Ugly Betty: a dissapointing end to the season

Last Thursday I watched the season finale of the second season of Ugly Betty. While I usually enjoy most episodes of this quirky show, I found I was less then impressed with the last episode of the season. As I sat down to watch I thought of the many questions I hoped would be answered. Would Betty (America Ferrera) finally decide if she wanted to be in a relationship with Henry (Chris Gorham), the lovable accountant who moved to Tucson to care for his recently born son, or Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), a deli shop owner who is more thoughtful and caring then he initially lets on? Would Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) finally succeed in taking the coveted MODE editor-in-chief position away from Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius)? Would Amanda (Becki Newton) find a new lead in the search for her birth father? These were just a few of the things I hoped would be answered. By the end of the episode only one of these questions was answered, and it wasn’t even the most obvious of the three.

The episode began with Betty being informed that she has to take more risks in her life, in order to grow both professionally and personally. She resolves to stop always taking the safe route and to be more risky, which comes in handy when she is forced to make a potentially life changing decision. But more on that plot point later.

Although Betty is still the focus of the series, this episode features Daniel almost more so then it does Betty. After the events of the previous episode, in which Wilhelmina not only returned to MODE but also managed to get newly appointed CEO of Meade Publications Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn) to go against the family and give her back the title of creative director, Daniel struggles to prevent Wilhelmina from taking over his job. Just when things can not become any more complicated another bomb shell is revealed in the form of a son. A small French boy, who is also named Daniel, clams that he is a result of a liaison Daniel Sr. had with his recently deceased mother several years ago. At first Daniel thinks it’s a trick and refuses to acknowledge Daniel Jr. until concrete proof comes back. This proves to be his undoing as Wilhelmina uses the news to her advantage by leaking the story to the press and making Daniel out to be a degenerate parent. This couldn’t have come at a worse time, as MODE has just signed a client by claiming that their magazine loves children. Of course Wilhelmina swoops in and saves the account she herself threatened to lose. She then uses the incident to convince Alexis that Daniel isn’t the best candidate for the editor-in-chief position and before one can blink Daniel is out and Wilhelmina is the new editor-in-chief of MODE magazine.

This turn of events is another reason I’m not particularly fond of Alexis. To me she is way to cruel to her younger brother, especially since he continually has shown that he wants to put the past behind them and have the two work together as equals. Despite Daniel’s persistence in trying to form a true sibling bond, Alexis continues to betray her brother. One moment that left a particularly bad taste in my mouth was when Alexis tells Daniel he is taking a leave of absence after the son story is leaked. Daniel points out an incident that occurred earlier in the season, in which a major client told Daniel to fire his transsexual sister or else they would not do business with MODE. Although fully aware of the ramifications of his actions, he stood by his sister and turned the client away. When Daniel brings this up Alexis throws it back in his face, saying that she is “learning from his mistakes.” It’s upsetting that she would turn against her brother when he was willing to risk everything for her. Now Daniel is out of MODE and as a result Betty’s job is possibly in danger.

Which brings me back to Betty and the life changing choice she has to make. Although still pining for Henry, Betty can no longer hide the fact that she is developing feelings for Gio. This becomes more complicated when Gio asks her to spend a month in Rome with him. Then before she can even begin to think of an answer Henry returns with a ring, asking Betty to marry him and move to Tucson. Betty spends the episode asking everyone for advice and continually she is told that this is a decision she has to make on her own. And by the episode’s end she has made it. She packs a suitcase, steps out onto her front stoop, and the screen goes black. The question viewers most wanted to see answered is left without a known answer. The only thing worse then having to wait three months for the answer is that I’m 99% certain the mystery of the answer will be a major marketing ploy to promote the 3rd season. I predict that by the middle of July TV ads will air with the following slogan: “Last season Betty had to choose who she would end up with: Henry or Gio. This September, find out who she chose. The season premier of Ugly Betty, only on ABC.”

Thus ends my summery and feelings on the second season finale of Ugly Betty. I only hope that this week’s finale of Lost is much better, because I won’t be able to take another disappointing season finale.