What I’m Watching: Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty: Season 4, Episode 7 “Level (7) With Me” (B+)

Now here’s an installment that reminds me of why I started watching this show, and why it’s not by any means headed hopelessly downhill. The aimless and annoying Daniel arc has been wrapped up and closed, and it was done in the most entertaining way possible, which put together four characters that are marvelous fun when stuffed into the backseat of a car. This episode reminds me of why, and how much, I love Amanda. I’ve been begging for her to be featured more prominently ever since I started reviewing this show, and this is the first time I’ve felt totally and completed satisfied with what I’ve seen. Turning up the heat to try and seduce Matt was only the beginning. Her casual confession that Claire murdered her mother to the therapy group and her declaration that she would never leave a man behind were both stellar moments for the wonderful Becki Newton, who really deserves the Emmy attention she came so close to getting for the show’s first season. Judith Light is also a terrific presence, and seeing Claire running around the city with Betty was a nice throwback. Having Matt firmly defined as good and kind-hearted is a great thing, and his awkward conversations with Amanda are becoming more and more entertaining. Mark’s comfortable-shoe-inspired overhearing of Nico’s plan was a good moment, and it seemed like Wilhelmina ignoring his smoking gun might mean her getting taken for an even more drawn-out ride by her duplicitous daughter. Fortunately, the cunning ice queen caught on and set her child straight. Now everything is back to normal – what’s next? I’m definitely excited, and let’s hope it involves more of Matt and Amanda together.