PRIVILEGED…Who Knew?!

I hope you all enjoy Nicole’s review of last night’s episode of PRIVILEGED.  I had a revelation of sorts today…I really love this show.  I mean I knew I really liked it, but the realization of just how much hit me today when I opted not to read Nicole’s review because I wasn’t able to watch the show last night.  It’s waiting for me the minute I walk in the door tonight.  Who knew that GOSSIP GIRL wouldn’t be the only CW show on my must watch list this year.——————————-
Hey everyone – I hope you’re all enjoying Privileged as much as I have been. We’ve now had four episodes of the show to digest and I have to say I’m liking it more than I’m not (though I do have a couple of quibbles with the show – details to follow).

Now that Megan has had a chance to settle in to her job, we’re starting to see the beginnings of a pattern emerge: Megan begins with a gung-ho plan, explains it excitedly to the girls (Rose and Sage, two rich and very spoiled sisters whom Megan has been hired to tutor in an effort to bring their grades up enough to get into Duke) who listen patiently and then proceed to do whatever they want. This will generally result in the girls getting into trouble and Megan being metaphorically bitch-slapped for her negligence by the girl’s über successful and intimidating grandmother Laurel. However Laurel was completely absent from last night’s episode, leaving Megan to deal with, well, a lot.

Megan and Rose’s study session is interrupted by the delivery of goodies that the girls purchased online. Among the many boxes is one full of dvds including one entitled “The Bone Supremacy” (and no that is not a typo – Matt Damon is nowhere to be found in this movie). It seems that Rose’s boyfriend Max has an ex who was very talented at um… a certain task (job?). Rose feels pressure to study porn techniques so that she doesn’t disappoint. I’m sorry, call me a prude all you want but the current state of teenage sexual maturity freaks me right out. Rose is supposed to be a sophomore in high school – so, 15 max? Fifteen is not an age to be insecure about your foreplay methodology – am I right? Please tell me I am!

Anyhow, Megan, bless her prudish heart, feels exactly the same way as me and she’s completely freaking out. The whole incident is causing old memories to bubble up and she’s reminded by Charlie (adorable Charlie) that she herself had a reputation in high school, but it was for being “stiff” – a term I haven’t heard or used since probably grade eight and made me laugh like crazy. This all comes into play when Megan goes on Date Number Four (the sex date) with Headmaster Jacob. This scene was kind of strange for me because on the one hand you had Megan being pretty adorable and awkward trying to convince herself that she doesn’t have to rush into things with Jacob, and then you have Jacob being a little douche-baggy, no? She begins rambling about how just because they’re at his apartment it doesn’t mean that they’re expected to “go there”…it seems she’s just trying to make herself comfortable in the situation, talking herself down from a panic attack or something. Then he goes and says, “actually, I did assume”. This line bothered me – this is the kind of thought that stays in your head Jacob! Of course he’s thinking it, but to say it to someone who already seems a bit uncomfortable is a little prickish. Is it just me? Maybe it’s just me. Regardless, the two spend the rest of the night watching a movie in awkward silence.

While all of this is going on, Sage takes it upon herself to befriend Megan’s sister Lily in an effort to learn some dirt that she can use against Megan. Lily works in a hair salon, and Sage visits her there (opting for just a French braid – smart girl). Who is the first person she sees when she enters? Beverley Leslie – Karen’s nemesis from Will & Grace (played by Leslie Jordan)!! I love me some Beverley Leslie so I’m hoping Jordan sticks around. Sage’s antics are transparent to Lily and she spends a couple of minutes defending her sister, calling her a saint, etc., only to then agree to an evil alliance with Sage to work together to make Megan’s life difficult. Um….why? We need some more motivation here for Lily and Sage’s hatred of Megan because as it currently stands, these two mostly just annoy me. I know that Megan needs a foil in her life or it would be perfect at all times, but can we please have some back story to justify these two characters? However at least there’s some karmic retribution when on her way out of the bar Sage gets mugged and her phone and purse are stolen (hee!).

So in the end, Rose questions Max’s feelings for her when their make-out session gets interrupted and he has a tantrum. She realizes that he was only after her “job skills” and promptly dumps his ass. Megan on the other hand discovers that Jacob is not put off by her tension at his place and wants to see her again. She runs to meet him and this time there’s no hesitation. The deed is done. Of course she finds this out precisely when Charlie is about to profess his love to her (presumably), shattering his little heart without realizing it. I have to say, I hope that the inevitable long-term “will they or won’t they” revolves around Charlie and Megan rather than smarmy neighbour Will and Megan. He’s a modelizer who wears too many v-neck t-shirts exposing a cheesy waxed chest who inexplicably loafs around the Baker manse for no apparent reason. Get a hobby Will!

Moments of note:

* Megan asks Jacob if she should bring anything to dinner at his place. “Just your beautiful self” is his reply – lame!
* Sage has the most impractical sparkly robe ever, and I want it.
* Charlie to Megan “You just found a way to make sex boring” – love him.
* Driver Dave – everyone suddenly calls him this, and it gets a giggle from me every time
* Rose to Sage “Oh my god, you’re on a payphone? Do you have any Purell on you??”
* There was a short PSA at the end of the ep by Joanna Garcia for stayteen.org. You’ll never see that after an episode of Gossip Girl, lol.

Next week’s episode: Megan’s love quadrangle takes center stage. Who will be victorious (for now)? Meet me back here same time next week to discuss!

Nicole is a lawyer by day and will be GMMR’s resident Supernatural and Privileged expert this year. She lives just outside of Toronto, and as such, you’ll have to forgive Canadian spellings and maybe the occasional “eh” when they pop up in her reviews. Nicole is still in mourning over the loss of Arrested Development and desperately hoping that the movie happens soon. While she’s a lover of music and movies, television is near and dear to her heart and she’s really excited to be a part of the GMMR team!