1x12 Wannabe Recap

Before I get into this episode I just want to say I’m still on the fence about going from scene to scene in my recapping or going through all of each plotline and giving my thoughts on them. If I have readers and they are reading this know my comments are open and I’d love your opinions on this.

So the episodes open as Liberty is interviewing Paige, Hazel and some random character named Oscar about the Spirit Squad she plans to start. I don’t think I marked this episode as a foreshadow moment but in episode 3 she mentioned wanting to start one why it took so long remains to be seen especially since the last two episodes at least are at the end of the school year while that one was at the start. Anyway Manny approaches the group when Liberty leaves wanting to try out and shows off by doing cartwheels and Paige is impressed

WHATEVER IT TAKES (I swear this earworm will never get out of my brain)

Paige is talking about the squad tryouts on the morning announcements as Emma watches from Simpson’s class in disgust. She thinks the squad is sexist and archaic and she can’t believe Raditch is letting them have one. Manny pouts telling her friend she wants to join.

Now for the B plot of the episode. This is a random and all too memorable one and not because of how edge of your seat or controversial it is but at the randomness of it.  Toby and JT are looking at the discarded Pringles cans though due to copyright they never say the name brand despite the distinctive logo and blurred out product name looking at us in the face. They want to find the ace of spades and ace of clubs on the tops to win a million dollars. Spinner is still working in the café (three episodes in a row!) and watches as the boys approach Liberty who as it happens has a club and they’ve been looking two months for a club and the contest ends in a matter of days…

Paige and Hazel are gushing over how good Manny is while Emma is not having any of this nonsense.

Liberty is in with giving the boys the can but only if she can get a cut. Spinner also wants a cut for protection…..protection from what? His fist in the underclassmen’s faces. They give Spinner the Ace of club and JT says he’ll bring the spade in the morning.

Manny tells the girls how Emma is upset about the squad and has even threatened to write a piece on sexism and so they decide to have a girls day with Manny going over to her house and trying to coax her to get Emma not to write the paper. She calls Emma who promises that she won’t until Paige can be heard in the background. Emma is hurt that Manny is hanging with the older girl and all bets are off.

JT is freaking out as he can’t find the can anywhere.

Emma gives the article to Liberty who points out Manny wanted to be on the squad and how Manny is Emma’s best friend. Emma doesn’t care and claims it’s making Many a phony when Manny is just doing what she likes. Liberty shows off her new red boots she got with the money she doesn’t quite have yet and then Emma walks out telling Hazel, Paige, and Manny she wrote the article. Manny tells Emma to take it back and Emma claims she’s being used and is hanging with Paige worth their friendship. I really do love the Manny/Emma friendship and see a few parallels of them to such modern ships as Holly J/Anya and Katie/Marisol in which they have been best friends since forever (Kindergarten in Emma/Manny and Katie/Marisol’s case) and have had their share of epic fights but at the end of the day they’ll always find their way back to one another and be each other’s constraints.

Toby is giving his stuff away as JT tells him to stop. His mother went on a cleaning binge and he can’t find the can.

Manny sees Paige and Hazel grab the papers and go into the bathroom where they rip the article out. They say they have 8 members and need 12 to be able to keep the squad and this bad press could kill it before it gets off the ground.

Liberty and Spinner are about to pounce on JT who remembers the can is in his locker however he soon discovers the can he had this whole time was also a club and not a spade at all.

Paige, Oscar and Manny are making mock up uniforms on Photoshop when Simpson walks in asking if they knew about Emma’s article. Paige says it was Hazel and Simpson leaves the room. Manny confronts Paige about lying and says if she’s not careful she’ll be the scapegoat instead before pretty much shunning Manny. Anyway as much as I love the Emma/Manny friendship I might just love the Paige/Manny rivalry more. Through the years they have many epic battles over boys and other things and have a few epic bitch fights both verbal and physical.

Emma eventually apologizes to Manny for the article at episodes end saying she should of supported her choice to cheer however Manny says no Emma was right and Paige was using her. Emma says that it’s Paige’s loss if Manny doesn’t make the squad and while I don’t remember if Manny does in fact make it right away I do know she’s on the squad and on it With Paige in later seasons.