Splitting Up Together – Nevertheless…She Went Clubbing

By: Taylor Gates

Lena (Jenna Fischer) and Martin (Oliver Hudson) reveal that they’re now great friends, which is making everything easier on the entire family. After the last big fight they had, Lena realized she wasn’t ready to be dating, and Martin realized he was.

Martin runs into Lisa (Monica Barbaro), Milo’s (Sander Thomas) old tutor, at the grocery store. Martin reveals that he’s separated, and Lisa flirtatiously tells him her number is still good if he ever wants to grab brunch. Lena reminds Martin that she always hated Lisa with her fake glasses and superior attitude.

Mason (Van Crosby) and Lena decide to bake something epic for the bake sale: sea salted brondies. Mae (Olivia Keville) reveals she has to write a paper on a female role model starting with the phrase “nevertheless.” She’s decided to write about Maya (Diane Farr) because of her untraditional decision to have a kid on her own, which offends Lena.

Martin and Lisa have a romantic brunch, and Martin finds her calm attitude refreshing. He and Arthur (Bobby Lee) go to the barbershop so Martin can get cleaned up before his next big date, and Arthur encourages him to tell Lena the truth about going out with Lisa.

Lena goes to her father’s (Geoff Pierson) garage in search of something that proves she was a role model before she got married and had children. Maya and her father try and cheer her up, reminding her that she was eager to join the workforce in high school by working at a FedEx Kinkos. Lena is still bummed that Mae looks down on her because she takes care of her and is determined to teach her a lesson.

Lena puts on a sexy outfit and tells Mae and Mason that she’s going clubbing because she’s concerned too much of her identity is wrapped up in being a mom. Lena tells her driver (Julian Gant) to just drive around the block for about an hour to prove a point to her kids, but her driver encourages her to go to the club for real.

When she gets there, the club is absolutely deserted, as it’s not really open yet. Lena is determined to have fun and dances by herself anyway. After a few moments, she feels embarrassed and goes to sit in the bathroom. While there, she hears a woman named Zoey (Lizze Broadway) in the stall next to her puking and crying on the phone about a breakup. She crawls under the door to console Zoey, giving her Advil, wet wipes, and some mouth wash.

Lena gives Zoey a pep talk, telling her she doesn’t need a man and that if she’s going to give away the best parts of herself, it better be to someone who deserves it. She tells Zoey she’s great, and Zoey thanks her, telling her she would make a great mom.

Meanwhile, back at home, the kids think they hear a scary noise and go hide in the closet until Lena gets back. Milo texts Martin, and he and Lisa come over to rescue them. Martin tells them that Lisa is there for him and lectures them about how everything good in the house happens because of Lena. Lisa tells Martin that there’s a well-rated brownie store close by and that they shouldn’t make things harder than they have to be by baking.

When Lena gets home, she sees Lisa laughing with the kids and Martin lugging home a basket of brownies. Lena tells Martin she thinks the kids are ready for more responsibility. Martin agrees and apologizes for not telling her about Lisa.

That night, Mae crawls into Lena’s bed and says she’s a bad feminist and daughter. She says she’s sorry for mom-shaming her, and Lena reassures her that she chose to work part time so she could spend more time with her kids. Mae tells Lena she didn’t like how it felt when she wasn’t home that night because nevertheless, she makes everyone feel safe.

Martin and Lisa have sex, and Martin apologizes for how everything worked out that night with Lena and the kids. Lisa doesn’t mind, saying it is what it is, and Martin is smitten by her carefree outlook on life.