TV Recap: Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23 - "The D..."

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 Maron (Tuesdays) and Family Tree (Thursdays) right here on Optigrab.

Left to right: Dreama Walker and Nicholas D'Agosto

I would like to state upfront that my decision to go with the iTunes order of the show has proven already to be a hindrance. As someone commented on a previous post, "The Original Bitch" was intended to be the season 2 finale. However, as it will quickly be discovered, my unawareness of order has unfortunately ruined some of the show. For those wondering, this is mostly in the cameo from Charo in referenced episode. Without "The D...," that whole scene just feels gratuitous. I apologize if the lack of order has damaged some of the show. I don't intend for the rest of the recaps to do this, but be warned. 

The episode begins with June (Dreama Walker) getting an evaluation from Chloe (Krysten Ritter). It has been one month since June has moved into Apt. 23 and Chloe is insistent on grading her performance: a staggeringly low D. Through insinuation, June assumes that this is largely thanks to her lack of relationships and decides with help from Luther (Ray Ford) to find a new man. She finds Will (Nicholas D'Agosto) and things are going great.

That is until Chloe discovers that June is dating Will. As perfect as Will seems to be, Chloe takes offense to Will because she is her agent. She cannot see him in that light. He is the reason responsible for her becoming a paid author despite the fact that she has only published two pages, which are highly regarded. Still, Chloe takes this opportunity to befriend him and over the course of drinks gives off the impression that she has moved on. However, Will's boss Donnie Jarvis (Joel Spence) calls Will to inform him that Chloe just called him to fire Will. 

Left to right:
Walker and Krysten Ritter

Meanwhile, James Van Der Beek is running the gambit of auditioning for Woody Allen's new film "Monte Carlo Monte Carla." It had been 10 years since he was blacklisted for demeaning jazz at an audition. Now he planned to do things right, as he considers Annie Hall to be a masterpiece and Allen to be one of the greatest directors of our time. With the help of Luther, he practices lines that at first make no sense, as the masculine name is attached to a female character. However, when it is discovered that he is playing a woman going into a bathhouse, he thinks that he is going to win an Oscar.

Still, there is a bigger issue on hand. The audition is scheduled at 9 AM. Van Der Beek cannot do it that early because he looks and sounds terrible. He wants it moved to 3:45. He talks to Will and gets it arranged. However, he later gets a confirmation text for 9 AM. He calls Jarvis, who informs him that Will has been fired by Chloe. 

This leads to an intervention in which Van Der Beek tries to convince Chloe to force Jarvis to hire Will back. She doesn't buy it and is mostly doing it to spite June. There is a twist, though. Will is able to hook June up with tickets to see Charo, who means the world to Chloe more than Cher. When Van Der Beek threatens to walk out of the agency, Jarvis hires back Will and things are back in order.

However, there are a few more twists. The two pages of writing were done by Luther, who is now frustrated. Chloe tries to brush it over with a compliment that she only stole from the best. Will was able to get the Charo tickets, but June decides to go with Chloe, who she considers a friend. The episode ends with Van Der Beek putting on a wig, about to do a performance for an unseen Woody Allen.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Left to right: Heather Moiseve and James Van Der Beek

I will admit that I am equal parts to blame for the lack of order in Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23. Where I could have blamed ABC in the past for their scheduling conflicts, the very idea that I reviewed "The D..." and most of the episodes out of order, I realize that a lot of momentum that has been building disappeared. The continual shift of Mark from boyfriend to coworker was just a disaster. As it stands, I am not entirely sure that we've seen the relationship progress in the first four episodes of the post-cancellation progress.

Still, if there is one thing to say, I was right for keeping on top of this show. In the past few episodes, we have found exactly what it is that clicks about it. After a rough first season and some shaky early second season moments, the show has found its formula. True, it was present in "Dating Games...," but here, it turns into a twisted narrative that gives the show so much of a punch.

The notable thing is not that Chloe is a bitch, but that she does it in a clever way. Stealing stories from Luther? Now that was a brilliant move that even if it ended anticlimactically, showed the extent Chloe would go for success. Only add on top that Will is standing between romance and business is just genius. I love how the universe expanded, yet it was all connected somehow. The story worked and if any episode explains why I feel that this show could have had the greatest third season, it is this one.

Even the satirical take on James Van Der Beek was excellent. Maybe it is pandering to a fellow Woody Allen fan, but I was just excited to see him take on an auteur filmmaker. Even if the premise doesn't make sense, the dream of becoming an Academy Award nominee is obviously a realistic motivation. As Van Der Beek has show in the past, he is capable of self-satire so perfectly. Still, the serious actor side hasn't really been covered to a large extent. When he goes on about "No bananas, new bananas," there is something so great about it. I love the diversity that he puts into this role that even if I don't know anything about Dawson's Creek, he makes me excited each week to see his shenanigans. 

I enjoy that June and Chloe are also getting less and less problematic. Where they each had character trait problems, Chloe more than June, they seemed to make it through episodes okay. June's optimistic view on life has been improved and Chloe's maniacal nature no longer seems like a cartoon. These are all pluses, and it makes the relationship dynamic work far better. However, I do feel that it may be redundant that each episode seems to end with the same realization conversation that Chloe and June are friends.

Also, kudos to whoever fixed Eli (Michael Blaiklock). From the creepy first season to now, he has become a voice of wisdom. He helps June in ways akin to Wilson on Home Improvement. Just a wise little neighbor who makes the episode have a small sentimental moment. 

And overall, the choice to move away from caricature supporting characters is nice. I felt like Will could have been a legitimate character. As cartoonish as Jarvis felt at times, he also served a useful purpose. Also, I wonder if there will be more Charo clues in the episodes to come that make me regret seeing the finale so early. Already I feel like the emotional attachment is askew, so maybe upon a rewatch, I could get the charm? Either way, this episode more than anything proves why Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23 was one of the most promising shows not on NBC to get scheduling problems like NBC and end up dying before they could make sense of an audience.