How stoked are you that Mode is back in business? It's been exactly three months since the last episode of Ugly Betty aired. Three months! And just like the Suarez clan yearning for Ignacio's delectable flan, I've been craving my fix of delicious love triangles, devilish in vitro impregnations, and, of course, Willy's genius one-liners. And there was so much to look forward to: A new Meade magazine, courtesy of Claire! Dark revelations about Willy's sister, Renee! Some sort of resolution to the Betty-Henry-Gio love triangle! Hilda with bangs!
But before we get to that, let's talk about what got me through those three dark months: First, a bunch of delightful casting rumors about the show — upcoming episodes will feature appearances by Project Runway's Nina Garcia and Christian Siriano, as well as tweenage versions of Betty, Amanda, Daniel, and Gio. As clichéd as it may be, I've got to say all that is bound to be totally fierce. Then creator and executive producer Silvo Horta, announcing the show's return, said it would refocus on its main character and ''heart.'' All right, I'll take that, too! And most recently, ABC put out both a video podcast hosted by Becki Newton and Michael Urie (the duo's ''Ready for Betty'' song is a showstopper!) and one of those short, cool catch-up videos the network's been doing lately. Good stuff? For sure. But I suppose I should get back to the episode at hand.
That Horta doesn't lie: This was definitely a Betty-centric episode, in mostly the right ways. Aptly titled ''Twenty-Four Candles,'' the story focused on Ms. Suarez's official foray into her mid-20s. (I always forget that she's still so young!) The wacky dream sequence — Betty on a fairy-tale carriage ride with Henry — at the beginning completely set up what we all knew was coming: a day to remember, which inevitably meant, in Betty world, a totally botched celebration.
Excitedly raising the roof and shouting, ''Birthday girl in the house!'' as she waltzed up to Henry's apartment a few hours after the dream, Betty — toting her newly BeDazzled cell phone, courtesy of Justin — couldn't have been happier to run off to a romantic weekend in the Poconos. But instead, she discovered her worst nightmare: Charlie! Claiming she was in town for some sort of parenting seminar, Henry's baby mama successfully managed to get the weekend getaway canceled. Then, feigning sickness after a hilarious run-in with the cupcake-toting Hilda (who growled, ''These are not just decorative,'' as she scratched the wall with her talon-like fingernails), Charlie also managed to foil the backup plan: dinner, a concert in the park, and fireworks. My heart broke a bit watching Betty, as she stirred her fondue for two, sitting at the restaurant naively thinking Henry would show up at. Because her cell got screwed up in the BeDazzling process, she couldn't even hear Henry's message saying he couldn't make it. Oh, the perils of technology!
My first instinct is to treat Charlie like the witch she truly is. Showing up, by happenstance, on Betty's birthday and getting sick — everything she did was so calculated and cunning. There's no denying all that. But I loved that this story line set up the sweet birthday date between Betty and Gio. The sandwich guy saved the day — natch, in a horse-drawn carriage — and whisked Betty off to the birthday of her dreams (sort of), complete with construction-site fireworks. But Betty keeps pushing him away, and I need to know why. Granted, the love connection between her and Henry is strong, and they're über-cute together. But there's all that baggage with the baby and Charlie and everything. And — didja forget? — he's leaving when the baby is born. I'm still convinced the baby isn't even his. On the other corner of the triangle, there's a guy who's undeniably, majorly into Betty. He keeps coming back, even after she consistently shoos him away in a rather rude manner. Why — besides the chiseled body and cute, boyish grin — is Henry winning this contest? Gio knows what Betty dreams about, for goodness' sakes! He's the real deal. At least it seems that way right now.
What's more, Betty really didn't seem too upset that she wound up spending the evening with Gio. Granted, she was pleased to see Henry snoozing on her couch when she got back home, but where was the tantrum before that? The nasty breakup phone call? The suicidal trek to the Brooklyn Bridge? I'm just gonna say it: Trading a romantic evening with Henry for one with Gio went just a little too smoothly. Dare I suggest she's ready to give ol' Henry the heave-ho? It's time, people, for a Gio revolution!
NEXT: Willy and her sister square off
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