Doug Miller writes and Christopher Ware Smetts directs this, the second-to-last episode of this series.

Remember Taylor, played by Inna Ivanova?

I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t, as she’s never been a major character in the series. She’s a model who first appeared in season 1, episode 9, where she had sex with Jason in exchange for agreeing to participate in Lacey’s fashion show for free, and then she was seen again in the season finale. She reappeared in the first three episodes of this season, but they were just small parts, as Taylor was a friend of Nicole’s who was there when Giovanna approached Nicole about modeling and encouraged her to take the job.

Well, this episode opens in Cody and Russ’ apartment, as Cody and Nicole have just come back from a double date with Taylor and Hugh. That seems like a random combination, but I guess we can assume that Nicole set up Taylor and Hugh. After all, Nicole met and had sex with Hugh in season 2, episode 2, so she knows them both.

The two couples briefly discuss the movie they just saw, and then Taylor and Hugh go up to Russ’ room (while he’s out working) to have sex. As soon as they both climax, Taylor asks Hugh for his autograph. It’s a hot scene, so it’s hard to complain, but it felt so random and out of place at this stage in the season. The show it almost over, why are we wasting screen time on these two random characters who have nothing to do with any of the major storylines? It would have at least made more sense if it was Vanessa who had sex with Hugh again, but Vanessa’s not even in this episode!

At Tracy’s studio, we see her overseeing as Jason takes pictures of the models Betty and Veronica (Rachelle Fraser and Dee Coulter), who are posing together in nothing but thong bikini bottoms. Tracy suggests that he should have them kiss, but Jason doesn’t think that’s what the shoot needs, although he agrees that it’s missing “something.” Just then Lacey walks in with a couple of new lingerie outfits that she offers to have the ladies wear. Although this is the first time we’ve seen Lacey and Tracy together, they act as if they already know each other, and they’re openly snarky as they talk.

Tracy thinks the lingerie idea is “trashy” (but topless women kissing isn’t?!?), but Jason likes it. So the ladies put on the outfits and Jason takes more pictures. Then Tracy has him stop for a minute as she goes up to the models and whispers something to them, and when Jason resumes shooting the two ladies start ripping the lingerie off of each other. Tracey smirks and says she hopes Lacey doesn’t mind them ruining her outfits, because it’ll look good on camera, but Lacey replies that Jason had already paid her for those outfits using Tracy’s corporate credit card. OOPS.

Again, this subplot is pointless.

Back at Cody and Russ’ apartment, we see Cody and Nicole have sex. Afterward, as Nicole is getting dressed and says she’s off for another shoot, Cody questions why he hasn’t gotten any new gigs and hasn’t been able to get in touch with Richard for a week. This is when Nicole admits the truth of the deal she made with Giovanna and Richard in the previous episode, and while she tries to defend herself, Cody curses at her and kicks her out.

Back in Lacey’s studio, Jeffrey and Joanne are complaining about all the extra work they have to do to try to get ready for the fashion show, and Lacey surprises them by bringing in Stephanie, who has agreed to return temporarily to help out.

Just then Cody appears, surprised to see Stephanie, but then takes Lacey aside and tells her everything. He mentions how this means he won’t have any more money to loan her for her show, and because of his exclusive contract with Giovanna, that means he wouldn’t be able to appear in Lacey’s fashion show. Lacey is surprisingly optimistic, saying she’ll figure something out, and that includes getting a lawyer to find a way to get Cody out of his contract with Giovanna.

In Giovanna’s studio, she’s posing in lingerie for Richard, as he takes pictures of her for some kind of magazine promotion. Then they have sex. This is great, as we have not gotten enough Amber Smith sex scenes on this show at all.

We see Lacey meeting with Marilyn, who has looked over Cody’s contract and says he’s only exclusive to her for print work, not runway modeling, so he’d still be able to participate in Lacey’s show. Marilyn also has a lead about a scandal about Giovanna using foreign sweatshops to produce her work, which Giovanna has so far managed to keep out of the press, but Cormac has some contacts that he’s going to try to use to expose her. Then Lacey gets a call from Sebastian, whom we see with with Jeffrey, and he tells her that he’s going to advance her the payment for the rest of his order, so she can put on her show.

It’s implied that Sebastian and Jeffrey have something going on…but thankfully we don’t get a sex scene of that. 

Cody is at the bar commiserating with Russ when Stephanie walks in and sits down next to him. He apologizes for how he treated her before and tells her about what happened with Nicole. Stephanie is surprisingly sympathetic to Nicole and encourages Cody to not give up on her until he’s sure that she’s the bad guy, saying it sounds like Giovanna used them both. Then Stephanie’s new boyfriend CRAIG shows up (played by Daniel James), he’s come to New York with her while she works with Lacey. Stephanie introduces him to Cody, and they leave together.

We see Nicole at Giovanna’s studio with her and Richard. She’s ashamed at what she does and tells them she won’t do it anymore, Giovanna threatens to ruin her, but Nicole doesn’t care. Cody walks in, punches Richard in the stomach, and then he and Nicole leave together.

I have to say I’m surprised at this turn of events. When Stephanie left the show in season 2, episode 4, I checked IMDB and saw that Erin Brown was going to return in this episode and predicted that it meant Cody and Stephanie would rekindle their romance. And then when Stephanie appeared right after Cody had kicked Nicole out, I thought this was a predictable convenience to make him single again so this reconciliation with Stephanie could happen. But the show didn’t go that route, which is impressive writing, in my opinion.

Although, frankly, I don’t see how Nicole is supposed to be sympathetic here. When she overheard Giovanna and Richard in season 2, episode 10, she should have gone right to Cody and told him about it. But she didn’t, so she’s not innocent. But whatever.

Another overall mediocre episode, let’s hope this show sticks the landing in the finale.
Chacebook rating: THREE STARS

Jason Majercik is selling this UNRATED 4-disc DVD set of Lingerie season 2 for $29.99. Email him at quinn_nash@hotmail.com for his softcore inventory list.