Molly Tarlov, Ashley Rickards
Awkward., Season 4, Episode 10: “Snow Jobs”
Written by Mike Chessler and Chris Alberghini
Directed by Peter Lauer
Airs Tuesdays at 10pm EST on MTV
Awkward., Season 4, Episode 11: “Snow Jobs Part 2”
Written by Mike Chessler and Chris Alberghini
Directed by Peter Lauer
Airs Tuesdays at 10pm EST on MTV
While Eva and Jenna started out on friendly terms, Eva’s actions and Jenna’s deduction in last week’s episode firmly established them as antagonists, putting Jenna and Sadie on the same side against Matty’s new girlfriend. With Jenna setting the two up following her entrance into a new relationship, Eva’s attack on her further solidified the devious nature she first displayed towards Sadie. The midseason finale this week further escalates the fight between Matty’s girlfriend and his two friends, in an episode that manages to be a solid temporary sendoff for the show, despite some odd storytelling turns.
While the reveal of Eva’s identity theft and subsequent pregnancy is a somewhat jarring development, it nonetheless opens up some intriguing storytelling possibilities. Over the course of the season, Matty’s support system has shrunk significantly as he has grappled with his adoption. Combined with a desire not to abandon his child the way he feels he was abandoned means that Matty is likely to stick with Eva for a longer period than others might, especially with a limited number of individuals trying to convince him otherwise. As Eva’s true nature comes further to the fore, it will be interesting to see how others react. While Sadie and Jenna are already working actively against Eva, other friends of Matty have yet to enter the fray. In particular, Jake’s reaction will say a lot, as he has yet to form any definitive feelings about Eva. Through the season, despite his own issues, Jake is the one person Matty has not found himself alienated from, which may mean Jake’s opinion would hold more weight than that of others. With Tamara and Jake once again amicable with each other, the latter is likely to give serious consideration to what Tamara and Jenna have to say, while still lending an ear to Matty, and what side Jake comes down on is likely to affect how the relationship moves forward.
The disintegration of Jenna’s relationship with Luke also serves as an effective reminder that, despite her eagerness to get out, Jenna is still in high school. While the two have gotten along, there have been numerous reminders during their relationships of the difference in priorities the two have, which was most starkly emphasised when Jenna surprised Luke a few weeks ago. With Jenna now more aware of what college entails, it will be intriguing to see how she prepares for college, and whether or not she chooses to shift her own priorities as senior year draws to a close.
Overall, this is a fun, if somewhat ragged midseason finish. It’s good to see Tamara and Jake on friendly terms with each other, and how their relationship evolves from here on out will be worth keeping an eye on. With various events over senior year having effectively derailed Tamara’s best-laid plans for how things would play out, it’s apparent she is no longer concerned about how events unfold. This, in turn, makes her less likely to lay the blame for her perceived misfortunes at Jake’s feet, or even try to win him back to keep everything on track. This ensures the relationship between the two can be more relaxed. Sadie and Jenna teaming up is also a fascinating aspect of the episode. While it’s clear that both individuals care for Matty’s well-being, enough to put aside their differences, the time they spend together also works in building their empathy towards each other. In many ways, the two are going through similar circumstances, especially with Jenna’s breakup this week, and whether or not fighting Eva forges a deeper bond between Sadie and Jenna, and how the two react to its presence if it does, will be worth watching for when the show returns.
– Deepayan Sengupta