At episode four in the sophomore season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, things finally take a turn for the better. Of course, that doesn't mean that the show is back to the realm of reality (aptly, the show says it is filmed in "Brendavision!" at the end). But at least its making some strides back to the side of the life most people actually lead.
Ben Grows Up--A Little
Grace's family has finally grown a little suspicious of Betty the Internet Prostitute hanging around Ben, although the jig isn't quite up (yet). To be honest, the entire charade is getting a little exhausting. At around for episodes in, the idea that the audience knows about Betty's former (or current?) occupation while Ben and The Sausage King remain clueless is a bit of a drag.
But in this episode, Ben finally stood up for himself. Miracle of miracles! Instead of blindly agreeing to take his father up on the business opportunity in Bologna and begging to take Amy with him, he doesn't. In fact, he wants to go at it alone, which is something many high school boys would have been feeling light years ago. Its not easy to date someone who has children when you're young, especially not even out of high school young. Finally, Ben is starting to crack under the pressure.
Amy's Attitude
For the past few episodes, Amy has been a one-trick pony. As in, Amy has been doing nothing but yelling and screaming at those trying to support her because she's a so tired of being a teen mother. The actress playing Amy hasn't shifted the mood swings around so that they seem to come from a different place, but then again she was probably also directed to deliver her lines that way. And it's not like she had much to work with in the script department. But finally the characters have acknowledged that Amy has been less than pleasant. She's been so less than pleasant that viewers want her off the show and she's the main character! But, there is a bit of relief in knowing that Amy's not just going to continue to be written this way and there may be hope that her character will change directions.
Grace's Personality Shift
Without seeing a professional counselor and only a pep-talk from George, Grace has become the perfect Christian again. Although she realistically acknowledged she may never get over her father's death, she unrealistically pledged her virginity to her high school boyfriend, yet again. And again, she made plans to marry her high school sweetheart, which almost never happens. Maybe in Brendavision!, but not in real life. Grace is back to her chipper, caring and Christian ways after George quoted The Beatles.
Adrian and Ricky
Finally, these two are boyfriend and girlfriend, but not before Ben calls up Adrian for advice and she assumes he wants to sleep with her. Do the producers have no respect for Adrian? She's Grant High School's town hooker and already expects that any male that rings her up only does so for one thing: sex. Maybe she's trying to downplay her daddy issues by sleeping with every male in proximity, but since everyone knows it, it seems every male under the age of 18 has taken advantage. But with Ben's behavior, it was a little disappointing that Ben didn't try and get with Adrian a little harder.
Ricky was the first one to guess Betty the Internet Prostitute's former occupation, although its kind of cloudy as to how he got the idea in the first place. She didn't really do anything that would indicate it, unless he has some information he's not revealing.
Bologna, Bologna!
With Ben off to Bologna, the producers just had to find another way to insert the word "sex", somehow making up some stereotype that Bologna is known for oral sex. No wikipedia, urban dictionary or any other website could confirm this. Perhaps it is true in Brenda's world, but then again, a lot of things are true in Brenda's world.
While this episode felt a smidge more real, it never fails to leave an impression on its older viewers who can all attest that sex is nothing like anything this show portrays it. And God help the more inexperienced viewers who take this show seriously.
