Younger Season 6 Episode 11: Holding Out For A SHero

Stefanie Stallings

5 years ago

Younger Season 6 Episode 11

I’m sure we’re all just as disappointed as Kelsey at the end of the last episode. I know she stepped down as publisher to save Millennial, but it’s not what she should have been asked to do. This episode is going to be emotional for sure. Let’s see what happens.

A Clean Break

Last we left Liza; she had promised Charles she would not see Josh anymore. Liza tries to explain this decision to Maggie. I can see how Maggie assumes Charles gave Liza an ultimatum, but he’s too mature for that. However, Liza confesses she had to set this boundary with herself because when she’s with Josh, she can’t deny her feelings. Liza is trying to convince herself Charles is the better choice because they are peers, he’s age-appropriate and he loves her. This dilemma is precisely why the #TeamJosh vs. #TeamCharles fan banter is so passionate. Josh and Liza have the chemistry, but Charles is the safe and logical choice for her. Liza thinks the best thing for her and for Josh is to have a clean break.

Are You Ok?

Kelsey walks in late and begins cleaning out her office. Charles asks if she’s ok and tries to be empathic. He wants to discuss with Kelsey how to tell the office staff about the publisher’s musical chairs. Kelsey announces to the office staff that new investors are secured, operations will resume, and Charles is re-instated as the publisher.

Liza follows Kelsey into her office and again with the “are you ok?”. Kelsey assures her she’s fine. Her attitude is, “this is Charles’ office. I’ve just been keeping the seat warm.”

Manners for Millennials

Diana and Liza meet with Alice Dwyer, the author of Uncommon Courtesy. The author is not proud to be a Millennial, a generation with unacceptable social behaviors, their undefined relationships, no boundaries, ghosting, commitment phobia, etc. Liza asks, how do you politely disengage from an ex and Alice recommends a clear and direct Dear John letter.

Are You Ok?

Zane meets up with Kelsey to check on her. She hasn’t spoken to him since her Chicago trip. Zane feels partly responsible since the video was intended for him. Kelsey questions herself if she can’t manage a social media account, maybe she can’t run a company. Zane tries to reassure her, but Kelsey shirks off his touch as he reaches for her arm. She says, “I don’t know how to do this with you. Whenever we try, one of us looses”.

Like I mentioned before, I had a feeling their relationship was too good to be true. I’m not convinced she’s done with Zane yet, but Kelsey is clearly upset and needing space since this whole incident stemmed from their relationship.

Dear Diana and Liza

Alice sends an arrangement of flowers to inform Diana and Liza that she enjoyed the meeting but will not be signing with them. Diana appreciates the polite gesture saying, “Good manners never get old.” Later that evening, Liza sits down and writes Josh a letter. She writes that he has changed her life, but ends with I need to let you go.

Lauren is upset that Kelsey has been uninvited from four publishing events this week. Lauren thinks it’s not all bad since Kelsey is gaining a cult following, but she knows she can spin this. One remaining request is for Kelsey to speak to an all-girls high school about the dangers of social media. Kelsey doesn’t want to be the cautionary tale; she wants to distance herself for this and says no.

Charles in Charge

Charles is kind enough to list off Kelsey’s previous publishing achievements before proceeding to bring back onto the table all the books he brought to Kelsey that she passed on. Again we see the dynamic shift to Charles and Zane versus Kelsey and Liza as the men bring up all the books Kelsey “didn’t have time for.” Kelsey is upset with Zane and his attitude that it only matters what Charles wants. As she storms out of the meeting, she sees the office staff watching a mash-up type video of her “guess who got the money” video. Liza yells at everyone that Kelsey is the reason we all have a job, she’s a hero! At this point, Kelsey turns to Lauren and agrees to speak to the high school girls. Kelsey has had enough.

Inkburg Midtown

Josh is setting up his display in Midtown. Shelly stops by to chat with Josh about the wall color he’s using for the pop-up and not so subtly offers “herself” to him. . . you know, if he wants to “express his corporate frustrations.” Again I say, EW! The disgust is written on Joshs’ face too. She happens to leave her cell number on the letter Liza had written. Josh excuses himself to read it alone. In the letter, Liza explains she needs to let him go; she cherishes all the good and bad things they’ve experienced together. She says they both need to move forward and she can’t have him in her life right now. Josh is clearly emotional, and so was I watching this. I love the video monologue that plays while she reads the letter in voiceover.

#DigitalSHero

Kelsey begins her presentation to the high school girls by playing the mash-up video of herself but explaining she’s not ok with it, and she’s angry. Kelsey tells her story of a woman who rose to become publisher, made a tiny mistake on social media, and lost it all. I’m happy this show is addressing these issues facing Millennials and the younger generations. The topic of manners and kindness is significant, but the discussion of the pitfalls/cautionary tales of social media is even more so. As much as I hate to see this happen to our fictional friend Kelsey, it is important to discuss the importance of protecting your online self in our real lives.

Pink Limo

Our girl gang ambushes Diana for a surprise bachelorette party and takes her to a male strip club. I’m guessing the ladies enjoyed shooting this scene, because hello! Liza and Kelsey try to discuss how the work dynamic has shifted back to the men, but the drinks are flowing, the dancers are dancing, and Diana encourages them to focus on the “bulging crotches in your faces.” She’s so hilarious. Diana wants to make decisions she’ll regret, and Lauren knows just the place. Lauren takes them to Josh’s tattoo studio. Diana wants a tattoo only Enzo can see, but Josh convinces her she’s too drunk and the ladies head off to Karaoke.

Liza Can’t See Josh

Liza tries to walk past Josh without speaking, but he calls her out for writing him a letter and then planning to never talk to him again. Josh points out she promised to always be there for him, that she promised to be Gemma’s Aunt Liza. He asks why she’s abandoning him. Why is Charles more important? Are your feelings for him stronger than your feelings for me? Liza doesn’t answer these question and she turns to leave. Josh accuses her of being scared, scared of what they were and what they still are. She’s making the safe choice.

Liza says their time has passed and she loves Charles more than she loves Josh. He calls her out saying, “You forget Liza, I know you, I know when you’re lying, especially to yourself. You wrote a letter to the wrong guy.” OMG JOSH!!! You’re so right. It’s clear Liza is trying to convince herself that Charles is the right choice. It seems this whole season, the Charles and Lize thing has felt a little off since they officially got together. I think the writers have also shown us these seeds of doubt coming from both Charles and Liza. It seems their current relationship consists of Charles reminding Liza all he’s sacrificed for her and Liza continually apologizing for the problems she’s caused. The build-up of their involvement in past seasons was way more exciting to watch than their official, for the world to see, relationship.

Dear Charles

OH MY GOD. I can’t believe Liza sits down, probably at least tipsy, to write a letter to Charles. I would imagine this is too much of an emotional state to write such a letter in. The fallout from a late-night, drunken, and emotional encounter with Josh, could be huge. It seems Liza is ending things with Charles because we see her write, “this is the hardest letter I’ve ever had to write.”

We also see Kelsey writing a letter stating, “thank you for everything, but it’s time for me to move on.”. I would assume Kelsey’s letter is a resignation letter since she earlier voiced her concern over what she’ll do now. Climb all the way back up? to where? Maybe Kelsey feels its time to move on from this job. Is she questioning her career path all together or just Millennial? Is her letter written to Zane officially ending things with him?

So Dramatic

I absolutely loved the dramatic confrontation between Liza and Josh. He knows her true self and he knows she’s trying to convince herself to be with Charles. I’m going to add it’s not always a bad thing to choose your head over your heart. Josh and Liza have had their fair share of issues as well. Poor Kelsey had to endure more of a downward spiral. Hopefully, she’ll be working her way back up to a positive place next episode. I also hope we get to see the fabulous wedding of Diana and Enzo soon. I think we may only have one more episode this season!!! Good thing we already have season 7 picked up because this cannot be over yet!