Make It Or Break It – Recovery isn’t only physical

Whose judgment ultimately rules when it comes to a gymnast in recovery? A therapist’s? Or a coach’s?

Make It Or Break It‘s tough situation of the week involved whether Kaylie was ready — not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally ready — to reclaim her spot on the World team and begin training again in earnest for the Olympics. I think Sasha erred on the side of caution because he feels guilty about the many missteps that the gymnasts took on their way to the top: Payson’s training through her back injury, Emily’s pregnancy, Lauren’s deception (although I suppose he doesn’t know about that), and of course, Kaylie’s eating disorder. Not to be overlooked is Kelly Parker’s scheming and her role in Sasha’s decision-making. When Kelly put that thought into Sasha’s head, that Kaylie might die if she trained before she was fully healed, you know that was the piece of information that kept weighing on him — not the part involving whether or not Kaylie is actually ready to train and compete.

It made me feel at ease when Kaylie’s therapist reassured Sasha that Kaylie was mentally prepared for Worlds. It was a tad uncomfortable eavesdropping on Sasha’s own therapy session. I thought that Gene made some really great points about Kaylie being in therapy for the rest of her life, and that she needed to strive for greatness again. And also, that Sasha might have been punishing Kaylie for what he perceived as his failure to, as Gene put it, “catch her before she fell.” It doesn’t help that conniving Kelly Parker keeps slipping jabs at Sasha into every conversation. Although the one about Kaylie dying was the most effective, another good one was when she insinuated that Sasha’s leave of absence was to blame for Emily’s pregnancy. (By the way, I can’t stand those little buns on her head. She looks like she should be in the Mickey Mouse Club!)

The thing that I’m coming to realize about Sasha is that, even though he’s a tough coach with a big ego, and that he finds it really important to not be swayed by people on the spot, he always comes around eventually because … well, I don’t know why. Because he wants to be liked? Because he wants the best team and doesn’t want to sacrifice talent? Or because he really considers the Rock girls to be his family?

In other news, Summer is the saddest happy person ever! Ugh. I feel so bad for her. I know it must be tough to feel that the daughter of your fiancé, the one who just asked you to adopt her, is the primary reason for staying in the relationship. I think I’ve found Summer’s fatal flaw, actually. Even though she’s morally and ethically perfect, and always does what’s “right,” she doesn’t allow herself to do what’s best for her. She keeps thinking about other people and isn’t focusing on what she really wants. I really felt a pang in my chest when Summer visibly forced herself to put on a smile before walking into the house at the end of the episode. (One bone to pick: Little Miss Perfect would never just toss that rock into her oversized bag like that! She’d wrap it carefully in tissue paper or a jewelry cloth, followed by a mini Ziploc bag, and then she’d make sure to place it into a zippered pocket. But anyway, enough nit-picking.) Summer acts as though she doesn’t want a shower, and that it’s so much unnecessary fussing over nothing, but if it were Sasha she were marrying, she’d be flitting about like a little hummingbird!

I also kind of enjoy Kim’s no-nonsense approach when it comes to telling the other ladies how it is. But still, if I were her friend, I’d find her kind of condescending. I just can’t wait for Summer to stand up for herself and say, “You know what, bitch? I’m a grown-ass woman, and I’m gonna do it my way!” But she won’t.

It seems like Payson is another character who really wants one thing, but is settling for another: namely, she wants to be with Max, but doesn’t want to sacrifice her gymnastics so she decided that they should be just friends. And didn’t you all predict that he would walk about ten feet and Lauren would be waiting for him, ready to put her tongue in his mouth? Gross.

Speaking of people who are torn between doing what they want and doing “the right thing,” Damon’s in a rather rough spot, isn’t he? “But what about my album? My career?” he whines. Come on, man! If Pete Wentz can be a mildly successful, yet ultimately forgettable, rocker and have a baby, you can too!

MIOBI quotes:

“I’ll make you a deal. If I promise to fight, will you?” — Damon, to Kaylie, before leaving to be with Emily

“I’m in recovery. And how am I supposed to know what I’m capable of if nobody gives me a chance? I deserve a chance.” — Kaylie

“I appreciate that you’re her therapist, but I’m her coach. And Kaylie became anorexic on my watch.” — Sasha, to Gene
“And Payson broke her back, and Emily got pregnant. And all that happened because teenagers keep secrets. From their parents, and their coaches.” — Gene, trying to convince Sasha that it wasn’t his fault

“Sasha? In therapy? I wish I could’ve been a fly on that wall.” — Lauren

“Must be hard seeing your spot being snatched away but maybe it’s for the best, Kaylie. You never know when you might snap again.” — Kelly
“Must be hard being such an obnoxious bitch.” — Lauren
“Oh, but you make it so easy!” — Kelly

Clacked by Rachel Blum-Jose
on May 10, 2011 @ 12:12 EST5EDT