For the last four weeks, I’ve been waiting for Secret Life to deliver a water-cooler-worthy episode, something that validates my guilty-pleasure viewing of a teen-targeted show (even though I’m a little older than the desired demographic group). And based on your week-to-week comments, I don’t think I’ve been alone in my desire to see ABC Family’s summer hit kick things up a notch. Well, at last, last night’s episode left me audibly gasping — on three separate occasions, no less.
Amy’s not-so-secret is pretty much out at this point: Mean girls are gabbing behind her back, parents are using the news to sugarcoat their own kids’ slip-ups, and even the school counselor has figured out what’s growing under Amy’s flowing tops. We’re just waiting for Mama Ringwald to catch on (next week, my friends!).
After watching Amy gobble down a pile of chicken wings, boyfriend/wounded puppy Ben got down on bended knee and proposed to his pregnant sweetheart. (A word of warning to impressionable young girls in the audience, such Prince Charmings are an extreme rarity in the under-18 set.) Problem is, while Ben is determined to do right by Amy, that’s not necessarily the same thing as doing what’s right for her. And that’s just one of the tough questions hidden under all that ooey gooey ABC Family cheese: What is right for Amy? Should she have an abortion? Should she tell Ricky? Should she tell her mother? Should she pretend Ben’s the baby daddy and get hitched? Should she have the baby but give it up for adoption Juno-style?
More truths got spilled by high-school frenemies last night, too. When that namelessbrunette told Grace that there was a blowjay or two involved in Jackand Adrian’s little tryst, the blonde good-girl took it to the hallway (arethese kids ever in class?) to confront her ex, and that’s when she found out he only began dating her in an effort to secure her family’s patronage anddonations to his stepdad’s church. The icy-cold truth made it all the more satisfying, however, when the self-righteous cheerleaderfinally stood up for herself and cut off communication with her doofus ex.
Oh! And in other news, what’s this about Amy and Ashley’s dad leaving Molly Ringwald Mrs. Juergens for Adrian’s mom? Whaaaa? Ididn’t see that coming until Adrian’s muy caliente madre startedtalking about her new boyfriend, and how he’d be staying with her until hegot back on his feet. Now that’s a scandal worthy of a Tivo season pass!
So how did you like this week’s new developments? Many of you hadmixed feelings on the show’s legitimacy — was last night any more or less like thehigh school you remember? Andwhen will we get the flashback to Amy and Ricky’s night together already?
I’m soooo happy that this show is even more exciting then before!!! Last night, I was bouncing all over the place in excitement. I bet Amy won’t marry Ben, but she still won’t get an abortion.
Amy’s dad and Adrian’s mom seem like an unlikely couple. Adrian’s mom is never in town so when did they find time to hook up?
Last night’s ep was way better than last week. I watch the show with my daughter and told her there are no real boys like Ben. Ricky and Football boy those guys are sad to say the norm.
I am way outside the demo for this sho as i am a parent of a 18 mnt old. but this show is real to me. the emotions are real. the spats are real ( according to my high school aged nices and nephs) and what adults somtimes deal with in marriage is real. I really do love this show.
I really like this show, I just think Ben has to stop saying he loves Amy every five seconds. It’s annoying. And a marriage proposal? At 15?! Absurd. While I do like the show, I don’t really think it’s completely realistic. Plus if everyone else in the world has noticed that Amy is pregnant, why haven’t her parents?
Does anyone know when they show the repeats? I have not caught any of the episodes since the premier and I’d love to catch up! Thanks!!
I really enjoy watching the show and think it could go somewhere. but the marriage proposal through me for a loop. I didn’t think Ben would ever take it that far even if he’s Ben. Also having that at the very beginning of the episode with no prior warning was hideously bad script writing. I think the show has some very real characters, and the moments are real too they just, as in any TV show, happen far to frequently to the same people.
you can find episodes online -
abcfamily.go.com
i absolutely love this show.im not a teenager either…. far from it actually!lol but this show has all the right elements to be a hit!last nite’s epi was one the best so far!i didnt expect some of the things that surfaced!u got a hit on ur hands ABC!keep it up!:)
Katie, set your DVR on 8/5 for a “Secret Life” marathon, starting at 2:00 CST.
I really love the show!!! I think it’s great for teenagers to see the complexities of their potentially careless decisions. It is fabulous to portray Amy’s pregnancy from all view points and not to paint it as some fairy tale hollywood baby bump. I didn’t like how Ben proposed to her, although I’m not surprised based on his character…however, that is not real life. I feel like most guys would run screaming if their girlfriend had a secret like that. He’s a freshmen and not the father. I thought his “act of love” (how long have they been dating to be that in love???) was a little far fetched.
Also, if you miss episodes you can find them in full on youtube. I used youtube to catch up on a couple episodes I missed before last night’s doosey!
I caught last weeks episode (just got cable hooked up again after a year without it!) and enjoyed it so I am DVRing it and the marathon next week so I can catch up on the whole series. I love Lifetime, 90210, and the sort so this show is right up my alley!
While I agree that no boys are that nice at 15 and are pregnant, especially with someone else’s child, when one is truly head over heals for that very first person, you do things that are not normal. I think this show is very realistic. It may not realistic to many because you have not experienced, but when I was in high school my 16 year old boyfriend and I were inseparable and he proposed as well. We were together for 4 years and went our separate ways. We still keep in touch, though our lives are totally different.
Lorie, thanks for the marathon info my daughter wants to see what she’s missed due to work – I’ve watched all the episodes and last night’s was finally worthy – tho if my kids were acting that suspiciously for the last few weeks I certainly would have been questioning them and trying to have a heart-to-heart. Ben’s a sweetie – and one in a million – and we know Amy’s not having an abortion (this is Disney/ABC Family, for goodness’ sake!) but just once I’d like to see the topic addressed seriously rather than quickly refused or pushed aside.