Dirty Sexy Money: The Game (1.6)

While The Game's titular set piece left a lot to be desired, it was a necessary means to an end, both in cementing the trust between Nick and Tripp, and in helping Simon Elder become even more ambiguous as a character. Personally, any character who wants to turn Manhattan into some trashy video game-looking eyesore is pretty much guaranteed to be untrustworthy. Nick and Tripp's closing scene, which revealed their plan all along, was especially moving. Both Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland are nailing their relationship, Tripp seeing Nick as almost the son he never had, and Nick proving he's not as gullible as he likes people to think.

I liked that Karen actually had a subplot this episode, instead of being used as comic relief. As always, there is a sadness to her character, and her last scene with Leticia was pretty affecting. Everybody (including Sebastian Fleet) is aware that Karen's stuck in a neverending cycle of marriage and divorce, and Leticia is even more aware that the cycle is only occurring because there's always a third party in her relationships: Nick. History is indeed repeating itself.

The rest of the numerous subplots were a mixed bag. Patrick finally has a little weight as a character beyond his headline-grabbing affair, and his team-up with Simon can only result in a mess. At the same time, Jeremy has become stuck in Snoozeville with his new job as a Darling valet. Sophia Vergara, now one of my TV favorites, is here as equally "meh" as the story she's stuck in.

Partly great, but with a lot of weak subplots, The Game is probably the least satisfying episode so far, but still pretty engaging. Loved Karen's line about the best way to be "politically correct" around an orphan. She cracks me up... C+

Credits
Guest stars Sophia Vergara (Sofia Montoya); Eddie Cibrian (Sebastian Fleet); Daniel Cosgrove (Freddy Mason); Laura Margolis (Daisy); Joseph Siravo (Detective Larabee); Candis Cayne (Carmelita Rainer); Peter Jason (Larry Foundry); Shawn Michael Patrick (Clark); Ming T. Lo (Steven Chang); Lin Shaye (Leslie Donovan); Adam Kulbersh (David Friedman); Nolan North (Walsh); Andrew Friedman (City Clerk); Marc D. Wilson (Mark)
Writers Yahlin Chang, Craig Wright Director David Petrarca