Younger Review: Fraudlein (Season 5 Episode 11)

It’s all hands on deck when the team heads to the Frankfurt Book Fair on Younger Season 5 Episode 11, “Fraudlein.”

As this season comes to a close, Liza approaches yet another turning point in her journey. Liza has always been motivated by a deep desire to protect the people she loves, and “Fraudlein” shows us just how far she’ll go to keep her friends at Empirical safe.

On “Girls on the Side” Liza put her relationship with Charles on hold because she doesn’t want what they have to have to be another secret, another lie.

The love (and lust) is still very evident between them. They’ve “pressed pause” on their relationship, but it’s also the only thing that either Liza or Charles can think about when they’re around each other.

Charles: You’re the only person I want to talk to. But the more we talk the more I want to hold you or kiss you.

Such feelings are just heightened when they’re alone together in Frankfurt.

Charles’ intentions to keep business and personal separate have gone out the window, as he tells Liza more and more about the troubles the company is facing. This plays a little wishy-washy on his part. I’d love for Younger to stick to their characterizations more rather than bending them to the narrative.

With Empirical’s fate on the line and the livelihoods of all her friends hanging in the balance, Liza is under a lot of pressure to find a solution.

Enter: Cheryl Sussman.

Cheryl is essentially the evil version of what Liza could have been if she’d taken a different path. The way Cheryl sees it, Liza cheated her way into the kind of success she’s been trying to achieve for the past 20 years.

The real difference between them though is that ironically enough, Liza is the one with a good and honest heart, and Cheryl is the one who will throw anyone to the wolves if it gives her a shot at the top.

Liza taking this deal with her is akin to making a deal with the devil.

Kelsey: She knows? She plays dirty, Liza.

The core thing that makes Liza so lovable is her heart. She has a passion for her work, and she’s even more dedicated to the people she cares about.

Between Cheryl’s return, the continual brush ups with her age, and the fear that everyone she loves would be destroyed by her hand, Liza is pretty easily motivated to do whatever she can to keep them safe. Even taking a job at Plaza with Cheryl.

Taking this job would allow Liza to be with Charles without hiding, and it would keep Kelsey and Diana from being hurt if the truth about her age were to come out. I really appreciate that this decision is motivated by keeping them all safe, not just Liza’s relationship with Charles.

Liza: Kelsey, I can never repay you for what you’ve done for me. But that day when you hate me? I have got to get out of here before that happens.

But something tells me this deal is too good to be true, probably the fact that it came from Cheryl Sussman.

And the fact that Cheryl now knows that Liza and Charles have a secret relationship. Granted, she was clearly drunk, but Cheryl is probably the worst person on the show to have that information, and if push comes to shove, I feel like she’d definitely use it against them.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• Cheryl and Diana’s musical number is absolutely amazing and it’s going to be stuck in my head ALL WEEK.
• Will Liza really leave Empirical?! Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
• Zane is a good guy. I’d be happy to see he and Kelsey end up together.
• We know Josh wants kids, will he be a sperm donor? What does this mean for Maggie and Malkie’s relationship?
• What happened to Pauline? Did she just leave and give up on getting back at Liza?
• I just really love Diana, you guys.

 

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

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Younger airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on TV LAND.

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