What a great idea, even if every girl on the planet knew from the get-go it would fail in execution.

"Cold Turkey" was Cat's way of letting go of Vincent so the thought of him and Alex exploring their past wouldn't hurt. The odds of that happening, of course, were quite miniscule. It was so realistic when Cat told Tess she thought she just sent him to the cabin with Alex because he might have been wavering because, yes, most females think just like that.

Cat did such an incredible job of pretending to Alex that she wasn't rotting inside, while hearing about her plans to take Vincent away to her family's cabin. A much better job than Vincent did understanding Cat's true feelings when he stupidly asked her opinion on taking the trip.

No matter how much I try to put myself into Vincent's shoes, I cannot grasp his complete blind spot to her pain. Despite the fact he told her it's not about choosing between Cat and Alex - which by definition clued Cat in that he knew damn well it would affect her if he were to make such a decision - Vincent was still compelled to talk about Alex and his feelings with Cat. Yet Cat never broke down.

I didn't quite get why she chose to raid Alex's apartment when her name showed up for a narcotics bust when it only meant she would have to head over there to clean the place of all traces of Vincent. I suppose she wanted to be there when the raid happened, instead of them getting there without her having a chance to do her handy work first.

Finding a bug from Muirfield was a surprise. After the fake out in "Seeing Red," I figured they just didn't care about Alex. I guess they've gotten a different picture of her since then.

No distance between them and the city could make their lives full of sunshine and strawberry milkshakes like the fantasies Vincent and Alex were sharing as they drove to the cabin. Vincent let his guard down and was trapped by Muirfield, and somehow Alex found himself and Cat in the woods just in time for the big show of his beastly change and ripping a few bad guys apart.

The differences in the reactions between Cat and Alex were really interesting to watch. I can't recall a time when Cat was so front-facing during one of Vincent's episodes, but she wasn't phased by his alteration in the slightest. She watched him change into and back out of the beastly side of himself without hesitation. Her trust in who he becomes is complete. It's a bit awe inspiring.

Alex was not so trusting. She said she loved Vincent and whatever he was going through, but when she saw him, she freaked. I've seen a lot in my life, and I've loved deeply. I've lost loves and left some. If I truly loved someone as Alex claimed and saw him do what Vincent did, I wouldn't have had that reaction. I'm sure of it. That leaves us wondering what kind of wild card Alex will be now that she knows about Vincent and Muirfield knows about her.

Will Muirfield target her in an attempt to get Vincent to do something for them? Maybe Alex will use her knowledge as some sort of leverage if she gets a narcotics charge. Somehow I don't think Red is going to go quietly into the night, not after what she witnessed.

When Vincent came to his senses and realized what an ass he had been in turning toward Alex and away from Cat, it was too late. Cat had been hurt enough to raise her guard to protect herself. Who could blame her? Rightfully, she wanted to be his first choice, not second prize in a contest where the competition was rather thin. Kristin Kreuk was able to display with very few words so much emotion in that scene. I felt every nerve tingling in Cat, from her heart to her brain, as she told Vincent she had to step back and think of herself first. 

When he said he was going to be there, I imagined her wanting to launch herself into his arms, because that's what girls want to do. It is so hard to be strong and walk away when that door is opened again. Kudos to the writers for holding her fast and doing what was right for the character. Cat's growth has been impressive and believable.

And now for the weekly check in on where you all stand with Evan. I no longer have an ounce of doubt that he'll be on board to help Vincent. When confronted by J.T. about Lila Burrows he reacted much as you'd expect, but he copped to it later and told the truth about what happened. He's on the inside about Muirfield, and the more he learns the more intrigued he becomes. He'll not lose interest, and he's beginning to trust J.T. All of that will play in favor of his working with Cat and J.T. to help Vincent.

There is also little doubt that he'll flip out a bit when he realizes how close Cat is to the beast, but the more he and J.T. work together the more excited I get for the future of their effort. Evan seems to have passed on the idea of the grant, which may get J.T. to open up with some more information. I'm excited for the expansion of the team. First Evan, then we can get to work on Tess.

What did you think of this week's episode? The only thing missing this week was a soundtrack. Strange how some episodes make your heart melt with melodies and others are eerily silent. To relive past episodes, check out the Beauty and the Beast music section.

Chat about Beauty and the Beast Season 1 and tonight's episode in the comments. I adore that one of the most realistic love stories on television takes place in one of the most fantastical settings. That's a pretty amazing accomplishment for a freshman series.

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.