TV Recap: Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23 - "Dating Games..."

Left to right: Ray Ford and James Van Der Beek

Welcome to the TV Recap column for the ABC comedy Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23. Every Wednesday, I will be bringing you a recap of the most recent episode as well as personal insight into why I find the characters to be an infectious version of what 2 Broke Girls wishes it was. So please join me for a fun season as we deal with the bitch, the Beek, and June as they get into wacky adventures. Also, make sure to check out my columns for Bob's Burgers (Tuesdays) and Parks and Recreation (Thursdays) right here on Optigrab.

Also, check out Save Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23: a Facebook page dedicated to trying to save the show.

Left to right: Dreama Walker, Krysten Ritter, and Liza Lapira

It at least feels like the show is back on track with this episode. After the past two have probably confused casual fans on if the Mark (Eric Andre) and June (Dreama Walker) relationship was just a hoax, it looks like it is at least back on track. Also, after Robin (Liza Lapira) came across too much of a rough draft last time, she appears to have something more to offer this time around. In fact, if presented in order, the progression of this show would only make things look more appealing and make the unfortunate cancellation seem more tragic. Instead, it was a blob, a mess, and while the episodes showed promise, wasn't what the show needed in a time of crises. How much of that is ABC's fault is still up for discussion, especially with that haphazard twice a week schedule it originally planned for the show.

The episode begins with June and Chloe (Krysten Ritter) talking to the camera about how boring June is when she talks about dating. The episode progresses to a scene of June and Mark watching Springs in May, a fake dating game show in which a contestant is given a spring in order to progress in the rounds. The two do a drum roll on the table in order to amp up the tension, and excitedly talk about how some of the players kiss up to the host. James Van Der Beek doesn't care for it, as he personally feels his gig as a game show host that shilled Diet Dr. Pepper mid-speech was far superior. When Chloe comes crashing in with a man, the group begins having a discussion of who June could date. When it is stated that it cannot be a coworker, Mark claims that June doesn't work with him.

This leads to June and Chloe heading out to a bar. Instead of sitting and talking to the bartender, they're there to look for new boyfriends. June critiques almost everyone immediately as either explaining rainbows too violently or having food on their face. She eventually meets Daniel (Kyle Howard), who she feels is almost too perfect. That is, until she realizes that Chloe made her move while June was applying lip gloss: a prime fake out.

With the two going after Daniel, James Van Der Beek and Luther (Ray Ford) decide to interfere. They are going to turn it into a game. Basically they both have to try and win him over, and no less than five dates before sex, as to keep Chloe from having an advantage. When Robin finds out about it, she immediately gets involved. This pleases Van Der Beek, as he feels it will provide diversity. After telling the three to write a place down on a board, it is revealed that June is taking Daniel to a dungeon for a date where Chloe is taking him to the park.

The dungeon date turns out to be a little awkward, as Chloe shows up for no reason. The park date goes a little smoother, though Chloe throws all of her hassle onto Daniel. She wants him to return an antique sitting chair to a rental company and pick up the mess that they left behind. Robin, however, claims to show no interest and is only in it to play games with Chloe. When Van Der Beek introduces a quiz round, including "Things that Luther knows," Chloe almost immediately wins by shouting "The movie the Help." This gives Chloe a fair advantage.

Left to right: Ritter, Walker, and
Kyle Howard

Another round features a brain on a fork called Mind Fork, in which the winner of the previous round gets to dissect personal information from her person of choice. Chloe forces June to talk about how she likes Mark. She denies this and when Mark stops by to give Van Der Beek his wallet, he tries to convince them to hook up, only to end the round and move onto the next, which is spend time with Daniel's Great Aunt Agnes (Gwen Van Dam), who is old and wears a "face hat" that helps her breathe. This upsets Daniel and forces some speculation that the game is not as good as he wants it to be.

Later on, Daniel goes over to Apt. 23 for the big finale. They are going to watch Springs in May. June does her typical routine and hopes that Daniel will join in. However, the connection seems to be gone and they quickly realize that their dating will probably not happen. Meanwhile, Chloe is surprised to discover that despite the knowledge, she is still attracted to him, which she finds gross. June ends up with Mark watching the show and Chloe does "stuff" with Daniel. 

However, the big reveal is that the talking to the camera routine that has been spliced throughout the entire episode hasn't been for a game show. It has in fact been police wondering what happened to Daniel's Great Aunt Agnes. Despite all of the claims that they don't know where she is, the police keep interrogating them for information.

Rating: 4 out of 5

What an episode. Before diving any deeper, I must say that the cherry on top of the episode was the twist at the end. I feel like this show has slowly been developing into this weird, meta context where no matter what the subject is, there is some perverse context that it is in. For this episode, the whole framing as a game show was really just the regaling what lead to them being associated with a missing old woman. It may seem like an afterthought for the episode, but it is a nice touch, especially considering that June has been using most episodes as a floating voice over with very little context. Also, put in context, all of the talking to camera segments almost seem funnier now. This is the show coming to an unfortunate close on a high note.

It is also weird to note that the one episode where everyone works together feels like the most fluid. Most weeks, we have multiple plots in which either James Van Der Beek is doing something, or Chloe is having an issue. There is always a subplot and while that doesn't always detract from the quality of the episode, it often is split into a great plot, and a not so great plot. Here, by joining forces, it almost feels like the show proves that it only works as a whole. However, the layers within the construct is brilliant, especially as we now have the parody Van Der Beek back and it is juicy to seem him play a fictional game show host.

While I am one for Chloe being mean, I do admit that forcing her to be tame was a nice touch. I also like that we're finally back in the realm of the Mark/June dynamic of wondering if they will ever date. I kind of missed that momentum, which was dying when the show went to some unused first season episodes the past few times. Still, I feel like even Robin is developing into a far more fascinating character. True, she is still the Chloe-obsessive, but the simple ideas that she imitates her and has an air duct to hear their conversations is just brilliant. She isn't in it for Daniel, but just to please Chloe. Also, the way she wants a waiter to split up a chicken pot pie is brilliant piece of comedy.

I must admit that I do miss the office comedy portion of the show. I also feel like the dating aspect of the show is a little repetitive. However, when it apes shows that are on the same network almost perfectly within the realm of a sitcom, it is forgivable. Hopefully what little is left of the show continues to skewer genre, explain the obvious with perverse new details, and has the cast working together towards a goal that doesn't entirely make sense. 

I know that I don't have a lot to say about the show this week, but it really is proof that this show deserves to have been on for another few seasons. I feel like in time, it would have been very solid. It still feels rough around some corners, but if you compare to the first season episodes spliced into this, you can actually appreciate the progress. I even feel like Krysten Ritter and Dreama Walker are coming into their own. They both had a shaky, rough start, but they now feel like they own the character. 

See you next week, which is when I think the next (and unfortunately, according to IMDb: last) batch of episodes.