So, the shock has finally worn off - the shock of thinking that the free roam was over and it was time for the story to commence, only to have the episode fucking end! - Yeah, that shock. Anyway, like I said, it's worn off now, and I'm thinking, still not a fan of the massive motherfucking free roam (well technically 3 free roams, but they all felt like one big cunt of a roam to me), but the episode did have a lot of good shit that we've been waiting for:
- Vinny has made his entrance. And while he was a bitch for bringing his gun, it cements him as the bad motherfucker that we were expecting. And his poking around the mc's room only further strengthens my Vinny theory.
- Maya's finally gonna get a lawyer to assist in her issue. Someone that isn't either clueless or corrupt. Of course it requires Maya to be up front with them and tell them everything (as opposed to her pointless meeting with the Burkes), but considering they would explain the Attorney-Client Privilege to her, there is some hope that it would finally be solved.
- The MC has officially broken up with everyone except his primary interest (unless you're on the "others" path, in which case you've broken up with all the main LIs anyway). Most of the girls took it well enough, Jill got upset but we saw that she's getting over it. Only Josy's reaction is still not fleshed out, but it's always been clear to me that of all the LIs she loved him the most, so her taking it the hardest is to be expected even if the stakes are lower for her and Maya (since they still get to fall back to each other).
- The relationship with Quinn has gotten deeper, with her asking him to stay the night (as opposed to her giving into pressure from him). And I don't know what she's asking of him when she's requested he hang out with her downtown next week, but I doubt she's just asking him on a date, even though she "broccoli"'d up when he joked about it. I doubt she's about to introduce him to Buddy, but she probably doesn't want to be alone when she's dropping off and picking up cash to/from Buddy anymore, after she got mugged. She'll surely ask the mc to "wait outside" but he'll probably have a look in and find out more than he bargained for. Maybe the mugger will try again and the mc will beat him to a pulp.
- Heather finally sucked the mc's dick. Not sure if she regretted it in the end, or if she's just regretting being with Tommy, but I wouldn't even be surprised if she's looking at jumping ship since it's possible the mc is starting to take over and everyone can see it.
- Sally's finally starting to warm up to the mc. Considering in the dorm party in episode 8 she was still treating him like shit, we've come a fair way from that attitude. Next she'll be talking to the mc about her relationship issues with Magnar, and we all know where that will be headed.
- Derek discovered the bug (audio, visual or both, who knows for now) in the DIK building. There's sure to be more.
- The DIKs are pretty much finding out about the mc's relationships now. Except for Bella, the rest of the LIs make an official (well semi-official with M&J) presentation at the walk of fame, and Tommy's there this time. So except for Bella, there should be no more skulking around behind people's backs. Although the throuple will still be a bit more complicated. Definitely wanna see how Tommy handles knowing the mc's been fucking his sister. Ironic since Tommy asked the mc to keep an eye on her in case other dudes were hitting on her.
- Things seem back on track again with Nicole. Sounds like she seriously wants to start dating the mc, which isn't the impression I got in the past (I know she really, really liked him, but I didn't think she saw him as long term relationship material due to the age difference).
- The fallout from Jill discovering the mc fucking Bella has pretty much all but been dealt with. Jill's relationship with both has been damaged, but she's not throwing a tantrum or anything.
- There's the new cheating dynamic if the mc has chosen a love interest. The entire Episode 9 was one big temptation for the mc, and every time the mc strayed from the path, it was recorded. There's definitely going to be repercussions for that kind of behaviour.
- Bianca is no longer just a fantasy of some players, she's definitely setting up for a fucking. Kinda sad that a non-Jill branch mc can't get friendly with Bianca. She's there to cause Jill a lot of pain.
- The mc and M&J have finally had their first official threesome.
- Jill licked the mc's cock, didn't expect to see that for a while.
- Sage has gone full anal.
- We got to see 19-year old Bella sucking dick... well... kinda... but the mc and Bella are definitely behaving like a couple now.
So for the complaints of lack of progression, I'd have to say there was plenty of progression, it's just the method was not to many of our (myself included) liking. Instead of it being a story with some free roaming, this episode was free roaming with some story.
But ultimately,
episode 9 has answered some burning questions, and raised even more questions just like all the preceding episodes. At some point the story needs to start tying up these threads, but I guess we've still got another ~7 episodes for that to happen...
For me though, other than the mode of presentation (fucking free roam city), the biggest disappointment would be the lack of progression with Zoey. But I guess it makes sense. She just got back, they gotta feel around the edges a bit before they get to anal.
