TV Recap: Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23 - "Using People..."

Left to right: Eric Andre and Dreama Walker

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 column for Family Tree (Thursdays) right here on Optigrab.

Krysten Ritter

We reach the end of our TV Recap series on Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23 in almost an ironic, anti-climactic fashion. How is that? We see yet another episode out of order, and this time it involves the continuing will they/won't they of Mark (Eric Andre) and June (Dreama Walker), who almost seemed to have resolved this issue at the beginning of the season. Now, we're left to wonder if they will get together. While I admit that it is my fault for doing everything out of order, it is still a big sham that I ended so unceremoniously as to tackle "Using People..."

As the episode begins, June is invited by a coworker (Ben Zelevansky) to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Surprise, surprise that Chloe (Krysten Ritter) is there telling a story about how she got drunk with Juliana Margolis that is keeping the audience of recovering addicts entertained. In fact, that is the best part of the meetings for them. Her stories are always fascinating and worth a laugh or two. 

June is not quite on board with this and tries to convince her to stop. After all, Chloe still drinks and she is actually lying to the group about being sober. Meanwhile, James Van Der Beek is getting a call stating that he is getting a chance to work with Martin Scorsese. However, his manager that he isn't hard enough. He needs to have some struggle that defines him. This gives him the bright idea to go visit one of the AA meetings and interview the random people on how to behave drunk.

Meanwhile, Pepper (Jennie Pierson) has decided to hook Mark up on a date with her friend. This is because Mark broke up with his girlfriend some time ago. However, June insists that he spend some time with her, as she feels a certain connection. This doesn't go over well, as this results in the two getting together and immediately jumping to sex. When they feel that it is almost too mechanical, they decide to have sex in random places until they realize that they must decide if it is going to interfere with their friendship too much. Chloe gets annoyed with listening to them through the walls and insists that they stop.

The AA interviews don't go over well once Luther (Ray Ford) is discovered by someone that he knew at the L Train. However, enough damage has been done. He was photographed coming out of AA meetings, and this seals the deal with Scorsese. He gets the picture. Also, Chloe's plan is ruined when it is discovered that she showed up drunk at a little league game and ruined her story with Van Der Beek showing up and story-blocking her. The episode ends with Mark and June asking each other if it is right to continue their relationship with mechanical sex or just be friends.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Left to right: Ritter, James Van Der Beek, and Ray Ford

I must apologize that these recaps have been a mess, if simply because of the lack of order. In fact, ending on "Using People..." instead of "The Original Bitch" is disastrous, if only because this episode sums up what was wrong with ABC's decision to do everything out of order in season 2. The continuity issues allowed audiences to think that the show was failing miserably and made it easier to cancel. I only perpetuated the idea by myself doing it out of order, admittedly on accident. In fact, this episode is good enough to enjoy, but does it sum up what was brilliant about the show? Not really.
The notable issue is that Mark and June have rarely felt like more than on the merge of a real relationship. It is an annoying TV trope and luckily one that many episodes overlooked for actual stories. However, it does get jarring when they are dating one week and then Mark is going on about how he dumped his girlfriend. Not only was that repetitive to begin with, but it almost felt like June was a secondary character at points in discussion. However, kudos on making Mark less and less of a ridiculous cartoon as the show went on. Also, kudos on making June a more likable person instead of a hopeful klutz.

The story itself has plenty to admire. I am sad that Pepper only appeared in six episodes. While underdeveloped, she felt like a nice addition to the world, like Eli (Michael Blaiklock) as the show continued. This universe was very sloppy at points and this was towards the middle when the show was finding itself. It began to know how to use Luther and Van Der Beek as a duo. It began to see Chloe as more than a wacky bully. This episode may be a little below the current great ones, but there's still some strengths.

I love the idea of the AA being a center for everyone working out their problems. Chloe needed an audience for her stories, and Van Der Beek just needed to land a role in a Scorsese film. While I wish that Van Der Beek was more active in a behind the scenes parody of filming the movies that are touted, it is a nice week-by-week trope of him trying to appeal to another big name director. Still, nothing quite tops Chloe feeling beaten at her game once somebody realizes that she is repeating her own stories, which once got her acceptance. It was her downfall, but it was very entertaining to watch. 

Otherwise, the story feels thin. It has those few moments of brilliance, but in the big picture, the themes don't feel entirely interesting. Maybe it is the Mark/June story at the center, but it took familiar turns and besides the drunk at a little league moment at the end of the episode, it almost felt like a retread of sorts. It felt like a story of the week where it conveniently had to wrap up by the end, even if Mark and June are still having mechanical sex with each other. 

Make sure to come back next week when I do a full recap of season 2 and reminisce on the brilliance and downside of the show as a whole. It's a shame that this managed to get cancelled and yet Modern Family still runs strong.