“This day! It is full of surprises.”—Cory

Episode six probably provided the best action and most continuity of season three. This follow up continues on that path and you can feel the momentum bubbling up as we move toward a finale. There are a lot of balls in the air and this week’s episode focuses on three central stories. Let’s dive in.

Paul and Alex

The relationship between Alex (Jennifer Aniston) and Paul Marks (Jon Hamm) is moving ahead full steam. The problem is they don’t want it to get out. With the deal still not closed, it could rankle the board and nix the deal. So, as they prepare for another public function, Paul and Alex agree to keep things on the down low.

The problem is someone has photos. Paul finds out and tries to prevent them from coming out. He’s not successful—at least not as the hour closes. Will it come out? Will it even be addressed in the next episode? That’s a fair question given the pace of the season, but we certainly leave feeling their relationship will become public knowledge.

Whether everyone knows or not, Chip (Mark Duplass) is in the know. He catches them kissing in Alex’s office as the hour closes, and he looks stricken. He’s long harbored feelings for her and it’s quite possible this will come to a head.

Stella’s New Job

As we left episode six, it was clear Paul wants Stella (Gretta Lee) to run UBA. She seems to have mixed feelings. She gets the official offer in this week’s episode but feels what seems like misguided loyalty to Cory (Billy Crudup). So, she’s wrestling with the offer.

Later, she confides in Mia (Karen Pittman). Mia is pleased, even more so when Stella suggests Mia would be her choice for News Director. They could be a formidable team and they both feel committed to making changes at UBA—if given the opportunity.

Just as Stella feels committed to grabbing the job, she encounters Kate (Natalie Morales) who has been fired by Paul Marks’ company. She doesn’t understand why Stella won’t dig into Paul Marks and expose him. She challenges Stella, implying that she will always be beholden to Paul Marks.

Following that exchange, Stella meets with Cory. After consideration, she tells Cory the truth—Paul Marks wants to push him out and replace him with Stella. Cory takes it pretty well and implies Paul made the offer because he thinks he can control Stella, which Cory sees as a big mistake. Cory urges her to accept the offer and let the chips fall where they may.

It’s a big twist in the storyline that is among the most interesting this season. We’ll see how this all plays out.

Cory and his mother

In the final big story, Cory’s mother (Lindsay Duncan), a powerful political operative, is digging into the deal trying to sway things toward her son. The problem is this could be seen as interference. So, Cory has to go deal with the problem.

He takes Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) with him, likely because he doesn’t want to be left alone. It’s a tense day for them both, especially since Bradley doesn’t even know what she’s walking into. It’s clear that the relationship between mother and son is rocky at best, giving some insight into Cory’s issues with personal connection.

Bradley sees a new side to Cory and tries to relate. He rebuffs the attempt, declaring, “We’re two people who use each other,” when Bradley suggests their friends. She disagrees but there’s little resolution. Hey, at least they got lobster!

As the episode ends, the real-life headlines break back in as word breaks the Supreme Court is overturning Roe vs. Wade. That leads to plans for big coverage—presumably next week—and a variety of reactions. That includes Chris (Nicole Beharie) posting a controversial image on social media. Little is said this week but there is likely more to come.

Episode MVP: Stella. She has a big opportunity, but I liked the process of weighing her options. Her final interaction with Cory was fascinating and shows that, even if she gets the job, she wants to do things differently.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.