‘Mom’ Meeting: How Did Bonnie Become the Strong, Wise One?

After Christy learns Jill’s pregnancy secret, ‘Mom’ settles their feud in the face of tragedy. But it’s Bonnie’s interference as the cooler head that saves the day.

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Leave it to Bonnie to put out the many fires burning between Christy and Jill on Mom. Who knew she had it in her to be the strong, wise one of the group? Behind all of Bonnie’s sarcastic quips and sardonic one-liners lies a soul that maybe, kind of, sort of almost cares about her friends. Okay, the truth is out. After this week’s episode, Bonnie showed her true colors—and they’re vibrant.

But Bonnie’s shining moment in the sun all begins with Mom circling back to Christy and Jill’s fight about Jill’s choice to have a baby. In the aftermath of Christy openly telling Jill her opinion, that her decision wasn’t as smart as it was reactionary, Jill shut her friend out. And she went ahead and got pregnant anyway. Christy thinks all of the whispering behind her back centers on her surprise birthday party (or jabs about her bad self-cut bangs), but in truth, Jill is two months pregnant.

Christy walks on eggshells around Jill, still doling out apologies and words of support. But even after Jill shares her good news during a meeting, she gives Christy the cold shoulder. Bonnie, Marjorie, and Wendy plan Christy the surprise party she expected, and Christy gets a surprise: No one jumps out of the shadows to yell “Surprise!” Instead, her friends and mother rushed to Jill’s bedside. She lost the baby.

When Christy shows up (in a hat to cover bad haircut—please tell me that’s not Anna Faris’ real hair, please), Jill remains unreceptive to her apologies. Bonnie later talks to Jill about the fight. When you boil it down, the fight wasn’t about Jill’s feelings getting hurt or Christy overstepping her bounds with too harsh of a truth. The fight centered on the complexities of motherhood.

Christy pushed her own insecurities about being a mother onto Jill, which only exist because of her problematic (to put it lightly) relationship with her mother. And if anyone understands where Christy was coming from with her unbridled honesty about becoming a mother, it’s Bonnie.

Jill finally forgives Christy thanks in part to Bonnie breaking it down. Since she’s been on all sides of motherhood—the accidental beginnings, the difficult middle, the abusive foster homes, the brighter futures—Bonnie harbors a wealth of wisdom on the intersections of parenthood and womanhood. And her history has proven her to stand as tall as the Marjories of the meetings.

How did Bonnie become one of the strong, wise ones of the group? It’s been a long road for Bonnie, but she’s arriving at a sobering (ha!) reckoning with her past mistakes and her own patchy upbringing. You would think Marjorie would have mustered the pep talk that landed Jill back on her feet. But Bonnie provides the inspiration for Jill to foster a child and shower it with all the love she has to offer. A wonderful compromise.

Next: 'Mom' Meeting: Finally, Some Unhinged Hilarity

In a past Mom meeting, we’ve definitely discussed Bonnie’s evolution into a person less abrasive and more compassionate. And we will certainly continue discussing the work Christy puts in to find the balance between making situations about herself and being a supportive friend. Neither paths will be a simple walk in the park for either woman, but their stumbles will undoubtedly be damn funny.

What did you think of the episode? Are you excited for Chris Pratt’s guest appearance in next week’s episode? Sound off in the comments!

Mom airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.