“Overnight” opens on a scenic college campus and Jenna’s high hopes for college. Tamara is trying to secure this picturesque future for both of them—if they don’t get in and can’t be roommates,she claims it’d be the end of Jamara BFF-ship. She has a plan to ace their interviews: “We need to show up early to show them that we have the minds for business, even though we have bods for sin.” She’s quickly distracted by eye candy. “College is like a Pinterest board full of bangable dudes to pin in real life. PIN. PIN. PIN. PIN.” Of course, one of the first hot dudes Jenna and Tamara spot hits on Ma Lacey rather than either of the prospective students.
Matty’s car was totaled in last week’s ridiculous drunken escapade. Don’t drink and let dumb things happen to your car, kids. Jake asks what his deal is, but just as Matty is about to open up they’re interrupted by a buzz: “Autumn” is back to texting Jake. Matty is starting to catch more attention, with Val on the case next. “You’re questioning everything you thought you knew about yourself. You’re gay.” Val is very supportive, which would mean more if she would listen to Matty at all.
Jamara is taking a campus tour and group leader Luke asks Jenna about her favorite authors. She blanks, but after the tour she lists out Faulkner, Didion, and VC Andrews. Luke digs her highbrow/lowbrow style and invites her to a lit fundraiser that night. Jamara’s differing interests are clear; while J is jazzed about this fundraiser, Tamara is ecstatic about a sorority part invite. They both end up at the party. “Isn’t it just to die for?” the sorority girl asks excitedly, looking around at the party. “Death has never sounded so good!” Jenna replied. She bails in favor of the lit fundraiser, wondering if this is the end of Jamara as they know it.
Sadie, Matty, and Jake make long overdue plans to hang. Eva asks to join, offering to bring the Cristal from her wannabe rapper ex-boyfriend. Sadie’s displeased, but Eva is invited all the same. Back at the house, Sadie’s unimpressed with Eva’s latest tale, comparing it to a Gossip Girl episode. “That show was actually really true to life,” Eva responds, going on to say that if you’ve never lived in New York you wouldn’t know. The subject changes to the hot tub, where Eva and Sadie stare each other down while they strip and the boys thank their lucky stars. Eva kind of patronizingly commends Sadie for being comfortable in her body, but Sadie brushes it off, well aware of her finer assets. Sadie wins this episode over Eva, hands down. E, I’m disappointed with your underhanded attempt to make Sadie self-conscious because of her body type—I expect better in the future from the girl who was all “Chicks before dicks” last episode.
Jenna’s listening to Luke’s impassioned speech about literacy at the lit fundraiser, commenting on how sexy it is. To each their own. At least he’s not Colin. She warms even more to him when he throws a line her way that involves “pretty girls with good taste in books.” Too much, buddy. The next morning, Jenna’s doing a crossword puzzle in Luke’s lap, clad in a button down shirt and no pants. According to J, with high school boys it’s a scramble to get your clothes; with college boys it’s coffee and crosswords. By “college boy” do you actually mean “English professor” J? Because none of my college friends were known for their classy morning routines. Anyway, Jenna’s all set for this to be a one-time thing, but Luke wants to see her again.
Matty is d-runk. Sadie volunteers to put him to bed, engaging in a tense battle of wills with Eva. She leaves to get water and Matty rolls over to text Jenna, who was macking it with Luke. Sadie comes back with the water and Matty pulls her down to the bed with him. “You’re so nice and so pretty. Why didn’t we ever hook up?” Sadie scoffs at him and recounts the New Year’s Eve that she tried to, but Matty fell asleep on her. Matty kisses her and realizes it’s like kissing his sister—“For all I know, you could be!” he says, laughing. Sadie seriously asks him about the adoption situation and comforts her drunk friend via snuggle. The next morning, Eva sneaks in and takes a picture of them in a seemingly compromising position, one made all the worse since they’re both still clad in towels from the hot tub. EVA.
Unfortunately for Tamara, she got trashed at the party—to paraphrase T herself, she hits hangover city, population T, and cruises to the yak zone. She’s a disaster for her interview and discreetly vomits into her interviewer’s pencil cup. Jenna, in contrast, aces her interview. After failing so spectacularly, Tamara’s not interested in this college, but Jenna is. She previously imagined college as a continuation of high school and an extended slumber party with Tamara, but it might be something totally different.
Next week on Awkward.: Jenna’s involved in a pageant. The Parents Hamilton invite Luke via videochat. Jake catches Tamara mid-catfish.
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“Overnight” was a pretty good episode—while I didn’t dig the over-the-top cheesy message about college being transformative (I don’t buy the Luke/Jenna crossword puzzle scene for a second), Jenna’s realization about doing her own thing was important. Though I don’t believe Jenna’s insistence that she and Tamara were always the same; ever since the pilot they’ve been into totally different things. I’m not sure what the writers thought they were doing there. Sadie not backing down from Eva was fab and the Sadie/Matty friendship was, as it always is, on point.
Episode Rating: 7.5/10
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