The latest episode of Lipstick Jungle [1] (and first on Fridays, so here it is [2] if you missed it) brings our friends together for the big opening of Victory's store — which, naturally, threatens to become a disaster. Meanwhile, Wendy starts figuring out her post-Parador plans and Nico gets babies on the brain. To talk about it, just .

• Well, I think it's pretty clear who "the b*tch" of the episode title is. I never warmed up to Dahlia, and I won't miss her, but her deviousness is impressive. Loved her myriad attempts to ruin Victory's show: having only part of the set delivered, blackmailing the models, sending over press kits for Victory Fork.
• On that note: I know I once said I'd recast Lindsay Price if I could [3], but I'm enjoying her work as Victory this season. It helps that the writing of her stories has improved, but I'm also getting into her ditzy-but-ruthless-when-it-counts style. I'm sorry, Lindsay.
• So much good Victory and Joe stuff in this episode! Joe decides to help Victory by pitching a story about himself to Nico; Nico suggests maybe he try just dealing with Victory like a normal person; he heads to a ring store to buy a massive rock.
• Too bad Victory has another knight in shining toolbelt: Rodrigo builds her a new set, and when he gets Victory's special thanks at the end of the show, Joe flees, ring box and all.
• But things aren't destined to be with Rodrigo, either, because even while tipsy, Victory realizes that her socialite life will always be a problem for him. Wonder if Joe's surveillance cameras picked up that exchange?



• What did you think of Victory's clothes? I liked that one purple number, but the wedding dress she so artfully saved with a glass of wine and a paintbrush was just a bit . . . much.
• Meanwhile, Kirby embarrasses Nico by working at Victory's show. Not exactly the night she had in mind. Finally, he confesses that the photo he sold was to a tabloid and admits that since he's worked all his life, it's going to take a while to get used to having someone around to make his life easy.
• The state of their relationship is extra-interesting at the moment because Nico's starting to think about having a baby. When she runs into little Charlie on the street, it's like looking at the kid she never had. Megan's suspicious of Nico's generous behavior, but I think Nico's intentions are pure. A box full of memorabilia from Charles is only going to remind Nico of how unfulfilling her marriage was, but in Megan's hands, it can show her son that "his father was an impressive man."
• Speaking of babies (heh), I loved watching Wendy's reaction to the junior executive at Parador. It doesn't help that she gives exactly the same feedback on Wendy's pitch that her teenage daughter had or that she uses words like "ginormous." She's, in Wendy's words, "a fetus in Ferragamos."
• But now Wendy has a new passion project: the screenplay by the copy shop girl. Of course Wendy is starting her own production company; I'm surprised she didn't do that the instant she got fired.
• Fun fact: Wendy got engaged with a plastic ring from a Coney Island vending machine. ("Shut up, it was romantic!" "Yeah, just because the claw didn't pick up a troll doll.")

Loving all the scenes with the three friends lately? Ready to meet Kirby's mom? And what does one do with a 14-carat diamond ring if not proposing with it?

Photos courtesy of NBC [4]