Baby Daddy - Lowering the Bars - Review: “Sibling Rivalry”

What a relief to not have to deal with any relationship drama this week! Things seem to have settled down between everyone and this episode was heavily focused on Danny and Ben starting to fully own the bar. I’m happy we get this episode right away because I’m really excited to see how they handle everything.

The episode opens with Danny and Ben getting ready for their first day of work together. They’re wearing matching outfits and it’s adorable! But who wore it best?? They both are really excited to be starting to work together but are worried about Bonnie’s reaction. Turns out they were right to be worried. When Bonnie barges into the apartment she’s very upset and can’t believe Danny would make this kind of investment without consulting her first. She reasons that they have no experience and don’t know the first thing about running a business. She demands they get rid of the bar and storms out.

Once Danny and Ben get to the bar we see they are quickly realizing how much work goes into it’s operation. Hardly anyone is working, which Ben finds puzzling, until one of the waitresses informs him that it’s now his job to make the schedule. On top of that they’re running out of alcohol and there’s a fire happening somewhere. Things are really starting to fall apart when Bonnie arrives, but this time she’s singing a different tune and it’s almost too good to be true. She decided that she overreacted earlier and is willing to help in any way she can. She really takes charge of the situation and shows the boys what an asset she could be at the bar.

However, just when they start to think things are getting under control, they’re visited by the health inspector who informs them that they have numerous violations and they are being shut down until further notice. Things are not looking good for the bar…until we see Bonnie confront this “health inspector” outside and we find out that she’s recruited him to play this role and he actually has no authority at all! It’s all part of her scheme to get Danny and Ben to give up on the bar and sell.

Meanwhile, Tucker has enlisted Riley’s help with a lawsuit that he filed against a construction company. He claims a pipe fell and hit him while he was walking through a construction site. Riley thinks they can really win and is eager to get her name known around the office for something other than sleeping with her boss. So instead of taking the settlement that was offered, Riley decides to go to trial because she believes they can win that much. This is her first trial so she’s pretty excited, as the whole courtroom can see when she falls out of her chair! However, this is Baby Daddy so things can never go that smoothly. When Riley and Tucker are practicing for the trial, Tucker’s story changes. He admits that he made the whole incident up. The pipe fell and splashed some concrete on him, so they are really suing over a $25 dry cleaning bill. Not only that, but Riley informs Tucker the case is as good as lost and he could even be facing jail time if this comes out in court.

Back at the bar, Danny and Ben have been hard at work fixing everything the health inspector cited as unsafe. Danny has clearly been up all night, running on nothing but expresso’s from the newly fixed machine. It’s hilarious and adorable to see him this way, and he also looks damn good in construction gear! Ben informs Bonnie that the health officials didn't even have a record of them being shut down - red flag #1, but he doesn't suspect anything and Bonnie is able to feign happiness for a while longer.

Now this is when things get bad for Bonnie. It’s no secret that I was not the biggest Bonnie fan coming into this season, or any season really, but I had been quite impressed with her the past few episodes. I actually liked her and looked forward to her scenes. Tonight marks the end of that era. Bonnie has obviously never been in the running for mother of the year, but I would like to think that even she wouldn’t stoop as low as she did in this episode.

As Ben is on his way to the bar, Bonnie stops him and tells him “something she really shouldn’t" - that Danny regrets buying the bar and thinks Ben is too irresponsible to run it. She tells Danny something similar, only that Ben thinks he’s too stupid. This is all untrue of course and just a way for her to pit them against each other. Classic Bonnie - the master manipulator. But this is too far. I have a hard time believing any decent mother would ever do something like this, and all over buying a bar?? Even Bonnie at her worst I could never see doing this, it’s just so cruel and hurtful to both of her sons. This incident, of course, causes Ben and Danny to get in a huge fight and Ben quits the bar. It’s actually really hard watching them fight because they’re both so laid back, you know they have to be really hurt and upset for them to get like this.

Later, when Danny is talking to Bonnie he tells her the real reason he invested in the bar. It wasn't for the financial benefits, instead it was because he believes in Ben and wanted to invest in him. After everything he’s done with Emma, Danny thinks he can do anything he sets his mind to and wanted to support him. Awww. This has to be one of my favorite Baby Daddy moments ever! This makes Bonnie feel like a terrible person - as she should! Although I’m kind of concerned that if Danny hadn’t said all this she would have carried on like what she did was totally fine…I really hope not but I guess we’ll never know. Clearly, even though she later comes clean, I still won’t be forgiving her for this one for a while.

In court, Riley is trying desperately to win Tucker’s case and after Tucker lies on the stand it’s looking like they might just get away with it. However, the defense brings in Bonnie as their witness, who was walking with Tucker at the time. After spending most of her time on the stand talking about how she lied to her sons and is a terrible mother, begging for forgiveness, she finally gets around to telling the court that no one was hurt in the pipe incident. This ruins Tucker’s chances at winning and puts everything in jeopardy. However, Riley, being the great lawyer that she is, recognizes something she can use regarding the fact that so many people had wandered into a construction zone. Clearly it wasn't marked properly! Instead of fighting this new claim and losing, the defense offers $5000 as settlement which they gladly take. Riley has just won her first case and everyone is super happy for her! Danny and Ben are also there to support her and forgive Bonnie afterwards because they’re more forgiving than me I guess.

This episode was a definite improvement from last week. Much less filler-y and it had some good content and laughs. There was no mention of the love triangle and everyone was just going about their business. I always would like to see more full cast interaction. I really love the episodes where all the stories are intertwined and everyone spends time together. This episode felt very split up - Tucker and Riley over here, and Danny, Ben, and Bonnie over there. Even at the end when they were all in the same room they felt very separate. I’m being nit-picky now though because this really was a good episode. My favorite part would have to be when Danny talked about his belief in Ben and how he was investing in Ben, not the bar. It made me love Danny a million times more (I didn’t think it was possible!). One thing I will say, is that Baby Daddy has been coasting for a while now and I’d really love for it to go above and beyond and really surprise me with something amazing sometime soon. But until then I’ll be happy with a great episode and leave you with some quotes!

“Danny, when you put on a tie, it doesn't make you look like you own a bar, it makes you look like a well dressed giant.” - Ben

“It’s not just cocktails and drunk girls” - Bonnie
“Uh, no, but I would argue that’s a huge part of it.” - Ben

“I think I need a lawyer” - Tucker
“Aw, Tucker! I’m so flattered! - Riley
“Do you know a good one?” - Tucker

“Like, huge, ‘I’m buying a mansion?’ or huge, ‘I can get some new jeans?’ ‘Cause, girl, you know I need both.” - Tucker

“If it was an accident then why do you keep doing it?” - Tucker

“You can’t do that! I just made a schedule!” - Ben

“You think it’s a good idea to make the bar cash only? The more I think about it, I don’t really get how credit cards work.” - Danny

“I should write a book about manipulation. Ooh! Better idea, I’ll trick Tucker into writing it for me!” - Bonnie

“I didn't invest in the bar, I invested in Ben.” - Danny

“You look lovely today.” - Lawyer
“That is correct.” - Bonnie

“I am focused - on what a horrible mother I am.” - Bonnie
“No objection here.” - Tucker

“You mean we cleaned up the bar and made it better for nothing?” - Danny

“Mr. Dobbs, I need to see you in my chambers. I think I see another suit I can get you out of.” - Judge

Did you think Bonnie went too far this week? Do you think Ben and Danny are doing a good job with the bar so far? Let me know what you thought of last night’s episode in the comments! Thanks for reading and see you next week!

About the Author - Kate Sidwell

Kate is a 24 year old, USA based, Psychology/Public Health Researcher - but that’s just her day job! In her spare time she is an avid TV watcher (some may even say addict!!). Some of her favorite shows are Jane the Virgin, Bates Motel, The Flash, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Rookie Blue, Silicon Valley, Beauty and the Beast, Sleepy Hollow, The 100, The Mindy Project, Pretty Little Liars, Once Upon a Time, The Royals, Orphan Black…so pretty much too many to count and a huge variety! She’ll give pretty much any show a chance! She also devotes a lot of time to her tumblr (eat-sleep-breathe-tv.tumblr.com) where you can find her reviewing and commenting on most of these shows and just generally fangirling! She’s excited to be writing for SpoilerTV on Complications, Baby Daddy, Proof, Switched at Birth, Secrets and Lies, and Minority Report!

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