"Ugly Betty" Rundown: Episode 1, "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back"

Updated 10/02/07 12:33 PM · Posted 09/28/07 12:29 PM by Molly · 85 comments

TV · Ugly Betty · America Ferrera · Ugly Betty recap · Vanessa Williams · Becki Newton

Of all of last night's season premieres, I didn't think it would be "Ugly Betty" to make me cry. I thought "Grey's" would, because that's what "Grey's" does. I even thought "The Office" might, out of sheer frustration for continuing to not deal with story lines (but — yay on that front). But, no, it was "Betty." To be fair, it made me laugh hard and smile a lot, but in the final minutes...tears.

At the risk of being too spoiler-y for those of you saving it for the weekend, the rest of my thoughts are after the jump. So, just read more

First things first, gotta give a shout out to Pop, who was loving Christina's "Call me Mrs. Matt Damon. I'd like to give him a Bourne Ultimatum." Hilarious.
There was not nearly enough Daniel in this episode, though he did vocalize something that Betty and I have in common: "It's no secret you turn to potatoes in times of need." And I loved the "funeral" for the memories of Henry, especially Daniel's silent prayer.

Favorite plotline this season so far: Amanda, adopted, really Fey's daughter. Is Bradford Meade her dad? Somehow I doubt it (ew, incest). Her adopted parents, however, are hilarious...and apparently swingers. "We're not here, just looking for some more wine."
Claire vs. Wilhelmina is a pretty epic showdown. I love that they're both so smart, and so conniving, and so willing to do anything to get their way. Anything. I know that I'm supposed to root against Wilhelmina, but Vanessa Williams is just so excellent that I can't. I want them both to win.
Justin is, as usual, amazing — only now with a lining of sadness (more on that in a second). At least he has his fashion.

And then, the last five minutes of OMG-ness:

Alexis is awake and she thinks she's Alex again?!?
The moment before they showed Hilda alone in her room hugging her pillow and we realized that Santos didn't really survive the convenience store shooting, right when she was begging Santos not to go home...my heart dropped. It's funny, because my notes from the beginning of the episode were a little pissy that the Santos shooting plot was so tidy — if only that had been the case. It's been a long time since a show made me cry (not just well up), but that was like a punch to the stomach. So, so sad.
Henry's back!

What did you think? Too sad of a way to start out the season? Are you excited for the return of Henry? Is Bradford Amanda's father? When will Betty's dad return? So many questions — welcome back, Betty!

"Ugly Betty" Rundown: Episode 1, "How Betty Got Her Grieve Back" originally posted on Ugly Betty Fans

85 Comments - Post a Comment

Kellsters - 5 years ago Report Comment

The Santos story line last night was mean and cruel! It did indeed literally feel like a punch to the stomach at that last scene when you relized he was not alive, and that the 'dream' of him alive was only in Hilda's head. So sad. Why couldn't they bring Kevin Alejandro back?! He is smoking hot!

bpjedi - 5 years ago Report Comment

I was a sobby mess by the end of this episode. I totally didn't see the whole Santos thing coming. I definitely hope that this is the sort of directing we can look forward to this season; the episode was really well done. Looking back, there were subtle clues that Santos had died and that Hilda was holed up in grief--as opposed to a love nest--throughout the episode, but it was done in such a way that the love nest scenario was still possible, yet consistent with the reality of the situation.

LaLaLaurie06 - 5 years ago Report Comment

Read my Ugly Betty review here!! I felt the same way you did, Buzz, about the Santos/Hilda relationship being too tidy and then when I got to the end...WHOA! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/396543/fall_tv.html

pintsized - 5 years ago Report Comment

Yea it took a few minutes for the Santos thing to sink in, and the sucker punch got worse when Hilda said something like, "Hes gone Betty, hes never coming back".

Molly - 5 years ago Report Comment

Also, Kellsters, in my notes watching the show it literally said "Side Note: Santos is crazy hot." Ha.

genvessel - 5 years ago Report Comment

i actually thought that it was the best premiere of the three major ones last night. grey's was disapointing and the office was exactly what we expected, but betty went above and beyond. i can't wait to see where they go with the amanda paternity thing. i'm indifferent to henry, but woohoo for betty having her man back. daniel couldn't have been any more precious.

genvessel - 5 years ago Report Comment

regarding santos' smoking hotness: seriously. we're going to need some serious replacing of the eye candy - because damn.

riokim1231 - 5 years ago Report Comment

thanks for the update! i kept clicking on every half hour since this morning. I'll have to watch the recording tonight on dvr. sooooo sad though!

nomerz - 5 years ago Report Comment

kinda random, but this is the first time I've ever watched Ugly Betty in its' entirety so does anyone know how I can catch up on the first season without having to buy the DVD's? I could follow the story lines easily enough ... but I just want the holes to be filled in. SO wasn't expecting Santos to die. The whole love nest vibe was completely believable.

samida18 - 5 years ago Report Comment

Yeah, the Santos ending was a complete shock, but a good twist! I SO can't wait to she how this Amanda/her real father plays out. However, I did win a I nice little $20 bet with my roommate. When it was said in the beginning of the episode that Alexis was in a coma, I bet right then and there that Alexis would have slight amnesia and would forget about the sex change. I won $20! I have a gift!! BTW, Santos=too hot for T.V!!

misshouston - 5 years ago Report Comment

What struck me most was how absolutely gorgeous Ana Ortiz looked in a plain white tank and minimal makeup and jewelry. I'm so used to seeing her made up to the almost-drag-queen extreme, I've never noticed how pretty she is. (Of course it helped that she had the ultimate accessory: a bare-chested Santos! Rrrrrrr!)

spacebear - 5 years ago Report Comment

I missed the beginning. Why is amanda fat now? Can someone explain??? Oh yes and Santos = hot.

Nightwind - 5 years ago Report Comment

That Santos thing, I almost saw it coming. So Betty is doing all the work, and her sister is all shut up in her room, not leaving for anything...because she is spending that much time with her finacee? It didnt quite make sense to me. I would have thought by then they would have been able to help out. I was wondering "Why arnt they helping Betty out at all? Why are they in their own little world?" I was also wondering why in the finale the cops went to the house to inform them. Why did Betty go to the school and they held eachother in the doorway...we all knew he was dead. And then I saw the ending...and it made complete sense to me. Was pretty sad.

Phasekitty - 5 years ago Report Comment

Definitely the best premiere last night- I was bawling like a baby! I knew it though...I kept saying "Something's not right here...this can't be it..." and I knew that Hilda wouldn't just take herself out of the family picture and leave Betty struggling so much if Santos was still alive. In regards to replacing Santos' hotness, I heard Freddy Rodriguez is guesting on a few episodes this season and he's definitely got that cutiepie/hottie thing going for him in my opinion. I was hoping Alexis' coma would be a way to write out Rebecca Romijn, but instead it just looks like she'll have a weird identity/gender issue now. Oh well. Everything else about the show I love. Especially when Wilhelmina called Amanda Betty! Ha! Love this show! :)

badhabit - 5 years ago Report Comment

Agree on the stomach punch at the end. I wondered why Justin's school called Betty instead of Hilda when he went MIA...but I didn't WANT to think Santos was gone so I put it out of my mind. Ugh! Now the last two episodes of this show have left me in tears and feeling blue the rest of the night. I don't want Betty to make me cry. I liked it better when it was just a hilarious, campy show. However I did notice Daniel looking much hotter yesterday than usual-maybe he bulked up?

splayer - 5 years ago Report Comment

I love fat Amanda!

Monoka - 5 years ago Report Comment

Love it!

sofi - 5 years ago Report Comment

that ending-I was totally in shock and my husband (who wasn't pay much attention) freaked out by my reaction! So sad. The Alexis/alex amnesia is briliant. Is it really amnesia- this will be interesting. I am sure it will stir up debate. I am not even going to go there.

stefsprl - 5 years ago Report Comment

Nomerz, I think you can watch the episodes online at ABC...I know they at least have the last few episodes of season 1 if not all of it...I had to work last night and that's how I saw last night's episode...soooooo good! Exactly what a season premiere should be. I had heard there was a super sad moment for Hilda, so I couldn't figure out how Santos had lived. Then the end -- immediate tears. And how funny is Fat Amanda -- I laughed out loud when she was bent over and Wilhemina was like, "Mark...Betty." Awesome.

EnticinHipHop - 5 years ago Report Comment

Yea I watched it today at work and was cryng like a fool..the way Ana Ortiz looked so vulnerable at that point when she said asked him not to go...I couldn't take it anymore...it was a great premier though.

mcpro26 - 5 years ago Report Comment

Ok this is sad I had to keep reminding myself it was just Tv when I was going to bed because I think I went through the steps of losing someone. I was so angry at the show because how could they make this hour long story about how Hilda is so happy and he survived and now she knows how much they care for each other and then I started to realize at the end that he had to go and I was in denial. When Betty opened the door and only Hilda was sitting on the bed i thought to myself, he finally went to his house and then it hit me and I accepted it after I tried to think of bargining and asking the producers to make it different by being like a soap and bringing him back but I have now finished grieving and I have accepted he is gone. Great show it has to be my favorite premier of a show and or of a season this premier time! sorry on the spelling spell check was not working???

mcpro26 - 5 years ago Report Comment

Oh yeah, great scene in the show was with Amanda and her parents and their 'tennis friends' Classic those two with cameos like that! Very thoughtful!!!

Adrianne - 5 years ago Report Comment

OMG, I agree with you Buzz...I totally thought of Pop when the Matt Damon line was said! Ha ha!

sumnboutme - 5 years ago Report Comment

I agree with genvessel...ugly betty premiere was the best of last night's premieres. This is probably only the 3rd or 4th Ugly Betty show I've seen and it made me cry! I thought it was supposed to be funny?!? Anyways, great premiere...I've set my tivo for the season pass...

nicachica - 5 years ago Report Comment

okay, only saw a few episodes of Betty last season...WHO IS FEY SOMMERS??? please tell me!!! thanks :) now off to see Bob Dylan in concert!

alexlove - 5 years ago Report Comment

The Hilda/Santos storyline was unbelievably sad. I was thinking at the beginning "this is too easy blah blah blah but at least Santos is alive" :( And omg, we needed more DANIEL!

Ultress - 5 years ago Report Comment

Awesome season premiere. I'd kind of lost track of the show midway through last season.

CocoChic - 5 years ago Report Comment

My DVR died right after Alexis woke up so I missed the Santos/Henry thing. That's so sad!! Marc and Amanda are the two most hilarious characters ever. I love them. :P

lovelystate - 5 years ago Report Comment

yes, genvessel is right! we need to replace the smoking hotness that *was* (tear) Santos...

leeluvfashion - 5 years ago Report Comment

I didn't cry HOWEVER my eyes where on the verge of a total sob fest. When I saw that Santos was actually dead...it was such a shock. That story line was just shocking w/ hilda dreaming the whole time until the end. Just WOW! I'm so glad the show is back on!

Francesca Fiore - 5 years ago Report Comment

OH. MY. GOD. I just finished watching it. I was so happy to see that Santos was alive- that was the first time I teared up, right there in the beginning. And then that ending- OW. I totally did not see it coming, although if I go back and think about it there were clues. I love the actress that plays Hilda, and stoI think she is really coming into her own here. That story was just so sad! Overall, what a great episode. I love Daniel's softer side, I love Justin, I love Marc and Amanda. And am I the only one that thinks Henry is eye candy? Granted, Santos was crazy hot, but the first time we met Henry I thought "dude, I am in love with him." I have a total thing for nerds though- if you ever met my husband you would not be at all surprised.

Francesca Fiore - 5 years ago Report Comment

Oh, btw, spacebear- Amanda is fat now because her go-to comfort thing is binge eating, usually candy I think. and she's all freaked out by finding out that Fey Sommers is her real mother, so she's been on a tear.

cashmere80 - 5 years ago Report Comment

I love UB!! Such great writing!!!

mamaseacat - 5 years ago Report Comment

Santos' storyline was artistic. It portrayed what true denial means, but I still wished he lived. He was HOT! But they have to keep Hilda available for more hotties to come and go through the show. Didn't she meet the family rival's son in Mexico? They'll be doing a tribute to "West Side Story" soon.

SassAndBide - 5 years ago Report Comment

lol i loved daniel's "Silent Prayer" too :rotfl: hahaha when he really was just falling asleep :zzz:

Kellylicious - 5 years ago Report Comment

So sad about Santos. At the beginning, I was like - wait, I thought he died. The way they did revealed it was a surprise to me. Sooooo sad!! P.S. - Grey's was NOT sad at all. Some of the storylines were kinda stupid for a premiere.

omgosh dee - 5 years ago Report Comment

OMGGG Santos! I was also so suprised in the beginning, I thought he was dead! But then the last few minutes my mouth dropped and it was just so sad! Poor Hilda, and the fact that all that wasn't real just made it more depressing. And OMG! Alexis being Alex again, oh no. MORE drama.

ebgirl - 5 years ago Report Comment

I thought the premiere was kind of weak after watching the first half, but I was hooked again after the 2nd half of the show. Soooo sad about Santos. I love the characters in this show and how campy it can be. I hope they avoid any more tearjerker story lines going forward though. I'm traumatized by Santos' death and can't take anymore.

poohmami - 5 years ago Report Comment

TOTALLY made me cry too. =( *sighs*

audkem01 - 5 years ago Report Comment

shocking about santos, I am 7.5 pregnant and a hormonal mess so I CRied and cried over santos.

lisseth0221 - 5 years ago Report Comment

OMG Buzz!! I totally agree! Punch in the stomach and MORE Henry!

lisseth0221 - 5 years ago Report Comment

Ha! I also can't believe they made Amanda fat! Luv her & Mark too!

demonkitty18 - 5 years ago Report Comment

:( im still not over it i got so happy when santos opened dat bathroom door n i was a blubbering mess 2wds the end :(

demonkitty18 - 5 years ago Report Comment

i think im too heartbroken 2 watch anymore ugly betty

koolbr33z3 - 5 years ago Report Comment

This was the best season premiere I saw that night. I had some problems with the Santos & Hilda storyline initially too but it all made sense later. I don't think I actually cried but it did make me sad.

epicurean_Essy - 5 years ago Report Comment

I was a bawling mess when the santos/hilda thing happened. Talk about shocking. It was so sad, and for me, it was totally unexpected! I was just so happy that he was alive! I am beyond heartbroken. Like ebgirl, I am totally traumatized by this. :cry:

renascencern - 5 years ago Report Comment

It was cute. And my crush on Henry just keeps growing exponentially. Hearing him speak Spanish was just too much for me. *swoon*

ltltw - 5 years ago Report Comment

I was so pulled in by this episode. I too was about to bawl when I realized Santos had not surrived. I agree with how beautiful Ana Ortiz looked in her scenes almost like a different person. And what a twist... Alexis/Alex. Its going to be in interesting season.

BeHappy - 5 years ago Report Comment

the santos thing really did make me bawl - it was the best and the worst thing about the episode and what made it that much better...

allisonblue - 5 years ago Report Comment

I got a little teary after the first time I watched the season premiere, but after I watched it for the second time, I was a sobbing mess. I can't wait for the rest of the season! RIP, Hot Santos. :( :( :(