By Sara A. Bibel
Fancast.com
Open marriages are dull. That’s the lesson I’ve learned from Swingtown.
Susan is suddenly conflicted about her night of swinging. She forces her family to go to church and persuades Janet to help her plan a housewarming party. It turns out Susan’s worried Bruce is interested in Sylvia because she found her business card in Bruce’s belongings. I feel like an idiot, because I thought that scene in the last episode was about Susan wanting a career. That’s the danger of telling stories through musical montage. Susan exposits that she got pregnant the first time she had sex with Bruce. Bruce assures her she’s the only one for him. Tom and Trina plot to get Bruce and Susan back in the “swing” of things. It’s unclear why they care.
BJ and Rick sell Bruce’s Playboys to other boys. Janet busts them and rats them out to Susan. Janet makes Rick clean the basement . BJ is grounded. The fathers halfheartedly lecture the boys, but aren’t that upset. There was an almost identical scene in the pilot. BJ gives Samantha the money so she can fix her bike. Rick is pissed since half the money is his. He insults Samantha. She gives BJ back his walkie talkie. They see Gail kissing a guy. BJ gives Rick half the money. They make up by building a fort. Kids were boring in the 70s.
[Watch the two previous episodes of Swingtown.]
Lori sees Mr. Stevens at the library. He’s holding a book drive. He reveals that the pretentious director from last episode is not his girlfriend. Lori helps him go through old library books. They spend the night quoting literature and Bob Dylan to each other. Finally, Lori kisses him. This storyline is making me miss Pacey hooking up with his teacher on Dawson’s Creek. Hey, Swingtime is great nostalgia!
At the housewarming, Janet wants to play a game where people tape names of famous people to their backs. Tom and Trina arrive with fondue, a video camera and Brad and Sylvia. Trina’s game idea is better: if a woman drops bread into the fondue she has to kiss someone besides her husband. Roger and Susan share a slightly flirtatious moment. Janet and Trina argue as they each try to run the party. Susan takes control. She rips wallpaper she hates off the wall, pulls her dress over her shoulders, and invites others to join her. Angry, Drunk Redecorating would be a great TLC show.
Everyone loosens up. Gail does coke with a guy. People draw on the bare wall. Janet pouts. Susan apologizes and asks her to add to the graffiti. Trina compliments Janet’s salad. Janet writes the recipe on the wall. Brad flirtatiously analyzes Susan’s drawing. Bruce tells Trina that she and Susan are the only women he’s slept with. Roger sees Bruce kiss Trina. Bruce tells Roger about the fourgy. Roger freaks and tells Janet it’s time to leave. Janet notices people have drawn a mean caricature of her on the wall. Sylvia invites Susan to lunch.
Post party, Tom and Trina and another couple make out in their pool. Susan tells Bruce they should be open about everything. They videotape themselves having sex.
