Awkward. - Recap: I Had to Go to Jenna… fer Lopez's Concert!

“Rubbed Raw and Reeling” saw Awkward. leading lady, Jenna Hamilton (Ashley Rickards) exposing her most personal blog post for a crowd full of judgmental strangers. Jenna, who’d been pushed to the brink by the relentless Mr. Hart (Anthony Michael Hall), went from straight-up rebelling against his ruthless tactics to publicly performing for his pleasure. Meanwhile, her relationship with Matty (Beau Mirchoff) had reached a milestone. Jenna had lost any sense of jealousy and earned a sense of true trust, yet something still seemed… off. Meanwhile, Jake (Brett Davern) and Matty attempted, key word there, a Bro-B-Que, while Tamara (Jillian Rose Reed) was left sitting bored. All things considered, Episode 8 of Season 3 served one major purpose; beware of Collin (Nolan Funk), Matty McKibbin.

MTV "Awkward."

The episode opened with Tamara and Jenna watching their boys play a friendly round of soccer. From the sidelines, Tamara pointed out Matty’s newly acquired fan club aka the girls he’d humored with a dance the episode prior. Tamara seemed more concerned than Jenna, who was quite all right showing off her boyfriend. Honestly, why would Jenna be jealous? The show dressed those girls up like escapees from an insane asylum. Jenna had earned it, it had seemed, following two-and-a-half seasons of pining and arguing for deserved attention and respect. It seemed like Jenna and Matty had reached a place of effortlessness. Even a fangirl rushing her shirtless beau uncontrollably was no big deal to Hamilton. Tamara, though, spotted one Jake fan in the mix and was quick to tear her to shreds.

Jenna seemed entirely over her creative writing course. Tired of being bludgeoned by Mr. Hart’s in-your-face obnoxious means of criticizing any and all student writing as bogus and not worth his time, Jenna was the only one to turn down an opportunity to boost 50% of her grade. She refused to take the bait, smelling a trap of epic proportions. Sadie (Molly Tarlov), of course, was quick to point out Jenna’s seemingly utter stupidity, only to find Hamilton calm and cool in her abstaining. Mr. Hart called Jenna out for her cowardice, to which Jenna responded with a newfound sense of spunk and pride in her work. She felt she had always opened up emotionally and gotten vulnerable, so she would be absolutely fine with being the student who accepted Hart’s challenge… performing at a local coffee shop open mic night. Jenna had been manipulated into taking the bait the other students seemed so hungry for in her attempt to prove herself above the teacher’s particular brand of insanity.

Val (Desi Lydic) had no real advice to offer, as usual, but she did have one awesome point. Essentially, Jenna volunteered! Certifiable or not, Mr. Hart had Jenna exactly where he wanted her. Val did manage to suggest some of Jenna’s more moving blog posts from memory. Matty, Jake, and Tamara were excited to hear Jenna perform, only to be shot down entirely. Jenna wanted no one of remote importance in her life to hear her expose herself in front of an entire café. In an attempt to prove their non-clinginess, Matty and Jake finagled a bro-night plan on the spot. A Bro-B-Que would be the perfect night away from their ladies, much to Tamara’s dismay. Jenna, on the other hand, found Matty’s obvious attempt to prove himself as independent kind of adorable. Later, Tamara would help Jenna sift through her blog posts, and the two settled on “Rubbed Raw and Reeling,” the story of how Jenna lost her virginity to Matty. Unfortunately for Tamara, Jenna wasn’t kidding about needing her bestie to stay far away from the performance.

Maybe this is what Tamara was doing all night:

https://twitter.com/JillianRoseReed/status/339563957775912960

MTV "Awkward."

The coffee shop was packed with artsy folks waiting to tear into fresh meat, or so it seemed to Jenna, who was out of sorts and out of place. Luckily, Val was there to offer moral support. “Luckily,” I use that term loosely. Jenna spotted her parents in the crowd as Val took the stage to buy her some time. I have to say, Val’s material (Crazy, Sexy, Cool TLC references) might have been out of place, but there’s something about watching a wacky individual acting with a sense of an entirely free spirit, even in the real world. Obviously, Val is a television character, but still, I would have loved watching her interpretive dance live. At least Lacey (Nikki Deloach) and Kevin (Mike Faiola) seemed supportive, while Jenna watched from the back of the room as time wound down. Mr. Hart, though, seemed to be a no show. Well, for a moment that is. Jenna spotted her teacher just a few feet away, hungry for young blogger blood. As Jenna took the stage, fear washed over her. Just as she announced the title of her piece, “Rubbed Raw and Reeling,” Sadie made her presence known by vocally pointing out Jenna’s spread legs. Thankfully (?), Collin was there to watch on as well. “Thankfully,” I use the term loosely as well because we hadn’t discovered Jenna’s true feelings for the boy… yet. At this point, Collin was an enigma.

Meanwhile, Jake and Matty seemed to be having a sufficiently awkward time at the Bro-B-Que. After years of being best friends, the two couldn’t seem to make conversation anymore without mentioning their girlfriends. What a sad night for high school boys, am I right? The two decided to make a bet. They turned off their cell phones and agreed that the first person to mention their special lady-friend would lose. Over the course of the night, the conversation turned from nearly slipping up to utter debauchery. My favorite lines of dialogue this week, of course, came from Matty and Jake.

I had to go to Jenna… fer Lopez’s concert.

Really, Jennifer Lopez. What'd you pay for that ticket?

It was free, cause love don’t cost a thing.

MTV "Awkward."

Of course, the contest than turned into an all-around sh*t-show. From Jake eating a dirty steak and Matty scarfing down a whole raw onion, to Jake shaving his legs and painting his fingernails, the bet was getting the best of both of them… thankfully, for our viewing pleasure. We need more Matty and Jake bromance time now that the two are shacked up with no real threat of Jake and Jenna happening.

Jenna had attempted to call Matty for support, but with his phone switched off, her plea fell on deaf ears. She’d have to go it alone, and she did! She started off a bit timid and monotone, mumbling and wishing the ordeal over, but by the time she hit her stride in the first paragraph, she started to soar! The crowd, minus her father who’d left in a flash after hearing the title, appreciated her honest telling of a rough first time with Matty, from the scents of pine cleaner to the fact that she sucked it up and dealt with a whole lot of burning pain, Jenna delivered tenfold. Once the performance was done, Mr. Hart was happy to somewhat congratulate Jenna on a non-boring performance. Shows like Awkward. love to write in tough mentor characters to whip their leads into shape, and this is the first time an adult has come along that doesn’t seem more childish than the teenagers. I have openly handed the award of “Most Improved” to Lacey this season, though.

MTV "Awkward."

Most importantly, Collin invited Jenna to sit with him after her reading, and the two talked writing. The thing about Matty is that he’s not an intellectual, necessarily. He’s not the most creative of minds, he’s just a guy who’s tried very hard to be the boyfriend Jenna needs, and he’s done a fantastic job up to this point. Collin, on the other hand, is effortlessly filling the void Jenna has been feeling. Although, he clutched Jenna’s wrist through his quick phone chat with girlfriend Angelique, whom he is apparently “over.” I’m not sure Matty would ever pursue, even in the slightest bit, another girl while still dating Jenna. Still, Jenna had to admit that there might have been a reason behind her lack of jealousy these days. Maybe that wasn’t such a good thing after all. She sat ignoring Matty's attempt at returning her call, while listening to Collin's admiration of her talent.

At home, Lacey was quick to confront Jenna about her half-date with Collin. Not too judgmentally, of course, a quick sharp glance and a reminder of Jenna’s “taken” status was enough. The episode closed with Jenna lying in bed, pretending to sleep, while Matty McKibbin pounded on her back door.

What did you all think of Awkward. Season 3 Episode 8, “Rubbed Raw and Reeling”? Are you afraid for Jenna and Matty, or are you hoping Jenna switches over to Collin? Do you want more Jake and Matty bromance time? When is Sadie’s fling with Angelique’s brother going to start? (Hurry, Awkward. I need more Sadie!)

Thanks for reading my Recap and Review of Awkward. Season 3 Episode 8, “Rubbed Raw and Reeling”! Hit the comments below or tweet me your feelings about the episode @JoeTranch!