Good Girls Review: Big Kahuna (Season 4 Episode 2)

The FBI is closing in on Boland’s Bubbles, giving Good Girls Season 4 Episode 2, “Big Kahuna,” one of the most pivotal moments since the start of the series. 

So, let’s start with that final scene: Dean’s arrest.

How close the girls come to getting caught is the crux of the series. Turner threatened to expose them on Good Girls Season 3 Episode 1, “Find Your Beach,” we never saw backing behind him. Let alone the determination Phoebe exhibits.  The fact that she decided to go through the Bolands trash and collect the dryer lint is an insane move, but it’s also ingenious.

It’s also hard to argue with Phoebe’s logic. The audience knows that she’s right, but the undercurrent of sexism that we’ve seen before on Good Girls rears its ugly head again.  Her disappointment when the proceed with Dean’s arrest is absolutely gut-punching, and it’s sad, yet relatable. 

Dean’s arrest is a huge blow for the girls, but it could also buy them time. These first couple of episodes are progressing like you’d expect the final leg of a season, and if the threads started in Season 3 had continued as plan, then this arc would have been a natural progression. With Season 4 starting on such a high, it’s slightly worrisome that they may not have anywhere to climb. 

One accomplishment of “Big Kahuna” is its ability to make the audience empathize with Dean. He genuinely seems to think that they’re on a better, Rio-free path.  Every scene that Dean is in from his naive belief that the books are fine to the look on his face when the FBI shows up at the end is almost heartbreaking. Good Girls has come full circle in that he and Beth have reversed roles and she is now the one keeping secrets. 

Yet, while the audience may empathize with Dean being “the fall guy,” it also feels like poetic justice since he’s essentially the catalyst for the events that led to this entire series. 

Meanwhile, Annie is attempting to fit in with the other parents at Ben’s school; which goes about as well as you’d expect.  Her flamboyant bidding is so so outrageous that it’s hard not to imagine anyone not questioning it. 

This move does fit Annie. This is the woman who went out after robbing the convenience store and bought a sport’s car and then had to return it.

Her attempts at impressing the private school parents don’t go over well when Ben sees the result of her shopping spree. Ben makes a lot of valid points when he calls out his mom. She has essentially been a child that hasn’t really grown up. Her Season 3 arc centered around her finding herself, and the fact that her latest beau turned out to be a two-timing jerk is a setback in her self-confidence.

Being able to show those parents up that the auction was probably a confidence boost, but it’s a temporary one. Annie needs to take a breath and think about what she wants out of life. She’s been stuck in the comparison game so long that she hasn’t taken a self-inventory. She can “steer her ship and find her port” if she wants to, but she needs to let go of the connection all of her revelations had to Josh.

That was all, you Annie! Josh had nothing to do with it! 

While Annie may be trying to fit in, the Hills have a similar and yet completely different set of problems. Harry is going to a private school where he needs books and an iPad for coding. It’s interesting to see them faced with needing to provide these items for their child while Annie has to realize what is really essential. 

Their talk about Harry’s school is short-lived though when Jenny and Carl reappear having lost their apartment. 

Ruby and Stan have always been the most giving people. They have gone into their life of crime with intentions that would better their family. They wanted Sara to have her kidney. They want their son to have what he needs. It’s always been about their family and trying to make their way in a world of broken systems. 

Watching Ruby and Stan stand up for themselves and draw a clear line is an important moment. Yes, giving back is important, but so it not becoming the fig tree. 

It’s especially important that Ruby speaks up. Good Girls is a series that began when these women were at their lowest point, each with their own financial woes. While they can be empathetic, they can’t support everyone, and they shouldn’t have to. Having Ruby say no, and explain that they aren’t responsible for their lives is a cathartic moment. 

While yes, Jenny and Carl, did ultimately decide to strike up a financial arrangement for the car, it doesn’t diminish the fact that Ruby said what was on her mind.

Overall, “Big Kahuna” sets the stage for what is sure to be an interesting few episodes as the characters all reach pivotal points in their narratives. 

Stray Thoughts:

• I get what hitman Henry was saying, but that was an extreme measure to take for a steak. He couldn’t have just asked nicely? Damn Beth, you’ve been attracting some enforcers since you turned to crime. 
• So, the Hills just have house guests that are too nice now? This is too good to be true. They are too pure for this world. They’re gonna get smurfed. 
• Also, did Sara know that they weren’t really donor’s family? I have questions! 
• The moment when Stan has to Facetime his former coworker so Ruby can give him her opinion on his hair plugs is the sweetest couple moment. I maintain that Ruby and Stan are the perfect couple in this series, and should be protected at all costs. 
• One-liner of the night: “The D.A. is dry clean only.” 

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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