Written by Carolyn Potts

So often other people make us feel as though we are just complete aberrations of society. We are made to feel as though our wants or desires are wrong by mainstream standards. Or, we feel that those we care most about are on an unsuitable path that we feel compelled to alter. This episode entitled “Freaksville” explores exactly this and nicely sets the stage for the next episode entitled “What’s Your Number”. Both deal with understanding who you are and where you belong in life, but this episode focuses on the emotional perspective in a very playful manner.

We have three main story lines this week: Bailey feels at odds with the constrictions of life on the rez, Zoe is coming to terms with her freakish beast, and our loveable Caitlin finds herself a fish out of water with Butterhead and his mother. Anna does not figure prominently this week as she is recuperating from the beating she took at the hands of Mean Girl Vicky (Rachelle White Wind) at the conclusion of “Building a Nation”. Anna is however, still hat girl, an outsider with her abnormal styles and interests, even with “be still my beating heart” Thunder at her side.

Our girls throw a celebratory party for Caitlin and Butterhead. Butterhead the Blockhead arrives to the party, with his freakishly rude table manners on full display, thoroughly embarrassing Caitlin in front of her friends. Still, Caitlin trusting that Butterhead the Warrior is still buried deep inside, agrees to move in with Butterhead and his “ma” (played by Esther Sky). We witness Caitlin and her struggles to exercise patience as she tries to adjust to her new family.

Meanwhile Zoe is confronted by a confused Caitlin for her outrageous fetish outfit. With the knowledge that Prim and Proper Zoe secretly owns some freakish outfits, the girls decide to mount the exact same intervention they attempted on Caitlin last week. Zoe tries to explain that she doesn’t have to live up to anyone’s expectations at these parties. Being the supportive friends that they are, Caitlin and Bailey agree to attend one of these parties in the hopes of understanding what it I that attracts Zoe. The “Freaksville” costume party, as outrageous as the experience is for GOGO Bailey and Mistress Caitlin, is also a strangely liberating experience for our girls as they let their freak flags fly. After all what happens in Freaksville stays in Freaksville. Knowing she has her friends’ acceptance of her secret, Zoe now has the confidence to stand up for herself.

With Anna keeping a low profile Mean Girl Vicky turns her vitriol on Bailey, declaring Bailey will end up a spinster. After all, she cannot even keep a white guy. Sose (Bailey’s Father) and Auntie Velma comfort Bailey as she grieves the loss of Jack but in truth, they are elated that the short lived romance is done. Sose and Velma believe a mixed culture relationship would be the end of their world (more on this in the next episode). Bailey blames the community for driving Chicken Hearted Jack out of her life. She believes liking a white boy shouldn’t be the end of the world but to most of Kahnawa:ke it is. It spells the end of Kahnawa:ke. At odds with both her family and her community, Bailey realises that she just wants to be who she is and enjoy what she likes. She needs more stimulation than Kahnawa:ke can provide her. She refuses to settle and by the episode’s end she makes the decision to move to the city.

We should also note that a number of small comments by Caitlin came up throughout the episode setting the stage (I think) for another interesting future storyline involving her mother. What do you think? Will Zoe get caught with up with her leash in a compromising position? Will we ever get to see Butterhead the Warrior? How will Bailey make it alone in the city? Let me know in the comments!

Review by Carolyn Potts

This episode, entitled “Building a Nation” sees the introduction of Tantoo Cardinal (of Dances With Wolves, Black Robe, and Legends of The Fall) to the cast, taking up the role of Zoe’s mother, The Chief.

We are caught up with Caitlyn daydreaming about the future she hopes to have with her baby and Butterhead, nice girl Anna is hiding out with Thunder (because who wouldn’t since we are talking about Thunder after all!) in order to avoid confrontation with Vicky, Zoe’s mother, once again voices her displeasure with Zoe for missing the “splashy” fundraiser from Episode 107 “The Beast”, and Anna is forgiven by Bailey for dating Thunder (and besides Bailey is fairly gushing over her budding relationship with Jack “Mr. Dimples”).

Our episode takes off with Caitlin. She cannot wait to share the news of her pregnancy and visits Butterhead at work. Once again Caitlin is disappointed by Blockheaded Butterhead. He is obviously surprised but he makes it very clear to Caitlin that he does not want another baby. Word of Caitlin’s pregnancy spreads quickly on Kahnawa:ke and Zoe hears it from the neighbourhood gossips. The girls decide it is in Caitlin’s best interest that they conduct an intervention and confront Caitlin with their support “regardless of what she decides to do” (implying they think she might be better off with an abortion). This time Caitlin is heartbroken by her closest friends. She is stunned that they would even imply such a thing. Caitlin turns once again to her father who this time does not disappoint. Her father thinks Butterhead will come around in time (fingers crossed for Caitlin).

Baily receives shocking news from Jack’s roommate Leon (Alain Chanoine). According to Leon, Jack doesn’t want the drama that comes with a relationship with Bailey and intends to break things off with her. Will this spell the end of Bailey and Mr. Dimples?

Team “Thana” arrive together at the Fire hall fundraiser and it “seems” Anna can finally take her place in the community. Can the women in the community handle their best man taking up with a “half breed”? – Stay Tuned!

Good girl Zoe is once again waging war on her inner bad girl, cleaning and redecorating but comes across an advert to yet another fetish party, and so she returns to the sex shop. This for me was the surprise moment of the show as our sex shop clerk turned out to be none other than Yanic Truesdale, Michel from Gilmore Girls fame (and who doesn’t want to meet a sex shop clerk like him?). Zoe plays dress-up trying on lots of fabulously sexy outfits at the suggestion of “Michel” (“Michel” it is since his character has not yet been named). NOTE to Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight, if you are reading this, please please PLEASE can Yanic reprise this role in future episodes so we can at the very least give him a proper name?

The other highlight of this episode came once again from Caitlin played by Heather White. Caitlin shows up to the driving range and dumps all of Butterhead’s stuff at his feet. Caitlin’s Beast finally shines and it appears Butterhead rises to the occasion. It seems he has finally met his match. He tells Caitlin that this time he is up to the task of fatherhood. He wants to be a father to their baby that his father never was to him and proclaims that Caitlin is the loving and caring woman he wants to have in his life. (YAY for Caitlin!!)

We end with a “bang” so to speak, at the expense of nice girl Anna, who is jumped by Vicky by the lacrosse rink.

Will Butterhead live up to his promises to Caitlin? Will Jack really break up with Bailey? How will Zoe cope now that Caitlin knows her secret? How will Kahnawa:ke react to Anna’s beating? Let me know what you think is ahead for our foursome in the comments below!

Review by Carolyn Potts

Our story picks up right where we left off with a reminder that Anna is still trying to find acceptance at Kahnawa:ke. She is still at odds with Bailey, Caitlin, and Zoe over Thunder. Speaking of Thunder (because who wasn’t thinking about him?), tonight’s episode entitled “Beast” does not refer to “WOW! Thunder is so Beast!!”(even though Thunder IS so beast!); we will appreciate the journey that each of our protagonists undergo as their true characters – the inner “Beast”- struggle to fight their way out. Series creator Tracey Deer cleverly reinforces this theme played out in a bit featuring Zoe. Zoe opens a package to reveal some naughty reading just as her mother, The Chief (a final episode for Tina Keeper in this role), calls to remind her of her familial duty to help at yet another fundraiser.

This episode takes off with Bailey turning to Zoe and Caitlin for support as she considers if she wants to seriously date the forbidden white guy Jack (“Mr. Dimples”), knowing the battle she will face within her community if she does. Bailey is so distraught that even Auntie Velma notices. This gave us a great emotional scene played by Ashley Michaels. Auntie Velma reminds Bailey “who is going to think about you if you don’t?”, recalling her own unhappy past of always doing what was expected of her rather than what made her happy.

Catlin’s starting point is a reminder of how strong and supportive she is when she is with her friends and yet when it comes to the men in her life her insecurities come rushing forth. This time though the strong “Beastlike” Caitlin comes out to do battle with Butterhead; at first just testing the waters.

Several great bits are peppered throughout the episode featuring Zoe’s inner “beast”: Zoe perusing the BDSM web site again, Zoe pacing outside of a sex-shop, Zoe madly cleaning and organizing to regain control (I secretly hope we will be treated to an episode featuring more of Zoe’s back story as so far most of her story is told only through these little snippets).

Bailey, armed with the knowledge that she has a few allies*, goes to Jack “Mr. Dimples” and tells him she doesn’t want to end up like an old Lobster (a reference to episode 105 “The Lobster Club”). She wants to make a go of a relationship with him.

Anna, who up until now has been looking for a connection to her recently deceased father, finally makes that connection through Bailey’s father Sose (played by Glen Gould). He encourages her “to take her place among us and get in there and defend your turf.” He continues, “Your father was a proud Mohawk man and you are his child.”

Our “beast reveal” happens at the fundraiser (or in Zoe’s case NOT at the fundraiser – and Zoe’s Beast does not disappoint). Bailey shows up with “Mr. Dimples” and announces to all that yes, the white guy is her boyfriend. A furious Sose and Butterhead start to make a scene, Bailey stands her ground and Anna’s beast uses this moment to shine. Poor Vicky (Rachelle White Wind Arbez) ends up in the pool, heels still intact, producing a fabulous disruption to the party. Bailey and Jack are able to escape disaster.

Finally, we learn that Caitlin is pregnant by Butterhead (a fabulously poignant moment played by Heather White that every woman will recognise in herself).

Will Anna and our girls make up? How will Butterhead react to fatherhood, again? Is Caitlin doomed to be just another of Butterhead’s babymamas? What fallout will Bailey face after her declaration? What naughty things will good girl Zoe get up to next?

Another great episode. Keep ‘em’ coming ladies!

*This term “Allies” keeps popping up. I have to wonder is this a deliberate word choice? Time will tell.