‘Privileged’ 1.05 Review: I’m Sorry Means Nothing
Original Air Date: October 7, 2008
This is the episode that partially restored my limited confidence in Privileged’s ability to rise above the saccharine dreck and actually be about something worth watching. Chalk it all up to the super serious moments revolving around sisters who hate each other (Megan and Lily, of course) and guys who aren’t too far from doing the same (Charlie and Will).
The episode opens with Megan excited about a weekend spa visit with Jacob after three months of no time off. The trip isn’t to be, however, because Laurel has to go out of town on business and needs Megan to chaperone the twins’ not-so-secret pool party. For once I wish Megan would say no, but, predictably, she says yes.
Before the big party day, Rose overhears Megan being typically bitchy to Lily on the phone. The catchphrase of the conversation and the episode is, “I’m sorry means nothing coming from you.” And, yes, Lily gets to turn the knife back on Megan later when she repeats that little ditty to her big sis.
Disturbed at the drastic contrast between her relationship with her twin Sage and Megan’s non-relationship with Lily, Rose practically begs her tutor to invite Lily to the party. Miracle of miracles, she gets through to Megan by repeating back the tutor’s remark that “it’s the effort that counts,” and Megan calls in the invite.
All seems to be going well at the event, save for the uppity teenage partygoers insisting that Megan serve them alcohol illegally, until two things happen. First, the twins’ “friends” Breckyn and Jordana spike Sage’s drink with a muscle relaxant while she’s lavishing attention on The Hills’ Lauren Conrad during her fleeting cameo that lasts about ten seconds (I feel sorry for anybody who tuned in just to see LC). The reason is to get back at Sage for hijacking their party by scheduling her party for the same time. As a result, drama queen Sage comes down with a bit of dizziness and a mild case of hives.
Second, just when it seems that Megan and Lily have finally started to bond, Megan is called away, Lily is left alone in the twins’ room, and soon Rose informs Megan that one of her dozen diamond tennis bracelets has been stolen. Following the huge blowout between the Smith sisters, Rose recants and claims she forgot she loaned the jewelry to a friend, but the damage is done by then. As soon as Rose initially reports the bracelet missing, Megan accuses Lily of theft and kicks her out of the house and her life in front of everybody at the party.
The kicker is that despite Rose’s attempts to rectify the situation and Megan’s regret for jumping to negative conclusions about her younger sister, Lily really did steal that bracelet. Later, while out drinking with Will, she takes it out of her purse, making me one happy viewer.
It’s encouraging that the show took the difficult way out of this one just when the cutesy, neatly wrapped-up plots were starting to get intolerable. Privileged needs some major conflict that goes beyond nasty Sage and her endless childish schemes.
And, on that note, the thinly veiled, nasty back-and-forth between Will and Charlie at the party is most welcome, too. Megan introduces the two for the first time, and Charlie promptly proceeds to try and show up the good-looking rich guy by pointing out how much he doesn’t know about the Smith sisters. This is the first time we really get to see that Will is more than just a playboy, and I like it.
Yes, I love Charlie, too, and it’s sad he has to realize that Megan will probably never see him as anything more than a friend. But, Megan is currently one of my least favorite characters on the show. I’m looking forward to Charlie getting over her and moving on to someone better and less self-involved.
Hands down, “All About Friends and Family” is the best episode of Privileged thus far. Here’s hoping it represents a turning point for the series from the silly to the more mature and interesting.
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POSTED IN: Privileged, Recaps
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