Two Takes: Satisfaction “…Through Revelation” 

Well, that didn’t go down the way we were expecting and we like that. Tina and Kara here, weighing in on tonight’s episode. We’ve both been enjoying this season of Satisfaction so far, so for “…Through Revelation,” we thought we’d write the recap together. Although we don’t always agree on everything, we’re united in thinking next week’s season finale is gonna be big – for Neil and Grace’s marriage, for Adriana’s master plan, for Simon’s big favor and for the future of Anika and Mateo’s music and relationship.

Tina: After Simon coming clean at the end of last week’s episode, I can’t believe Grace held on to the secret this week. But you know what? Part of me is okay with it. Because sometimes letting secrets out will inflict more damage than originally intended. Sometimes they can lay waste to everything and destroy the very life that you actually want to hold on to. However, I’m torn. I want Neil and Grace to hash things out. But there’s potential for even more drama with the way things turned out.

Kara: I was surprised Grace was able to hold her tongue, especially when we could see that she was at war with herself. But, she doesn’t know anything for sure because she doesn’t confront Neil. Of course we know Simon’s telling the truth, but how can Grace know that? She’s got to trust Simon to some degree, but he’s made his agenda very clear: he wants to be with her. The stakes are very high for him. And that little daydream Grace had about being married to Simon? I don’t know. It didn’t really work for me.

Tina: I actually liked this daydream because it proved something to me. It proved she clearly doesn’t have the same connection with Simon that she does with Neil. Even for those couple of minutes they interacted about Anika, I felt something between them. And I didn’t feel anything between Grace and Simon, even though he supports her dreams and finding herself. So that daydream was heartbreaking to me. It also helped explain why she ultimately didn’t tell Neil the truth. You know who had no problem divulging a secret? Adriana. She told Simon what Neil’s been up to as of late. She so wants Neil to herself and she’s determined to make it happen. That’s why she said this to Simon: “So if Grace is what you want, just go tell her who she’s married to.” So cold, Adriana. So cold.

Kara: It’s interesting. We know Adriana wants Neil and isn’t above playing games to get him. But the problem is that if she actually manages to get him this way, there’s no way she’ll be able to hold on to him. Neil will not stand for it when he finds out what she’s been up to. So, I think if Adriana wants something real with Neil, she needs to be honest with him and herself. We’ve seen flashes of her vulnerability and I guess to a certain extent, she is putting herself out there with him. She suggested herself as a client, but Neil doesn’t seem to be going for it. So in “…Through Revelation,” she apologizes. Is she pretending to do the right thing in order to get what she ultimately wants? I think we all know the answer to that. But back to Simon for a minute. I like that he’s got a plan, that he doesn’t think being an escort is a long-term prospect for him. I wonder who he called that favor for. I kind of can’t wait to find out what it is.

Tina: I really, really want to know who he called as well. I’m a big fan of mini-cliffhangers at the end of episodes to help keep up the urgency of the show. All last week I wondered how Grace would react to finding out Neil’s known about her and Simon for a while now. This week, I guarantee you I’ll wonder who the hell Simon called and why he’s calling in that favor. I’m a little afraid for Neil right now. He and Simon don’t play. Neil sicced the IRS on Simon. What is Simon going to do that will affect Grace and/or Neil’s life?

Kara: There’s no easy way to transition over the Anika/Mateo stuff, so that was my lame attempt at it. Where to begin? On the one hand, I kind of admire their metaphorical balls in asking their parents for the money they’ve put aside for their education. After Mateo decided not to sign with that (sleazy) producer, it became clear how serious he and Anika were about making music together. I don’t know if I think college is for everyone – it’s just something a lot of us do without thought. It’s expected. I think if you know you don’t want that, it’s worth it to try something else. But the music business is really tough to break into and I think the struggle to make a name for yourself is a necessary part of any journey. They need to try to make it on their own, and at least Mateo is going to have to because his father spent the money that was set aside for his higher education.

Tina: Before I get into the whole Anika/Mateo portion of the episode, I think it’s awesome that Richard T. Jones played Mateo’s mess of a dad. Let’s see, some of his TV credits include Judging Amy, Hawaii Five-O and Revolution, etc. I love him. And I actually really enjoy watching what’s going on with Anika’s life and how her parents’ soul searching or whatever it is that they’re doing affects her life. Anika and Mateo’s presentation’s well thought out. A bit unrealistic but well thought out. I’m glad Anika really didn’t want to make that big a move of going out on tour with Mateo. She’s not ready. I’m glad she still wants to be a girl who lives with her parents. That Grace/Anika scene when they discuss this as well as her parents possibly divorcing is enjoyable. Some of the stuff that goes down between Anika and Mateo involving that girl he used to go out with is kind of silly, however. But they’re young so that kind of drama is to be expected. It’s just weird watching all this adult drama unfold and then all of a sudden having to witness the kind that’s normally what you’d see on any teen show. I don’t know. I am here to watch the adults go through all this turbulence.

Kara: Agree. Sometimes I think Anika flies right off the handle, but then I remember that she’s a teen and that’s bound to happen. I’m not saying all teens are overemotional and prone to drama, but Anika certainly can be. But she’s also incredibly perceptive as well. She knows something’s going on with her parents and she knows it isn’t good. I liked it when Grace assured Anika that she and Neil weren’t getting a divorce. And I think that’s true for now. It’s huge that Grace suggested she and Neil go to therapy. They need it if they want to make this marriage work.

The season one finale of Satisfaction airs Thursday, September 18th at 10/9c on USA Network.