Two Takes: The Catch “The New Deal” 

WARNING: Spoilers for The Catch and a Suits spoiler (thanks to the presence of Gina Torres)

ABC’s The Catch returned with a couple of new characters, new twists, and a new deal for Ben. Let’s backtrack a little. You see, at the end of last season, Ben came forward and turned himself in for the crimes the FBI tried to pin on Alice.

So when we see him at the beginning of Season 2 (after the Ben and Alice love-making interlude), he’s wearing prison blues and partaking in a daily ritual: Alice comes to visit him every morning for some light banter and discussion of their plan. He’ll serve his three-to-five-year sentence and then when he gets out they’ll be together forever, live happily ever after, and he goes legit.

We all knew that plan was never going to come to fruition, right? Enter Gina Torres’ Justine Diaz with a brand new plan, one that’s supposed to get Ben out in 24 hours. Unfortunately, before that can happen, Rhys’ own scheme gets in the way. It’s all convoluted but in the best way possible.

Two Takes: “The New Deal”

Tina: Oh, Cortney. I’m so happy this show is back. I binged the first season a couple of months ago, so I didn’t have to wait as long for new episodes as those viewers who were on board when the show originally aired last spring. Thankfully, ABC and Hulu posted the entire season so I could catch up. Pun intended. What’s your backstory when it comes to this show?

Cortney: Haha, well, I have been one of those people chomping at the bit waiting for this show to return since last May. I’ve been a BIG fan since day 1 and am so glad you FINALLY got on board! I loved everything about Season 1 — it moved swiftly, had great twists and turns and the chemistry between Alice and Ben, don’t even get me started! They are phenomenal together and I love that they’ll be working TOGETHER this season…but of course, that’s not the only pair up I’m eager to see. Can I jump straight to the big Margot surprise at the end or do we want to tackle some of the set up first?

Tina: I don’t mind starting at the end because, honestly, that was such a fierce moment. Margot shows up at Anderson Vaughan Investigations to hire Alice and Valerie because she knows someone’s targeting the Kensington Firm but she doesn’t know who. Some mysterious force has burned down their hotel in Bilbao, Spain.

According to Margot and Rhys’ mom (the lovely Lesley Nicol from Downton Abbey fame), this building was essential. Her husband — Margot and Rhys’ father — used it to hide a nest egg. It was the family’s insurance ticket should their organization burn to the ground, so to speak.

For me, Margot turning to Alice and Valerie is such a fascinating development. I’m going to assume that someway or somehow Margot gets Alice and Valerie to agree and the trio will have to find a way to work together. The fact there’s so much baggage with the women, is mighty glorious. The most major baggage being both Alice and Margot’s history with Ben/Christopher. I’m excited. If you can’t tell.

Cortney: I am right there with you!! I have no doubt this team-up is inevitable and will provide us with some amazingly entertaining, but equally tense, scenes. Like they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer! One of the things I love about this twist is how it immediately conveys the gravity of the situation, but you know Margot has an immense amount of pride and does not like to show weakness — just ask the guy who ended up with a bullet in his head for answering his phone at the meeting! That scene was one of my favorites and such a phenomenal illustration of who Margot is.

What I’m wondering though is what will Alice and Valerie get out of it? Because you know they’re not just doing it for the money or out of the goodness of their hearts. How do you think they’ll play this? Will they take it to Diaz and Dao and use it as leverage to help Ben? Or will they keep this case to themselves? Speaking of the FBI, I’m dying to hear your thoughts on the addition of Suits’ alum Gina Torres to the cast….

Tina: I don’t know how they’re going to play Alice, Valerie and Margot working together. Knowing this show, it will be fun, complicated, hold many twists, and might even get deadly at some point. Oh and I have a comment about Agent Dao I want to drop on you, but I’ll save it for later. First I want to get to Gina Torres.

She’s basically the reason why I decided to binge the first season of The Catch. Where she goes, I follow. I’m really heartbroken she left USA Network’s Suits. I still watch it and, let me tell you, as much as I love the entire cast of that show, I felt her absence during those last few episodes of season six. Now I also know that [SPOILER ALERT], Jessica Pearson came back to help her friends out in the finale — and I also read that there’s going to be a spinoff of her Suits character, which is awesome news.

But for now, she’s on The Catch. She’s fierce as usual. I’m going to wait to see how her character really folds into the rest of the show until I make any judgment. But I’m glad she’s here. I can’t wait to see what she’ll do.

What did you think of T.R. Knight? I have to say that Alice’s brother, Tommy, kind of annoyed me the entire episode. But that’s just one hour of television. Now that they’ve blended him into the mix, I’m going to sit back and reserve judgment and see what he’ll do, too. I am going to need Tommy to stay away from Sophie, though. I like her and Danny too much to want to see anything go wrong so soon in their…whatever you want to call it.

Cortney: A Suits spinoff?! I had no idea. Well, if her joining The Catch wasn’t enough to make my day, that definitely just did the trick! However, I agree, we haven’t seen enough of her on The Catch to know how what role her character will play. And even after we do see more, I’ll still be weary to rush to conclusions as we both know not everything is as it appears on this show. As far as T.R. Knight, I had a feeling you might not be on board with him joining the cast as Tommy.

Tina: Yes, I confess. I wasn’t the biggest fan of his character on Grey’s Anatomy.

Cortney: That being said, I do appreciate that he’s not playing George O’Malley. Since The Catch is also a Shonda Rhimes show, I was a bit concerned she may channel a little of his Grey‘s character in here. But luckily, she didn’t go that route and instead made him a different kind of annoying. lol.

To be honest, while his manic energy was a bit much for me and definitely not something I’d want to deal with in real life, I didn’t mind him THAT much on the show. Mostly because he finally gave us some insight into Alice’s past, which is something we’ve gotten very little of so far. However, if he does stick around, I’m definitely going to need him to turn it down a notch. And yes, stay away from Sophie! It took her and Danny long enough to kind-of sort-of whatever it is and we don’t need Tommy getting in the way 🙂

Now I’m dying to hear your comment on Dao! It took me a while to warm up to him last season, but now that he and Valerie are playing flirty cat-and-mouse, I’m totally on board. These two are too cute together.

Speaking of other couples I’m ‘shipping, Alice and Ben’s daily prison phone visits — gah! You can feel the chemistry between them even between the glass. And I’m loving that they’ll actually get to work together this year.

Tina: 1) Tommy. I totally agree with you on the fact that with Tommy’s presence we’re finally learning more about Alice’s past. Their dad was a conman, although Alice, I believe, is reluctant to slap a conman label on her father. We also find out she almost married someone named Ethan, who was good to Tommy. “That makes one of us,” Alice says. I need to know more. Oh and another SPOILER ALERT: Warren Christie of Alphas, GG2D, and USA Network’s recently cancelled Eyewitness, joins the show in a recurring role, he’s playing Ethan Ward. I’m very anxious and excited about this. I love love love Christie, but from what little Alice has said, I’m scared his character is going to throw everything into chaos (or more into chaos, should I say).

2) Agent Dao. It did take a little bit to warm up to the Fed in season one, but I did. He has one of the best smiles out there. He and Valerie are totally hot. Like so many sparks when they’re around each other. I’m happy he got himself a promotion but he said the job’s going to take him to D.C. I don’t want Dao and Valerie (Vao? Dalerie? I like Vao!) to do the long-distance dance. But I did enjoy that scene where they decided to “celebrate until one of us gets hurt” instead. This show is so hilarious (and twisted) sometimes.

3) Alice and Ben. I can’t believe we’ve waited this long to talk about our favorite couple. These two have obstacles coming out of their obstacles. Ben started the episode in prison for pete’s sake. He thought he was making a deal with Agent Diaz. But then his bosom buddy Rhys has him shanked and breaks him out. Nothing can go right for Ben and Alice. But, eventually, a new deal is worked out so that Ben and Alice can kinda sorta be together…if they’re real sneaky about it.

I don’t know about you, but I still see the sparks between the two. They roll with the punches. They try to protect each other at all costs. Mostly, I love the way they smile at each other when they’re actually in the same room. They are adorable. They have the worst luck, but they are so damn adorable.

Cortney: Whaaaat?! You are full of valuable intel today! I knew Warren Christie was joining the cast but I had no idea he was playing Ethan! Hmmm, this definitely sounds like one of the potential obstacles coming out of their obstacles (that’s my new favorite phrase, by the way! Expect me to use it often!). I wonder if his return has something to do with Tommy? Either way, and I know I’m jumping ahead to #3, I can’t imagine anyone coming between Alice and Ben romantically. Logistically, legally and physically, yes. But romantically, nope.

These two are beyond adorable together and I think anyone who can’t see the sparks needs to get their eyes checked. The casting of these two (Mireille Enos and Peter Krause) is spot on. Even last season when she was tracking him down and we didn’t officially know if what they “had” was real, the looks between the two of them still hinted at a connection that was undeniable. And the whole protecting each other regardless of the consequences thing — yep, true love, sign me up.

That being said, you brought up another point I wanted to touch on — Rhys. As much as I adore the Alice/Ben romance, I have to say that I’m also totally on board with the Ben/Rhys bromance, even if it is a bit one sided and Ben is pulled into it kicking and screaming (or knocked out on the couch) at times. Rhys cracks me up. I don’t know if it’s the accent or the quirky over-confidence and nonchalance, but I love when he sticks his nose where it doesn’t belong. I think part of it is also that he’s SO different from Margot, as well as Ben, which adds a unique, and generally unpredictable, spin on things.

Back to Dao — you hit the nail on the head, it’s totally the smile. It’s got a sweetness to it that starts at the eyes and seems so inconsistent with the tough guy FBI agent character, which is what I think makes it even more endearing. And as far as Vao, count me in! That being said, I’m concerned about the long-distance thing. They can’t have possibly set up this great personal storyline for him only to ship him off, can they??

Tina: I hope not. Agent Dao — and his super smile of joy — must remain part of the action. I’m with you on Rhys, this character is one of my favorite reasons to watch The Catch. John Simm is electric as Margot’s brother and it’s endearing to me that he will do almost anything for Ben. It’s his love for Ben that almost makes me forget how much of a bad guy Rhys can truly be. Almost. Who am I kidding? I am totally on board with him just like you are, Cortney. Just as long as he doesn’t betray Ben. Ever.

Now I have a few questions. Where is Alimi Ballard’s Reggie? He was Ben’s conman buddy last season and then ended up in an alliance with Margot by the end of Season 1. He wasn’t in the premiere. I hope that doesn’t mean he’s gone for good. Same with Nia Vardalos. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I enjoyed her as expert counterfeiter Leah Wells. Wonder if she and her dog will be making an appearance (or four) in this next run of episodes?

Plus, I’m curious to find out more about what has Margot scared. How Alice and Ben are going to figure out how to spend time together over the next 18 months (that’s how long his undercover deal is for). Who put 3 million dollars in an offshore account in Tommy’s name. Whether Danny and Sophie are going to get their act together. And more about Alice’s past which includes this Ethan guy.

What else has you curious? This show has lots to tackle and juggle, don’t you think?

Cortney: I think you covered it all! While I’m eager for the return of Reggie, I nearly forgot about Leah until you mentioned her — that’s what happens when you have to wait 10 months for the show to return! I also agree that there has to be much more to this Margot situation that we know as of yet. And while I don’t have $3 million like Tommy, if I did, I would bet that money ending up in an offshore account has something to do with Ethan’s return….maybe? As far as Danny and Sophie, I think the little dance they’re doing will last a bit longer, but I’m okay with that since it keeps things interesting and I think Danny definitely needs a little more oomph before he’s ready to be the man Sophie needs.

And while I agree that the show has a lot to tackle and juggle, I think the fact that it will be ditching the random case-of-the-week format this season to focus on cases that affect the main characters’ lives, backstories and relationships will give them much more room to play and ensure that every moment adds to the bigger picture. Another interesting change this season, rather than being a straight up caper-drama, the show will be going the “rom com route” according to executive producer Allen Heinberg. Hmmm, I’m not exactly sure what this means or how I feel about it, to be honest. But as we mentioned before, this show already has plenty of romance and a great sense of humor, so I’m willing to strap in and go along for the ride — wherever that may take us!

The Catch airs Thursday nights at 10/9c on ABC.