Good Girls Review: Not Just Cards (Season 3 Episode 2)

There’s one obstacle eliminated but more on the rise on Good Girls Season 3 Episode 2, “Not Just Cards.”

On this episode, Beth, Annie, and Ruby get the news of Agent Turner’s death. There’s a morose moment before business resumes and they start thinking about the logistics of getting their counterfeit operation off the ground. 

In some ways, this feels like a weak sendoff for James Lesure who has been such a worthy adversary for the girls. There’s respect for him, but there’s no spectacle since the focus is all on the business.

Given how lowkey the writers have chosen to play this exit, its hard not to feel like something is up. 

Regardless of what is going on with Turner’s death, it is a necessary plot development to move forward with the counterfeit operation. 

While the girls are still feeling some of the effects of Good Girls Season 3 Episode 1, “Find Your Beach” there’s a sense of overall calm that comes with Turner’s death. They have a plan, they just have to figure out how to make it happen. 

There’s also a shift in how they have to think that’s moving them further and further down the path of being nice suburban moms. 

It was a brilliant idea to wash counterfeit money through big box stores, but that’s run its course and they can’t go down the same path with secret shoppers. Realizing they have to flip the script and use felons to wash their money feels like a natural progression. 

However, there’s hubris in their actions. Beth, Annie, and Ruby live their normal lives in a world filled with rules and social constructs, the same courtesy is not returned.

This is one thing that’s going to have to change, and “Not Just Cards” is a good step along the path. 

Beth’s starting to get that, and her progression parallels nicely when her mother-in-law shows up and starts criticizing everything from the kitchen layout to how Beth wears her rouge. 

In both cases, Beth is in control. She should be calling the shots both with her “employee” and at home, and Dean’s mom is directly contradicting her. If she can’t stand up to her then how is she going to take charge of the business?

The power struggle between Beth and her mother-in-law is a powerful and relatable one. No one is it more evident than the uncomfortable dinner scene, in which they argue over if Benny can leave the table. It’s a power struggle, and even their son knows it. 

By the end of the episode, Beth has the confidence to tell her mother-in-law that she can handle her family. 

It’s worth noting that throughout this entire episode, Dean isn’t much help in defending Beth from his mother. This feels par for the course as far as his character is concerned. While they’re sparring, he’s talking about the Jaccuzzi family and how they “got in the whirlpool game.” It’s a disappointing moment, but we shouldn’t expect anything less from him.

Dean can be an insufferable character, and that trend continues into Season 3. His new job and his new boss are not helping matters, and are setting up to perpetuate the cyle that has constantly taken Beth down.

He keeps saying he loves Beth, but from where I am sitting, it’s a lot of talk and no action. I am waiting for him to have some backbone. 

Meanwhile, Annie is going off to therapy at the recommendation of Nancy and Cregg. 

Cregg is another character who it’s so easy to hate, especially after how he treated Annie over the last couple of seasons. Watching them try to pass off their problems onto Annie is hurtful, to say the last. 

The one good thing that comes out of that conversation is the introduction of Josh Cohen. 

After having an affair with her married ex and getting together with an undercover FBI agent she deserve to meet a love interest that can treat her right and isn’t taking advantage of her. 

While it appears that Annie is seeing him for therapy there are different places the show can take this relationship. The power dynamic here is not unlike some of Annie’s other relationships, but I think it has potential if handled correctly, and if Annie has a say in how the relationship progresses. 

Ruby and Stan are also feeling the strain of not having money coming in. We see them do the bill shuffle and that’s disheartening enough, but then we see them go suit shopping and deal with prejudice.  

This kind of writing is where Good Girls shines. It folds in these larger conversations within the story itself. It’s not always the crux of what’s going on, but it’s enough to grab your attention and keep you interested.

The moment when Ruby comes home and sees that Stan has bought the suit from the store is powerful, and Reno Wilson’s line at the end carries so much weight:

STAN: I just want buying a suit to be buying a suit. 

The fact that this thread is punctuated by the suggestion that Ruby can fix all of their problems by going back to illegal activity makes it even more heartbreaking, but also reiterates the message that money talks in society. 

When it comes to “Not Just Cards,” it definitely feels like a slower episode than most, but the last scene is the hook. 

The reintroduction of Rio into Beth’s life, and the realization that she didn’t murder him is the payoff that we needed. While the episode ends there and doesn’t push into Beth’s reaction it’s a classic Good Girls cliffhanger, that keeps us coming back for more.

Stray Thoughts:

• I just don’t see the Boland catching on. Sorry, not sorry, Dean.
• To be clear, no one misses Fine & Frugal right? We can put that chapter of Annie’s life to bed now? 
• Ben is really serving to the role as a wise teenager this season. First the llama story. Now saying he’s Annie’s free therapist. Really striking a nerve there, kid. 

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

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Good Girls airs Sundays at 10/9c on NBC.

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