Bunheads: For Fanny Recap

Yes! Hubbell’s accident was — (making that face) — oh, ohhhhh ….

The second episode of Bunheads is called “For Fanny” (6/18/12). Fanny, as you may recall, is Hubbell’s mother, and Hubbell has just died in a car accident after bringing home his new wife, Michelle, a Las Vegas dancer he neglected to tell his mother about until it was a fait accompli. And that’s not the only deed Hubbell neglected to divulge — he called his attorney from Las Vegas and changed his Will leaving everything to his new bride. Somehow he must’ve found time to stop by and sign his redrawn legal documents in front of two witnesses, maybe that’s where he was before he drove off to find Fanny and Michelle. Well, we’ll have to wait to find that out and also whether he is a recurring character …

Fanny copes with the loss of her son by declaring that Buddhists believe in reincarnation and throwing herself into preparations for a memorial service and she has no intentions on including her new daughter-in-law in those plans. Truly (that’s a name), the gal whose designs on Hubbell were ruined by his falling in love with Michelle, drops by with a covered dish and a venomous message: “I blame you,” she tells Michelle. “Me too.” Michelle replies and walks out.

Fanny and her ditzy friends put their heads together to decide on appropriate fashion statements. After they eliminate dressing in white with white headbands (they’ll resemble a cult or a karate class), they decide on scarves, then capes … this is going nowhere fast.

Fanny goes back to the house where Truly is cleaning up, refusing to let Michelle do anything. Right in front of Michelle, Fanny tells Truly that Hubbell loved her, she was his true love and they were soul mates. Michelle can’t believe it. “Hello, I’m right here,” she says but they ignore her so she decides to go for a walk. A man who needs his dog walked notices her though and asks her to take his dog along on her walk.

She winds up at a bar where the owners have heard of her. She’s the “sex at the party” girl, a reference to the first episode when Fanny told everyone that Michelle and Hubbell were getting it on at her party. They keep giving her free drinks while the wife complains about “that thing” in the kitchen that won’t work.

Sitar player Ravi gives Michelle something to do, too — listen to him play over the phone. But Michelle can’t give him an okay, you’re hired. Then a caterer calls Michelle to verify if 500 is the correct count. But by now, Fanny has deflated and she tells Michelle to do whatever she wants.

The bunheads (Boo, Sasha, Ginny and Melanie), use Hubbell’s death as an excuse to get out of school and go to the movies. Then they feel guilty and go to Fanny’s studio but their instructor never shows up. Sasha finds Fanny crying in the house and asks Michelle what they should do.

Michelle puts the bunshead to work after which Boo tricks Fanny into coming over with a leaky bathroom sink report. Instead they have everyone assembled and a chair waiting for Fanny. The advanced class performs a dance routine that Michelle choreographed to Tom Waits’ “Picture in a Frame.” It was really beautiful and Fanny was both moved and impressed. Michelle does not want to take credit but admits she found the song in Hubbell’s CDs.

Hubbell’s life-long friend catches Fanny’s eye and meets Michelle. He knows all about her — even that she wears a size 9 shoe. And this is where we assume he is also Hubbell’s attorney because he drops the bombshell that Hubbell managed to leave lock, stock, barrel, and house with momma included, to Michelle.

The first thing we would do is kick Truly out. How ’bout you?

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