We start this week with Maddie driving her sorta stolen pickup truck to Pottsville to see her family. Maddie seems to be genuinely trying to get her act together and apparently the plan to do that is to go back to where it all started. We get a flashback to Maddie working as a waitress changing her accent for each table and earning big tips. We learn that Max and Sally discovered her talents in this dinner and got her started in a much larger and more dangerous con game.
The TOV plus Poppy are not getting along at all at the moment. The guys are uncomfortable being locked in such a tiny space. Richard accidentally cops a feel of Ezra’s package and was impressed. Richard tells Ezra that he doesn’t think he is cut out for conning in the long haul. He is destined for greatness. He can feel it in his balls. Over in the other car trunk, the girls fit the space a little better but are face to face and arguing like…well sisters. Poppy tells Jules that she is not happy in her marriage. She asks about Richard.
Suddenly the truck stops. Some kind of military guy with a gun opens the trunk with the boys in it. The scene didn’t make much sense. It seems it was supposed to be the border patrol. But they were speaking Spanish. Whatever it was, the shut the trunk and the car carrier carried on down the road.
Maddie arrives home and scares the crap out of her mother. Maddie admits to her mother that she doesn’t work for UNICEF and says she has just been working from job to job. She apologizes for not being honest. Her mother wastes no time in ratting her out to Colleen and Patrick.
The TOV and Poppy get tossed out on the side of the road near dumpsters and they all are dying to pee. I love the humor sprinkled throughout this crazy show. Ezra takes the lead in the planning. He says he has to go to his house by himself and the three of them need to go to Scottsdale and get the ring. The plan to meet up at Jules parents cabin in the woods in New York state. Richard hot wires a car for Ezra, gives him a gun and says, “Try not to kill anybody.” and off he goes. How is he going to start the car again if he has to shut it off? Will he know how to do that?
Maddie goes to her old room and finds the sweater she was wearing when she met The Doctor. Max and Sally were sitting a few feet away watching her speak to the doctor like a couple of parents hoping she will get the job. He gives her her first assignment. I didn’t recognize the face.
Max, Sally and Arthur have been waiting on Ezra’s call in the hotel. He finally calls and even gets to talk to his father. Ezra is headed that way with a brand new box of bullets. Arthur keeps trying to make small talk. At one point Sally busts out with the information that Arthur stole a patent from his brother and then had him institutionalized. Sally seems to have a personal issue with the Bloom family.
Colleen and Patrick decide to stay in a hotel just outside of Pottsville for the night before going to visit the Blooms. Why would they be going to see the Blooms? That seems random. But not as random as them staying in the same hotel that Ezra is headed to where his Dad is being held by Max and Sally.
Jules, Poppy and Richard have apparently rented a really nice car on Poppy’s credit card. But the trip turns sour when they arrive in Scottsdale to find that Richard’s parents house and been foreclosed upon and all the items in the house sold at auction. How long were they in Mexico? There are a lot of plot holes this week.
Colleen and Patrick have a bit of trouble trying to check into the hotel. Max sees them and freaks out and goes back to the room to tell Sally. At the same time Maddie’s mother calls her and so they take off for her place. As they are about to pull out, Arthur from reasons I cannot fathom decides to take a fork to a gun fight and stabs Max in the shoulder and tries to get the gun away from Sally. Max and Sally shove Arthur into the bathroom. Sally yanks the fork out of his back and they realize that they really need soap and water and a towel from the bathroom. When they open the door, Arthur is dead on the floor. Heart attack? Ezra shows up to find his father dead. Sally seems almost kind to Ezra.
Maddie talks to her dad and confesses everything. He has Alzheimer’s so it doesn’t matter. She says she wants to stop conning people. Maddie says the only way out for her is to kill the doctor. She gathers her stuff and takes off. She takes the mail from her house. There is an envelope with no return address and a phone inside. She stupidly turns it on and places it on the seat next to her. Now whoever sent it can track her! A message pops up that says, “MJ- Keep the phone on. I’ll call you soon! X.” Meanwhile, Patrick and Colleen were waiting at the end of the driveway and follow her. Why didn’t they just go into the house?
Next week, Uma Thurman is back!
I have a lot of questions about this week’s episode.
Great recap and thank you so much for doing it! I think this is the best show on television much less Bravo. I’m tired of grown women getting drunk, screaming at each other and making an ass out of themselves.
I didn’t recognize the face of the first con either. I guess this means they were doing it for a while before the TOV.
This episode seemed dark to me. The only amusing parts I saw were in the trunks and when they got out and had to pee. I wonder who paid for the “chickens” (I had to check Urban Dictionary for that). The only person I can think of is Sophia. I still can’t figure out how the police knew to look for them where they were supposed to meet her.
I don’t remember Maddie having a sister but during her first con with Sally & Max she said her parents didn’t even know she was alive. Maybe she had a sister who died and caused the family to fall apart.
I couldn’t believe the FBI agent didn’t recognize Max at the Roundabout Inn right away. Didn’t they have multiple pictures of him? She had a “I know I know him” moment before Maddie’s mother called.
At first I didn’t believe Ezra’s dad really died. I thought when he told Ezra to keep his wits about him it was a code. But after seeing Ezra’s reaction and the preview scene in the funeral home I’m convinced, kinda.
And what about stealing the patent from his brother and having him institutionalized? Arthur made it sound like there was more to the story than him just being an ass.
I felt sorry for a television character when Richard was walking through his mother’s house. I think he has the biggest heart of the TOV.
I wonder who sent Maddie the phone. The Doctor or Max or Shelly, I have no idea.
Next week it looks like Jules meets Lenny and she’s smitten. That can’t end well.
What the hell does “Coffee in the cold” mean?
The only song I could figure out was Town Without Pity by Gene Pitney. For some reason I thought this was a Frank Sinatra song.
Oooo, Ezra’s dad saying ‘keep your wits about you’ could be a code! That’s interesting AAL!
I think “coffee in the cold” refers to being cops on a stakeout. They knew where Maddie was but instead of confronting her they are following her, probably in the hopes that she’ll lead them to the Doctor.
I think “coffee in the cold” refers to being cops on a stakeout. They knew where Maddie was but instead of confronting her they are following her, probably in the hopes that she’ll lead them to the Doctor.
I think the said “the coffee didn’t even get cold” on the stakeout.
I thought interesting they had two actresses play Maddie when she first got into con game…Her younger self actress when she met Sally/max and her current self actress when she met doctor… was this just to represent her transition from innocense to full on con?
I agree that there’s more to her comment about ‘parents not even knowing she was alive’. There must have been some tragedy in that family because her mom always looks as if she’s elsewhere.
I didn’t really understand the scene when military cops opened trunk. They only got stopped in Mexico and not when they actually crossed border? I’m a little confused what happened there.
I think (or hope) that Richards sheriff friend from Scottsdale has the ring from the pot jar.
Did max say he was in the line of work for 4 years? Only?
Ezra’s dad was not surprised Sally knew about his history with his brother. And when he said ‘haven’t I been punished enough’- does he mean by doctor? The doctors not his brother is he?
I believe Max said he was in the line of work for 40 years. That’s all I got.
Also, I’m looking forward to finding out how the langmore family plays into this. They must have some connection to doctor right?
The actress playing Maddie’s mom looked so familiar and it was driving me nuts. It’s Mel Harris who used to play the beautiful HOPE on 30something.
Okay I’m old and dating myself but she was so stunning on that show and I’m hoping it’s makeup she’s wearing for this role because she looks so sad and tired.
Where is everyone??
PLEASE do not stop recapping this wonderful show due to lack of comments
I won’t! I need y’all to explain things to me. But it will probably be the next day. I am usually pretty mentally drained after doing Southern Charm. And while I could do it, I’d rather do it in the sober light of day the next day.
Not everything is about ratings here.
But it should be LOL.
Please explain this to me or I am going to have to call in sick to work Monday and rewatch season one
If Richard was married to “Alice” before she was married to Jules how could she have studied Poppy to create Alice?
Isnt the order Richard first then Ezra then Jules? If that is correct Maddie wouldnt have known Jules and Poppy when she was with Richard being the Alice character.
Help
First of all, I might pay you to stay home and watch season one if you are like a waitress, but not if you are supermodel. But I am pretty sure it was Ezra, Richard and then Jules. Remember when they boys picked her up last? Yet still I’d love you to say fuck it and watch season one again for us. DO IT FOR US! DO IT FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!!
I cannot believe you have outed me as a secret supermodel. And a waitress.
Oh wait. I see what you are saying now. So sloppy with the writing.
Maybe we just saw them in the order they found out? Or we found out?
I rewatched season 1 ??
It was Jules, then Richard then Ezra. We just met them in reverse order.
After Ezra she went to airport to travel to her next victim and bumped into Ezra’s brother in the lounge. Ezra’s brother eventually realized who she was and started chasing her in the airport. Max intervened and somehow bumped the brother’s nose which started bleeding.
I think that’s why their next interaction in the Ezra’s family home with the weeder was supposed to be comical. He made his nose bleed a second time.
Thanks for the clarification!
I’m getting ready to watch today. Y’all know I’ll have something to say!
Okay TT I watched some of it it and let my work sit here–for the country– really the TT country to which I pledge allegiance
Maddie was still with Jules when Richard and Ezra came to confront Jules at her door. She was literally still married to Jules. There is no way Maddie could have studied Jules sister Poppy and then copied her to create Alice.
Something really bizarre isn’t adding up here guys.
ithinkiknow says above that it was Jules, Richard, Erza and that we just found out about them in reverse order. Erza found Richard who was the mark before him and then they went together to find Jules the mark before Richard, It makes sense when you think about it that the last person duped (Ezra} would go back and look for more victims.
I’m so happy to see more comments. I was afraid everyone lost interest, Ithinkiknow is right, Maddie married Jules, Richard then Ezra. Richard started the search and found Ezra. Remember he posed as a Federal “Burro” of Investigation when he found Ezra who was trying to hang himself with an extension cord. Then they held the yard sale to finance the search Maddie. Ran out of money and bought a book to become cons. Thought they found her but it was Jules. Jules had in been in therapy for a while and told her therapist she was “fine” until Richard and Ezra showed up.
I like the recap being the next day. I’m emotionally drained just watching Southern Charm, Naomie is off the deep end and TRav is a scuzzbag. Can’t image recapping that hot mess then watching/recapping Imposters. I hope the Imposters numbers are improving, I love this show!
Where to begin? Did anyone notice Sally’s cluster of scars on her lower left check? When we saw her for the first time this season, she had a slash scar on her right check, then it disappeared. Was it a sloppy mistake on the part of production?
Sally’s motherly reaction to Ezra seeing his Dad dead, seemed odd. When Arthur was complaining about his suffering and Sally blurted out how he stole the patent from his brother and had him institutionalized was weird. She does seem to have a personal interest in the Bloom family. Wasn’t the blackmail Maddie had on Ezra’s family proof his Dad was having an affair? Or was it about the patent, I can’t remember. What did Arthur mean when he said hadn’t he suffered enough? I don’t think he meant just being captured. It sounded like his suffering had been going on for years.When Maddie did her first job with Sally and Max where they switched the briefcases, was that Arthur Bloom? It sure looked like a younger version of himself.
Who was the man in the photo the Doctor showed Maddie for her first job? I missed most of the dialogue between them and will re watch again tonight.
I wonder if Maddie’s family really acted like she wasn’t alive. Her Mom seems to be mentally checked out, only going through the motions of life. How does this figure in? Her father sure lit up when he saw her. She acted different with her Dad then Mom. There’s something off in Pottsville and I hope we find out what it is!
In the preview for next week, I find it funny Jules went gaga for Lenny. I wonder what hilarity will ensue at the Langmore cabin?
I watched this episode for the first time this morning before work. Boy am I confused. I’m going to sit down tonight with a cocktail and take notes. Does anyone else think there weren’t very many clues? Or am I the one clueless?
Interesting about Sally’s scar.. hmmmmm
Also I couldn’t recognize the man in the photo the doctor showed Maddie. Maybe he will come into play later?
On my TV, Sally has had acid scars on the lower half of the left side of her face since she returned.
I have a lot of the same questions!
The blackmail maddie had on Ezra was his dad’s affair.
So far this season has been left me with more and more questions and less clues. Cannot wait for more
I agree with you that this season seems to be lacking clues. Thanks for confirming it was Arthur’s affair that was in the blackmail envelope. Now that presents an interesting dilemma. How did Sally know about the brother? You don’t think the Doctor’s the brother? Was Sally the brother’s wife? I don’t think Ezra’s Dad is dead.
Was that Maddie’s Dad I’m the photo? I doubt it but I’m throwing it out there.
I’m going to watch it again in a minute, take notes and rewind a lot! I’ll report back tonight.
Upon rewatching this episode last night, there are many clues.
In the beginning, Maddie calls Max and asks “What does the doctor want? How angry is he?” To me, this is like a child asking a sibling “what do Mom and Dad want and how mad are they at me?” It sets the tone for the entire episode to be about families. Max replies “It’s time for you to come in and see the doctor. I did it! And I’m still breathing.” Foreshadowing?
I think Arthur took some kind of psychedelic drug that stops/slows down his heart rate. In the movie, “Let’s Go to Prison” with Dax Shepard, there’s a scene where they injest the plant nightshade and are “dead” long enough to make it through a funeral and be dug out of the grave. When I saw Arthur dead in the bathroom, that was my first thought.
When Maddie is driving into Pottsville, she turns on WURG, the rock and roll time machine radio station. The song that’s playing as she drives into town is “Town Without Pity.” On the main street, I noticed shops with names like Variety, Trendz and Heather’s. The lyrics are “to stop to gaze upon a star” as Maddie pulls up to the restaurant she use to work at. On the windows and awning are the words “A Great Place To Meet Your Friends.” Ironic.
We see young Maddie change accents and characters with each customer. When Maddie starts to con Max and Sally, she asks them if they’d like to try some fudge black out cake which is to die for. Max replies “No thanks, kid, we’re great.” Her snappy comeback is “You sure are. Someday, when I’m sitting in this diner with my future husband, I hope we look as striking and happy as you 2.” I love Max’s reply “Are you clocking the moves on her? She’s a natural.” Sally says “she’s got to be rocking the tips.”
Max is on the phone with the doctor, I presume. We hear him ask about lacking a third. He mentions some guy named Si and if he needs to take care of him for the doctor. Max mentions something about friends leaving and thanks for nothing. Who is the Si?
They ask Maddie if she’s ready to take her “game” to the next level and earn some real money. Of course she says yes.
On her first job, I’m 100% certain that the mark is a young Arthur Bloom. There’s too much family resemblance; the nose, the chin. (It may be his brother. But I think not.) My guess is the patent and information on his brother are in the briefcase they switch out.
Did anyone catch how much Maddie made for that gig? They gave her 4 bills. I couldn’t see if they were hundreds, but her face sure lit up. Sally protectingly asks her if she gave the guy her real number. Maddie mentions her parents don’t even know she’s alive. To which Sally replies “Well they don’t know what they’re missing.” I think it’s going to be Sally that saves Maddie.
Forgot to add Maddie gave the guy the phone number to the police department.
We move on to the TOV. Poppy had the best line of the night when she told Jules “it’s my job to tough love you.” I didn’t find anything of importance with them in this segment.. However, Patrick guessing Poppy’s bra type and using the underwire to hot wire a car was far out fantastic. I hope those two get together.
The scenes where Maddie comes home are heartbreaking to me. When she walks into the kitchen, her Mom jumped and was scared to see her. There was no motherly love, hugs or kisses. Instead, her mom says with disdain you changed your hair and to change your mailing address to Houston. Which Maddie then confesses she never lived there. Her Mom is so cold and distant. She warns Maddie not to go up and wake her father. Which she immediately does, Did you notice how she was physically close to her Dad and touching him? He seems to be the only one to nurture her.
Did you notice back at the restaurant, when Max is on the phone and says this is our only shot? And Maddie volunteers to take care of this Si guy for Max and Sally. They confront her about dropping her game face and acting like she’d rather be anywhere else. Sally asks if she’d be willing to take her game to the next level and make some real money. She kills it at the train station on her first gig.
Maddie’s interview with the doctor was revealing. She tells him “thanks for the consideration.” He tells her Max said she was a natural, a phenom. Maddie replies “I do what I can.” He tells her she has a worldly way about her and would she call herself an old soul?” She replies “I never really thought about it. I suppose I could be.” The doctor says “ah, an outsider and an observer?.” She says “yes, I’ve always felt that way.” He tells her “Max, Sally, you and me, we’re seekers.” “Seekers?” Maddie replies. The doctor says “We want to live life by our own rules and explore the limits of control.”
He asks her if she knows what the greatest con of all is? Love.He goes on to compliment her.You have an unique ability, you instinctively grasp what lies behind a person’s desires and longing. Very rare. That talent will allow us to explore some interesting opportunities. And that’s how Maddie gets pulled into the game.
He hand her an envelope with a picture and explains what she’s to do. To see where it goes , that Max and Sally will also have roles.The doctor says “part of the family, so to speak”, They end with a handshake and then the doctor puts his other hand on hers sealing the deal. Just have fun with it. Welcome to the family. And the flashback is over.
The man in the photo had reddish or dark blonde/light brown hair, was wearing a blue dress shirt (maybe denim). His coloring is similar to Ezra’s Mom, but that could be my imagination running wild.
So I’m not sure where I’m going with all of this. I’m sorry if I bored you with my micro examination of the interaction between Maddie, Max, Sally and the Doctor. I’ll try to reign myself in next week.
Obviously, the young Maddie never received praise. In fact, in her conversation with her Mom, she mentioned all of her flakey ideas and her Mom agreed and added “Unicef sounded flakey.” No mother/daughter bond there. I did notice the side of the refrigerator had postcards on it.
Why is the Doctor obsessed with family? Especially Ezra’s family. I’m beginning to think his Mom is the key to it all. Who is she to the doctor? And why is he out to get Arthur?
I’m interested if any of this helps us come up with more theories? Did I read too much into Maddie’s meeting Max and Sally? Or her being so impressed by the Doctor?
Omg, love this show and that the blog is covering it SO much!! Never think you are writing too much b/c literally no one else is covering it Or discussing it. It is SO good w a great plot full of intrigue, humor and awesome characters who are engaging. How it is not doing better in the ratings, I will never understand. You guys get WAY more than I do so it is enriching to come here and read the recap and comments. Thank you!! Love that Richard is digging Poppy the real version of the fake Maddie poppy. So many layers to this show. I hope Arthur is not really dead. That will take it too tragic. And I am glad Sally is not dead either. The actor who plays Max is married to Madeline Stowe of Revenge in real life. Gonna love Jules digging on Lenny too
Wow radchick!! My mind is blown
It seems like the doctor revealed the overarching theme of the show when he asks & then answers—-‘what is the greatest con of all?Love’
They say Ancient Greeks have many words (7 or 8?) to describe different types of love. Last season focused a lot on the con of marital love… is this season exploring the con of the other types?
You’re right this season seems to focus on family.. Not just father/son, mother/daughter but also sisters& brothers…the Greeks separate these two different types of love…. there’s also friendship….Eros or passionate love….etc…Will we eventually witness a con in each of these scenarios?
Already they mentioned Arthur conning his brother. What are the others? Did Sophia represent Eros?
Just a theory
Ithinkiknow, great info on the ancient Greeks. So is “the greatest .com of all” a very important clue? You’re right about Imposter’s showing different types of love. They’ve covered a lot of types. So where are they going with it?
Obviously, the Doctor is a psychopath. But why do the cons all focus on single men? What’s the saying? Keep your friends close but your enemies closer?
Who does the Doctor have the biggest beef with? And why? I can’t help but feel Arthur and his wife are key. But I don’t understand what his problem is with Patrick or Jules.
Does anyone remember where Patrick, Ezra and Jules lived when they were married to Maddie? I’m trying to figure out if they were in close proximity to each other. If they were, that may help us figure out what the big picture is.
Don’t you wonder when and why the Doctor got into this line of work? Last season we saw him watching people on a computer monitor. It looked like they were different nationalities.
Ugh. Tomorrow night can’t get here fast enough!
Okay, I am really liking this show very much.
But that girl they cast to be the young Maddie looked NOTHING like her at all.
See I thought it TOTALLY looked like her. But then y’all know me and faces. Apparently the got the hair and some mannerisms right, because that is what I unconsciously go on.
LOL! She did sound and act like her! It was the eyes that killed it for me.
Okay but I’m glad you pointed out that they (actress that plays young Maddie and Lavi) don’t look anything alike because it was bugging me too. Mainly because when Ezra, Richard, and Jules are trying to track Maddie down and they look through her high school yearbook, it’s definitely a picture of Lavi. Meanwhile all the flashbacks of her in high school is with an actress that doesn’t look like her in the slightest.
I don’t get why no one’s watching either. If it wasn’t for TT, we wouldn’t have any place to get out Imposter’s groove on!
Can’t wait for the show tonight.