Hart of Dixie - The Very Good Bagel - Review

Last week Zoe dropped the bomb on Wade that she was going to have his baby. Once again the writers have managed to deliver a good episode this season. This episode had some fantastic real moments as it once again focused on the core cast. There were some developments that disappointed me, but not enough to take away from my enjoyment of this episode and this season as a whole.

Contagious Insanity: Wade finds Zoe in Lavon’s kitchen after spending a sleepless night outside of the carriage house trying to get her to talk to him after she sprung the news on him that he was going to become a father. Lavon and George can’t look away as Wade is unable to clearly say what is on his mind. He can only come up with Zoe being a doctor and know about babies and he would be able to teach the baby to fish and fix cars as the reason why he and Zoe should get back together now that he knows about the baby. Not surprisingly, Zoe isn’t convinced that this is enough for them to get back together when Wade wanted to take things slow just the day before. Wade is troubled when he sees Earl later that day and shares the news that Earl is going to become a grandpa. Now that there is a baby on the way, Wade is worried about letting Zoe know that he is serious and doesn’t want to mess things up this time despite constantly sticking his foot in his mouth. Earl has just the game changer in mind and offers Wade’s mother’s engagement ring for Wade to propose to Zoe.

Wade only momentarily questions the insanity of proposing at this time before asking Zoe if she would give him the chance to tell her what he wants for them. With Lavon’s interference, Zoe agrees to meet Wade at the Rammer Jammer later that evening. When Wade stops by the practice to inquire if Zoe can eat shrimp, Elodie alerts Zoe to the fact that Wade has a bulge in his pants shaped exactly like a ring box. Zoe freaks out at the news that Wade is going to propose. She doesn’t receive any assurance when Brick tells her that is what he did when his ex-wife got pregnant with Lemon which resulted in her feeling trapped and left him to be a single parent. Zoe flees to the safety of New York and her mother and calls Wade to tell him that they need some space to return to sanity.

Wade realizes, when Lavon points it out, that proposing at this time when he and Zoe couldn’t even talk wasn’t the best idea. Meanwhile, Zoe’s mother isn’t happy to learn that Zoe is in love with Wade. She assures her that she doesn’t have to marry someone just because they are having a baby together. Candice wants Zoe to move back to New York to raise the baby so she won’t have to do it alone. Later that night at her mother’s party, Zoe is bombarded with guests who were invited to convince her to move back to NY despite Zoe assuring her mother that BlueBell is her home. When the doorbell rings, Candice opens the door to find Wade. He asks to speak to her first before seeing Zoe when Candice is ready to shut the door in his face.

Wade recalls the last time that he saw Candice that she slapped him pretty hard. He assures her that he has changed from the man who he was when he hurt Zoe because he was afraid that he wouldn’t be enough to make her happy. He tells Candice that he loves Zoe and came to tell her that he was going to fight for them and then asks to speak to Zoe.

Zoe is surprised to see Wade in NY and tells him that after everything they can’t get back together just because she’s pregnant. Wade pours his heart out to Zoe. He admits that he is afraid of becoming a father and how a baby is going to change him and them. Despite life being full of uncertainties, he is sure of one thing and that is that Zoe is the love of his life. He tells her that together they can handle anything, even a baby, and pleads with her to give them another chance. The next morning they share with Candice that they are back together.

Initially I was very annoyed and frustrated by Zoe’s attitude in this episode. She seemed to shut Wade out and not give him a fair chance before he even opened his mouth. He was trying really hard and was being really sweet so it was hard to see her be so closed off from him. After thinking about it some more, while I still don’t like how Zoe handled things, I do understand her a little better. She told George and Lavon that she is used to doing things on her own. It is scary to count on other people and know that they are going to be there for you. And given her complicated history with Wade, she really wasn’t sure how he was going to take this news. Getting back together would have been the easy thing, but she didn’t have any assurance that he wouldn’t wind up feeling trapped one day since there hasn’t been any indication that he was ready for or wanted a sudden family. I do wish we had gotten a little bit more from her after Wade poured his heart out in the way of their reunion instead of going to a black screen only to find out the next morning that they’ve reunited. Their reunion has been a long time coming. 30 episodes to be exact since they broke up back in season 2. It was sweet to see them happy in their final scene together now that they are back together.

One Triangle Closes as Another Opens: Lemon is pissed that her scheme to swindle Grandma Bettie was ruined because someone leaked the news of Henry’s girlfriend to The Blawker. George and Lavon overhear her demanding the name of the culprit from Dash. They realize that their chance with Lemon will be ruined if she learns they were responsible. To prevent Lemon from finding out, Dash blackmails them into taking part in a Jane Austen senior citizen cosplay weekend retreat.

Lemon, AB, and Crickett crash George’s parent’s lake house trying to recapture the glory days of high school after being disappointed about the present state of their lives. What follows is a fun montage set to “Vacation” by The Go-Go’s as the girls get drunk and have a blast swimming and hanging out together until they remember that they came here to find the wishes they had buried many years ago. Crickett at least achieved her wish of becoming the leader of the Belles, while AB mourns her lack of ambition. The girls return to the lake house to find that they are locked out which forces Lemon to call George for help. George is only too eager to leave behind his elderly dance partner to go to Lemon’s aid, but Lavon catches on and refuses to allow George to go without him.

When George and Lavon arrive, they enter the cabin with the girls to find it trashed. Lemon tells George that they had planned to clean up but first they needed to get something to eat while Crickett and AB sobered up. Suddenly Crickett recalls that she forgot to feed the cat she got to be a better lesbian after watching “The L Word”. To prevent Crickett from being a cat killer and the worst lesbian ever, Lavon agrees to take the girls home while George says he’ll stay behind and clean up. To Lavon’s surprise and George’s delight, Lemon says that she’ll also stay behind with George to help clean up since it was all her idea.

Once alone, George and Lemon reminisce about their first time together which happened at the lake house. Lemon mischievously tempts George to let loose and live in the moment and says she feels like going for a swim. George wastes no time stripping and joining her in the lake. George tells Lemon that she is as beautiful as she was when she was 17. They share a moment before Lemon says that she is so cold which causes them to return to the lake house. In a beautiful moment in front of a fireplace, Lemon tells George that he was her first love and she can always count on him and she will always feel safe because she has him. The next morning George shares with Lemon that he isn’t in love with her which he just realized 3 hours before. He has been in love with what they had, but he knows that he needs to move forward. And with that, the door to Lemon and George is closed but not before George shares with Lemon that Lavon was also at the dock and that he and Lavon leaked the news to the Blawker about Henry.

But what is this show without at least one triangle? George tells Lavon that this is now his chance to be with Lemon. There is one huge bump on the way to Lemon and Lavon running into each other’s arms–AB. The night before, a drunk AB told Lavon that she was still in love with him. She tearfully asks Lemon if she’ll ever get over him. By the shared longing looks between Lavon and Lemon at the Rammer Jammer, they are both aware that they still have feelings for one another. And all I could think about was poor AB.

I had a hunch before this season started that they would eventually go in the direction of Lemon and Lavon so I wasn’t that surprised with the way things went in this episode. That still doesn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed to see it play out on screen. I admit that I love George and Lemon together. This episode just reminded me of how great they are together. And it seemed a little too easy that George just came to a sudden realization that he wasn’t in love with Lemon. This really makes George seem wishy-washy. He has had “feelings” for many women throughout this series. I was really hoping that he was finally moving forward. And hopefully that is what will happen now. So while I’m sad that George and Lemon won’t ever rekindle what they had, I do understand it in a way and am glad they didn’t drag it out all season.

My biggest disappointment in this episode was that AB told Lavon she was still in love with him. I really wanted her to realize that she was at least ready to try to move on with her life for real. Not necessarily romantically, but to do more than just pine for someone I don’t feel is worthy of her and has treated her terribly. As much as I loved how great of a friend Lavon was in this episode, he annoys me when it comes to his romantic entanglements. This is a nice and happy show so I know that there will be a happy resolution to everything. AB will eventually move on and after that it will then be “ok” for Lemon and Lavon to be together. Again, I go back to the friendships on this show. They really are the best part. And Lemon and AB’s friendship has been one of my favorite parts since season one and early season two. I hated that Lavon came between them in season 2. And I hate it again. So at this time I’m not excited by the prospect of Lavon and Lemon even though again I understand how they may not have gotten over each other. All I want is the friendships to remain intact and for AB to find the happiness she so desperately deserves.

Final Thoughts: Crickett’s storyline is an unexpected delight this season. It is like Crickett has finally come out of her shell. She shines, and she is so fun. I can’t wait for her date with Jaysene. Lavon was a terrific friend in this episode. I’ve really been missing the Lavon and Wade friendship dynamic since season 1. It feels like they are finally going back to that. I loved how Lavon was there for Zoe and Wade and the go between when we know how much he hates being put in that role. He really was the voice of reason for both of them. Brick was hilarious when he overheard the news of Zoe’s pregnancy. I also always love Brick and Zoe scenes and how he is supportive and offers advice. They have come a long way since season 1. I love Wade. Seriously, I love him. He was trying so hard and was such a sweetheart this episode. I really wanted to see him talk to Zoe’s mom after Candice slapped him last season. He has really matured and has taken responsibility for the mistakes he has made. In a way, I feel he was far more prepared for this baby than Zoe. And certainly more capable of handling the news.

Are you happy now that Zoe and Wade are back together? Are you rooting for Lemon and Lavon? What would you like to see for AB?

About the Author - Tracie

Tracie is a wife and stay-at-home mom of 2 residing in NJ. She likes to unwind with a good book or in front of the TV. She is an avid reader of romance books. She likes to cook and bake. She loves to exercise and is trying to live a healthier life style. She watches a wide variety of TV shows ranging from reality TV to scripted dramas. Some of her past and current favorite TV shows are Sex and the City, Charmed, The Good Wife, and Hart of Dixie.