Younger Season 6 Episode 5: Stiff Competition

Stefanie Stallings

5 years ago

Younger Season 6 Episode 5

Let the Games Begin

Charles and Liza are attending a national arts club party together. Things quickly turn competitive as Charles is handing out his new business card and introducing Liza as his girlfriend. Michael Cunningham compliments Charles on his “feisty move”. Charles states competition is good for business; keeps the publishers on their toes and keeps the writers at the center. As Michael walks away, Liza gives Charles some sarcastic quip and he asks if she’s enjoying this. Liza quips, “What choice do I have? Be mad at you or be better.” With that Charles challenges her as they notice the A-listers in the room by saying “Let the Games Begin” as he slaps her toosh. They spend the evening competing on getting meetings set up, and checking in with each other to brag. Things get awkward as they both talk with Meg Wolitzer and a photo is taken. Liza lists the caption for the photo and lists Charles as “and guest”.

Low Brow

Poor Kelsey can’t catch a break. Now Charles is at the top of the New York Magazines approval matrix and Kelsey is listed at the bottom, next to Disney Live-action remakes and Nude restaurants. . . Um, WHAT?!

In true Liza fashion, she’s comforting Kelsey, assuring her no one reads that. In true Diana fashion, she rushes in asking if they’ve seen the magazine. She’s commenting on how unfortunate Kelseys cropped headshot looks – “A head without a neck is like a floating tragedy.” Diana’s one-liners are hilarious.

Let’s Focus

The ladies turn their attention to the DIY power couple from the show New York Flip, Hayley, and Cameron Butler, waiting for them in the conference room. The book is about the need for a “third leg” in a relationship. A common interest that both parties share. The couple states its healthier than just focusing on each other. Diana keeps interrupting the conversation with examples of all the things she shares with Enzo. Liza asks what happens if a couple lacks the “third leg”. The Butlers emphasize a chair needs three legs to stand on; without that, it falls over.

@GemmaLoves

Josh and Lauren are out strolling with sweet baby Gemma. I love Josh’s reaction as he gets a notification that @GemmaLoves is following him on Instagram. Josh immediately knows Lauren is behind this account and Lauren insists this is a good thing. Baby Gemma already has 5,000 followers, after all. I love Lauren’s comment “oh my god. I am a genius, I scare myself.” Just so you know, @GemmaLoves is not a real Instagram account, believe me, I checked. Sad face.

I Can’t Believe I Just Said That

Diana is bragging to Enzo about how many “legs” they have, stating they should be featured in the book. Enzo is not dressed for dinner because he got called out for another plumbing issue. Enzo promises to make it up to her by buying her another necklace. Diana states, “The thing is Enzo, they choose me. And I want to be with you. I don’t need another necklace. I can’t believe I just said that.” I wish I could use Diana’s one-liners in my everyday dialog, but no one can deliver a line like Miriam Shor. She keeps me laughing.

I Had No Idea

Charles brings Liza to dinner with a client to celebrate a book deal. As it turns out, Charles signed the Butlers and their “Third Leg” book. Liza is surprised but tries to play it cool. She asks them why they chose Mercury over Millenial. Hayley states they connected with Charles and his love of literature and his love of Liza. Charles had gushed about his editor girlfriend and how publishing is their “third leg”.

As they’re leaving dinner, Liza questions Charles on him using her to get the book deal. Charles explains he is, however, using all the money from mortgaging his townhouse. He created a presence when he launched Mercury, but right now, he’s all smoke and mirrors. He knows he could lose everything.

The G Train

Kelsey wants to know how Charles is managing to steal all of their authors. Diana emphasizes he wouldn’t be foolish enough to use his own money. Liza quickly changes the subject to the next author she has lined up. Gloria Rivera, a musical prodigy, discovered playing on the G train, accepted into Julliard’s pre-college division and now the youngest ever female conductor for the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Liza has been communicating with her for months and the ladies decide to attend her local symphony performance to get her to sign a deal for the book.

Gemma Loves Everything!

Josh runs into a group of moms that recognize Gemma and follow @GemmaLoves and they all comment on the products they love that Gemma loves. Josh discovers Lauren is promoting products on Gemmas Insta and Josh does not want to exploit his daughter like this. Lauren warns him not to cut off her college fund because of his “misplaced morals”. . . Plus, he’ll get free stuff. So with that, Lauren, Josh, and Gemma set out on a shopping / Insta photo session to the tune of Baby Love by The Supremes. Josh cuts it off when Lauren pauses in front of an adults-only store, ready to point out what Gemma could love. Josh says, “We’re done here.” That Lauren is just too much!

The Money Train

Liza drops into Gloria’s dressing room before the show to introduce herself. Liza boldly asks if she can bring Diana and Kelsey in to meet her but Gloria agrees to meet after the show. As she’s going to her seat, Liza spots Charles. They realize they are both there for the same reason and spat over who knows her better and who will sign the book deal. As Liza takes her seat with Diana and Kelsey, they inform her that Charles’ family paid for Gloria to go to Julliard. Kelsey and Diana leave before the symphony even starts. After the show, Liza and Charles are both speaking with Gloria. Charles reassures Gloria that she can’t go wrong with Mercury or Millennial. He points out that a little healthy competition can’t hurt anyone. Liza disagrees saying, “it’s hurting everyone”. As Liza tries to address this privately with Charles, she gets a text from Kelsey and leaves.

We Have a lot of Rage

Meanwhile, after leaving the symphony early, Diana and Kelsey go to an ax-throwing bar. Kelsey is upset and ranting about how Charles wants to see her fail. They are questioning Liza’s loyalty. Kelsey complains that the person she needs the most is sleeping with the enemy. Diana warns Kelsey to get a handle on this situation. She thinks Liza and Charles dating and Liza working with Millineal is not compatible. Kelsey needs to find out where Liza’s loyalty lies.

Drop Your Weapon

Diana needs to use the restroom, which is out of order, so Kelsey leads her behind a dumpster to relieve herself, just as a cop pulls up. Kelsey moves forward to argue with the cop, still yielding an ax, and the cop pulls a gun on her yelling, “Drop your weapon”. Diana says, “I don’t know her” and tries to run away. Needless to say, their mug shots are comical.

Loyalties Lie

Liza shows up just as Enzo has bailed the ladies out. Diana grumbles she is not ok because she has “been under florescent lights for hours”. Diana and Enzo leave and Kelsey confronts Liza about losing all these books to Charles. Kelsey questions her loyalty saying “Charles is your blind spot and you don’t want to see him lose.” Of course, Liza doesn’t want anyone to lose but there have to be losers. Right now, Charles is making sure that the loser is Kelsey. Kelsey tells Liza that “when it comes to business, you need to choose a side.”

Gemma Loves Midnight

Liza goes home to Josh and Maggie awake and entertaining the baby because Gemma loves midnight. Liza sits on the couch with Josh and the baby Gemma just as Charles happens to stop by to see Liza. Upon seeing her on the couch with Josh, he excuses himself to leave. Liza follows him outside. Charles questions if he still competing with Josh, which she assures him, he is not. Charles came to tell Liza that she’s getting the Gloria Rivera book contending, “you win”. Liza says it doesn’t feel like winning. Charles emphasizes the important thing is he doesn’t lose her, so Liza suggests ending the company rivalry. Charles doesn’t see Mercury and Millineal as rivals because from where he stands, he wins with both companies. He backs Mercury and his family owns Millineal, so its a win-win situation for him. Liza cautions Charles, “If it’s all about you, then there’s no room for us.”

A Tough Spot

This is a tough situation for Liza, Charles, and even Kelsey. Liza will continue to be stuck between the man she’s been waiting to love, the man who gave us so much for her and the career she loves with the best friend she loves. I think Kelsey is questioning Liza’s loyalty like any person would. She’s facing a huge mountain and she needs her friend and business partner to be fighting this fight with her. Only time will tell where the breaking point lies and with whom.