NBC gave Lipstick Jungle [1] an additional six episodes [2] this week, and this episode actually made me glad for it. Despite myself, I'm starting to get into Wendy and Nico's stories, even though some parts still grate on me (my pet frustration this week: virtually everything related to Wendy's career). Even Victory had her moments.

Mostly, I appreciated the way the women's three stories tied into each other this week. (Not to keep harping on poor Cashmere Mafia [3], but that's something that show never quite got down.) Nico confiding her affair set into motion several other threads for the rest of the characters: Wendy's concern about keeping her own marriage alive, Wendy and Nico's belief that Victory can't understand their lives because she's not married, and Wendy's frustrations with Nico spilling into a conflict with Victory. I think that's how real friends act, and it should be the core of the show. To read more of my take on the episode, just .

• It's a good thing that Kirby dropped the lawsuit, because Nico was clearly never going to be able to lie her way out of it. "There are a lot of people at a photo shoot"? You've got to do better than that! Of course, it's not like telling the truth was really an option.
• Do you think Kirby really just wanted Nico (as opposed to any settlement money) all along? Or did he just want to see how she would react? I think he legitimately does want to be with her, but there's still something about him that puts me on edge. When he asked Nico how many other men she'd done this to, I found myself wondering how many other women he'd gotten involved with like this. Am I too pessimistic about him?
• Meanwhile, the writers are giving Nico an easy — or, at least, easier — out by insinuating that Charles might be having an affair with one of his students. I suppose it's easier to feel sympathy for her if she's not the only one cheating. Also: Was it implied that Nico was one of Charles's students once upon a time, with that line about her still owing him a paper?
• After a couple of weeks of Saint Wendy, I'm glad we've seen more complex sides of her in the last few episodes. She's a micromanager, which can annoy her friends and family, and she's not thrilled when things don't go according to plan. I'm glad she found a balance, letting both Victory and her star have their moments after things got really ugly. That said: Is anyone else wondering where the paparazzi photos of their red carpet fight will end up?



• Also, given the drama of Wendy's reaction shot, I thought Victory's dress was going to be a true monstrosity. Instead, it was just a little low-cut.
• Shane turning the washing machine on in the middle of spontaneous sex: nasty-hot or nasty-nasty?
• Two funny alcohol-related moments: Victory's "Does this room have a minibar?" and its echo later with the starlet hunting for Victory's bourbon.
• Does Lindsay Price as Victory Ford remind anyone else of Eva Longoria Parker as Gaby Solis?
• Speaking of which, Victory and Joe are still the weak link for me. On the one hand, I'm glad he didn't try to fly her anywhere dramatic and, like, buy her her own personal Alp this week. On the other hand, they're kind of boring in New York.

Your thoughts? Happy about the additional episodes? Yay or nay on Kirby and Nico? And spring rolls with pizza: gross or awesome?

Photos courtesy of NBC [4]