Good Trouble Barely Makes Moves In Penultimate Episode

As Good Trouble prepares to wrap up its main storylines, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," tries its best to set up the upcoming series finale. But, while it may set the board for what is to come, it lacks in making many decisive moves for its main characters.

Apparently, Good Trouble wants to save its biggest plot manuevers for the series finale, but doing so only puts a halt to nearly every character during "It's All Coming Back to Me Now."

Mariana and Joaquin's desire to see Silas go to prison for all he has done comes to a dead end when Madison's body is nowhere to be found on the property. However, Joaquin finally learns the truth about Jenna's return to Silas.

Joaquin's devastation and horror are palpable, and his anguish over everything he and Mariana did to find Jenna and bring her home, meaning nothing as she went back, causes an emotional breakdown.

Of course, Mariana is there to help Joaquin through his mental and emotional state. But, that is not where the love triangle ends. Mariana had also spent the episode arguing with Evan as Co-CEOs regarding what the future of the company means, and what expansion could do for the future.

Evan's confusion over how he and Mariana were compatible as a romantic couple comes at an interesting time. But, of course, Evan can not sit with uncertainty for long as he is finally granted his memories of Mariana back, including the moment that he was shot. So, what does that mean for the decision Mariana ultimately has to make, especially as Evan's memories returning were overlapped by Mariana and Joaquin's night together?

But, while this does pose questions, the only real forward movement here comes from the return of Evan's memories, which allows him to be in a better position to understand his history and feelings for Mariana as they head into the series finale. But, otherwise, this love triangle is still at the standstill it has been for a while now.

Silas' role continues to be frustrating. While it may be specifically to make the eventual pay off of his arrest even sweeter, Silas is not an exciting enough character to have kept around for so long, and his storyline only drags the plot down.

Malika has spent most of the season trying to help Isaac. But, her biggest moment of the episode comes when she tells Isaac that she refuses to enable him further and that he needs real help and support beyond what the Coterie can offer. It was a great moment for Malika, but unfortunately, it came so late in the season as a majority of her plot line had surrounded him.

Otherwise, Good Trouble keeps Malika fairly stagnant professionally as well, as she is no further along this episode as she was the last time she interacted with politicians. Is Malika really willing to sell her soul to get the women's center built? It appears that Malika must be willing to remain silent in exchange for her project's success. But, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" never directly confronts Malika's feelings on the subject, only having her check to make sure that her women's center would be guaranteed.

Granted, there is always the chance that this was a trick to cause trouble for the politican while Malika puts her own passion project on the line. Still, without that confirmation, it is another up in the air plot that does not tease what is to come in the series finale.

Alice's personal growth takes another step forward when confronted with a new host of "Ferrets and Friends." Taking a leap of faith, Alice pitches herself to the other writers as the potential new host of the series. It is an important moment to see Alice stand up for herself and fellow writers when confronted with a person who enjoys trying to make unnecessary changes.

For a while, it appeared that Good Trouble had chosen to move away from Gael's hatred of Yuri entirely. Having not even been referenced in several episodes, it seemed that Gael and the show itself had just ended the plot line and were moving on. But, when Gael discovers that Yuri had crafted a new series of paintings in Gael's style, and doing so would prevent Gael from gaining a commission, it triggers his hate for his previous mentor.

Gael's interest in street art had been a major part of his storyline this season, but this time he uses anger rather than love as his catalyst. Not wanting to encourage Yuri to get away with stealing his art style anymore, Gael makes a grand artistic proclamation outside of Yuri's gallery.

Davia's dreams for the stage have also crashed and burned as she has been replaced in a role that was created for her as the lead. The decision is somewhat realistic in the world of show business, but to put Davia in this position in the penultimate episode rather than just move ahead with the show did not seem necessary.

Davia's relationship with Dennis, and Dennis himself, is not even a factor in this episode, as apparently, most of his main storyline running the restaurant is considered to be successful enough to not have a significant place in the episode.

As for Luca, of course simply listening to Callie's advice not to tell anyone about his status would be too much to ask for. In an effort to be truthful with Riley about why Luca would not allow himself to be filmed dancing, Luca tells her the truth about him being undocumented.

Luca's revelation comes after Riley had discovered that Luca had already told Ladle about him previously being unhoused and living in the Coterie before having told Riley the truth. After hearing the truth, and coming to the determination that Riley can not trust Luca after he keeps lying to her, Luca confronts Ladle about Riley's comments that Ladle had known about Luca's situation first.

All in one conversation, Ladle admits to having feelings for Luca and knowingly manipulating and sabotaging Luca's relationship with Riley. Granted, Luca's confrontation of Ladle should not ignore that Luca's own lying is responsible for the destruction of Luca's relationship with Riley, not Ladle's comment, even though she did overstep.

While "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," does prepare for the series finale in small moves, it saves its explosions for what is to come in the series finale.