"Swingtown" Puzzlerama (2008)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

We begin with Susan in the Deckers' pool. Tom is on one side and Trina, the other as they take turns caressing her. Roger (!) then jumps in. As this happens, both Bruce and Janet-fully clothed, rise up in the water and make negative judgments on their spouses. As Susan calls her husband's name, she wakes up from her dream as Bruce tells her to go back to sleep as he leaves early for work. At the real Decker house, Tom and Trina prepare for their annual Puzzlerama game which Tom explains as a "truth-or-dare on a roller-coaster" involving neighborhood secrets to Susan and Bruce as they have breakfast with the kids. Before this sequence, B.J.-back from camp-is warmly greeted by Samantha who receives a "wish bag" from him. Sister Laurie watches and asks her brother if Sam wants to come in, which Sam politely declines. Laurie herself is on her way to help in the Carter/Mondale presidential campaign by helping Doug get signatures. This turns into a bet for who gets the most of them to do as the winner wishes for the rest of the night. Before we get back to the Puzzlerama game, we find Janet washing clothes as she finds swimming trunks that obviously isn't Roger's (it's the one Tom gave him in the last episode during the pool party). Thinking they're Bruce's from the cabin episode, she gives them to Susan who later hides them in her drawer which is where Trina finds them when she puts the question discs there as well for her game. At the Decker party, Susan gives those trunks back as Trina gives back Susan's earring she misplaced from the Fourth of July party. Susan also tells her that Janet doesn't know about Roger's presence at the pool party as those two arrive and Trina takes the trunks off Susan's hands. Also arriving is Bruce's coworkers Moreno and Melinda and Gail-Sam's mother-who gooses Moreno as they decide to fool around. The rest participate as each receives a drink with a certain colored dot at the bottom with two with the same color picking the pairs. Susan is with Roger, Janet with Tom-who's told by his wife to keep an eye on her, and Bruce with Melinda though it was originally supposed to Gail who switched drinks to be with Moreno. Both Janet and Tom and Susan and Roger bump into Laurie and Doug in front of the grocery store where the Carter campaign takes place. Laurie awkwardly introduces her former teacher to her mom who seems to have figured out their relationship especially after her daughter mentions "similar interests" concerning Doug. Meanwhile, Bruce and Melinda mention about their previous night of which Melinda mentions he was the "perfect gentleman" which means nothing scandalous happened. Then they go to an adult newsstand for more of those discs hidden there where Melinda makes a pass at Bruce and he reciprocates! Tom sees them and keeps Janet from finding out. He later warns Bruce about "dipping in the company ink" as Trina comes by. As Bruce leaves, Trina asks her husband about what happened as Tom mentions it possibly being revealed in next years party. During this time, Samantha is watching for people to give the party discs to in order to keep them from going inside finding out about her mom and Moreneo. B.J. stays with her to keep company. Just as things seem to end in a three-way-tie, Janet takes one more paper that reveals Tom's kimono gift to his wife after his affair. As Janet takes the discs from that gift, she knocks the box with Trina's pictures and finds the one with Roger in those trunks which she angrily confronts Trina with calling her a slut. After Susan and Roger tell the truth, Janet storms out. Roger later tells his wife how she always wants to be perfect and that's why he couldn't tell her everything. When Susan explains to Bruce the reason she didn't tell him about Roger, she says she respected his quest for secrecy. She promises her husband no more secrets though Bruce doesn't tell his despite also promising. Oh, and since Laurie won the petition drive, she goes to Doug's apartment and has her way with him. All that's left to say is with the party over, Tom and Trina are relieved they are still together as we fade on the hanging question mark in the house...Well, this was a very intriguing episode with the various couplings or not happening though my dread of Laurie and her former teacher has now reached the danger zone. Now all that's left is wondering what the aftermath is going to be though I hope Laurie doesn't get pregnant (mabye someone will reveal she was on the pill or he had protection). The other teen relationship between B.J. and Samantha is what intrigues me and I hope gets more play as the weeks go on. Wow, Bruce is becoming more of a jerk here with his treatment of Melinda even if she's becoming a notorious flirt! Do love the way she keeps smiling when Bruce again reminds her how he's married. Wonder how long that will last? Tom's "dipping in the company ink" line no doubt is a reminder of why he's doing those Tokyo flights that's causing some strain with his wife. But they seem to be holding it together for now. And with Janet mad at both her husband and best friend Susan, how is their friendship going to hold up and with Bruce still being distant with his wife, how long will Susan and Roger succumb to temptation? All intriguing questions and despite the Laurie/Doug storyline, Puzzlerama was an excellent episode of "Swingtown" that explored many of them. So on that note, until next time...