by Tim Gordon
Grief, Rivalry, and the Moment Dina Finally Lets Go
In this emotionally charged episode of All’s Fair, grief takes center stage as Dina Standish’s refusal to accept loss collides with rivalry, insecurity, and long-simmering power struggles among the women around her.
Dina’s Denial Becomes the Emotional Core
Dina Standish (Glenn Close) is struggling to accept what has become painfully obvious. The episode opens in near darkness as she lies beside her dead husband, Doug Standish (Ed O’Neill), staring at the ceiling as if sheer willpower might keep reality at bay. The moment is tender, eerie, and deeply unsettling. Dina’s devotion has crossed into denial, and the line between love and refusal has all but disappeared.
Liberty Spirals as Old Insecurities Resurface
While Dina retreats inward, Liberty Ronson (Naomi Watts) spirals outward. Dina’s silence triggers Liberty’s deepest insecurities, especially after Allura Grant (Kim Kardashian) and Emerald Greene (Niecy Nash-Betts) casually mention they checked in with Dina the night before. The omission lands like a gut punch. Liberty’s old wounds reopen instantly, and the emotional bleed is fast and messy.
Carr vs. Liberty: Grief as a Battleground
Carrington Lane (Sarah Paulson) accompanies Liberty to Dina’s home, the two sniping their way down the hallway like lawyers warming up for a roast battle. They force their way inside, only for Dina to shut them down without hesitation. Carr attempts connection by sharing a childhood grief story involving her cat, whose name is best left off family programming. Dina briefly listens, which sends Liberty into a quiet fury.
Hours later, Liberty returns alone, only to find Carr literally blocking the door. Carr denies her entry, weaponizing her proximity to Dina like a prize. It is petty, cruel, and completely on brand.
Allura Reclaims Control as Chase Self-Destructs
Elsewhere, Allura takes decisive steps to reclaim her power. She meets Chase Munroe (Matthew Noszka) to deliver their divorce papers and calmly tells him she forgives him. When Chase admits he does not know where to begin repairing himself, Allura gives him a list of every woman he cheated with and instructs him to start apologizing.
The resulting amends tour goes exactly as expected. One woman eventually offers forgiveness, emboldening Chase to ask Allura for help reconciling with Milan (Teyana Taylor). He believes this might bring Allura back. She politely but firmly shuts that idea down. Still, Chase clings to hope.
A Funeral, a Performance, and the Truth Breaking Through
At Doug’s funeral, Emerald expects a subdued wake and instead encounters Carr’s theatrical production, complete with dramatic lighting and floral walls. Carr informs her that Dina remains secluded with Doug’s body. Emerald joins Dina and gently attempts to guide her back to reality. Dina resists until she finally explodes, revealing the depth of her pain. Doug was her best friend for forty years, and stepping away feels impossible.
Before Emerald can respond, Liberty arrives with Irish bagpipes for her own dramatic tribute. Dina ignores it entirely.
Custody Chaos and a Dangerous Declaration
Allura later calls Milan and encourages her to let Chase participate in discussions about the baby, offering to attend as support. The meeting implodes almost immediately. Milan lashes out, Chase stumbles through an apology, and in a moment of panic he blurts out that he plans to sue for full custody, with Carr as his lawyer. The room freezes. Even Chase looks stunned by his own words.
Emerald Reaches Dina Where Others Cannot
Back at Dina’s, Carr and Liberty immediately resume their petty duel for attention, trading barbs with surgical precision. Emerald steps in as the quiet referee, defusing tension without ego. When the noise finally fades, it is Emerald who reaches Dina. She sits with her, meets her in the pain, and gently guides her toward the truth she has been avoiding.
After a long, trembling pause, Dina looks at her friends and asks them to call the coroner. She exhales, steadier than she has been all episode, and says softly, “It’s time.”
Allura’s Choice Lingers in the Air
The final turn belongs to Allura. After witnessing Dina’s fierce devotion, she goes to Chase’s place. They fall into bed, slipping easily into old rhythms. By morning, Chase asks if there is hope for them again. Allura does not answer. She is thinking. The door is open, but only she knows whether she will walk through it.
Final Thoughts
This episode is anchored by Dina’s slow, painful unraveling as she finally accepts Doug’s death. Her grief forms the emotional spine while everything else spirals around it.
Carr and Liberty deliver some of the sharpest comedy of the season, turning insecurity into sport. Carr remains a fascinating mess, attempting reintegration without changing who she fundamentally is.
Emerald once again steals the episode. Her compassion, patience, and lack of ego allow her to reach Dina when no one else can.
Allura’s arc takes a surprising turn, leaving her at a crossroads between independence and emotional familiarity. Whether her choice is love or confusion remains to be seen.
Another strong, emotionally layered hour of All’s Fair, blending grief, rivalry, and complicated love with the messy realism that makes the series so addictive.
