House of Lies Season 4 Episode 2 Review: I'm a Motherf**king Scorpion, That's Why
Ariana Guzman
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NHouse of Lies Season 4 Episode 1 introduced us to the new Marty Kaan and his band of Merry Men (and Woman) as he navigated life back on the outside.
House of Lies Season 4 Episode 2 again takes turns in present time and in flashback mode, showing the audience just what Marty went through while in federal prison.
But how did Jeannie handle the company she single handedly help to destroy? What kind of person is Marty after prison? Let's dive right in!
One new fact we learn is that in present time, Doug's wife Sarah – played ruthlessly by Jenny Slate – has currently been unemployed for eight months. Conceiving for the married couple has proven difficult. Their solution? Why, asking Jeannie for her baby, of course, because that's perfectly rational!
Jeannie: I'm not giving you my baby!
Sarah: You are so fucking selfish!
Jeannie: And you are so batshit crazy!
Marty: Oh Jeannie. What's the big deal? Just give them the baby! It's not like it's a baby.
Apparently, being unemployed for several months means you've literally gone insane enough that asking a co-worker for her unborn child seems like an okay thing to do. Thank you House of Lies for making me completely horrified and delighted at the same time.
Back in the Big House several months prior, Marty was getting the rundown from his cell mate Gabe, played by Jon Bass, who was last seen on The Newsroom as Bree. Bree, if you recall, was Neal's douchey self-entitled replacement. Gabe was Ellis Hightower's biggest fanboy and practically salivated at the mere mention of his name. But Marty had some inside knowledge: Ellis was being kicked out of his own company, much to Gabe's horror. Gabe will probably be my favorite character in these prison flashbacks. More of him please.
In present time, Marty is still unwilling to let bygones be bygones. He's tired of Jeannie's constant deception.
You're a dishonest person Jeannie. And I get dishonesty. I mean, I do of course. But yours doesn't seem to have an off switch. Now I may end up drowning but it's not going to be because of you.
Marty
Also in a scene of the not so distant past, Jeannie was struggling to keep the business afloat in the wake of Marty's absence. Clyde, understandably was beyond pissed that Jeannie was running things when she's the one responsible for Marty being in jail and he's not shy about sharing his opinion.
Jeannie: I will give you a big, fat juicy blow job if you would just shut the fuck up and stop being such a whiny bitch about it.
Clyde: Okay, so I'm a whiny little bitch?
Jeannie: Yeah, whiny little bitches look at you and say "ew, what a whiny little bitch."
Clyde: Fuck you!
Jeannie: Fuck you!
I get that Clyde was pissed. I would be too if I were him. Yes, Jeannie shouldn't have gone to the authorities and betrayed Marty. But Marty wasn't innocent. It was his plan to break the law. Let's all not forget that while we're bashing Jeannie.
Back in prison, Marty suggested that Ellis' #1 sidekick holding down the fort, Dante Valerio, was secretly staging a coup in order to grab the company for himself. Uncharacteristically, Marty wasn't so quick to consult for Ellis. He chose a path of quiet introspection and reflection. Well, that couldn't last long, right?
Ellis: Marty, I'm not going to beg.
Marty: Then I can get back to my book.
Jeannie and Co,. their credibility shot in the business world were forced to take a "meeting," if you can even call it that, in a parking lot. It reminds me of every terrible rom com when one person "accidently" runs into the other but there was nothing accidental about it. This parking lot meet was a drastic change from the cushy conference rooms Jeannie was used to.
This chance encounter was also being set up by Jeannie's old business school boyfriend played by Travis Wester. I only know Travis as Harry Spangler, one half of the now defunct Ghostfacers from Supernatural. Travis is no stranger to snark and it's evident in this guest appearance.
It also turned out that Jeannie, in her typical brusque manner, was the final nail in the coffin of Ellis Hightower. Her parking lot meeting was with none other than Dante Valerio, Ellis Hightower's right hand man. Jeannie convinced him to betray Ellis, which explains how Marty knew. Looks like he was still running things from behind bars. The look on Marty's face as Ellis "convinces" him to consult was glorious.
But the biggest surprise is saved from the final moments of the episode. Jeannie, clearly affected by Marty's earlier words about her dishonesty decided to come clean. She admitted, as most of us have suspected, that she made up the whole Edwin story. HA! Marty, you ARE the father! DOUBLE HA!
What did you think of "I'm a Motherf**king Scorpion, That's Why"? Did you suspect that Marty was the father all along? Write your comments and share this review! As always, you can watch House of Lies online! Until next time friends!
Ariana Guzman is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter.
