When Maddy was a child she participated and excelled in pageant contests but her dreams came crashing down when a child molestation case caused Maddy’s mother to forbid her to participate. Growing up Maddy became interested in the way rich women would dress and act hoping to become one of them one day. As a teenager she had many sexual relationships with older men (despite what she told Nate). Her relationship with Nate is also defined by those power games in which she enjoys the proximity with his wealth. But she also has genuine strong feelings of love towards him not matter how violent he is.
In front of the TV, Leslie talks with Rue about their relationship. Later Rue and Jules get tattoos inside their lips.
At school Maddy faints due to a mix of factors, leading the school to discover marks from being strangled. The principal of the high school eventually finds out the connexion with Nate, and he is called out of class. His parents are summoned to the school and Cal secretly vomits in a school bathroom. Nate is eventually suspended. Both Maddy and Nate are later interrogated by the police.
In Jules’ room, Rue and Jules talk about their former relationships. Ali tries to show Rue that relationships in high school never last forever, but Rue appears to be in denial. Later at an NA meeting, Rue says she has met someone and that it helps to stop being an addict.
Cassie and McKay go out. While driving she talks to him about the dick picks in Nate’s phone. He apologizes for his behavior at the carnival and they eventually make up.
Kat goes back to the mall and meets the retail vendor whom she had a crush on. After talking they eventually hook up.
Meanwhile Maddy is bombarding Nate with messages. She has a fight with her mother about the lack of love in her parents’ marriage. She then tries to see Kat, but she blows her off as she’s about to hook up with the mall guy.
Rue, Lexi and Jules go roller skate, and Lexi says that Rue is happy thanks to her making Jules very anxious.
In a motel room, Cal meets with a hook up and but ultimately talks about his failures with his children and how they’re full of rage.
At the same motel, Nate and Maddy meet up later.
The episode ends with Jules being wide awake while Rue sleeps next to her.
Tropes
- Adults Are Useless: Averted with Maddy's mother. After the child molestation case, she removes young Maddy from pageants, and she insists on pressing charges against Nate. Slightly averted considering she only realises that child pageants are sick after the child molestation case.
- Bros Before Hoes: A female version and averted. Kat blows off Maddy for a hook up.
- Cannot Keep a Secret: After having already told Lexi, Cassie tells McKay about the dick pics on Nate's phone.
- Character Focus: on Maddy this time.
- Destructive Romance: Maddy and Nate's relationship. Maddy is perfectly aware of how dangerous and violent Nate can be, but can't stop being in love with him.
- First Love: Jules is very obviously this to Rue.
- Gold Digger: Maddy aspires to become this. Also averted considering she is genuinely in love with Nate beyond the material benefits of their relationship.
- Questionable Consent: Maddy lost her virginity at 14 to a man who was in his forties. Despite what Rue's narration says, it seems doubtful that she was "in full control".
