Ugly Betty Episode 4.05 Full Recap
November 8, 2009 by Tom
Here is the full recap for Ugly Betty episode 4.05, Plus None. Quick thoughts first:
- This episode belonged to Amanda (and Becki Newton). Becki was spectacular – she was hilarious and poignant at the same time. I’m so glad they finally were able to give her something of a story line.
- Michael Urie was great again. When Marc finally stood up to Wilhelmina, it was SO disappointing that it was so short-lived. That was a great scene.
- The thing with Nico had me TOTALLY fooled. Kudos to the writers. Having seen every episode multiple times, I can usually see the “surprises” coming, but not this one. Great job, writers!
- Jamie Lynn Sigler says that Natalie isn’t going to be a villain, but she sure is acting like one right now.
- I love when the writers give us a little inside joke. Justin’s quip about Hilda “putting on a little weight last spring” (Ana Ortiz was pregnant) was hilarious.
- The story line with Claire’s son who was placed for adoption will be a very interesting one, as long as they don’t get too silly with it (like making him a character we already know)
- The ending was great, as usual. Betty’s dance was a combination of the dance from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and an 80’s new wave pogo. If Betty had placed an hand on the other arm and waved her fist (ala Idol) it would have been perfect (although probably too over the top).
The ratings for this one remained the same (up just a tiny bit in the demo), which is only good news in that the news didn’t get worse. Hopefully the word can continue spreading about how good Betty is this season. Ratings-wise, things are not looking too good right now.
Anyway, next week looks to be a crazy one. I can’t wait.
Full recap after the jump.
Betty is working late and missing dinner. Betty looks at her reflection, and is startled by Matt’s appearance beside her. They are quite nice to each other, and it looks like Matt will kiss her, but he just rearranges her hair.
Marc wants to do something with Amanda after work, but she’s too tired. however, when Matt asks her to stay late, she gets a burst of energy and pushes Marc out of the way.
On the way to the elevator, Betty runs into Daniel. He asks about Matt, and Betty says there is nothing going on between them, but she might have news tomorrow when she meets Daniel for lunch (as friends). Daniel also says that The Group is helping him cope with the loss of Molly.
Wilhelmina comes off the elevator, and Daniel thanks her for working with Tibetan orphans. He hugs Wilhelmina, who is surprised. Later Marc informs Willi that he “volunteered” her to host the annual Style Cares charity event. Willi is angry, but decides to go along to help her image.
Betty is excited – she got an invitation to the event. She muses inviting Matt, which makes Hilda angry.
Daniel and Natalie leave a meeting of The Group, and Daniel is excited. He worries about the stress he’ll face back at work. Natalie volunteers to be his new assistant.
Betty goes to Matt’s office and puts “Will you be my plus one” on the charity invitation. Matt comes in and sets some papers on top of it without looking. He asks her if it’s OK if he brought a date. Betty pretends that it’s OK, while sneaking the invite off his desk.
Betty walks up to Daniel, only to find that he has hired Natalie as his new assistant. Daniel asks Betty to help Natalie “learn the ropes”.
Matt invites Amanda to the charity party. She is beside herself with happiness. He says he’ll be late, but she can come anytime she wants. Later, she tells Marc that she feels guilty about taking “Betty’s Matt”. Marc talks her into finding some way to cushion the blow.
Marc helps the speechwriter write Wilhelmina’s speech for the party (filled with falsehoods). Nico calls and interrupts, causing Willi to abruptly leave.
As Betty shows Natalie how to do things, Natalie wipes out any trace (voice mail, email, name plate) that Betty was ever there.
The private investigator shows Wilhelmina a photograph of the bloody fingerprint from the boat. He then tries to blackmail her and Nico. Willi kicks him out. Nico is upset about this.
Amanda finds out that Betty is going to the party, and that she didn’t have a date yet. She says she knows some guys she can set him up with.
Hartley wants to cut the Wit and Whimsy column from the magazine for ad space, but Daniel argues against it. Claire seems to be taking Ca’l’s side, but she suggests everyone think it over for a bit.
Daniel arrives for the lunch with Betty, but he brought Natalie along. During the meal, Betty feels left out because Daniel and Natalie keep talking about The Group. Betty then asks Daniel to be her plus one for the party, but he has already asked Natalie.
Wilhelmina tells Marc to dig up dirt on the private investigator (Oscar Castelar). He finally stands up to her and says he won’t do that sort of thing anymore. She then comes clean with him about Nico, and he changes his mind.
Betty tells Amanda she’s taking her up on her offer to set Betty up with one of her friends. Amanda is worried about this.
Megan shows Daniel “The Book” for February’s issue, and he notices the Wit and Whimsy column isn’t there. She says Claire decided to cut it. Daniel storms into Hartley’s office, only to find Claire in there kissing Cal. Claire wants to talk about it, even mentions their long-ago affair, but Daniel storms away. Cal tells her that maybe it was better that things didn’t work out with their baby. This upsets Claire.
Betty arrives at Amanda’s – there are about 12 or 13 guys there, none of whom Betty is interested in. It turns out that Amanda had placed an ad in Craigslist, advertising a “plus size chica”. Of course, this makes Betty furious when she finds out.
Natalie tells Daniel he ahs to start ignoring people who cause unnecessary drama in his life, including Betty.
Claire calls Betty asking a favor. Betty later approaches Daniel asking him to talk to his mother, but he rebukes her, with Natalie’s encouragement.
Marc leads Willi to a bordello where apparently Castelar is supposedly meeting with a dominatrix. They find him tied up face down, and Marc sneaks a picture of him, but it turns out to be someone else. Wilhelmina figured that the investigator stole this real person’s identity to prevent her from digging up dirt on him.
We then see Castelar approaching Nico on the street, and her demeanor changes, She kisses him and calls him Jonathan. Apparently, the two have been executing an elaborate scheme to get money out of Wilhelmina.
Betty tells Amanda on the phone that she’s decided not to go. Hilda overhears this and talks her out of it. Betty decides to go alone, and Justin will make her dress out of one that Hilda wore “when she gained weight last spring” (heh).
Betty arrives at the party, looking fabulous in an animal print dress.
Wilhelmina paces in her bedroom, and Marc comes in wondering why she’s not outside hosting. Willi tells him she can’t handle the stress of everything going on. Nico barges in and tells her she’s going to turn herself in. They are all arguing about this when a lady comes in and tells Wilhelmina it’s time to give her speech.
Amanda runs into Betty and is upset about it. She starts to tell Betty about her and Matt, but then Matt walks in with another woman on his arm. Both women seem devastated.
Cal and Claire have a conversation that reminds us that he doesn’t know that Claire had their baby and placed him for adoption.
Wilhelmina gives her speech, making it clear that she’s going to do whatever it takes to makes sure all children, especially her child, are going to be OK.
Betty is “big” and makes up with Natalie and Daniel. Natalie gets a call, and tells whoever it is that she’ll do what she can to get Daniel back to The Group.
Matt runs into Amanda and says he glad she made it. He had six plus ones, mostly support staff to reward them for all they do.
Claire leaves and calls the adoption agency, asking them how she can find her and Cal’s son.
Betty and Matt talk for a minute. She tells Matt she came alone, but that she’s fine. She says she glad they’re still friends. Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself” comes on, and Betty goes on the floor and dances. Matt watches her and smiles.
Image: Zuma Press
I think you’re missing the point of the ending…It was great yes, but it wasnt so much the “dance” that she did (charlie brown or whatever you said), it’s what the dance MEANT. It meant that Betty is brave, confident and strong enough to come to a party alone and decided to be herself and dance alone on the dancefloor – something I have seen very few people do. If you looked closely, when you see Matt talking to Betty, they cut to his date who is looking uncomfortable standing alone whereas Betty is so confident that she can be alone. That wasnt the best explaination but I hope everyone understands how powerful and beautiful that ending was.
OMG, these writers really like to tease us, Matt/Betty fans! I got sooo excited when I thought Matt was going to kiss Betty. I hope they get back together and finally have their passionate kiss together! Amanda was great in this episode and Nico.. that was a shocker. Another great episode!
I LOVED BECKI NEWTON in this episode (like I always do).
Loved the episode, loved the Nico thing OMG!
Damn it I want matt kiss Betty!!!!
I agree Ana about the ending. Betty decided she can be independent and thus feels free and confident. This is a really good episode! I had it setup on DVR to record, and my husband just happened to be watching TV at the time. So when UB kicked in, he ended up watched the show and said “it’s pretty good!”.
At some point, I knew Nico was lying and collaborating with the detective guy, although i was totally fooled that he actually is Jonathan! I still don’t care for the whole plotline… come’on, how do you walk around, take bus/subway/taxi with a bloody dress and hands. I think there is more twist to come, like nico finding out willie does not have the money, so she actually frames her for a murder (where do you think all that blood come from??)
I love Becky.. how she was torn with betraying betty and not wanting to hurt her. she played the struggle really well.
I have really enjoyed this episode. HOWEVER, the ratings are really getting me worried. Guys, UGLY BETTY is very near cancellation. When Tom says we need to spread the news, he is absolutely serious.
I still think ABC Executives did a crappy job in putting Ugly Betty to compete in a friday night. I think it is pretty much clear for everyone that the series underwent a BAD BAD phase, specially after the writers strike in the season 2. That season finale was horrible, simply horrible. Loosing Rebecca Romjin and Ashley Jensen was a very tough punch in the stomach to overcome.
Now, I have taken a look at the “Eastwick” ratings and they don’t seem very good. Forgive me those who like the show, but I wouldn’t mind if it was cancelled on the condition that Rebecca returned to the show. HOWEVER, I have been thinking about what the writers have done since last season. If you pay enough attention, they didn’t keep Judith Light for no reason- specially when one consider how lost she was in some previous episodes during the third season. We basically have a new father figure in replacement to Alan Dale/ Bradford Meade which is Calvin Hartley, and a soon-to-be “brother” to Daniel, which is Matt, because after they find Claire`s son, a whole new Meade-Hartley family will be formed! Isn’t that genious or not? I mean, when Bradley died I got worrried because although U.B is different from the sopa operas around the world, there is a structure to be kept, which includes a family for the Daniel character. After Rebeca left the show, Claire really semmed unnecessary but now they are really reconstructing a weird-to-be family for Daniel, which Hartley occupying the role of an abusive father, and the lost son who will conect Matt and Daniel. Who knows what can come from this?!
I totally agree with Anna.
Like I said in my post with the the Betty and Matt pictures from a couple of days ago.
Betty look soo comfortable and free. Especially on the dance floor. It was obvious that she was becoming independent and she didn’t necessarly need Matt, and I think he now knows that. And she was confident enough to tell him that she came alone (I totally love her character for this). And the look on Matt’s face in the end to me was remembering all of the fun memories he had with Betty and how much he is missing out not being with her. In addition, it kinda looked like he regrets breaking up with her.
I just hope they get together soon and that the writers stop proloning this “will they, won’t they” sexual tension
I enjoyed this episode and I agree with you Tom on your points. It was nice to see that Becki is getting more stories to work with this season unlike last. You could tell Amanda was torn between her friendship with Betty & what she is trying to do.(going after Matt) Daniel is really beginning to get sucked into this cult thing. I just wanted to slap his head when he was telling Betty off. I think this cult thing is really going to test their friendship esp. if it’s going to pit Natalie against Betty. I know Betty was just trying to suck it up when apologizing to Daniel,but just by her tone & expression on her face it wasn’t heartfelt and just did it to keep the peace as with Daniel apologizing to Betty — he seemed distant. I just think that one of these times Daniel is going to go too far & say something really hurtful as Betty is trying to help her best friend that she won’t be able to forgive him that quickly putting a strain on their friendship.
As for Matt & Betty, it’s obvious that they still have feelings for each other,(esp. the way they were looking at each other) but for now taking the “just friends” route (Yeah, right!!) There was a hint of the old Matt when he made meowing comment & then got embarassed after saying it & he wanted to take his comment back. I think their feelings for each other will be the conflict as they work together & possibly work on their personal relationship.
I want Matt and Betty together as well! Did anyone notice when Betty went to adorably dance alone – while Matt was watching her – Papa Hartley came and spoke to Matt. I wonder what was said and if this will be a deleted scene or something. Oh, please help – does anyone know the song that was playing during Matt and Betty’s ending scene at Mode when she was slow-walking at the end of the episode – really want the song for my Matt & Betty iPod playlist. Thanks!
oh, forgot to say. Matt is a jerk. why leading amanda on like that?
I don’t really take what Sigler said about her character not being a villain very seriously. Many actors will find a way to identify with a character, as well as his or her motives, so perhaps what she meant was that from Natalie’s perspective she is doing what is right for The Community, which would not make her a villain from their perspective. From the Meade/Mode camp, though, I think it is very probable that they will very much see her as an enemy.
Oh, please help – does anyone know the song that was playing during Matt and Betty’s ending scene at Mode when she was slow-walking at the end of the episode – really want the song for my Matt & Betty iPod playlist. Thanks!
Sorry I forgot to mention the song request info was for episode 3 (s4) “Blue on Blue”
According to the IMDB, Matt Newton’s character, Troy, will be back in episode 4.10, so 4.08 won’t be the last we see of Marc’s new crush.
Stephanie: The song was “Don’t Hold Your Breathe” by Athlete
By the way Stephanie and other fans that like the music on Ugly Betty, you can see all the music played on Ugly Betty at http://www.tvshowmusic.com/shows/uglybetty/season04.html and on the abc.com music website
Thanks so much Anna! ::hugs:: Ooooo, I’m going to immediately download this song. Love it.
I think the only time Matt was a jerk was when he was mean towards Betty in the first couple episodes and we know it’s because she had betrayed him and he was “in pain”. His character is naturally nice and unfortunately for him,the 6 plus one’s he had invited, could have all misinterpreted his gallant gesture to invite the support staff to Willi’s party so they also could have fun. Towards the end of the episode Matt’s look while he was watching Betty dance was a look of pain and regret that he and Betty are not together anymore.
@maryb
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING I SAID!!!!!!!!!!
Matt regrets not being with Betty and I bet he rather be at the party with her than Heather. And who wouldn’t? Betty looked hott!
Freddy Wisconsin, “Eastwick” has indeed bit the dust (I am one of the few viewers who tuned in every week), but that doesn’t mean that Rebecca will be returning to UB. I’m sure it is a possibility, but her departure from the show had nothing to do with “Eastwick”. She was hired for that show after she was written out of UB, not before. Her real-life pregnancy was a big factor, but I think that the writers didn’t know what to do with the character. I would love for them to figure something out for Alexis, though… especially if they can think up some juicy way to bring her back.
I forgot to include this link:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/ABC-Picks-Forgotten-1011813.aspx
granted it’s a nice gesture for 6 plus one, but he could have told amanda that, not like “i work late, so i can’t go with you, just find me”. why didn’t he just tell her?? if any guy did that to me, that is a lead-on, and being a jerk. Yes, at the end, he regrets not asking betty, but how he treated amanda has no excuse.
@ greek,
i’ll agree that he led amanda on in the way he asked her, but then again i think alot of it was in her head. and i don’t think he purposely did that.
matt was just being the nice guy he is.
and lets not forget all the crap amanda has done to betty in the past. maybe this was karma getting in her way. =)
btw, i’m getting tired of betty cutting amanda all this slack. amanda has done some nasty things to betty in the past, and betty just lets it go. sometimes i think amanda needs to learn her lesson.
I just watch this ep on my Tivo. OMG Matt is kind of an oblivious guy isn’t he? I liked the ending though! But what I really wanna know is where can I get that dress that Betty was wearing?! I really LOVE THAT DRESS!
Sir Kizard, I was aware of that, maybe I expressed myself in a wrong manner. I just think this is the perfect time for writers to reconsider Rebeca`s return. One might say there are new characters and there is no room for her but:
after a couple of episodes, MEGAN`s characters prooved to be here as a minor role. The character and maybe the actress lacked charisma to really grow in the show; MATT`s character is doing great, but is kind of stuck and confined into this chief-kind-of-boss of editors envoronment other than Amanda; CONNOR hasn’t returned; in spite of everybody else, I really disliked YA YA DA COSTA`s (or what ever) portrayl as NICO. Actually, I just hate NICO now. Could someone kill her character out of the show?; ARCHIE has appeared very little. It seems the writers just want to pass an idea of an stable relationship.Mr. HARTLEY can not be present forever, he owns tons of companies, he will only be there to make out with Judith Light`s character.
Other than that, it is about time for Freddy Rodriguez to make an appearance again. Maybe he and Alexis would have become a couple. LOL