Here is the full recap for Ugly Betty episode 3.19, The Sex Issue.  Before the recap, here’s a few of my thoughts:

• I really liked this one.  All of the sex-based storylines were unrelated, yet seemed to fit together perfectly.
• This was the first episode where Betty took off her glasses on purpose to appear more attractive.
• Because of situations out of my control, I wasn’t able to post my theories about Matt, his behavior, and the “other woman”.  I was wholly and completely wrong though.  I assumed Matt was a virgin (based on his sometimes childlike mannerisms) and the other woman was his sister (I thought maybe the joke he made in 3.18 was actually a slip).  Instead, they turned him into a proxy for Daniel.
• Some here have suggested that Molly is, for Daniel, a proxy for Betty.  So, are the writers preparing the characters (and us) for a Detty hookup in season 4?
• Wilhelmina – what can I say?  Her meltdown, followed by firing the “manny”, was priceless.
• It was good to see more Amanda this episode.  Her infatuation with Betty is weird, but funny and poignant at the same time.
• I thought Daniel’s sex-shyness was perfectly written, and Eric Mabius acted it perfectly.  I’ve known several guys like this (who want everyone know to know about their active sex lives, but are still shy about the specifics).
• I liked how they made Ignacio’s role almost completely slapstick humor this episode.
• I know many of you might think Hilda’ behavior was unbelievable, but trust me, it’s not.  Sure, it was an exaggeration, but haven’t we all been more interested in someone when there was “competition” than not?

I was hoping there would be more workplace interaction about the actual Mode “Sex Issue”, but I understand why that didn’t happen.  All in all, I think this was a great episode!

Full recap after the jump!

Matt is walking Betty back to her house after a date, and they share a cute moment about pizza.  Betty asks Matt to pay up a dollar because of a bet they had made that he lost, but instead he hands her a jewelry box.  It turns out to be a “bee” hair clip.  He gave it to her to celebrate their “monthiversary”.  They are about to kiss, when Ignacio bursts through the front door, knocking them both several feet away.  He is gathering supplies to take Justin and Elena on a camping trip with Elena’s nephews.

Archie and Hilda walk into the kitchen after their date.  He tries to kiss her, but Hilda turns away slightly and makes it a kiss on the cheek.  He then tries again, and as they share a short kiss on the lips, Ignacio barges in, knocking both of them away with the door.  He apologizes, and Archie leaves.  First Ignacio, then Betty, ask her about her date.  She is lukewarm toward Archie, which Ignacio doesn’t understand. 

Justin comes in and tries (again) to beg off the camping trip.  He’d rather go to a spa.  Hilda tells him he has to go.

Wilhelmina is in bed watching television, when she hears someone singing “You Are My Sunshine” in another room.  She gets up and rushes to the room, thinking it is Connor’s voice.  She gets there and sees that it is indeed him, holding William.  But then, she wakes up from what was a dream, looks over and sees William in his crib.

Daniel addresses a Mode staff meeting, ordering to crew to really whip up interest in the first ever Mode “Sex” Issue, which is hitting the stands  in 3 days.  While he speaks, Wilhelmina nods off.  Betty and Amanda suggest a tie-in with ModeNY.com.  Wilhelmina yawns loudly – Marc pours her more coffee. 

In her office Wilhelmina stares blankly out the window as Marc tries to tell her that she will be included in the new Olsen twins’ coffee table book, Influence II.  She doesn’t respond.  Marc thinks this means she’s dead and panics.  This wakes up Wilhelmina, who had been napping.  Marc tries to tidy up her desk, and finds a picture of Connor.  Wilhelmina says that the baby is to blame for her lack of sleep, though, and says she needs help.  She wants to have Marc hire a night nanny for her.  Marc also suggests she needs some other “night needs” met, but Wilhelmina has already fallen asleep again.

Amanda suggests to Betty that their ModeNY.com column be “fun sex vs boring relationship sex”.  Betty suggests something a little less personal, and Amanda thinks this means that Betty is hiding something kinky about Matt.  Betty says that Matt is into normal things “I think”, and Amanda figures out that they haven’t slept together yet.  Amanda asks her what the hell she’s waiting for.

At home, Betty takes out the trash, and Hilda notices she’s wearing lip gloss.  Betty tells her she hopes that tonight will be “the” night.  Hilda tells her that some guys need more of a “push” than others.    They emerge from the alley to the street to find Papi packing enough stuff in the car for a two week camping trip instead of two days.  Justin complains that he can’t bring anything because there will be no electricity.  Ignacio offers to cook the girls a very  early breakfast before he leaves in the morning; Hilda says she’ll be there, because she has a date with Archie that will certainly end early.  Betty passes, and says she’ll be staying the night in the city – Hilda then reveals that Betty will be spending the night with Matt, and everyone shares an awkward father-daughter moment.

In Molly’s apartment, Molly says she wants to take part in a poetry slam.  She had been writing poetry for years.  Daniel suggests she do it. He says HE could never do something like that, because he has a very bad memory from a scarring high school rock band experience.  He says he played guitar (badly), and had to write and perform a cheesy song (Crash and Burn) for a battle of the bands, and he was laughed off the stage.  Molly wants to see a picture from those days, but Daniel says “never”.

After their date, Betty and Matt share a great romantic moment, then kiss in front of his apartment.  Matt says he should get her a cab, and Betty suggests she come upstairs instead.  But Matt goes into a semi-panic, and rushes her into a cab.  Even the cab driver says that it sure seemed like Matt was trying to get rid of her.

Later, Archie calls Hilda after their date, which annoys her.  She doesn’t like the fact that he’s so into her.  Betty is also annoyed, about Matt’s strange behavior.  Betty suggests to Hilda that she should just break up with Archie if he bothers her so much, and Hilda quickly agrees that nice guys aren’t for her.  Hilda asks about Betty’s date, and Betty tells her how horribly it ended.  Hilda says that maybe he misunderstood her “signals”.

Amanda tries (as part of the online article)  to give Betty pointers, telling her to NEVER be subtle.  She inadvertently discovers that Betty and Matt still haven’t slept together.  She vows to personally teach Betty how to be sexy.  She says it can tie in with their article.  Betty semi-reluctantly agrees.  Amanda receives a text from Daniel inviting her to the poetry slam, an idea she hates.

In Daniel’s office, Betty is excited about the idea of a poetry slam.  Betty says she’ll be there – poetry was one of her favorite classes in college.  Daniel hands her Molly’s poem that she’s going to read.  Betty reads it, and says it is very personal and intimate.  Daniel, who knows nothing about poetry, says he thought the poem was about the ocean.  Betty explains that the ocean is a metaphor for sex, specifically about Molly and Daniel.  This freaks Daniel out.

Betty and Amanda arrive at Amanda’s (Betty’s old) apartment.  Marc busts in, and takes over the “Betty sexification”.  Betty is surprised to see Marc, she thought it would just be the two of them.  They begin anyway.

Amanda says that the key is to appeal to the six senses: sound, smell, taste, touch, sight, and style.  They start with sound (playing sexy music).  For smell, they spray perfume that makes Betty sneeze.  For taste, they tell her to seductively use her lips on a straw, and to eat slowly and seductively.  For touch, they suggest she tickle him with a feather.  For sight and style, they try to teach Betty the art of the seductive hair flip (Marc is the model for this).  Marc suggests Betty lose her glasses, but Betty says she needs them to see.  Amanda, then gives her a ladle, and tells her she’ll know what to do with it.

Wilhelmina lies in bed and hears a growling noise in the other room.  She grabs a baseball bat and heads towards the noise.   She sees a man leaning over William, and comes at his with the bat.  He explains that he’s the nanny, and was telling William a story.  He introduces himself (he is James), and carries on with William.  Wilhelmina is obviously attracted to him.

Archie and Hilda are in a restaurant on a date.  Her tries to hold her hand, but she pulls away.  Hilda starts to give him a “breakup” speech, but while she’s speaking, a woman walks up to Archie and kisses him on the cheek.  Apparently they had dated in the past.  Hilda’s demeanor changes as the woman, Felissa,  flirts with Archie.  

Molly starts to seduce Daniel – he takes the opportunity to suggest some changes to her poem.  While talking about this, he reveals that he knows the poem is about them, and that he doesn’t want her to read it in public (in front of his co-workers).  Molly agrees to read something else.

At the restaurant, Felissa pulls up a seat next to Archie and lays it on thick (saying multiple times that letting him go was the biggest mistake she ever made).  She leaves (at Archie’s suggestion), and Hilda grabs Archie’s hand. looking at him more seductively now.

Matt comes into Betty’s (old) apartment; Betty has put on romantic music and lit candles.  Matt says they should hurry to get to the movie they are going to.  Betty, bursts into the room wearing robe (I think it’s a robe) and scarf.  She says “what’s your hurry, soldier?”, and winks.  Betty walks toward him, walking seductively and flipping her hair.  This makes Matt nervous.    She says they should stay in instead of going to the movies.  She offers him a mojito, and takes a slow slow sip from her own, batting her eyes at him.  She continues to advance, and backing-away Matt falls into a chair.    Betty sits on his lap, and he pulls a feather out from beneath him.  Betty tries to tickle him with it, it makes Matt sneeze.

Matt suggests they go to the movie – Betty once again suggests they stay in; she takes off her glasses and tries to kiss him.  Matt gets up and says he has to go.  He adds that it’s not her, it’s him, and walks out.

Hilda and Archie sit mostly naked on Hilda’s salon chair, post dalliance.  Archie says that this was an unexpected turn of events – he had expected Hilda to break up with him.  Hilda admits that she was going to until Felissa came along.  This makes Archie very angry, and he gets up and leaves.

The next morning, Wilhelmina complains (sort of) to Marc about the hunky nanny he hired (who really isn’t a nanny at all – he’s a model).  Marc says he was only trying to help; he hadn’t scheduled one of her weekly “car washes” in a long time. 

Betty tells Marc and Amanda that the date was a disaster.  Marc can’t believe it – their moves are patented and always work.  They decide he’s gay, or a virgin, or a woman.  Betty says she wants to talk with Matt about it, but he just texted her and said he’d be working through lunch.    Betty nevertheless says she’s going to go to his office and talk to him.  Amanda and Marc tag along because she owes them lunch for helping her.

Matt walks onto the street outside his office; the three of them hide behind a hot dog cart.  Marc and Amanda decide to follow him, and Betty reluctantly follows.  They follow from the other side of the street.  Matt stops, so they hide behind a mailbox.  They see Matt meeting and hugging a blonde woman.  Marc and Amanda push Betty out into the open.  Matt and the woman see her, so she walks up to them (Marc and Amanda nonchalantly walk away).  She awkwardly tells him that she’s confused, and if he is “with” the other woman, that’s OK. 

The woman introduces herself; she’s Matt’s therapist.  She asks her to join them.  In the session, Betty apologizes for pushing Matt into doing something he obviously didn’t want to do, and he explains that it wasn’t her fault.  The therapist urges him on, and he admits that he has been with “a lot” of women in the past (really a lot).  He explains that he’s been lonely his whole life and has filled that void with meaningless sex (sound like anyone we know?).   He had made a contract with the therapist that he wouldn’t be with someone again until he had really connected with them first.  This explained his panic when Betty came on so strong.  The therapist asks Betty how she feels about this, and she says she feels great.

But later at Mode, she explains to Daniel that the whole situation makes her feel strange.  That she’s just another number.  Daniel calls him a dog, admiringly.  Betty changes the subject and tells him that his car is coming to take him to the poetry club right after work.  Daniel explains that Molly isn’t reading “that” poem anymore, because he had asked her not to.  Betty tells him that his sex life has been on display at Mode for years, what was he worried about?  Daniel tells her she’s making him look like an ass – she says he kind of is.  She tells him he should be brave enough to let Molly read the poem.

Hilda is doing Betty’s hair, and tells her that she had called Archie and apologized; he’s coming over.  She says they really “connected”, and didn’t disconnect for about an hour .  Betty asks that they not talk about sex.  She explains that their relationship is now so complicated because she’s now one of hundreds, even though she obviously means a lot to him, as Hilda reminds him.  The doorbell rings.

In walks Felissa, who tells Hilda to “back off her man”.  She decided she wants Archie back.  Hilda says she can’t have him.  Felissa points to herself and says “Archie loves him some vanilla ice cream.”  Hilda angrily points to herself and says “He won’t go back to vanilla when he’s tasted hot, melted, caramel surprise.”  Felissa says Hilda has a fat ass, and they lunge at each other with Betty trying to stop the fight.  Felissa then starts trashing the place;  Hilda picks up the trimmers, attempting to shave Felissa’s hair or eyebrows.    Felissa uses a hair dryer for defense, as Betty stands between the two women brandishing grooming appliances as weapons.  At this point, Archie walks in.

In Wilhelmina’s apartment, she walks seductively toward James and starts a fire.  James puts William down.  Wilhelmina points out that something is on his shirt; the baby had spit up a little.  She tells him to take off his shirt and she’ll wash it.  He does, revealing his perfect chest and abs, which impress Wilhelmina. 

At the poetry club, Matt tells Betty he’s glad they talked with the therapist today.  He waves at a pretty woman, who waves back.  He points out that she works at a coffee shop near his apartment.  He says that that’s the only place he knows her from to reassure Betty.  Betty is nonchalant.

Wilhelmina walks in to see James singing “you are my sunshine” to William.  This causes Wilhelmina to break down and cry.  Later, she tells James all about Connor, and cries, literally, on his chest.  James tells her to let it out; Wilhelmina says she just wants to have sex.  She tells him to take his pants off.  James says she doesn’t need sex, she needs to close the door on Connor and focus on her baby.  She thanks him, and then fires him because they won’t be having sex.

At the club, Daniel tells Molly he wants her to read her original poem.  She is excited, and kisses him.  She then goes to read the poem.   Afterward, the waitress brings Matt the check, and Betty imagines her whispering into his ear.  Suddenly, she is wearing a T-shirt with the number 108 on it.  Betty looks around and sees every woman in the place wearing a number.  She excuses herself (in a panic), explaining that she’s going to say goodbye to Daniel.

Archie comes back into the Suarez house.  He has gotten rid of Felissa and says she won’t be bothering them anymore.  Archie asks her what’s going on; the day before she had told him he wasn’t her type, and now she’s fighting over him.    Hilda admits that her “type” hasn’t worked out so well for her, and that she wanted to see what being with a nice guy was like.  Archie says he sort of goes for the “bad girl”.  They agree to give themselves another chance.  As they kiss, Ignacio bursts in, sees them kissing, and says he’s going to start wearing a bell. 

Betty and Matt approach his apartment.  He asks her to come inside.  Betty isn’t sure; she says she feels like a number.  Matt say she is: number 1.  He says this would be the first time he’d ever been with a woman he really cared about.  They walk toward the apartment.

Molly emerges from her bathroom to find Daniel’s picture from the band days, Daniel wearing cheesy sunglasses, and holding a guitar.  He sings her “Crash and Burn”, and we see a montage of Wilhelmina with William, Archie and Hilda, and Betty walking with Matt into his apartment.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

Post from: Crushable

This is Betty’s first visit back to “her” apartment, and apparently she’s there to get some kind of makeover to get sexy for Matt.  She wasn’t expecting Marc to be there, but he appears to be running the show.

Marc complains that he doesn’t have enough time in two hours (a slam at Betty), but Amanda tries to keep him on task of getting Betty to appeal to the six senses: sound, smell, taste, touch, sight, and…style.

I really love these Marc and Mandy scenes with Betty – they are her friends, but they are really snarky at the same time.  Like a funnier version of “What Not To Wear”, these scenes are some of the best Ugly Betty has to offer, comedy-wise.

BTW, I have a theory about Matt, which I’ll get to in the next preview.

(I’ll only post 3 – part of me doesn’t like “over-spoiling” an upcoming episode, but you can see seven of the darned things at the Bachelor and Butterfly channel on YouTube.)

Post from: Crushable

This is all Amanda being, well, Amanda.  She suggests that she and Betty write an online column about sex, Betty about “boring relationship stuff” and Amanda about “fun stuff”.  As the conversation ensues, it’s obvious that Amanda is following this line of conversation to get info from Betty about whether she and Matt are having sex yet or not.  (In Amanda’s words, “you haven’t tapped that yet?”)

What’s funny is that I hope the online column really comes to be, and that we’ll see it starting Friday at ModeNY.com.  It would be a hoot, I’d think.

Post from: Crushable