Bless This Mess Review:Tornado Season: Part One (Season 2 Episode 19)

Not many things are more fragile than a man’s pride. Bless This Mess Season 2 Episode 19, “Tornado Season: Part One,” goes out of its way to show the lengths a man will go to cover up a secret to protect his pride. The laughter is largely at Beau Bowman’s expense.

Okay, let’s face it, everyone has pride. We pride ourselves on our appearance, decisions, and independence — just to name a few. When we do something to put one of these things in jeopardy, we will do whatever it takes to recover it. Unfortunately, this includes lying, cheating, and stealing. 

As Beau Bowman proves, sometimes we do all three.

While Kay and Beau were on the verge of divorce, things like bills got put aside. Honestly, this is commonplace. None of us are very good at compartmentalizing when it comes to stress.

Typically, if something is weighing down on us, it affects our whole being. A marriage nearly dissolving truly has to be all-consuming. 

We have all seen it, a close friend becoming distant or even an acquaintance disappearing altogether. It is a sad thing to watch someone go through or experience ourselves.

Of course, just because life is difficult, doesn’t mean the bill collectors will sit aside until you get into a better place. 

The bills pile up, late notices arrive (ironically on time), and before you know it, you are up the creek without a paddle. When this happens, Beau goes into panic mode.

At first, Beau does the most obvious of things and makes a couple of phone calls. I assume this is to do some sort of bargaining. 

While not much of the conversation with the bank is revealed, one figures there is a fair amount of finger-pointing and passing the buck. Although Beau is essentially the one to blame, he doesn’t just want to lie down and die. Seriously, wouldn’t you do the same thing?

Amid the phone conversation, Kay pops in casually. A startled Beau gives a knee-jerk reaction and spews out his first lie. 

This goes to show, old habits die hard. 

Kay and Beau are living in bliss after their renewed vows and their new way of communicating. It is so fresh and shiny that Beau would do anything to keep it pristine. He doesn’t want to taint the way his wife is looking at him with new eyes.

So he reverts to his old ways by telling a little white lie. After all, he can get things fixed before she even knows about it, right?

I can’t count how many times my mind has tricked itself into believing this. 

What Beau and I fail to comprehend at the moment is that a lie told in love is still a lie. Well-meaning mistruths still create wounds in the long run.

All the lie does is start a momentum of deceit and dishonesty.  To “protect” his wife, assets, and pride, Beau does the unthinkable and turns on his best friend. 

Mike is blindsided by his actions and takes it personally. Really, how couldn’t he? Beau literally takes Mike’s idea and runs with it. 

Beau’s desperation causes him to act out of character, giving him a sense of shame and guilt. Unlike the misguided shame caused by the late bills, this guilt trip is well deserved. 

Kay: I don’t know what a hundred percent means!

Just because we are down and out, doesn’t mean we need to take others down with us. Be honest and forthcoming. I believe if Beau was straight with Mike about the situation, they could have worked this thing out together.

Instead, Beau’s disloyalty serves as a slap to Mike’s face. Of course, this is a strike against Mike’s pride, causing him to lash out as well.

We often fail to realize that the worst in us can bring out the worst in others. Our crooked smiles reflect on other’s faces. 

A selfish war breaks out between Mike and Beau to restore the balance in their friendship. You can tell the two aren’t all that upset with each other, just confused at the other’s actions. There is no doubt at some point their relationship will be restored.

That doesn’t mean their antics aren’t hilarious. From taking more than needed to outright thievery, the two do their darndest to one-up each other in means to boost their ego to normal status. 

It isn’t until a confrontation with Rio that everything comes to a head causing Beau to spill the beans. 

With Kay as a witness to the truth, I expect nothing short of an all-out brawl between the couple. I’m pleasantly surprised that Kay offers her husband support instead.

Honestly, Kay has all the right to be upset. Beau lied and hid things from her. Her forgiving heart is refreshing.

Now that everything is out on the table, Beau decides it is time to make things right with Mike. Of course, these things are never easy when it is between two men. Once again, our pride gets in the way.

Men like to appear like an unmoving rock of solidarity, a well-anchored ship, or in simpler terms — stoic. 

Admitting we are wrong goes against these appearances, causing us to let things get in the way. We say words we don’t mean, make gestures that are unclear, and beat around the bush hoping that something like an apology can be sorted out of the deal. 

A lot of times, this makes things worse. A yelling match ensues between the two that is interrupted by the tornado alarm — leaving us to wait for reconciliation until next week. 

Besides Mike and Beau’s ego trip and prideful gallivant, several other characters hide their shameful secrets and are waiting for them to come to a head. 

Kay, Janine, and Rio are all taking a pregnancy test simultaneously without the knowledge of their significant others. They are all hiding in the bathroom waiting for results like they are in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

All three of them are in fully-committed relationships, yet oddly, they are keeping the idea of having a baby under wraps. Still, it works with the theme, so I can get over it.

Rudy’s secret fling with Dolores is more on point. While Rudy has absolutely nothing to hide, Dolores — just coming off a scandal of her own — needs to stay out of the public eye. Of course, this is taken to an extreme with her having Rudy sign a relationship disclaimer, but when isn’t Rudy’s storyline anything less than awkward. 

Bless This Mess is always at its best when they can tie everything in on a central theme, and I have to admit, they seem like they have gotten their mojo back with this episode. With a couple of duds in a row, one begins to wonder if the ship is set to sink, but for now, my faith is restored as we head into next week’s season finale. 

What did you think of this episode of Bless This Mess? Are you excited heading into the season finale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Bless This Mess airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

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