Younger – The Unusual Suspect

By starrymag | July 2, 2019

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

 

 

Liza (Sutton Foster), Maggie (Debi Mazar) and Kelsey (Hilary Duff) are having breakfast at Clare (Phoebe Dynevor) and Josh’s (Nico Tortorella) place. Josh snuggles his baby. Lauren (Molly Bernard) joins in and cannot wait to share her thoughts on her newest binge “Exonerated. “Josh is confused. Liza explains how it’s about this infamous murderer Audrey Colbert, who in spite of being charged for murdering a couple who invited her for a three-way at Four Seasons hotel, still claims that she was in the bathroom when it occurred. Kelsey adds that the couple was stabbed 16 times. The final verdict is yet to be declared.  Meanwhile, Colbert is close to pitching a book and Millennial has a meeting with her the next day. It’s a secret as they don’t want any other publishing company to catch wind and snag this potential bestseller off the market.

 

The baby starts to cry. Josh and Clare leave to attend to her. Lauren is gaga over this couple’s cuteness. Maggie almost barfs. Apparently she has kept her distance from all women ever since she’s had to deliver Clare’s baby into her bare hands in the back of an Uber. Lauren feels bad for her and promises to help fix it. Liza leaves to catch up with her remaining “Exonerated” episodes. She secretly fantasizes about her being the sinful Audrey Colbert who playfully lures Charles (Peter Hermann) [a.k.a. her imaginary Tim Weigel] and steals him for a night of pure pleasure behind one of the closeted doors at the Rubin museum in New York.

 

That day at the office Kelsey and Diana (Miriam Shor) meet Quinn (Laura Benanti). Diana mentions how CLAW has been pillaging it’s way to the bestseller’s list for three weeks straight now. Quinn adds that #CLAW is trending on Twitter and how “The Cut” wants to feature her for their next How I Get it Done series. She wants to be interviewed by her own publisher though. Kelsey is fine with it, but her expressions say otherwise. She and Liza later discuss about the pitch meeting they have with Audrey Colbert in which Diana refuses to join as she’s scared to sit inches away from an alleged murderer.

 

Lauren takes Maggie to a support group where people have been psychologically scarred after witnessing their better halves give birth and it has affected their physical drives. Soon their group leader, Beth (Nicole Ari Parker), arrives and encourages people to share their own stories. She and Maggie develop an immediate connection and they surreptitiously try to sneak a peek at one another throughout the therapy session. The session turns out to be short-lived for Maggie though who leaves after feeling too overwhelmed.

 

Kelsey and Liza meet Audrey (Willa Fitzgerald). She’s sits there staring creepily at them while Redmond (Michael Urie) tries all possible ways to put Audrey in a good light. Audrey asks the women if they think she is a murderer. Kelsey and Liza go all gung-ho and start saying how much they believe in her and are sure she never touched a knife! Audrey is pleased and decides to take things further and leaves. Redmond is happy too and follows the alleged killer out of the room, dripping with anxiety.

 

In the evening Kelsey bumps into Zane (Charles Michael Davis) while buying alcohol. He looks upbeat. Kelsey wants to know if he’s got a new job but he won’t budge. The two cutely argue who will buy the last bottle of champagne with Zane finally shelling out the money and inviting her to drink it with him. At home Josh finally puts their baby asleep and joins Clare who’s sleeping on the floor, too tired to walk up to the bedroom. In no time she dozes off in his arms.

 

The next day Diana reveals that CLAW is officially number one in the Top 10 bestsellers list. Also, Audrey Colbert has been making the rounds at other publishing companies. Kelsey and Liza are shocked. They give Redmond a call to inform him how pissed they are at him for betraying them, not to mention after Millennial’s debut book is topping the bestseller’s list. Redmond let’s them know that the achievements of CLAW is accessorized with a dagger symbol, meaning bulk sales – a.k.a. they bought their own book. Kelsey asks about the Twitter trend. Redmond reveals those are from Chinese bots which are mentioning #CLAW in every conversation they can, ergo a scam. Audrey doesn’t want to associate with suspicious companies.

 

Maggie meets Beth and apologizes for running out of the group therapy session as she’s beyond help. Beth asks if she’d be open to private classes instead. Maggie couldn’t love the plan more.

 

Josh discusses with Lauren how he thinks that he and Clare aren’t right for each other. Lauren understands the situation and asks him to tackle it for final this time as he’s a father now. Meanwhile, Liza, Kelsey and Quinn have a talk. Quinn says that amidst all the scam, the money CLAW‘s bringing in is real. It’s no. 1 status is a necessity for her to run for senate. She doesn’t want news to get out as the media will try tarnishing her image. Kelsey hates that Millenial’s integrity is being tested.

 

In the evening Liza gets home to Charles’ and finds a loan paper lying on the table. There’s a huge amount and it is against his townhouse. Charles comes up to her and she inquires about it. He tells her that he’s just moving some things around and there’s nothing to worry about. Their conversation segues into their “Exonerated” fantasy and they continue where they left off.

 

Clare and Josh discuss about their current living situation. She agrees that it feels strained and wrong, especially just for the green card status that she wanted back then. They amicably decide to split up, officially. On the other side of town Beth and Maggie return from their date. Maggie feels great. Beth feels that group therapy was a step ahead and maybe they should start things slower and steals a kiss. They make out.

 

At “The Cut” Kelsey moderates Quinn’s interview. As they end the session Quinn is bombarded with audience questions about the daggered status of CLAW. Quinn says they mass produced as schools wanted it for curriculum. Fighting her inner self, Kelsey supports Quinn and voices out how proud she is and purposefully reveals that Quinn is running for office. The room breaks into a thunderous cheer. Quinn hugs Kelsey whispering asking if she’s got any idea of what she just did. Kelsey does, indeed.

 

The following day Kelsey, Diana and Liza meet with Redmond about Audrey Colbert’s book, now that CLAW‘s daggered scenario has been settled. Redmond appreciates the way they handled it, but Audrey just accepted another offer last night – a much steeper one coming from a startup publishing company called Mercury. He’s pretty sure that Kelsey knows the editor though, Zane Anders. Kelsey’s is amazed and shocked. She wonders where he got all that money from. Liza connects the dots immediately and is left flabbergasted as she realizes Charles’ role in all this.