just gonna let Willy win? Despite all her faults (you know, murdering Fey and all), she had me convinced that she cares about her family and simply wants them all to be together. But to qualify all this, I can't imagine there's a chance in hell we've seen the last of Claire Meade. And I'll just put this out there, too: While I enjoyed the witty banter between the alcoholic Claire and prepped-out-lesbo Yoga at one point in time, that's gotta go away before long. How much comedy can the writers really mine from Yoga making jokes about rich white people? And where is their faux-lover relationship really going?
One line of jokes I'm so not over is the web-site names the Ugly Betty writers dream up. Last year it was dudecruise.com, and then earlier this season Betty referenced socuteitssick.com. And this week: bachelorocity.com! I've said this over and over before, but on this show, the details are just as important as all the big stuff — I mean, bachelorocity.com! C'mon, it's funny!
Back in Queens, Justin still had his obviously rebellious thug thing going, an apparent reaction to Santos' death. Hilda was also still clearly messed up by the murder — at the beginning of the episode, she told Ignacio that it was Thursday, so she was going to the cemetery to do lotto scratchers. 'Scuse me — lotto scratchers in the cemetery? Was it insensitive for me to laugh at that line? Even though it may be funny, I had to remind myself that a woman was still grieving. And the grieving only got worse (or better, depending on how you look at it) after Hilda brought in what Ignacio termed ''the Golden Girls.'' By the end of the episode — before she snapped out of it and kicked the senior citizens out — Hilda was hilariously using her back pain to predict the weather and having half-hour conversations about applesauce. She put dentures in her purse, too! These scenes had me laughing more than anything else this episode. But on the flip side, the reconciliation between Hilda and Justin had me tearing up — it was, without a doubt, the Puffs-worthy moment of the night.
NEXT: Marc's sweet side
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