Bunheads: Inherit the Wind Recap

Hubbell’s best friend and attorney is trying to explain to Fanny and Michelle what Hubbell did that resulted in Michelle owning all his assets. Hubbell changed everything over the phone – his will, deeds, Michelle’s address, voters registration and even got her a subscription to Rolling Stone which starts next month. Well, we could assume, charitably, Hubbell’s attorney had his power of attorney but even with that — the Will? Ahem.

Anyhow, momma Fanny is assured that Hubbell made generous provisions for her and she won’t have to move in with Sissy Merkowski and her mummified mother. Fanny wants to go on the warpath but Michelle has no intention of engaging in battle with the old battleax or throwing her out. She pours the two of them shots, but Fanny walks away, so Michelle drinks them both. After apparently polishing off a lot more than that, she wakes up on the couch and finding the cupboard bare, goes off to find some grub.

We wonder if anyone besides us noticed that Sutton Foster as Michelle talks so much louder than everyone else? She was talking so loudly throughout this episode, it caused us to look her up on the International Broadway Database (IBDB) and sure enough, she has more stage credits than TV credits (IMDB).

Michelle comes across the Bunheads taking pictures of their ugly feet to compete in a competition among high school dancers — the uglier the feet, the better the dance school. Back in the house, Fanny continues to show her displeasure with some tea pot mind games. We can probably expect Fanny barbs throughout the whole season whether over land, teapots, men, bunheads — you know what they say about two women in the house. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have been known to clash even when the son is alive. But when he dies and leaves the house to his wife of 2 days? Oy!

A Bunhead mom, Claire (Ginny’s mom), sees an opportunity to sell some real estate and pops by with her famous “taco in a bag” to inform Michelle of the horrors of home and land ownership. She takes her on a tour and shows her trees in desperate need of a $30-$40K thinning or there’ll be a squirrel population explosion. She tells her about swampy ponds and goose poop, the stinky septic tank and how Fanny will be no help because she’s an artist. Claire also shows and tells her all about the vintage red convertible that was Hubbell’s pride and joy — he rebuilt it himself.

But when they pass by the studio, Fanny has a conniption and tells Michelle she wants her to leave her house alone. Fanny says she is not wanted and calls her an “interloper.” Michelle says that’s duly noted and takes Hubbell’s car out for a spin. It dies on her on a private road she didn’t know was private because there was no sign. Now no one can help her unless she gets permission from the owner, a rich guy they think is named “Bill.” Officer Clayton shows up and gives Michelle a ticket and Fanny has to pick her up. Michelle heads off to get permission from “Bill” who it turns, is really named Grant.

Michelle assumes Grant has heard of her as she bellows out her current situation. He’s the only one in Paradise who has no idea who she is. She’s impressed with his mansion and his telescope where you can see 2-miles of a nudist beach that Grant can’t resist because of the overabundance of Salvador Dali bodies. He gets her water and pours wine for himself as they talk. Michelle says she’s not having any wine and he says “It’s not for you.” She tells him about her home ownership fears and says she’s Septic Tank Girl. He advises her not to repeat that — things in this town tend to stick. Why does she think everyone calls him Bill? He also says that there’s nothing to fear even though home ownership is a definite commitment, but she shouldn’t listen to Claire, who’s an idiot. She says she will have some wine after all and he again says it’s not for her. She thought he was kidding but turns out he has a date coming over. And why not? He’s Barry Manilow-rich and hot to boot.

Back at home sweet home, Michelle comes across Sasha practicing alone in the studio and wants to know how she sneaks out of the house. She shares her own tales of teenage rebellion and tells Sasha to get home safe. It’s gonna take more than a non-judgmental Michelle to get through Sasha’s shell. Continuing on, Michelle comes across a guesthouse on the property which she finds whimsically designed to suit her free spirit personality perfectly, including a cool bathtub in the middle of the living room. Back at the main house, she informs Fanny that she will no longer be butting heads with her at least in the main house. She will move in the guesthouse and Fanny and her eclectic knickknacks can continue life interloper-free. Tonight, however, the two of them are going to get very drunk, very slowly.

Bunhead Drama:

The focus on the Bunheads was low in this episode and most of it was on what a snot Sasha is. Worse than that, she has a particular thing for being nasty to Boo who is the kindest and gentlest and most shy of the dance students. Boo is so sweet that when Melanie and Ginny tell her that Sasha has crossed the line and she should be angry, she defends Sasha. When Sasha overhears the conversation, she attacks Boo and says she doesn’t need her to stick up for her or defend her. She’s fine and Boo is the one who has to hide in the back. When their parents pick them up, we see Sasha witness Boo’s easy-going and happy relationship with her mom. Sasha then gets in the car with her selfish witch of a mother. Is Boo Sasha’s target because she’s gentle or is it because she is jealous of her happier life?

We can’t answer that but at least we know who won the Ugly Feet contest — the Bunheads!

Click here for more answers like: Who played Claire? Who played Grant?