TV Detail: Ugly Betty Review. Episode 3.02—"Filing for the Enemy"

The second episode of Ugly Betty attempted to right all of the wrongs of the lackluster season premiere. The show works best when Wilhelmina is squaring off against the Meades and Betty is tasked with the job of mediator. This episode put the action back at Mode where it belongs.

Last week's premiere saw Betty (America Ferrera) making huge life changes. She was the center of attention and the show suffered as a result. Ugly Betty's strength is directly tied to the work of the supporting cast. This week the supporting cast was given a chance to shine. Vanessa Williams is particularly strong as Anna Wintour clone Wilhelmina Slater.

Wilhelmina and Daniel (Eric Mabius) both squared off for control of Mode. Willi does anything to maintain control of Mode, even hiring Daniel's loyal assistant. Betty proves herself a valuable assistant, but eventually is able to help reinstate Daniel as editor of Mode and making the mediocre premiere seem like a distant memory.

More Mode also means more time for Marc and Amanda, and the two did not disappoint. Marc's obvious jealousy over Wilhelmina was well played by Michael Urie and shows that Wilhelmina may have taught him a little too well. Marc is just as devious as his idol and possible a little smarter. Amanda was given the best line of the night when she uses an imaginative twist on a nursery rhyme to comfort Marc.

The second episode was not without its own set of problems, though. It is ridiculous to think that Hilda would lie to her son so freely and engage in such a destructive relationship. The show also relied too heavily on its telenovela roots with some of the other subplots.  Wilhelmina's surrogate getting pushed down the stairs was trite and lazy storytelling. It set up a mystery that has played out countless times on bad daytime television. Betty is better than recycled storylines. However, the lack of Lohan stunt casting and the status quo being restored at Mode made for a fairly pleasant episode that was miles ahead of its predecessor.