The enlightenment in this episode was definitely Margo Martindale guest and genuine performance as Molly, a lonely and refined mature woman. Some of us still remember her as Camilla Figg in Dexter where she brought depth to the story, emotion to the scenes and just amazed us in the Easy as Pie episode. So it was really nice to have her back and as expected her character managed to surprise us. First her meeting with Tanya was well staged and at the beginning I wasn't sure what it was all about. I soon understood where their chit chat was leading and it was really like peeping at a locker room. Her other scenes should both make you smile and sad considering Molly has issues of her own.
It leads us to Ray because Hung is mostly about him after all. I found the downward spiral metaphor of the pickle jar interesting considering what he's going through. Moreover the students explained why they chose him to be its recipient by showing some slides of past events when he used to shine among his peers and inspire them. But the best part was that despite his financial problems he was still a role model for them, someone they can count on. Of course Tanya happiness consultant concept developed further and she tried her best again to motivate Ray. It wasn't easy considering the Lenore incident. In fact the tornado was back and her appearance was so unexpected and audacious that it left me speechless. It was specially hilarious considering the characters who were on her way.
As for Ray gigolo career I still believe he's on the wrong side of the road. His mother was right to teach him that he should put one foot in front of the other but for the moment he's definitely walking in the wrong direction. That's why I like to compare Thomas Jane character to Michael C. Hall one, Dexter Morgan. They both have a double-life and issues to solve. One is coach Ray the day, but who sometimes feel more like a cockroach, and a man whore at night ; the other a blood spatter analyst and serial killer, who would really like to better control his Dark Passenger. So in their own twisted way they try to live the American dream, be happy and make a difference. So even if they made the wrong decisions or just didn't know what else to do, we have a lot to learn from them.
Will Ray embrace his new destiny ? Will he find a long term and respectful solution to his financial problems ? We got answers but there're still plenty of issues to solve. From the children to the crazy ex-wife this episode was full of interesting elements. It definitely confirmed the maturity I felt after watching the 3rd one. The recipes are ready to cook and the meals we have already tasted nourishing so I can't wait to watch the remaining episodes. Considering its numerous qualities it's not a surprise Hung was greenlighted for a second season.