All For One Recap: Episodes 15-17

By starrymag | April 11, 2016

By: Michelle Rose Micor

 

Happy Monday Digital Beans! Are you hanginging in there after last week’s angsty finish? If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still reeling from the tearful heartache that is Portiana, but something tells me we haven’t seen the last of them just yet!

Betrayal seems to be the theme of last week’s episodes as it’s one stab in the back after another. In Episode 15, audiences get to witness a very drunk Ariana (Angie Lopez), Miller (Dan Mousseau) and Dorothy (Gwenlyn Cumyn) accompanied by a not so thrilled Portia (Claire Gagnon-King). It would seem that things have gone to plan in getting Rochefort (Damien Doepping) fired from being Rick’s right hand man. But things are just beginning to brew…

While Portia is more concerned about how to tell Alex (Alejandra Simmons) that they went behind her back, the rest of the gang is getting liquored up and we get to see a side of Ariana that isn’t very pleasing. In a hilarious reenactment of Portia seducing Rochefort to get information, it becomes even more obvious of Portia’s discomfort.

It’s during their reenactment that Alex barges in demanding to know what happened only to get ganged up on by Ariana, Dorothy and Miller while Portia remains silent. Miller tries to intervene and defend their actions, but is immediately shot down by Alex who calls him the same manipulating kid she knew him as from before.

Alex finally throws her hands up in defeat telling Dorothy she can do whatever she wants. What happens next is my favorite scene of the episode. As Alex turns to leave, Dorothy asks her, in a softer tone, not to tell Treville (Denise Yuen). I don’t know what it is about this scene, but it’s evident that Dorothy feels guilty. I don’t know if it’s the pressure from Miller or what, but to me it seems like our dear Dorothy is starting to crack.

The next episode starts out a bit more less dramatic, at least for a few seconds as the gang enjoys a good old fashioned Nerf war. Despite the somewhat relaxed environment, there definitely seems to be tension between Portia and Ariana. As much as I am a lover of angst, it’s almost too heartbreaking to watch.

Their Nerf war ends rather abruptly after an unexpected email from Rick shows up in Portia’s inbox inviting her to meet him at his office. Portia thinking their cover is blown immediately wants to decline his offer, but after some rather aggressive coaxing from her friends and girlfriend she agrees. Their next plan is laid out, while Portia goes to meet Rick – she’ll lure him out allowing Ariana to infiltrate his office to hack into his computer.

Here the episode takes an unexpected turn – while Dorothy takes some time to fill in The Inseparables on what’s been going on, she gets a surprise visit from a not so sober Rochefort. He stands on uneasy legs as his body rocks back and forth and in his drunken stupor blames Dorothy for everything that’s happened. Rochefort continues to rant and asks Dorothy if she has any idea who he really is. The “he” to which he is referring to is a bit unclear, but as Rochefort gestures to the door my bet is on Miller who just left seconds prior to him arriving. Dorothy finally has enough and ushers him to leave but not before some final words, “You don’t know him.”

The way Damien Doepping delivers his final line of the episode is absolutely chilling. One minute he’s an emotional, drunk wreck and the next he’s completely serious and unwavering in telling Dorothy she has no idea as to what she’s gotten herself into. In the final scene, Dorothy silently takes back to her camera and just stares. The look of complete exhaustion and confusion plastered across her face.

Episode 17 – Were you ready for it? Because I sure as hell wasn’t. The episode opens with the gang, sans Portia, cheersing to the success of their most recent mission. As they rehash the details to the rest of the interweb, an unknown part of the mission surfaces finally pushing Portia to her breaking point.

It comes to be known that not only did Ariana hack into Rick’s computer, but she also left him a little gift…a gift called meth! Miller apparently “knows a guy,” which is how the drugs came to be in his possession and after planting them in Rick’s office he calls campus security to give them a heads up.

In other news, Miller still has a flip phone (Laura Hollis would be proud) which he can’t seem to stop checking throughout the episode. Meanwhile, Portia continues to freak out over the news of drugs being planted and really I can’t blame her. Everyone is so nonchalant about it, but Portia is absolutely terrified. I can’t say enough of how amazing Claire Gagnon-King’s acting is in this episode, especially as she fully encompasses every emotion that she’s fought back in previous episodes.

Everyone’s attention is interrupted as Ariana’s computer notifies them that her encryption has finally worked giving her full access to Rick’s computer. A few poorly photoshopped photos later, the gang uncovers what Rick has been holding over Anne since their breakup – naked photos.

It dawns on Portia that once they call Rick out on what he’s hiding, he’ll release the naked photos and put two and two together that they were the ones who planted the drugs. Portia’s moral compass is admirable as she refuses to let Rick go down for a crime he didn’t commit, but Ariana laughingly tries to calm her down. And unlike times before, Portia isn’t staying quiet. And just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does…Miller hears from his friends that campus security did nothing to Rick, indicating that his power goes higher than they know.

The news doesn’t deter the rest of the team as they try to figure out what to do next, but Portia declares that she’s done, resulting in Ariana calling her a child. And then what I absolutely dreaded (but secretly wanted to happen) happens. Portia ends her relationship in an emotional scene witnessed by Miller and Dorothy,  who are sitting idly by.

Ariana, in an effort to salvage her relationship apologizes profusely, but it’s just a little too late for Portia who is already telling her she loves her but has to let her go. I will be the first person to admit that I teared up watching this scene. I was that girl on the train going home from work watching this emotional break up and crying! Watching it for the first time, I felt like I was in the room with the characters. The raw dynamic between Angie Lopez and Claire Gagnon-King is just absolutely amazing. The way the two feed off of each of other brings such an authenticity to the scene that gives you a twisted gut feeling every time you watch it, making this my favorite episode of the series by far.

Portia leaves and although Dorothy urges Ariana to go after her, a tear-filled Ariana simply says no. More determined than ever, Ariana wants her revenge even more now, after all she’s got nothing to lose.

So woof, last week…In one word it was crazy. The highs, lows and everything in between were just mind blowing. I have no idea what to expect next week but I know it’ll be nothing short of amazing. From Rochefort calling his own cousin out to the Portiana break up, I’m just too excited to see where this all goes.

Remember to catch new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30PM EST and in recent news from KindaTV, the season finale of All For One will be aired live, something that has yet to be done! So subscribe, catch up and share with us all your feelings on the wonderful web series that is All For One.