The FOX country drama Monarch is back with more juicy drama in episode 3, "Show Them Who You Are, Baby." The Roman family is still working on finding their footing after matriarch Dottie Roman's untimely (and intentional) death in episode 1. While some are trying to move forward with their careers, others are still struggling to cope with the loss.
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This is a show about the first family of country music, and so far, this episode really delivered with some strong musical choices compared to prior episodes. Not only did Gigi knock out of the park her countrified rendition of Lizzo's "Juice," but we got to see the actual Tanya Tucker play herself and perform one of her signature songs, "Delta Dawn." Not to mention Trace Adkins' heartwrenching performance of Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind." So good.
Music aside, there are many moving parts to this show, so it can be hard to keep on top of what's happening with all of the individual characters. From the affairs (yes, plural) to the mysterious dead body three months into the future, the Romans have way more on their plate than just worrying about their careers. Here are their wildest moments from episode 3.
Nicky lying to the cops
As in the previous two episodes, we begin and end with Albie and Nicky three months in the future. The cops tailed Albie back to his house after he buried a body in the woods in the middle of the night, and now they're knocking on the door to question him. What were the cops doing in the middle of nowhere, right outside those same woods? Who knows. But when Nicky lies to them and tells them he went for a drive and is now sleeping, they totally see through it. So whatever they're hiding isn't going away anytime soon.
Luke got his sister's wife pregnant
Well, it turns out this affair really could get worse. It was already bad enough that Luke was sleeping with Gigi's wife Kayla and that they decided to continue on with the relationship as long as she didn't find out. Solid strategy, folks! But in this episode, Kayla gets a positive pregnancy test, which Nicky discovers after taking her to a sushi lunch to confront her about the affair. Luke seems all in with this relationship which doesn't really make sense considering Kayla and Gigi have a child together, so I'm very interested to see where this goes...and see what happens with that baby.
Gigi's meltdown in front of Tanya Tucker
When Gigi and Nicky are trying on clothes in their late mother's impressive closet full of stunning outfits from over the years, Nicky comes out in a sparkly dress. On her feet, she's sporting some light blue cowboy boots that were Dottie's, and Gigi immediately loses it. She demands Nicky take them off because their mother promised them to her and storms out of the room. For whatever reason, Tanya Tucker is there and sees the whole thing, which doesn't really make sense until Gigi later remembers her mom ripping those boots off her feet as a child. It's clearly a painful memory -- Dottie telling a young child pretending to be the queen of country that they are nothing alike, and a clear example of why she has so many issues with Dottie's death.
Dottie leaving behind a secret song about her husband's affair
Leave it to Dottie Roman to continue the drama long after she's gone and buried. After remembering her mom and the blue boots, Gigi throws them against the wall, and a flash drive that was hidden in one of the heels flies out. It turns out that it's a secret song that Dottie recorded that's all about heartbreak and cheating. Gigi and Nicky quickly deduce that this was Dottie's way of telling Albie how she felt about him cheating on her, and they separately confront him about it. Would it have been easier to just tell him 40 years ago that she knew about the affair and it hurt her? Sure. But as we're learning, that doesn't really seem like the Dottie Roman way.
Nicky meeting her husband's mistress at the airport
Nicky's regularly cheating husband Clive apparently has been having a 6-month affair with an actress he met on the set of a Hallmark movie, Imogen. Nicky discovers his 6-month anniversary gift hidden in his clothes and immediately throws the jewelry in the toilet. But she takes it a step further. After discovering that Clive used the Roman family jet to fly Imogen out to visit, she's the one who meets her at the airport. What a power move.
Gigi leaving the Queen of Country concert to pick up Albie
It's only been a few episodes, but I've really been rooting for Gigi's career after everything she's had to deal with. And I genuinely love hearing Beth Ditto sing...she's just so good! So I was a bit disappointed that she left the Queen of Country concert after getting a call that her dad was on a bender at a local bar. I guess it was the right thing to do as a daughter, but what about her career? Bold move, Gigi.
Nicky fully embracing her failed marriage
Being talented but not A list has pretty much been the definition of Nicky's life. She's been second fiddle to her mom, and though her rehearsal of Faith Hill's "Breathe" was pretty, it obviously wasn't going to land her the tour she wants. In an unexpected move, she not only shows up at the Queen of Country country dressed in all black, but she brings Imogen and tells the world that she's her husband's mistress and she's commemorating the death of her marriage. Then she gives a killer performance that the audience really responds to. She gets a "maybe" on the tour, and it seems like it paid off in more ways than one because she seems to have a new admirer in Wade, the handsome country singer Luke signed to the label in the first episode.
Nicky saving her mom's pill bottle
Not sure what to even say here. What exactly possessed Nicky to hold onto the empty pill bottle that was behind her mother's death she assisted with? Putting it in a bedroom drawer might be the worst hiding place of all time, so it was only a matter of time before someone found it. Someone like Clive...her husband she just called it quits with and publicly and humiliated. This should go over well.
READ MORE: Susan Sarandon's Daughter Joins Her Mom in Country Music Drama 'Monarch'
