SMASH'cap: The Show is Bigger Than All of Us

The first season of SMASH is drawing to a close, with only one episode left. Once again, last week’s previews alluded to more drama than what actually transpired. The promos made a huge deal about Rebecca’s allergic reaction, but somehow failed to give us an idea as to the real dramatic moments this week: Dev and Ivy in bed together, Julia and Tom’s big fight, and Rebecca quitting the show. I think I may stop watching the teasers altogether, they don’t add anything to my anticipation for the next episode. So what’s the point?

Season one’s penultimate episode opens with Dev in bed with Ivy. (First he proposes in the worst manner imaginable, and now he’s cheating on his girlfriend the very same night he proposed, with her professional rival, just after nearly sleeping with a colleague. If his aim is to piss her off as much as possible, he’s well on his way. Ivy’s not going to tell anyone and neither is he—yeah, right—but these things tend to be revealed in time. They spend the rest of the episode looking guilty whenever they’re in contact with Karen. 

Ms. Cartwright’s feeling guilty, too, and convinces Dev to propose a second time. It’s complicated by the disappearance of the ring, however. Dev thinks he left it in Ivy’s hotel room. She tells him she didn’t find it, but I wonder if she’s actually trying to protect Karen. Is that crazy? I know they’ve had issues, (and will have more next season) but I think fellow womanhood might be winning out in this case. She looked incredulous at the idea of Dev proposing after sleeping with someone else. Perhaps being cheated on by Derek had made her realize that she’s been equally awful to Karen. Who wants to take bets on how quickly Dev’s new fiancée discovers his infidelity? I’m guessing it happens at the beginning of next season, if not in next week’s finale. Things aren’t much better for Derek, but he’s oblivious.

Eileen’s livid that Derek’s sleeping with Rebecca—“you didn’t think there was enough to deal with”—and threatens to strangle him if it backfires. Before the episode’s over, Ivy has a chance to confront him, but he doesn’t appear to think he’s done anything wrong. Ivy is confused, and asserts that his last words to her before having sex