Smash - Season 1 Episode 15 - Bombshell - Season Finale Recap

After 14 episodes chock full of ups and downs for the show's characters, it all came down to the wire in Smash's season finale tonight. The part of Marilyn has been dangled in front of our noses all season. Who would play the iconic role? The sultry Ivy? The "too green" Karen? Or would Rebecca Duvall swoop back in to snatch it all away?

Tonight, we learned all that and more.

We begin with a shot of girl making her way to the stage. Everyone is wishing her "break a leg." Cut to: 12 hours earlier.

First things first, Ellis -- the little snake -- finally gets justice slammed in his face. After he confesses to Eileen that he was the one to poison Rebecca, Eileen doesn't take too kindly to sabotage and fires him on the spot. But oh no, Ellis retaliates and says this won't be the end. Hmm. OK, now that that's out of the way...

This is all after Derek ushers in Karen to take over the role as Marilyn. Almost immediately, Julia and Tom are worried. They've had to add songs and other material. They just don't think she can learn such a great show in such limited time. They can't afford to cancel any more previews. As we're reminded multiple times tonight, Eileen has seven million dollars invested in the production. Can she rise to the task?

Not if Karen's personal life has anything to say about it. Previously, Dev has demonstrated his unfaithfulness by first indulging in a steamy make out session with RJ and then by sleeping with the enemy, Ivy. Karen has yet to learn about that last little...bombshell. She will soon enough.

As Derek soldiers on to mold her into the perfect Marilyn, Ivy strikes back with a little bit of revenge herself. In last week's episode, she seduced Dev, and somehow, she ends up with Karen's engagement ring. Oh no! After a brutal scene where Karen overhears Eileen and Julia divulge to Derek their qualms that she just can't do it, she darts back to her dressing room. There, in front of her mirror, she discovers her lost engagement ring. Ivy is there to prey on her vulnerability and reveals Dev's deceit. Needless to say, Karen confronts Dev. He, being a man, says it happened when he didn't think they were going to work out. Yea, still doesn't make it right.

Meanwhile, Nick Jonas -- as Lyle -- returns the painting he bought earlier in the season, and Julia pukes. Is she pregnant? That can't bode well.

This sends Karen into a whirlwind of self-doubt and pity. Just as she is supposed to make her grand entrance on stage, she yanks off her blonde wig and dashes. The rest of the cast and crew are sent into a frenzy on her whereabouts. Derek seems to be the only person able to find her. First, however, he has a brief but powerful scene with Dev. "She's mine now," he spits at Dev. Whoa.

Derek then finds her huddled in her dressing room crouched behind the curtains. Subtly, in his own way, he coerces her back into a good mood. Of course, Ivy has been preparing her transformation into Marilyn, as she will now have to take the stage in Karen's shadow. But, not so fast, Karen and Derek reenter to take back what she rightfully earned. You can see the hurt in Ivy's eyes, but honestly, she's a nutcase and brought this all on herself.

Triumphantly, Karen fills the shoes of Marilyn magnificently. Her vocal prowess is fantastic. Imagine what six years since being on American Idol can do to a singer/performer. Katharine McPhee earned her spot and proved exactly why she should have won Idol. Just before her last song, Derek approaches her from behind and says "no matter what happens, you're a star." They are totally going to become a thing next season, just you watch!

Ivy's overbearing mother returns to see her daughter take the limelight. Only thing, Ivy must reveal the devastating news that she didn't get the part. Poor girl.

As Karen shines in her last scene, we cut back to Ivy in her dressing room eyeing a bottle of pills. She pours the entire contents into her hand. Um, suicide?

What a fantastic finale. I admit, the show was rocky about midway through the season, but quickly regrouped towards the end. I, for one, can not wait to see how it all goes down next season.

What did you guys think? Does Karen make a great Marilyn?

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