My Review of The Beauty: "Beautiful Living Rooms"

 

Written by Ryan Murphy And Matthew Hodgson 

Directed by Michael Uppendahl 

Byron: "Happy endings. They get me every time."

Can a billionaire actually show some genuine benevolence? No, let's be honest, not really. Unless it's Bruce Wayne and he's fictional. Also Byron Forst ain't no Bruce Wayne.

Even when Byron showed some compassion, it's because he wanted something in return. For Agent Meyer Williams (John Carroll Lynch/Patrick Luwis), all he had to do was lure Cooper and Jordan into an obvious trap and his family would be whole again. Of course, Meyer agreed to Byron's request.

It's hard to blame him though. His wife Juliana (Kelli O'Hara/Hazel Graye) hated his guts and both of them blamed the other for their daughter Joey (Kaylee Halko/Augusta Liv) having progeria, which was on the verge of killing her. By the end of this episode, the Williams family were reset and Byron seemed oddly touched that he could help them. For a nanosecond, he almost came across as human.

Then I thought about the rest of the episode. We got a needed backstory for Antonio/The Assassin as the latter trusted Jeremy enough to fill him in on the details of his own transformation (Teddy Canez). Yet again, the show struck gold with Anthony Ramos and Jeremy Pope because the two of them play off each other so well here. I really like this pairing.

More interesting in their scenes together was the new found sense of awareness that Jeremy had about himself and incel culture. He kind of pointed out some of Antonio's toxicity, was philosophical about his father. Jeremy even asked sone relevant questions about his transformation that Antonio managed to give answers to.

Then there's Cooper and Jordan. Aww, they love each other. I don't think that's particularly shocking but I found it funny how being captured by Jeremy and Antonio really drove the point home for them. Will Byron succeed in killing Jordan and Cooper or will he find some other way to keep them in line? Assuming they don't escape first that is.

- There was mentions of The Bear, John Cena, Charli XCX, Dr. Oz, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and football talk in this episode.

- Juliana was 30 when Meyer was 45. Joey's 15 but her progerie gave her the heart of a 90 year old. Juliana also was an editor at a fashion magazine and battled cancer.

- Manny reappeared in this episode to be killed off and used as a human shield during Cooper and Antonio's fight scene.

- Chronology: Not long from where the last two episodes left off.

Beautiful Living Rooms provided a few more answers, back stories, love declarations and alliance shifting. It's another strong episode and the last of the single ones. Next week onwards, we're in double bill domain.

Rating: 7 out of 10