Endings. When you think about it – all endings have some new beginning . If you really think about The Baker & The Beauty this season, it’s been a lot of endings, which means that there have been a lot of new beginnings in everyone’s lives.
And if we’re being honest, that’s part of the beauty of this show. It’s about the ups, the downs, the ins and outs, and the way that family can make everything work or fall apart. But even when you fall apart it’s who is there to pick you up, to help you put the pieces back together and help you find yourself.
And one of the things that made me fall so much for The Baker & The Beauty wasn’t the whole celebrity angle. It was The Garcia Family. It was the relationship between Noa and Lewis. It was family.
And after all, isn’t that everything.
NATALIE HAS BIG PLANS
One of the shining lights of The Baker & The Beauty has been Natalie. Her story is growing, evolving, and even as this character is in the midst of all her own personal growth – the thing she’s worried most about is her family.
She wants her parents to be okay.
She wants Mateo to find his way back to his music.
She wants Daniel to find his happiness.
She wants to find her own.
And so what’s she doing? She’s embracing her quinceañera. She wants to make sure that it does what it needs to do in order to bring her family together.
Amy is supportive and making sure that Natalie knows that she is not alone. I love these two and their relationship, because what you see is two kids so full of hope and love and their willingness to love through the worst and the best.
But the cafe puts a hindrance in the plans, because they have to cancel the quinceañera for it. The repairs are expensive and they need her money. Mrs. Garcia is loosing her shit. Mr. Garcia knows it’s the only option.
But why is it that Natalie has to lose everything. Why does this girl not catch a break?
But the beautiful thing about Natalie is that she makes her own breaks.
NOA GRANTS A THIRD WISH
Hey, if your brothers gonna date one of the richest people in the world, why not ask her for help.
She goes to Noa to talk to her about the quinceañera that the family can no longer afford. And of course it’s Noa to the rescue. I don’t think that Noa was trying to give charity, even though the Garcia family may have taken it that way. She developed a love for the family.
And she misses Daniel.
What I loved the most about the quinceañera was that it was at the bakery. For the family it was something that would be important to bring them together. Sure, Papa Garcia was a proud man and it made him and Mama Garcia fight, but it was a fight worth having.
Because what happened wasn’t Natalies fault. She shouldn’t have to suffer. For her it was the passage into adulthood and sometimes you need to put aside your pride, Dad.
But I loved that the family allowed Noa to do it, because I feel like it was a moment for them to see that she could be good for Daniel.
But what was the great things about the event –
- Mateo returned to DJing and performing and remembered his passion
- Natalie and Amy found comfort in each other and showed their love for each other
- Vanessa was able to get the producer there to see Mateo
- Natalie is so happy and she deserves that.
- Mr & Mrs Garcia made up and found that they can continue to get through anything.
But there was that moment that broke my heart.
Noa let down her walls and told Daniel that she wanted him back. You could tell it was words he wanted to hear, but wasn’t sure that he believed in. For him you could see that he loves her, that he wants to be with her, but the reality is that he doesn’t want his life to be chaos.
But you can see that broke him and her.
But I also think that this would have been a great thing for them to stay apart. Because I would have loved for them to grow more.
WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?
And you know what – without Noa, Daniel’s life isn’t so bad. He gets offered a job making videos for Thomas Gold.
But lets also talk about the thing that I can’t talk about – Vanessa and Mateo. NO. NO. One should never ever be where their brothers penis has been. Yes, the two of them have sex and to be honest I am so traumatized, I can’t talk about it.
Sorry, not sorry.
Next day – Vanessa regrets, Mateo doesn’t. And I actually thing that she doesn’t, she just feels bad. But still – CAN’T TALK ABOUT IT.
And then there is a knock at the door.
Why the fuck did Daniel go to Vanessa to be his manager? Like I mean I am so happy that he’s being given an opportunity to make his videos, but I would have thought that he would have drawn the line to not hurt Vanessa anymore.
The Garcia boys are drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
In the same moment, but different place, Noa is full of rage. She’s heartbroken. She’s in love. She – in my opinion – is smart and chooses not to deal with emotions. So she throws herself into her work and makes herself live there, even if it’s at other peoples expense.
But she hurts the man that she would never want to hurt – Lewis.
Noa needs to be called out for her shit. See – her shit still stinks, even when she’s a celebrity. She isn’t above reproach. Hurt isn’t an open invitation to shit on others.
And in order to not repeat her patterns Noa calls in the person that you wouldn’t expect: Colin. She needs to talk to him about their relationship, the things that were right, the things that were wrong, and the way that they can learn from the relationship that they had.
Sometimes we can learn the most from the people who know us the best and we shut out of our lives. Maybe its them that open our eyes to where we can stay and where we can run.
He may not be the best influence or drive her to the right choices, but the truth is – that’s okay. Because it’s not about him, it’s about her and finding the strength to make the choices that she needs to make.
Right or wrong – the choices that Noa is going to make are choices that she needs to make in order to find her heart. And I believe that even when we make the wrong choices, they lead us to the right ones.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE
The Garcia’s are given a chance to make a lot of cash and sell the bakery. But the thing about this family is that they all come together in the times where they really need it.
The parents could make this choice, but they keep their kids involved. I wish that my parents would have cared more.
Natalie is intent that the bakery not be sold. So she goes to Vanessa for information and she finds out the kind of developer that he is. She runs to her family and tells them and is excited that she can stop them from selling the bakery.
Natalie is not good with change, but she doesn’t see that about herself yet. She doesn’t know how much that change is a good thing, even when it terrifies you.
They turn down the first offer, but hey – of course he’s gonna come back with a vengeance. And thought Natalie may not understand that, she quickly learns that is the way that business is done.
I would have thought that the Garcia’s would take that offer. But hey, apparently money can’t solve the issues. Look, when Natalie says that for enough zero’s their integrity is for sales. Ummm… girl, you aren’t going to be around forever.
Like let your parents be set up for a good life.
Yes, I get where Natalie is coming from, but I also think she’s being selfish. And that’s hard for me to say, because I do love her.
But I also appreciate the fact that this family can admit when they need their eyes open. And for The Garcia’s they go a lot on instinct. They go a lot on feelings.
And sure it gets them into trouble.
But as they vote for keeping or leaving – its a tie and they need Daniel to break the tie.
Only he’s nowhere to be found and not answering.
LETS STOP A PLANE
When Daniel and Mateo have a talk and Mateo spouts truths, Daniel heads out to talk to Noa. He may not have thought that he wanted to try again with Noa, but don’t we all make hasty choices?
I personally would have done the same thing Daniel did – when he gets to Noa’s place and sees her hugging Colin. I would have bounced out really quick.
But what he quickly learns – from an unlikely ally – Lewis – is that Noa is leaving town and he needs to stop her. I would have expected Lewis to let her leave, but hey, we all are shocked at times.
Daniel sometimes is too much – because he doesn’t trust himself. He puts himself down and I wonder where that comes from. Because his family has done nothing but build him up. The world has build him up.
I feel like that thing is that Daniel needs to remember where he comes from and who he is. And that’s why I love the time making a video with his Dad.
But I do appreciate when he decides to go after Noa. I appreciate that Lewis and Mateo start out this journey with him. I appreciate that he finally got the balls to do something.
But someone explain to me why he was okay knowing that his brother wants to be with the woman he was with for 4 years? Like is there not a code – like my dick shall never go where yours has?
When Daniel tells him to go and get Vanessa, I shook my head. LIKE WHAT?
But when Lewis and Daniel go to the airport and they do everything they can to stop the plane – it really is that romantic moment that I wanted. That will they or won’t they moment.
I am rooting for them, but I kinda was like WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?
The thing I count on in a Dean show is that he throws a curve ball at you and makes you think twice. He doesn’t tie things in a pretty bow, but as much as I love his shows – I hate to say this – he had me until the very end.
And then – even with my disgust over Mateo and Vanessa (a character I have grown to love) – I got mad.
Sorry, not sorry.
I WOULD PREFERRED A CLIFFHANGER
Now, don’t think that I am an asshole. I am not. But I love a cliffhanger and honestly, I would love to say that I loved the ending, but I didn’t.
I didn’t want any sort of resolution or any sort of rash decisions made. I didn’t want the cliches and I sure as fuck didn’t want these two engaged. BUT – I will say this. As much as I didn’t want Daniel and Noa to be engaged, I do see the opportunities that it opens up for storylines for season 2.
But stay with me here.
These two have barely just begun and I would have loved the cheesy will he or won’t he make it to the plane to stop her from leaving ending with him just watching the plane take off. I would have preferred him just picking up the phone and saying, “Noa.”
Give me something to be so invested in that I am coming back to look at what happens in season 2.
But don’t give me the ARE YOU TWO HIGH LET ME SLAP YOU, YOU DUMB FUCKS ending. Because it doesn’t seem plausible to me or as if it would be something that either one of them would do. It feels out of character and forced.
I want the whole romantic comedy thing. I want to see these two grow and fall apart and the press judging them and him trying to find peace, when he finds that peace only comes with her.
I wanted more growth from Daniel.
I wanted more growth from Noa.
Have her go to Morocco and him show up there (and again, I get it may not have been in the budget).
I wanted more drama.
Does that mean that I don’t want a season 2? I will be there for season 2 with bells on. This show deserves one. The Garcia family has stories to tell. Noa and Lewis have stories to tell.
But more than anything, I want more drama. Call me if you want some ideas for that.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Lewis, Lewis, Lewis. Him going back to the date he was so mean to! Look, for me this was so amazing, because Lewis deserves happy. He needs someone to talk to and I think that he deserves happy too!!!
Love that his name is Wilbur Lewis! 😀