The Baker and The Beauty Review: Honeymoon’s Over (Season 1 Episode 5)

The adjustment period kicks off as Noa and Daniel’s relationship goes public on The Baker and The Beauty Season 1 Episode 5, “Honeymoon’s Over.” But when the realities of their romantic future start to seep in, trouble arises.

There’s a nice balance between career and romance for Noa and Daniel through the hour.

Daniel’s pitch meeting comes with a caveat in the form of a Noa cameo on his potential Anthony Bourdain-esque cooking show. From that moment, it’s clear that any kind of consideration is tied to his connection to Noa’s name.

All the while, Noa gets her second chance with Melanie Caan as she gets offered the lead role in an indie movie with the director that would require 3 months of on-location filming.

Mixed in with their new issues with Vanessa and the threat she is perceived to be when it comes to Noa’s public persona, the conflict continues to build in a way that seems to tip out of the pair’s favor.

That conflict begins to make their story compelling as obstacles start to appear, with ways to test the strength of what they’re building. But if Daniel’s expression in the car before their first public appearance is any indication, there’s plenty of that coming their way.

How will they deal with Vanessa’s inevitable interview?

While Daniel and Noa are dealing with the next steps in their careers and relationship, the Garcia family are confronting some issues of their own problems, continuing their reign as the highlight of the hour.

Mateo’s working on stepping up his music game, from getting Vanessa to booking studio time to record a demo.

Mateo’s studio deposit sets the scene for a necessary confrontation with Rafael, as Mateo takes a stand for his passion and his career.

It’s an emotional moment that is just so well done and has you feeling for Mateo, pleading for him and his dreams and aspirations to be taken as seriously as the dreams and aspirations of his other siblings.

Mateo’s plea to have his father understand his passion in the same way that Rafael followed his own as he left Cuba for Miami as a young man is a beautiful moment and a solid thread tying in the resolution by the end.

Rafael’s olive branch to Mateo is achingly sweet, and his willingness to make his son’s dreams are just as profound as his dreams of a bakery adds to their story and individual growth.

Natalie and Mari don’t have the same kind of understanding, though, and instead of moving forward in the face of her daughter’s confession, they move further back and arguably further away from each other.

Admittedly, Mari taking down the homophobic shop lady was magnificent to see, things take a drastic turn when the pair get home.

What’s interesting about the choices made when it comes to Mari’s resistance is that it’s being cloaked by her intense need to protect her children and the idea that she won’t be able to save Natalie from the bad people in the world forever.

I’m not entirely sure what to make of it, but adds to the heartbreak of their situation nonetheless, specifically for Natalie, who only wants to be accepted for who she is.

Thankfully, she has Mateo and her father in her corner.

Natalie: So, dad built you a closet, and mom shoved me back into mine.

It’s genuinely heartbreaking to see but seeing Mateo there with her as a sympathetic shoulder cements the pair as my favorite Garcia siblings.

Random Thoughts

• That little bit of information dropped on Vanessa is going to make things worse.
• I like that even though he’s no longer with her, Daniel still stands up for Vanessa’s integrity when it comes to Lewis’s offer to buy her silence.

What did you think of this episode of The Baker and The Beauty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Baker and The Beauty airs Mondays at 10/9c on The CW.

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