Smash review – 2×12: ‘Opening Night’

Well, it’s finally here, opening night for Bombshell. After all the work, all the cast changes, and of course all the drama, the big night is here and it all comes down to this. Will Ivy (Megan Hilty) show everyone why she was the only choice for Marilyn? Will Tom’s (Christian Borle) direction be as brilliant as Derek’s (Jack Davenport)? Will Eileen (Angelica Huston) have a smash on her hands or will it be a bomb? And most importantly, will someone explain to me why Emory Cohen is there? Let’s bitch.

This week it’s all about Bombshell, while Jimmy’s (Jeremy Jordan)  Hit List is nowhere to be seen. It’s a big night, and it does feel like a momentus occasion. For anyone who has been watching this show from the beginning and who has made it through season one (oye!) and stuck with it, it almost seemed like this moment would never come. Yet here it is- Ivy is starring and everything is as it should be. Until she hears someone refer to her as just another chorus girl. She then runs home to read the online comments, which of course compare her to Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy starts to doubt herself.

Now Ivy is not new to moments of self doubt – it’s a big part of what makes her character tick. She has some really great moments in this episode as people try to reassure her. Derek, her mother (Bernadette Peters), her friends all try to convince her how brilliant she is, but my favorite moment is with Karen. I know it seems cliche, but having these two make nice makes for a touching scene between two former (and possibly future) rivals. And let’s face it, it sure beats their awful bonding session from season one. Plus we get to hear them sing together again. That’s life honey!

Elsewhere, Tom and Julia (Debra Messing) start to brainstorm for their next project but Tom just isn’t into it as the director’s chair is calling him. He is offered a director’s position for City of Angels. Julia finds out through the grapevine and is furious. Is this the end of the dynamic duo? It sure feels like it, and it’s a sad moment. These two are the heart of the show and this season they’ve had their fair share of ups and downs. I don’t want them to break up, they’re like the Sandy and Kristen Cohen of the show. And nobody wants a drunk Mrs. Cohen storyline. It certainly doesn’t help when Tom comes crawling back to Julia after his less than stellar directing review in the NY Times. Bitch please! Julia sees through this and shuts him down. They’ve only got five more episodes to make up. Make it happen people!

Meanwhile, the Hit List team is there to support their Broadway friends on opening night, but of course, they bring drama with them. While we get more of Jimmy’s tough guy pose, we also (finally) get some real information about his past, including who that creepy looking guy is, his brother. We also finally understand the bond between Jimmy and Kyle (Andy Mientus). Can anyone say, it’s about time?! Now this doesn’t make up for the weeks of the annoying leather jacket wearing, brooding, pouty lipped, angry, misunderstood rebel posturing that we had to sit through, but it does give us some a better understanding of his character and his relationship with Kyle. Although I still want to know how Kyle saved him from his life of drugs and despair.

Speaking of Kyle, how much do you love how he tries to stand up to Adam (David Call)? Of course this backfires and Jimmy steps in to fight Adam which gets them kicked out of the party. Karen is of course upset and breaks up with him….again! These two are so hot and cold I’m getting whiplash. I will say that when Jimmy finally comes clean to Karen about who he is, it is a touching scene and certainly helps to melt the wall I have built against him. Who am I kidding, I love misunderstood bad boys with soft eyes.

And while the Bombshell team celebrates a successful opening night and look towards the Tonys, the Hit List team decides to fast track their show and take it to Broadway. Ohhhhhhh snap! Looks like this theatre season is only heating up. I think it’s pretty obvious that this season is all leading up to the big awards show showdown. Mostly because the IMDB page lists the final episode title as The Tonys. Who will win the Tony – Tom or Derek? Julia and Tom or Kyle and Jimmy? Bombshell or Hit List? And once again, who will come out on top, Ivy or Karen?

Other observations:

• Emory Cohen makes his return to the show after being a sore point in season one. Luckily it’s not angsty Leo, but supportive Leo, and he’s mostly there as decoration.
• Was I the only one shrieking when Tom and Andy went home together? How cute are these two? As much as Andy’s tech guy is cute, I can’t help but love this duo together.
• I really wish they would give Ana (Krysta Rodriguez) something to do. Julia once said that the role of the Diva was not fleshed out enough, well maybe they should’ve considered the role of Ana as well. She is constantly used as a plot device and never really given any depth. Give the girl something to chew on!
• Of course Rosie would show up! This is the woman that brought Broadway to America via her very successful and sorely missed daytime talkshow back in the 90s. (God, was it that long ago?) I love how all these broadway people keep popping up on the show as this kind of show of camarderie.
• Has Eileen gone crazy? I don’t get why she is so upset with Richard (Jamey Sheridan). He wrote an article, which, you know, is his job. Girl, you need to simmer down and go after your man! I enjoyed their courtship and this whole lover’s quarrel feels like a waste of time.
• Last week I complained about Derek’s storyline this season and how he seemed to be using Ivy, well this week Ivy finds out and gives him the cold shoulder. Does Derek try to persuade her otherwise? Nope. He hooks up with the dancer that accused him of sexual harrassment. UGH! He is seriously turning into the Karen of this season!

Smash airs Saturday nights at 9pm EST on NBC.