This week on Hart of Dixie, Wade began dating Vivian, Zoe freaked out about it, and a town merger was proposed blending Bluebell with their rival Fillmore. Let's get into it!
Zoe continued to cement her growing friendship with cousin Vivian by playing tennis with her, only to run into Wade, who totally checked Viv out (and vice versa). Naturally, Zoe tried to turn a blind eye to this obvious attraction, as is her m.o. whenever something doesn't fit into the image of her life and the people around her that she wants to believe in.
She couldn't ignore "Vivade" or "Vade" or whatever for too much longer, because soon enough Vivian was talking about wanting to date again, and Zoe knew too well what would probably ensue. Ostensively in order to shield Vivian from heartbreak, but really more to stave off her jealousy regarding Wade, Zoe went about trying to throw a wrench in the pairing, trying everything from setting Viv up with one of Lemon's snobby "eligible bachelor" cast-offs, to refusing to tell her cousin that Wade is a good guy when she was directly asked.
Even the usually voluntarily clueless Joel had to call Zoe on her outrageous behavior about Vivian and Wade, noting that if he didn't know any better, he'd think she was acting "jealous and crazy." He probably does know better, but he's just as good at frosting these things over as Zoe is, which is why they get along so well.
Zoe may have been busy with the episode's main plotline, but that didn't keep her from getting caught up in the hubbub about whether Bluebell and Fillmore will be merged into one town. Lavon was desperate to keep Dash from reporting the potential merger to the Bluebellians, who would, of course, freak out immensely, so he got some help from Zoe, Joel, Annabeth, and George. While Joel and AB pretended to have a torrid affair to distract Dash's eye for scandal, George and Lavon enlisted Tansy to help them sneak into a Fillmore party and gather intel on why the rival town's mayor is so keen on the merge. The sneaky Mayor Gainey actually wants to create "East" and "West" Fillmore, effectively putting an end to Bluebell's own identity and creating a big, opportunistic, materialistic mess in its place. As sure as Lavon Hayes talks about Lavon Hayes in the third person, there's no way he's going to stand for that.
I loved Wade's comment to Zoe, "Lemon's away, so you're filling the shenanigans vacuum?" This was so spot on. If Lemon were in this episode, there's no question that she would be the one scheming alongside the best of 'em to prevent the town merge. However, Zoe's involvement in Lemon's stead gave us a fascinating scene when Joel and AB were faking their make-out session in the street. As Wade and Vivian happened to walk by on their date, Zoe was obsessively staring at them without a care whatsoever for the fact that her actual boyfriend was in a clinch with another woman right in front of her. Truthfully, Zoe's audacious denial and shameless expressions of the very emotions she voraciously claims not to have are scarcely to be believed. It sure ups the ante on the "Zade" tension when we have scenarios like these, though! That was one awkward scene.
Speaking of feelings for an ex, George is obviously still harboring a flame for Tansy, which becomes all too apparent to everyone from an annoyed Lavon to a worried Lynly. I don't care for Tansy and never have, but there's no denying that the feelings between her and George are genuine and deep. This does not look good for the cute, but somewhat flimsy George/Lynly pairing.
Just as a side note, I am very pleased to see advanced stubble indicative of the return of George's beard. As much as I adore Wade, George with a beard might actually be my favorite.
After Zoe refused to confirm or deny that Wade is an irredeemable rascal, we got a fantastically fraught confrontation between Zoe and Wade. While Zoe claimed she was trying to remain neutral out of friendship for Wade but not dishonest out of protective instincts towards Vivian, Wade nipped that explanation in the bud. He wondered why everyone else in Bluebell can see that Wade has changed except for Zoe, and also suggested she ask herself why it bothers her so much that he's dating so close to home.
In Zoe's defense (which, admittedly, is a very shaky way to start a sentence), Wade did cheat on her, so it's his fault they broke up, and sure, she did "run off" after he confessed his love, but obviously he hurt her so indelibly that she doesn't want to see that he has changed and matured for the better (which he really has). I can sympathize with her not wanting to fall for him again only to be hurt once more. She just expresses those feelings in the most unhelpful ways possible for her happiness or anyone else's.
Additionally, it is really, really weird that Wade had to pick Zoe's cousin, of all people, to date in such an earnest manner. It's super-awkward and it does force her to be an observer of their dating on a more intimate level since her friendship with Vivian has advanced so quickly and so well. I can see where Zoe's coming from on that, too.
Also, can we talk about Zoe's maxi dress?
There was an adorable scene of Rose questioning her five-minutes-old journalistic integrity in wondering what kind of news really needs to be reported for Bluebell's good, and why it might be better to hold back on certain tidbits that don't really pose much potential for a positive impact for the town. Since Rose is mini-Zoe, this gave a perfect microcosm of Zoe's own conundrum, which Zoe aptly acknowledged. Sure, on one level it did seem to Zoe like dissing Wade to Vivian was the right thing to do, but it also blocked off any happiness the two of them might have had by dating, and she can't know that Wade and Vivian won't work out until they give it a go. I mean, I know Wade/Vivian is doomed, and you know it, but that's another story.
So Zoe did the real right thing by letting Vivian know that Wade is a decent person with plenty of potential for growth with the right woman. And he appreciated that in his own subtle way, returning Zade back to the status quo of mutually suppressed love masked in friendship.
Lavon and AB were kind of the comic relief this week, with their hilariously inept and lazy "fake fight" scene - I loved the "hand movements" they created to make those outside think they were having an intense argument! And AB is too funny when she gets overwhelmed by pressure to accomplish a task, such as shielding Bluebell from news of the merger. The townspeople's reaction at the town meeting, complete with shouts of "Panic now!" was so giggle-inducingly true to form.
I really miss Lemon and can't wait to see her back, though the show is doing a good job of explaining her absence during Jaime King's maternity leave. No doubt Lemon will be dismayed at the situation Brick has gotten into with the needy, 7 months pregnant Shelby, who has now moved in, ousted Brick's would-be lady friend, and gotten Brick right back in his old habits of following her every whim.
What did you think of this week's episode and the latest "Zade" and Wade/Vivian developments? How about the Lynly/George/Tansy triangle? Share your thoughts in the comments!
