DROP DEAD DIVA: Queen of Mean

Happy August, Drop Dead Diva fans! I don’t know about you, but I was glad to see a return to a more light-hearted episode for Jane. The past few episodes showed her as feeling like a third wheel or entangled in her family’s issues, so it was great to see her more confident, even if she was dealing with Ellie Tannen, the ‘Queen of Mean’, (played by guest star Cybill Shepherd). Jane uses Deb’s innate fashion sense to score Tannen as a client, to Parker’s pleasure. But Tannen has a nearly impossible request: to stop a tell-all inflammatory biography of her from being published. Jane, using Stacy’s advice, tells her “It won’t be a problem.”

Jane also takes Stacy’s personal advice and invites Hank the bailiff to a dinner party they are throwing, in the hopes that Jane will begin dating again. Since Original Jane and Hank got along so well, Stacy is convinced that Hank is a great place for New Jane to start.

On the other side of the law office, Kim and Grayson take on a case for a client, Alison. Transgender, she is fighting for the ability to keep the home she shared with her late wife, Melanie. Melanie’s parents are opposed, stating that everything that belonged to Melanie belongs to them. Kim and Grayson’s strategy, to present to the court that Alison’s DNA makes her male, is rejected by Alison.

While defending Ellie, Jane is SO close to closing it up; she manages to almost get Dawn, the author of the tell-all to confess that she set out to work for Ellie for the sole purpose of exposing her. But just as Jane is moving in for the kill, Ellie stands up, leaves the courtroom and announces to the press that she is dropping the case. Jane got dumped, on television. Best line of the ep goes to Stacy, who likens it to The Bachelor, “without all those gratuitous jacuzzi scenes”. It goes from bad to worse for Jane when Hank shows up to the dinner party with his girlfriend Jasmine. But I don’t think any of us would have ever imagined that Hank and Stacy would share a love for PeeWee Herman. I mean, I love PeeWee as much as anyone, and I laughed when Jane said, “I know you are, but what am I?” in response to Stacy’s apology, but still, didn’t that feel kind of random? Thoughts from you?

When Jane realizes that Ellie set up the entire trial for publicity to announce her ‘everyday woman’ line, Jane also figures out that Ellie picked her because she thought Jane would lose in court. That stings, personally and professionally. She gets a little pick me up when she is able to help Grayson solve his case, for the sake of true love. And when Ellie shows up at her door, stating she wants Jane to pick up the case again, Jane refuses until Ellie admits the real reason she needs help. Ellie comes clean and tells Jane that she is going blind, and if that information is made public, it will ruin her career.

The case is re-opened, and Jane interrogates Dawn with a fierceness that is very admirable. I was proud of her in the courtroom when she told the truth and defended Ellie. That intense attitude is mirrored in Grayson’s defense of Alison over at his trial. He is able to prove to the judge that Alison’s birth certificate qualifies her as a male spouse and therefore Alison wins the trial. Jane also wins her trial, mostly. More importantly, she earns the respect (mostly) of Ellie.

I really liked the ending when Jane and Grayson were talking about true love. Was anyone else on the edge of their seat, wondering if Jane really WAS going to tell Grayson the truth? When Fred interrupted, I finally exhaled, not even having realized I’d been holding my breath. Was it a sigh of relief or disappointment? I’ll be honest, I’m not sure. How about you? I think I thought I was ready for Grayson to know, but I SO loved that Fred told Jane that Grayson has to fall in love with HER, and not old Deb. It was another big step for Jane in realizing that she, New Jane, is worth loving. I certainly am in favor of that.

Thoughts from you? Are you happy with how this season is going? Do you think Fred was right in stopping Jane? Let’s discuss!