Last time: Zoey made it her mission to help Emily but it proved more difficult than she expected. Emily rebuffed any attempts by the family to help her and continued to put on a brave face, believing she couldn’t break down and had to be strong. Zoey invited Emily over for a girls’ night in hopes some pampering would get her sister-in-law to open up but Emily just wanted to dance. By the end, Emily did acknowledge she needed help and opened up to Zoey. She also asked David for help and support, which he gave.
Max struggled with keeping his relationship with Rose casual, Simon struggled with finding alone time with Zoey and Mo struggled with not being the center of Perry’s world. They had a boys’ night in and talked about their struggles together. Max and Rose decided not to be so casual, Simon finally got to spend some time with Zoey, and Mo got to meet Perry’s children.
Maggie reunited with Deb, who took her out to a casino where they pretended to be other people to forget about their worries. But it only worked for a little bit and a sad Maggie went back to the casino, no doubt desperate for some connection.
And in the end, Zoey finally went to see a therapist! Yay!
I’m in the final stretch of the season. Time to see how these storylines play out and what help Zoey will get from her therapist.
And as many of you no doubt know by now, NBC has decided not to renew the show for a third season or move it to Peacock, which had been the rumored track for the show given how strong it performs in digital viewings. However Austin Winsburg is not giving up and has vowed to continue to shop the show around. So hopefully someone will pick it up and we are all encouraged to use the hashtag SaveZoeysPlaylist in order to show the other networks how much support and love there is for the show.
I am going to stay hopeful that we can get a third season after all. So please use the hashtag and make your voice heard!
Yes, I’m havin’ a good time/I don’t want to SPOILERS at all!
Zoey enters a waiting room and hangs up her coat. She sits down on the couch and decides to break the silence, asking another patient what he’s in for. He seems surprised and the woman on the other side of her asks Zoey if she just asked that. And, hey, it’s Becca Tobin from Glee! Nice to see her again. Right now, she has no name but her character still strikes me to be like Kitty from Glee, so I’m just going to assume Kitty moved to San Francisco and is now in therapy.
Kitty pretty much dresses down Zoey for asking about why they are there and even trots out HIPPA. Zoey apologizes and the guy she was talking to says he didn’t kill anyone. She assures him she didn’t think that and apologizes for asking. Zoey zips her lips and says they can just sit there in silence.
So naturally, the guy next to her starts singing and Kitty joins in singing as well. It’s great to hear Becca singing again. More Becca! The entire waiting room sings “Overwhelmed” to Zoey, who looks pretty overwhelmed herself.
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(Zoey just wanted a little conversation, not this) |
Zoey tells her therapist that it’s hard to focus on herself when she has people singing to her all the time, like his waiting room. It’s all very stressful between her job, her family, her relationship with Simon, her friendships, and with her powers on top of all of that makes everything just extra chaotic. She then asks him if he thinks she’s crazy and he assures her that he’s not there to judge her.
(And while he may not think she’s crazy, I wonder if he feels her “powers” are just a cover for what is really bothering her and so is just humoring her to get to that “real” reason).
Anyway, her therapist recommends that she picks some part of her life that she can control and put her energy into it. Zoey decides she’s going to put her energy into her relationship with Simon, saying she hasn’t been the greatest girlfriend to him lately. He thinks that’s a good idea and Zoey vows to be the perfect girlfriend. The therapist brings her goals back down to realistic – just try to be better.
But Zoey wouldn’t be Zoey unless she was trying to be extra. Maybe that’s really her problem than her powers?
Deb visits Maggie who shows off her Peloton. Both seem a little wary of it but Maggie feels like she needs to do something. Deb notes that she went to the casino without Deb and reveals that Frank is a snitch. Maggie says that she had been in the neighborhood and just decided to drop in on a whim. Deb says next time to call her and then reveals a little TMI by saying she likes to be yelled at but not while exercising.
Zoey shows up at work and pops into Simon’s office, offering him a donut. She says there had been an apple fritter but it hadn’t survived the journey. He’s okay with the donut but not okay when she goes in to kiss him. Zoey recalls that they aren’t official at work and asks if he wants to tell everyone. But he’s still uncomfortable and it’s confirmed that Zoey is still his boss, so there’s a yikes of power imbalance in the relationship. She agrees and then asks if he has plans that weekend. When he confirms he doesn’t, she says that she’s going to focus on him and do whatever it is he wants to do. He asks if it can absolutely involve them in bed together and she agrees it can. Simon says he’ll think about what he wants to do and is looking forward to it.
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(Followed immediately by "Wait, did you save what you were working on?") |
She then goes to speak with her staff to reveal which phone they will be presenting to Danny Michael Davis. Tobin and McKenzie wish each other luck but are certain each will win. Zoey does a fake drumroll before revealing the winner is the drone phone. Tobin and McKenzie are confused and wonder where that phone came from. Leif steps forward and says he put his design in the ring, summoning a phone that flies into his hands. It then turns green when it lands, I guess using a palm print to confirm it’s in the right hand. Zoey says she was impressed and that they are going to pitch the drone phone to Danny Michael Davis. Everyone is going to need to work on it. Tobin and McKenzie are upset and Tobin is particularly betrayed.
Later, Max and Rose celebrate a great review of Maximo’s. Max had it framed and they put it in a prominent place, knowing that Mo will just move it anyway. They take a picture to commemorate the moment.
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(Way to go, Max!) |
Simon and Zoey talk about their plans for the weekend. Rose pops over and says she and Max are running in the Bay to the Breakers, a real annual race in San Francisco. Simon is all for it though Zoey isn’t. But since she’s promised to make the weekend about him, she agrees to run it. She excuses herself and says the weekend is going to suck as we go to our title card!
The next day, Zoey visits Mo to ask for some ankle weights. She explains she’s running a race with Simon, Max and Rose and doesn’t want her weak ankles to ruin anything. Mo decides to just give her the ankle weights and Zoey realizes that Perry was over. She apologizes but Mo tells Perry that he has his kids and Mo has Zoey. Perry seems to accept that and then reveals that Mo is meeting his ex-husband the next day. That certainly does seem to be a big deal. Zoey takes the ankle weights and leaves the apartment.
Before she can go too far, she starts to hear Perry singing “Unwell” and they need to let David St. Louis sing more. Can we get him some Marvin Gaye before the season is over? Because I feel like he would be amazing at some Marvin Gaye classics.
Zoey gives some lame excuse about her pilot light to get him into her apartment. When he realizes it was a lame excuse, Zoey says that his ex meeting his current boyfriend must be stressful and she would feel unwell over that. He admits that he’s nervous and that his ex-husband is a bit judgmental. Perry is worried he and Mo will clash. Zoey says that she and Simon will be at Maximo’s after the race and offers to serve as a buffer. Perry thanks her.
This will likely blow up in her face.
Max and Rose talk about the review of Maximo’s as they walk down a street. Rose then tells Max that she send the review to a friend back in New York who supports pop-up restaurants and the friend wants to fund a Maximo’s pop-up in New York. He’s intrigued, saying it would be nice to see his family. Rose also offers to let him stay at her apartment with her and he promises to think about it.
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(Max might just be convinced) |
Tobin and McKenzie are still mad about Leif’s phone beating theirs. They sneak off to a meditation room to vent about it but just end up making out.
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(Is Simon the only who uses the meditation room to meditate?) |
We get to the race and everyone meets at the starting line. Max and Rose have shown up as the Beckhams while Simon is dressed as Prince. Zoey shows up with socks stuck to her shirt and they are confused. She reveals she is static cling. Everyone then sees it but Zoey thinks she should’ve added dryer sheets to it. She tries to go get some but Simon realizes she’s trying to make a break for it and convinces her that it’s okay. Zoey is surprised how many people are there and wonder if everyone is really excited for the race. Max says they are and as if to prove it, Rose and Simon lead the crowd in an amazing rendition of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
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(Both were amazing in this number) |
And it’s a great number. It’s been a while since we’ve had a big group number like this (mostly due COVID) and this really captures the feeling of people about to do something they are really excited for. And Katie Findlay and John Clarence Stewart really work well off each other here. It’s a great showcase for both of them and the costumes are amazing.
When the song ends, Zoey calls out Max for lying about being excited about it. He looks confused until she tells him that everyone in a two block radius just performed a big group heartsong number except him and her. Max relents and says he isn’t really into it, neither the running nor the costumes. But he’s doing it for Rose.
Simon then approaches Zoey, who insists that she’s ready for the race. The race starts and everyone pushes past them, with one woman yelling “Move, Trash” to Zoey. Simon yells that she’s static cling before they start running together.
After the commercial break, champagne in a tub of ice is delivered to Zoey’s table and she places her foot in it. She apologizes that she fell and hurt her ankle so early in the race but everyone is okay with it. It just seemed they all had a good time and now are ready for some good food. Zoey reveals that she ordered dumplings from Simon’s favorite place. Simon and Zoey enjoy the champagne while Max and Rose enjoy sparkling water.
Perry and Brad show up at Maximo’s and introductions are made. Brad says he’s heard a lot about “him” and then asks if those are the proper pronouns to use. Mo confirms that he generally uses “he/him” but will accept “she/her/they/them” and that all are accepted in Maximo’s. He appreciates that Brad took the time to ask, though there is still some tension between them. Perry catches Zoey’s eye and she gets up to come help.
Zoey approaches them and says hi. Everyone is curious about her costume and she points out that she’s static cling. Brad and Mo then start exchanging snarkier and snarkier guesses for what she is and it’s clear the tension is broken. Zoey figures she did her job and heads back to her table.
Meanwhile, Maggie is back at the casino and seems to be on another winning streak. Deb asks to join her and Maggie realizes Frank ratted her out again. Deb says she’s concerned as her experience with people who gamble during the day are either addicts or are using it to fill some sort of hole. Either way, she knows both paths can end in dark places. Maggie assures her that she’s fine and doesn’t need Deb’s help. Deb then excuses herself.
When Zoey returns to her table, she finds that Rose and Simon are debating which coast is better – East or West. Rose is clearly Team East Coast while Simon and Zoey are Team West Coast. They try to say something positive about the other coast, though Simon struggles and his is mostly TV examples that makes me wonder if he’s even been to the East Coast. Zoey decides that Max should be the tie breaker since he’s lived on both coasts. Max hesitates but then starts singing “New York State of Mind,” which throws Zoey for a loop.
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(The calm before storm) |
I think this was the perfect song for Max to sing at this moment. Billy Joel is such a quintessential New York artist and we already know from last season that Max loves him. So naturally his heartsong about possibly going back to New York would involve him singing “New York State of Mind.” It works perfectly with Skylar Astin’s voice and I have to give Skylar credit. He made me miss New York City and I live there. The longing and reverence in his voice just evoked my deep abiding love for my city as well.
When the song finishes, Max says he likes both coast. Zoey, though, calls him out and says that he seems to be in an East Coast state of mind to her. He realizes what’s going on and tells her that he’s received an offer to have a pop-up version of Maximo’s in New York City and he’s considering taking it. Zoey asks for how long and he says he doesn’t know but probably a few months. Simon congratulates him but Zoey seems to be stuck on the fact that Max might be leaving. Mo then pops up and says that the race has caused so much traffic, the delivery people can’t drop off their meals so no one in Maximo’s is eating. Max jumps up, realizing it is their first crisis and gets to work.
Zoey goes to find Mo, who is busy mixing drinks to keep everyone calm. She asks him if he knew about Max possibly going to New York. Mo did and he supports it, saying it will be good for their restaurant. Zoey asks if he’s worried about running Maximo’s by himself but Mo is pretty sure he can handle it. What he’s worried about is Perry, who has been really quiet throughout their lunch. Zoey asks if he wants her to find out what’s going on and Mo agrees.
At SPRQ Point, Leif is sitting in Zoey’s office. Tobin enters and notes that it isn’t Leif’s office, which Leif says not yet. Leif apologizes for stepping on Tobin’s toes but Tobin is cool. He tells Leif that he and McKenzie made out because of their disappointment in their phones not getting chosen. He’s not sure where it’s going but he’s excited that there’s someone interested in him. Leif is so happy and they start jumping up and down together before remembering that Zoey’s office is a wall of glass so everyone can see them. They stop and try to play it cool as they head back to work.
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(So adorable) |
Zoey checks in with Brad and Perry, eating their fries as she is starving. They say everything is going well and Zoey tells Perry he was worried for nothing. Brad is surprised that he was worried and says that he and Mo are very similar. He then excuses himself and Perry confesses that he might be the problem. Zoey offers to help but he says he’s okay. She then nicks the fries and returns to her table, giving the fries to Simon since his dumplings still haven’t arrived.
Zoey gives Simon a massage as he and Rose continue to debate the better coast. Zoey then starts grilling Max on what he’s going to do with his apartment and car in San Francisco as well as paying rent in New York. He reveals that he’s planning on staying with Rose but he hasn’t really decided anything. Zoey tells him that his heart seems set on New York and he gets her message, upset that she’s gotten this insight into him and snapping at her. She says it’s not her fault that she’s so empathetic. They bicker for a bit more before Rose gets upset, leaving with Max chasing after her. Zoey sighs and apologizes to Simon for ruining lunch but he notes that he doesn’t have any lunch.
Zoey is back in therapy relating all of this to her therapist. He decides to focus on Max leaving and her relationship with Max, noting that it ended because he felt there was imbalance over how she had the special insight into him that she didn’t have into her. She agrees and says that’s why she doesn’t want to tell Simon about her powers, fearing it would ruin their relationship if he knew that she only was able to approach him because she heard him sing a heartsong and essentially forced a trauma bond. The therapist brings it back to Max and Zoey says she doesn’t want to talk about it if he’s going to suggest she still loves him. But he ties it back to loss. Within the span of less than a year, she lost her father and her mentor, Joan. Now she’s facing losing her best friend and it’s just too much for her. A tearful Zoey realizes he may have a point.
Deb visits Maggie to apologize for spying on her. She tells Maggie that her late husband had a serious problem with gambling and left her with a lot of debt. However, she feels closer to him when she’s at the casino. But she’s worried Maggie may be going down the same path. Maggie thanks her before revealing that the money she was using to gamble with was her paychecks from sleazy Roger. She felt it was too tainted for her to use so she thought that she would gamble it away. Except Maggie has a lucky streak and keeps winning. She pulls stacks of money from where she’s hidden it throughout her greenhouse, impressing Deb.
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(Another new reaction gif!) |
Zoey then visits Simon, bringing him the dumplings he didn’t get the night before. He sits her down for a serious talk, saying that her reaction to Max’s news really put a damper on their lunch. Simon wants to know if she still has feelings for Max and if so, they need to have a discussion about it. But she tells him that she worked it out in therapy and that it was just another loss for her. She promises that is all it is. He seems appeased but when he gets up, she hears him singing “Suspicious Minds,” suggesting that he doesn’t believe her assertions that she doesn’t have feelings for Max.
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(Simon is conflicted) |
After leaving Simon’s, Zoey visits her mother and discovers Maggie’s winnings. Maggie and Deb are arguing over what she should do with it. Maggie wants to be responsible and talks about fixing the roof. Deb, though, starts singing Gwen Stefani’s “Rich Girl” and Maggie joins in. Zoey suggests that Maggie spend 1/3 of the money on the house, save 1/3 of it for Miles and then use the remaining 1/3 for something fun. Deb says she has a cruise all picked out and Maggie is onboard.
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(Dance it out, ladies) |
At Mo’s, he and Perry have a talk. Perry says that he was really nervous when he first came out and worried how people would perceive him. And he said eventually, people accepted him. But now he’s realized he hasn’t completely dealt with all his old insecurities. He knows it’s a him problem. Mo agrees and says that he’s comfortable with who he is but if Perry isn’t, then maybe they aren’t going to work.
(No! I love Perry and Mo! I hope they can make it work!)
Zoey goes to Maximo’s to talk with Max. She apologizes for how she reacted and congratulates Max on his opportunity. Zoey says she’ll miss him and will be waiting to celebrate his return. She hopes this smooths things over between them but Max says that he can’t keep doing this dance with her. He says he needs time apart from her to figure things out. This hurts Zoey and she says that it seems New York came along at a good time. She tells him he should go and get away from her. As she walks away, Max sings a reprise of “New York State of Mind,” breaking her heart a bit more.
Okay, deep breathes everyone. Now release.
That episode certainly was intense. And it made me nervous for the fate of Zoey and Simon’s relationship. But at the same time, I thought he had a good vibe going with Rose. Maybe it’s a case of “pair the spares,” but I think maybe he and Rose could pursue something if Zoey and Max end up back together again.
Because I do think we’re seeing Simon and Zoey’s relationship collapse and I’m a bit sad that they didn’t give them more time. It almost was the same with Zoey and Max. They got together and got to be happy for about five seconds before it all went to shit. We do know from what the script tells us that there have been significant time jumps (like a few weeks or a month) between episodes but it still feels very rushed to me. I think if I could look back and give the writers any advice, it would be to slow down and not rush things. To not have Zoey enter a relationship only for it to break down immediately afterwards. It feels like they weren’t too sure if they wanted to get rid of the triangle and just keep jerking us around because of it.
But maybe more on that during my post-season wrap up.
I also wish we had seen more of Becca Tobin’s character if just for my own selfish desire just to see her again. I hope that we see her again in the upcoming episodes since I know Zoey continues to see the therapist for at least one more episode.
I also loved the idea that Maggie was trying to gamble away the money from Roger because she didn’t want to keep it but that she just kept winning. I am liking the friendship between her and Deb. I hope they have a lot of fun on their cruise.
Not sure where they’re going with McKenzie and Tobin but I’m here for the ride. I do wonder if Leif starts to feel like the odd man out of their trio if Tobin and McKenzie do start dating. How their dynamic changes will be an intriguing detail to explore.
And once again, I hope we don’t lose Perry. I like his character, I think he’s good for Mo and I love his voice. So hopefully things work out, even if not in this season.
(Because I’m still holding onto hope we will have a Season 3).
Next time: We get to see Zoey’s first day at SPRQ Point.
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