Younger Review: Forged in Fire (Season 4 Episode 3)

The female relationships are key on Younger, and that’s especially evident on Younger Season 4 Episode 3, “Forged in Fire.”

Charles wants to offer Liza a well-deserved promotion, but Kelsey’s bitterness toward her nearly stands in the way. When Charles first asks Diana and Kelsey their opinions, Kelsey is quick to say Liza isn’t up for it.

Diana, on the other hand, seems ready to go bat for her.

The rift between Liza and Kelsey has opened up this opportunity for Diana and Liza to become closer, but there’s also this idea of women sticking together. Early on, Kelsey was willing have Liza’s back after only just meeting her — a moment that was almost surprising because you expected something catty and competitive instead.

Diana may be in a position of authority over Liza, and she may be tough sometimes, but she proves she has Liza’s back too. She doesn’t want to see Kelsey stand in the way of Liza moving forward, and she makes the point to give Liza some advice about that.

Of course, Diana doesn’t have a clue what Liza and Kelsey are fighting about. If only it were as simply as Kelsey stealing Liza’s boyfriend…

If we’re placing bets, I think Diana will be the next to find out Liza’s secret. I mentioned it in my review of Younger Season 4 Episode 2, but I can’t help but feel that Diana will understand it.

Liza and Kelsey’s trip is almost unbearable to watch. The setup feels strange, and Kelsey’s treatment of Liza actually feels unwarranted.

Sure, it’s understandable that she’s angry and feels betrayed, but she takes it too far. Thankfully, when it counts, Kelsey pushes those feelings aside.

While Liza was networking in the woods without cell-service, her daughter had been trying to reach her because she was sick, and she wound up getting surgery — all without Liza having any idea what was going on.

Seeing Liza worry over daughter and hearing the conversation she has with her makes things start to sink in differently for Kelsey.

Because here’s the thing: if you sit down and think about what Liza has been doing, you know it’s terrible. It’s hard to root for someone who would carry lies like that so far. But when you understand her motivations and realize the struggle she’d been facing, it’s impossible not to root for her.

I doubt it’s water under the bridge, necessarily, but Kelsey stays by Liza’s side when she needs it, she sees to it that Liza gets a day off to spend with her daughter, and then she insists to Charles that Liza get the promotion after all. She still has Liza’s back when it matters, and that’s the kind of positive message we need to see on television more often.

Meanwhile, there’s a new complication, and her name is Montana.

I’m actually happy for Josh that he has a new love interest — and that it’s not Kelsey — but it feels too fast and too convenient. It’s also weird to me that Josh swoons over her the way he does right in front of Maggie.

After all, regardless of why Josh and Liza broke up, Liza’s still hurt, and Maggie’s still her best friend. It just doesn’t ring true for me that it would play out that way.

I suppose the good news is that if when Liza sees Josh and Montana together, she can feel a little better about the fact that Kelsey is living with him. Right?

What did you think of this episode of Younger? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Younger airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TV Land.

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