Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist season 2, episode 10: Best and worst moments

Looking for the best performance on television this week? Look no further than what Alice Lee did in Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2, Episode 10.

“Zoey’s Extraordinary Girls’ Night” picked up right where the series’s previous installment left off, with Zoey comforting Lee’s Emily after finally recognizing that she was in pain. But once Emily let it all out, she seemed to want to sweep it all under the rug.

We also saw the return of Bernadette Peters as Deb. In Episode 9, Maggie noticed that her friends just didn’t know how to relate to her as someone who’d recently lost her husband. So, who better to spend time with than the one friend who would actually understand what she was going through?

Let’s break down some of the best and worst moments Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2, Episode 10 had to offer. It wasn’t perfect, but it was so close.

The best of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2, Episode 10

Alice Lee truly did no wrong in “Zoey’s Extraordinary Girl’s Night.” This—this—depiction of devastating anguish is exactly what has made some of the other, more superficial, drama this season so frustrating.

Not only did Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist shine a necessary light on postpartum depression, but it did so with heart and honesty in a way that only this series can. Watching Emily try to deny her pain and struggle to put on a brave face that pretty much everyone could see through was an example of the absolute best this show has to offer.

It’s so easy to relate to this character’s heartbreaking attempt at trying to fake being OK, smile through the suffering, and even party it up as a means of forgetting. And while Zoey’s admission in Episode 7 that she felt like a burden came out of left field, Emily’s fear of putting too much on David when he’d recently lost his father was spot on.

Perhaps the highlight, and certainly the emotional peak of, Emily’s journey came in her “Gasoline” heart song late in the episode. Not to take away from Alice Lee’s performance here, but it would also be a crime not to (yet again) give a shoutout to choreographer Mandy Moore for that one. Wow.

Alex Newell continues to be a shining star

Mo can invite us to church any time. Alex Newell’s voice can move just about anyone to tears. And if you’re not in that “just about anyone” category, what’s your secret weapon for keeping your face dry?

Perry’s son, August, summed it up:

"Are you a famous pop star? You sing like one."

Yes. That.

Speaking of Perry and his kids: His hesitance to introduce them to Mo as anything other than just a “friend” makes total sense, but it’s still a bit problematic. Kids are smarter than you might think, and as a child who was once lied to about a parent’s relationship status, the feelings of betrayal aren’t great. Just saying.

The worst of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2, Episode 10

While we’re on the subject of lying liars: It’s bad enough that Zoey is hiding the truth from Simon. Now, Max and Mo have had to get in on that dishonest action.

We’d love to be able to rave about how Alex Newell, Skylar Astin, and John Clarence Stewart put every boy band, ever, to shame. And, to be fair to all involved, let the record show that their heart song to NSYNC’s “Tearin’ Up My Heart” was a killer.

But even that couldn’t make the moment where Simon asked Mo and Max—his friends—a question about whether or not it sometimes feels like Zoey can read minds, only to have them give each other those awkward glances. There’s no way Simon didn’t feel like they were hiding something from him after their poor attempt at changing the subject.

No, Zoey, your powers aren’t ruining your life. You are. With your choices. You and you alone.

Simon’s really trying to be a good boyfriend, but Zoey’s making that impossible. He can’t be there for her if keeps getting blown off for mystery problem-solving, which he has no hope of understanding without some honesty.

And yes, this is probably just being a broken record at this point.

Anyone else feel called out?

Sometimes, even when we want to throttle Zoey, we also kind of are her? I mean, who among us hasn’t Googled health information?

If that wasn’t relatable enough, there’s Zoey’s idea of a girls’ night: staying in. Sign me up for pajamas, fuzzy slippers, and cookie dough any time.

While we’re at it, Mo’s comment about how there was clearly something wrong if he was the one most excited about the sports? Yet another chance to be called out, to be honest.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Sundays at 9/8c on NBC.