I wondered about the hugging too. I assumed it was meant as character growth, but wasn't sure how legit it was (given the time frame, as you mention).

[Man knocks on door]
[kid answers]
Man: "Is your mom home?"
Kid: "No, she ain't."
Man: "Mind your grammar, kid."
Kid: "She ain't home either."

[Marco pronunciation]

I really think it's just better to avoid those two words. The extra mental steps I have to take (Which of the two does the writer/speaker mean? Is he using the wrong one by mistake?) make me feel it's just not worth the trouble.

Morgue Guy: "Can I HELP you?"
Marco: something something "my son"
Morgue Guy: "Of course." [leaves]

The chipper tone in her voice killed me.

Good point. I hadn't thought about that.

The scene where they breathe liquid oxygen is horrifying to me.

Is it cheezy or, conversely, apt that the big conflict gets boiled down (for a moment, at least) to "Will Sonya be able to lie convincingly"? I mean, on the one hand, it's a little painful how obvious the show is about letting us see the artifice that goes into manipulating us. On the other hand, it kinda *is* the…

That "Hey!" was superb.

I liked the episode, but almost despite itself. Too many hacky moves. She takes off her sling to show that she means business? Ugh. Then she had to support her bad arm herself, which is more work, not less.

Hah!

I found Marco's words to her in the hospital (even taking into consideration that he has just lost his son) way, way harsh. She looked like she was being tortured. He was placing her in the worst social situation ever. What's your take on that scene? She really was making an effort to behave as a friend would (now…

Her inability to lie—more specifically, the way she laughed in Amanda's face—was endearing. (But not very conducive to longevity.)

I had a feeling I was gonna get that wrong.

Michelle from Yul's season would be cool. She was a victim of reshuffling (and gravity).

The paddle was a foot!

Howard has a weird verbal tic wherein he adds unnecessary "of which"s to his phrases and other "embellishments" that obscure meaning.

There were times at the beginning when Amanda was a breath of fresh air (pointing out Aaryn's racism to her); later on, Helen was an island of relative sanity and gamesmanship (though the crying/transparent emotional manipulation was annoying, and it was hard to root for her when she was so thoroughly duped by that…

I remember that miscast vote very fondly.