Let’s start by talking about how much I love Wade. He wins all the Pacey Points as well as whatever type of points we’re awarding for people who give me thoughts so dirty even a porno director would be disturbed. (Just giving you your weekly overshare—I put my rain boots on too). The man is like the sexiest thing to appear on my television screen since Luke Danes. Fuck the Salvatores, to hell with the Originals and screw the slutty Mercy Grace residents…my heart belongs to a Bluebell bartender.

Moving on, it seems Bluebell, like so many other small towns, loves their town events. I do appreciate that theirs are a bit more realistic though. I mean, sure it’s apparently the new thing to celebrate Founders Day (which I really shouldn’t mock because my town of Boise has a Founders Day celebration) but Bluebell’s events seem to be more spread out and interesting. Cookoffs are incredibly fun and apparently do not include death at the actual event.  Plus, I really like gumbo. *

*Gumbo. Let’s establish a few things about gumbo. First, there is no such thing as decent gumbo. It’s either a-mah-zing or its total shit and you’ll spend years thinking gumbo’s gross until you have the real thing. Also, I refuse to believe that a proper gumbo simmers for less than 8 hours and always includes okra. I don’t know how much the characters knew about gumbo but the need for a long time to cook it was dead on. I should also note that I know how to eat gumbo but not how to make it. I have tried but I’ve yet to master it. I can rock your world with a phenomenal chili to the point that your taste buds will thank you and retire. It’ll also send steam out your ears.

Now as far as the medical side goes, a few of y’all reading have been kind enough to rage over the inaccuracies of the cases so far. I don’t know whether this week was right or totally wrong but it did at least seem more detailed. I don’t see why they’d have all that exact dialogue for the wrong procedure but this is television. I’ll let y’all clear that up for me.

Lemon and Lavon confuse me. Like, I get that they were both being manipulative because they both have feelings for each other but I just don’t understand why they aren’t together. The show seems to be hinting (just barely) at the idea that there’s a reason Lemon is still with George. It’s not money because Lavon’s the fucking mayor and so I’m at a loss.** I felt kinda bad for Didi/Deedee/Dede being caught in the middle but I guess since she ended the week with a killer job, she did alright. And even though I don’t agree with Lemon, I did like that she agreed to disagree with George about Zoe. It showed that she respected his newfound ability to make his own decisions but that he wasn’t going to change her mind. A small step for Lemon but a few more of these and I’ll start liking her.

**I read a few interviews while I was writing this recap and apparently the main obstacle between Lemon and Lavon is race, particularly Brick’s feelings about it. I’m torn about this potential development. On the one hand, I appreciate that the show is addressing it. Several of my family members are disgustingly racist and it’s in that way where they don’t even realize what they’re doing so won’t listen when I tell them they can’t say that kind of shit. They’re like “I’m not racist” and I’m like “yeah, you fucking are.” But I digress. If Dixie can do a good job with the story I will be happy about it. I’m just very apprehensive at the moment as the nature of the show hasn’t exhibited much interest in a hard hitting, very relevant story line. I hope for the best though.

Anyone else notice that Lemon’s accent is always stronger when she’s manipulating someone but toned down around Lavon? He’s like the one person that she doesn’t have to put up walls around. I don’t know you guys, I think I may already be irrationally invested in this story line.

I feel like George’s storyline could be summed up by this little monologue:

George: “Anything you say Lemon darling, my life exists for no other reason but to serve you.”

George’s Balls: “Dude, we’re here if you ever want to stop ignoring us.”

George: “What are these? Huh, I should attempt to be manly and have a backbone…”

George’s Balls: “Yeah…?”

George: “I’ll drive Zoe far into the country so I don’t get in trouble with a piece of fruit and talk about all the things I love that Zoe loves.”

George’s Balls: “Something’s better than nothing.”

George: “Oh no, my future father in law is here and there’s a man dying but I just can’t deal with the potential drama so I’m going to keep my mouth shut despite all manner of injustice going on right now.”

George’s Balls: “Most exercise we’ve had in years.”

Look, in George’s defense, he seems like a good guy who’s never really been put in a situation where he had to rethink what the right thing is. And now I think he’s learning and that maybe there’s some resentment towards Brick about other things that is manifesting through his attempts to defend Zoe. Still, George has his work cut out for him to impress me.

The Zoe and Brick story however, really did impress me. Brick is a total ass but I was so proud of Zoe for taking the high road and choosing to be gracious. Especially since she wasn’t humiliated to get to that point but got there on her own. And Brick made a point that taking care of Oscar was more than just about the procedure. There’s sure to be many issues between them in the future. Still, today’s small step was nice to see.

Battle of the Boys: I have to give it to Wade again. I really tried to be more objective but the man cooked Zoe gumbo that won her second prize and didn’t even take the fucking credit. For all his talk about playing games and being aloof, you know he is the ultimate prince once he’s with a girl. (I do not know how I will pick next week’s winner. Shit y’all the previews alone are making me look for the nearest puddle of superficiality.)

Issues I Had: I don’t know that I really had any major issues. Obviously I discussed a few things above but there wasn’t really anything that made me go, “you evil piece of shit show!”

Things I Loved: Let’s just assume that I will always love Wade unless I say otherwise.

I did also love that sassy waitress at the bar who, it would seem by next week’s preview, might have more of a role. She was super fun.

The other thing was all the kitchen scenes. I have this thing about kitchens. Some of my earliest childhood memories were hanging out in my great great grandmother’s kitchen, getting to watch at my great uncle’s restaurant and holiday dinners at my grandmother’s as meals were fixed. Thanksgiving guaranteed a good 60 people all crammed in one house, cooking and eating and laughing. To me, kitchens are where the little moments happen and it’s the little things that stick with us. So when a show emphasizes moments in a kitchen, I fall in love a little bit.

Overall, I have to say that Hart of Dixie just keeps improving. A couple more episodes to bring to light some back story on the Bluebell characters and we should have a nuanced and well-rounded show. What about y’all? Are you still invested or waiting for more?

Because I love you all, I included next week’s preview. I do recommend a cold shower after watching it. Or maybe several cold showers. Because Wade…is fucking hot…and shirtless. Which would be enough, except then he does this little smirk where he totally knows what category we all put him in for Monday’s edition of “Marry, Fuck or Kill”.