This is an amazing episode that gives big lessons of life. For one side, there are the light storylines with the sisters and for the other, the drama with Bailey, Charlie and Kirsten. The story is so perfect that Mark B Perry's job was nominated to a Writers Guild Award, something not usual for this series.
Justin organizes a kiss-off in protest to the Principal's (the same from season 1) new rules, but Julia prefers chasing Jill's brother instead of joining him. Although Justin's measures are successful, his girlfriend secretly kisses Griffin, beginning the affair. Julia already fell for Griffin months ago (between seasons) so what they did here didn't start now. Anyway this is not the important part of the chapter. As for Claudia, she starts high school and feels uncomfortable around other girls who are bigger than her in "everyway". To fit with the rest, she decides to use a stuffed bra, and when they see her get out of the bathroom, Charlie is stunned, Kirsten and Julia too, but then they laugh. Later, Julia tells her that she should stay 12 instead of trying to "grow up", so Claudia explains her reasons. Anyway, she changes her mind when a tall boy follows her around in school. A light and a little funny story that balances perfectly the rest of the episode.
Will has a great idea by taking Bailey to a college, Perry, in East Coast. There, since the flight, Bailey is able to free himself of his tragic past and be like any common guy. He pretends to be some other person to let be taken to first class, thanks to the stewardess. When they arrive to Perry, he meets a nice girl, Keri, a pre med student who will guide them in the tour. He pretends to be a transfer guy from state and they spend a good time together. They talk at a party, and when Keri asks if he has a girlfriend, he looks down, so she thinks, sensitive subject. But he manages to answer that he has never been really in love. Then, he kisses her and the next day, they go to a museum where he talks about how his parents taught him about it and culture, without telling that they are deceased (this part goes off screen). But when Bailey was somewhere else, Will crosses Keri for the tour and inadvertently reveals the truth to her, not only about his parents, also about Jill. In the next moment in her dorm, Bailey tells her that he can try to start college in spring, and wants to kiss her, so now Keri stops him. She tells she understands, and can't be with him without feeling sorry. Bailey, saddened, leaves her and returns angered with Will. That final scene between Bailey and Keri was really emotional (and with great soundtrack), I've seen all what he's been through and it's very hard for him. For a few moments, he could forget all the tragedy and suddenly it all returned. He loved too much and lost it, but the only thing that can overcome his pain is love, in somewhere else. Anyway, what Will did was good, he showed him the life he could have. I know he will leave SF one day, he'll be happy. In the trip back, he tells Will that he wants clean slate, a new life in college. He returns to school, basically oblivious again to Sarah's attention, and tells the academic counselor that he will do anything to get into a college as far away from SF as possible.
And the other sad story of the day: In the shed (probably to have privacy), a mad Charlie confides in Kirsten about how Pamela took off with Spencer without a word. She tells that this might be good for him (or for them, for herself), but he disagrees. So she tells him that Pamela leaving is the best for Spencer because this way he won't have a parent coming in and out of his life all the time, like he said last episode, the kid needs stability. He thinks that in some ways would be better than growing up without a father, so she tells that Pamela could have left any time, so his absence could have hurt Spencer more if he wanted him. He says he might be crazy but he is worried about him, she knows he does because, but still says that Pamela doesn't want him around, it's not his responsibility. He questions how he can just forget about him, so Kirsten simply rubs his shoulder to comfort him. The next day, while they are fixing the disposal, Claudia reaches him to let her skip a school day (she felt uncomfortable around other girls in school), saying she is sick because a 72 hour bug, and Kirsten offers her gingerale (like in 1x14). Charlie checks her, realizes she is lying and won't buy it so Claudia complains about Bailey visiting Perry without permission. At the same time, Julia wants him to sign a detention note (the kiss off), and tells him not to care about it. Tired of not being listened, he goes to the backyard, and Kirsten follows trying to cheer him up. He explains that before he never could put his siblings in line, if he didn't mention their parents coming, and now, he feels again that way because he is not the true father. She tells him that's not truth, but he thinks in how Spencer would listen to him and obey him, while she hears this, obviously quiet and sad. He decides to find him, without realizing he's hurting her. After looking in some art institutes, he finally finds Pamela, still being a figure model, and she tells the truth: she has been with other guy and Spencer was born 11 months after their stopped seeing each other, so he is not Charlie's son. She tells that she lied because she needed money to raise him, and her mother wanted to take him away. She says she is really sorry and leaves. Later, he tells Kirsten what happened, while she, showered, takes their blankets for laundry (details count, complete writing). She thinks Pamela told him the truth, but he wants to be sure and not keep wondering for the rest of his life. Somehow upset because he can't let it go, she says they are supposed to get their marriage license and suggests to postpone it since he's distracted, but he wants to go. There, Charlie checks the birth records to be 100% sure, and she waits for him next to Marriage licenses post. He tells her that she was right. Saddened, in the night, at 4 am, Kirsten can't sleep (first time) and discuss with him about what happened. This was another emotional and perfect scene. She tells that she accepts his disorders of junkmail and bills, even when she prefers everything to be in order. She says she has been there, watching him dealing with all the Spencer situation, realizing how much he wanted him to be his son. She reminds him that she can't have kids and she knows he's overlooking things now because he loves her, but she is scared that one day in a few years he won't be ok with it. He says he won't do that, but she tells he might. She loves him and accepts a lifetime together without children of their own but she is afraid that he won't. He doesn't answer, so she is in tears. How sad can be when a man and a woman deeply love each other and both want kids deeply, but they can't. The next day, while shopping with Claudia, looking for bridesmaid dresses at Macy's, Kirsten cries and leaves her at home, saying she needs time to herself (off screen). Claudia, still the best character of the show, tells Charlie what I and everyone with common sense would say: Kirsten is simply great for him and the family, is the best woman he can possibly meet, and not having kids of your own is not reason to leave her, not even close. Claudia heard their conversation last night, as she sleeps near the dinning room, and tells him that she has seen his past girlfriends, and Kirsten is the best, she is so great. He tells it's complicated but she assures the opposite, it's pretty simple. So thanks to the youngest sister, Charlie reacts and in a touching scene, comforts Kirsten, tells her he loves her, that he wants to have children, with her, but that he wants her even more, beyond the trouble of kids. And to solve their need of raising a baby, he takes her to Owen's crib in Bailey's room, and tells that he talked to his siblings and agreed, so the two can raise Owen as their son. They just will make it official. She just asks him if that's enough for him, and he says yes. The episode ends with a strong and deep hug between the two, while Claudia, Julia and Bailey see them from outside, happy. That ending scene was one of the best of the whole series. And means a lot. Here, Charlie overcomed the biggest obstacle so far to sign his marriage with Kirsten. From now on, for him, she is the love of his life, his only great true love, because he couldn't be able to do this for anyone else. He has to love her more than anything to accept this. If they adopt any other child, still wouldn't be the same because wouldn't be the same blood, the same genes. And Charlie has the possibility to look for someone else, but Claudia made him realize that any other woman he finds, won't be as great, good as Kirsten. No one else will love him or the siblings like her, because only she has been the last year with them, the first period after their parents death, so only she has formed an unbreakable bond with them. She entered the family in the hardest moment for them, especially for Charlie. And she already did a lot for him, teaching him how to be a good father, comforting and supporting him during the whole Seattle job theme, forgiving his past sins, making him grow up and leave behind the partying life, loving his family. So now, he accepts her issue, he was the only one there when she got the news, and promises her a lifetime together, so far, with Owen as their son. And he should be hopeful that one day, fertility medicine will gift them more.
So overall, the episode is almost perfect, is well balanced the drama with the minor stories. The soundtrack is great, the acting (especially Lacey and Paula), the story, everything.
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