RINGER Recap: “I’m the Good Twin”

Despite all of the bumps in the road we’ve experienced before RINGER’s season, and most likely series, finale, I thoroughly enjoyed Tuesday’s episode and thought it was a good way to give the audience closure while leaving open the possibility for a lot more juicy intrigue.

Alas, if the ratings are any indication, we probably won’t see a second season of RINGER, but the ride was fun (albeit frustrating) while it lasted.

[Warning: Do not read ahead if you haven’t seen the finale]

Of course, the big twist in the finale was that Bridget finally found out Siobhan was alive and tried to kill her. Although a Bridget-Siobhan confrontation would’ve been interesting to see, I’m glad creators Eric C. Charmelo and Nicole Snyder didn’t give it to us just yet.

Instead, Bridget discovered the truth after Solomon showed her security footage of Siobhan getting into a car with Charlie/John after the time she died. The unearthing is enough for me, because it gives Bridget more questions instead of answers, and makes me wonder what season two would look like – even if I’m not sure I would tune in.

The second major event of the evening was that Bodaway finally found Bridget, or Siobhan, who he thought was Bridget. The scene had me on edge throughout; it’s not that I thought he would kill Siobhan, but with Bridget coming up to the apartment, I knew there was a possibility Siobhan and Bridget would see each other.

It didn’t happen, for Siobhan was able to escape before Bridget saw her, but the scene gave us a different payoff in the form of Bodaway’s death. Yes, Bridget dispatched of this season’s big baddie just as Victor and the police showed up in the apartment to save her.

Bodaway is perhaps one of the most disappointing aspects of RINGER’s run. Although his silence was at times eerie, it was mostly comical. If we had gotten more backstory or his character had more dimension, such as Gus on BREAKING BAD or Trinity on DEXTER, he may have been more frightening. Instead, I never doubted that he would eventually be stopped, and I never found him particularly interesting.

Although Bridget lived at the end of the episode, her life wasn’t exactly rosy. She finally revealed to Andrew and Juliet who she was, and they ostracized her for it. I understand this gives the plot more depth if there is a second season and it had to happen because, let’s face it, Bridget pretended to be someone else for seven months, but part of me thought Andrew overreacted. I mean, she forgave him for running a Ponzi scheme. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

As for Siobhan, aka the “good twin,” she’s left homeless at the end of the season. The creators did a good job of making the most powerful character of the show quickly and reasonably become the least powerful, and I’m curious to know how Siobhan would crawl out of the hole she’s dug herself in throughout season two.

Henry, on the other hand, went from having no power to having all of it, as he kicked Siobhan out once he learned she lied to him about the paternity test. Even though he said he would’ve raised the girls even though he isn’t their father, he broke up with Siobhan because she wasn’t honest with him.

To make matters worse for Siobhan, Henry spilled the beans about her revenge plot to Bridget. With Andrew off vacationing and Siobhan homeless, the relationship between Henry and Bridget would be a great one to see develop – as much as Henry annoyed me this season. Would they be love interests? Rivals? We’ll just have to see (or imagine).

Other observations:

• As much as I like Kristoffer Polaha, I’m thinking a lot of people were glad when Andrew punched him. You have to admit, he had it coming.

• Part of me wondered if Catherine would escape and try to kill Bridget again, but I’m appreciative that the creators, who wrote the episode, didn’t go there. There were enough loose ends to deal with, and last week’s conclusion to Catherine’s plotline left me satisfied.

• We’re still not sure if Malcolm is alive or dead, as a body was found matching his description. I have a rule about TV deaths: Unless we see it, I don’t count the character completely out.

• Solomon returned, but where the hell was he the past two weeks? This is possibly my biggest gripe about RINGER: Characters disappear not for any actual reason, but because it’s convenient for the writers.

• I liked when Siobhan told Bodaway, “You have the wrong girl!” It was a nice link back to the pilot when Bridget said that to the hitman.

• RIP big picture of Siobhan.

• I’ve read that a lot of critics have not been happy with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s performances this season, but I have to disagree. I always knew when either Siobhan or Bridget was onscreen, even when their names weren’t mentioned. Instead, I blame the writers for making each twin pretty flat and inconsistent. If RINGER gets canceled, I hope SMG can find a role that lives up to her strengths.

Well, that’s a wrap. What did you think of RINGER? If there is a second season, will you be tuning in?