What I’m Watching: Boss

Boss: Season 1, Episode 7 “Stasis” (A-)

Talk about a tough and insanely demoralizing hour, which features not one but two punching bags that pretty much have their entire lives uprooted out from under them. In its first half, it’s Kitty’s turn to experience some hell. It’s no surprise that she’s pregnant given the extravagant amount of unprotected sex that she and Ben have been having on a regular basis, and if only that were the biggest of her problems. Going right to Ben with Tom’s mention about stepping down was an enormous mistake, and his verbal punishment was brutal, telling her that she didn’t matter and that her shifted dependency was numbingly predictable. Meredith was nearly as cruel in her talking down to Kitty, and it was difficult to see the usually put-together Kitty fall apart in front of them. I was shocked that Ben made a move on Meredith in the elevator, and it seems that his promiscuous ways have led to his premature downfall, as Tom shrewdly sent pictures of him having sex with Alderman Ross’ wife to both his wife and Alderman Ross. Maggie proved to be just as harsh as both of the Kanes, telling her husband that he had to go grovel for mercy from Tom, which he literally did after Tom told him how easy it would be to completely wipe him off the map. To me, these events weren’t even the most appalling of the hour, and that had to be Tom having Emma arrested by the DEA in order to turn public opinion, and I can only hope that his episode-ending visit to her means that she approved the plan before it happened. Sam stepping into his editor’s position should be interesting, though what happens with everything in next week’s season finale is sure to be highly unpredictable.