"Swingtown" Go Your Own Way (2008)

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Director:

Bob Balaban

Writers:

Mike Kelley (creator)
Jessica Mecklenburg (written by)

TV Series:

"Swingtown" (2008)

Original Air Date:

3 July 2008 (Season 1, Episode 5)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Illinois | 1970s | Neighbor | Marriage | Pilot

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Oct. 24

4:00 PM

BRAVO

Go Your Own Way

#1.5

Cast

Molly Parker	...	Susan Miller
Jack Davenport	...	Bruce Miller
Grant Show	...	Tom Decker
Lana Parrilla	...	Trina Decker
Josh Hopkins	...	Roger Thompson
Miriam Shor	...	Janet Thompson
Shanna Collins	...	Laurie Miller
Aaron Christian Howles	...	B. J. Miller
Brittany Robertson	...	Samantha Saxton (as Britt Robertson)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Daly	...	Rex
Erin Daniels	...	Sylvia Davis
Kate Norby	...	Gail Saxton
Michael Rady	...	Doug Stephens
Tanner Alexander Redman	...	Waiter
Kyle Searles	...	Logan Rhodes
Rick D. Wasserman	...	Harry Reems

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A Dunkin' Donuts napkin features the new design of the company's logo.

Go Your Own Way is the best episode of "Swingtown" yet!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Wow, "Swingtown" just got a lot more interesting! How, well, in a nutshell: Trina invites Susan to a fund-raiser she and Sylvia, who's a lawyer, are having for an actor in trouble with the government. Turns out he's Harry Reems from the porn movie Deep Throat. Susan, not having seen the film in question, declines and gets Sylvia asking if she lets her husband have the opinions. Trina later checks on her new neighbor at Janet's Tupperware party and asks if she's all right. Susan explains she felt stupid in front of Sylvia. Trina says that's the last thing she expects to hear from her new friend and gives her the papers that tell of why Reems is being prosecuted. When hubby Bruce arrives home, he's upset that his wife didn't pick him up and that she wants to go to a porn party. Susan, in turn, wonders why she didn't get to see Deep Throat when Bruce went with his co-workers some time ago. Her hubby says it wasn't for her. Since she doesn't accept that, Susan goes to see the movie by herself and later tells Janet about it hoping she would go with her to the fund-raiser. Janet declines not wanting to associate with "filth" despite not having seen the movie either. Before getting back to that plot point, let's recap a few others: Tom began his first Tokyo flight and makes calls to Trina when he arrives there. He's not completely alone since his co-pilot brings a Japanese woman at his hotel along with other stewards and stewardesses. B.J. and Samantha buy a volleyball net using money Sam got selling a couple of her mother's "cigarettes" and later bond a little more when that mom goes to the Reems party. Laurie's ex-boyfriend tells her about seeing Teach leave her house and warns her he might not be one any longer. And Roger wonders what happened to his wife's "pot smoking-skinny dipping" self when she still insists on having sex every other Friday night? Okay, with that out of the way let's go back to the party: Harry Reems is greeted warmly by everyone, even Janet who comes after all to mainly support Susan and manages to giggle at some of Harry's lines. Only Samantha's mom, Gail, unnerves Harry. Meanwhile, Bruce and Roger are at their bowling place celebrating their victory when talk turns to Susan and Janet and their going to the party. They quickly go there with Bruce demanding Susan leave while Roger offers Janet to do the same as a private screening of Deep Throat starts. Janet decides to watch the movie as Roger likewise stays with her but Bruce leaves in a huff. Trina leaves partway during the screening to comfort Susan who's wondering if Bruce is willing to accept the changes she's gone through lately. Trina, no doubt thinking what she's going through with Tom, says change is never easy for any couple. Sylvia, by this time, also apologizes for her behavior which Susan accepts. And with that, all seems to go well: After Samantha admits to B.J. she wishes she was perfect like Nadia Comaneci, B.J. tells her through the walkie-talkie to look through her window as he gives her a 10.0. Laurie tells her ex to just let her go after reminiscing about how they met. Tom decides not to go to the "basement" since he wants to just be with his wife. After accepting Reems' singed picture, Janet and Roger spontaneously make love back home. Well, almost all went well: After telling Bruce she wasn't trying to upset him with what she did but was simply making her own choice, Susan gives him a kiss but with hubby still upset she goes to the kitchen with daughter Laurie sitting there. When Laurie finds out her mother went to the party after all, all she says is, with pride, "Way to go, Mom!"...This was an excellent episode about a real-life event that provided enough drama and humor to keep me entertained throughout. Loved Reems' invitation to Janet and Roger to go to the "basement", which Janet in the pilot had been appalled at earlier, and the couple's quick and polite decline. And that Janet wished Harry good luck! Loved Samantha's smile when she got her score. Loved the way Laurie handled her ex's threats though once again I'm worried about her relationship with Teach. And the period songs they pick here are great though once again there's an anachronism: "Couldn't Get It Right" by The Climax Blues Band came out a year after the summer of '76 setting. Other than that, this was the best episode of "Swingtown" I've seen so far. So with that note, until next time...