by Tim Gordon
Episode Two of All’s Fair peels back more layers on the firm’s founding women and their tangled personal lives. Titled “When We Were Young,” the story juxtaposes the team’s present struggles with echoes of their past choices, showing that for this group of powerhouse attorneys, the lines between justice, jealousy, and judgment are often blurred.
The Fallout of Betrayal
The episode picks up in the aftermath of Allura’s heartbreak. Liberty (Naomi Watts) and Emerald (Niecy Nash) continue tailing Chase (Matthew Noszka), determined to confirm what they already suspect about his affair. Before they can share their findings, Allura (Kim Kardashian) shocks them with the news that Dina (Glenn Close) has officially joined the firm. Dina wastes no time asserting her influence, advising them to block Chase from hiring any of Los Angeles’ top divorce lawyers. Unfortunately, she overlooks one name, Carrington Lane (Sarah Paulson).
When Allura reaches out to Carrington, her old nemesis, to take her case, the icy attorney wastes no opportunity to gloat. But Carrington reveals that Chase got to her first, twisting the knife even deeper. She issues another thinly veiled threat, warning Allura that this feud is far from over.
The Case of Deandra and Arthur
The firm’s newest client, Deandra Barber (Elizabeth Berkley), brings them a heartbreaking case involving her former business and romantic partner, Arthur McPherson (Eddie Cibrian). Together, they built multiple companies, but when their relationship soured, she discovered that the businesses were drowning in debt and that Arthur had forged her signature on financial documents, leaving her personally liable.
Deandra begs the firm to take on the IRS to clear her name, but the women decline, sensing the futility of the fight. Soon after, tragedy strikes when Deandra takes her own life, unable to face financial ruin and betrayal. Dina and Liberty investigate further, uncovering the extent of Arthur’s manipulation. Their deep dive leads to a heartfelt exchange where Dina confronts Liberty about her fear of intimacy and emotional commitment, linking her struggles to the patterns they see in their clients.
Love, Loss, and Temptation
The women’s personal lives continue to blur with their professional ones. At an auction for charity, the group runs into Carrington, who, as always, seems to be lurking in the shadows of their success. When a coveted flower brooch comes up for bid, Carrington dramatically declares she will pay half a million dollars and refuses to back down. Later, a tense confrontation in the restroom between Carrington and Dina ends with a cutting insult that leaves Dina shaken.
At the same event, Dina crosses paths with a charming stranger who propositions her with flirtatious confidence. The encounter stirs something in her, especially as her husband Doug (Ed O’Neill) remains distant at home due to illness. Later, Dina admits to her partners that she nearly slept with the man but stopped out of guilt. When she confesses the near-infidelity to Doug, he forgives her, and the two finally rekindle the spark that had been missing for years.
Liberty’s Leap of Faith
Liberty’s love life takes center stage when her partner, Dr. Reggie Ramirez (O-T Fagbenle), surprises her with a proposal. Overwhelmed, Liberty panics and excuses herself. Later, she confides in Dina that her line of work, representing women at the end of love, has made her fearful of marriage. Encouraged by Dina’s wisdom, Liberty tracks Reggie down on the beach, confesses her fears, and proposes to him instead. After pretending to hesitate, he accepts, marking one of the show’s rare moments of pure joy.
Emerald’s Home Front
Amid the turmoil, Emerald’s home life offers a much-needed dose of heart. Her son Ezra reveals that he was accepted into MIT with a full scholarship, easing her anxieties about his future. In a touching moment, her three children reflect on how their mother has always overcompensated for the absence of a father figure, offering viewers a glimpse of Emerald’s softer, more personal side.
The Truth About Milan
The biggest bombshell of the episode arrives when Liberty and Emerald reveal the truth to Allura: Milan (Teyana Taylor) is the woman sleeping with Chase. Allura remains eerily composed as her friends prepare for a revenge plan that never happens, at least not in reality. In a fantasy sequence, Allura imagines going “full Lemonade” on Milan’s car before confronting her face-to-face.
In a tense exchange, Milan admits her affair with Chase, describing it not as love but as a moment of weakness drawn by Allura’s aura of control and allure. Then comes the real shocker: she’s pregnant with Chase’s child. The revelation hits like a hammer, leaving Allura speechless and signaling deeper chaos ahead.
Justice for Deandra
In the episode’s closing scenes, Dina confronts Arthur, holding him accountable for Deandra’s death. She demands that he reinstate the employees he fired, make financial amends, and transfer Deandra’s shares to her sister. It’s a quiet but powerful act of retribution that underscores the show’s central message: women helping women, even in the aftermath of loss.
Final Thoughts
“When We Were Young” is an emotional whirlwind that deepens every character’s story. It explores grief, guilt, betrayal, and forgiveness while continuing to weave the personal and professional into one glamorous, volatile tapestry.
Allura’s heartbreak grows more complicated as she faces Milan’s betrayal and pregnancy revelation. Dina’s storyline with Doug provides the episode’s emotional backbone, a reminder that love can survive distance and disappointment. Liberty’s leap of faith with Reggie offers a hopeful counterpoint, while Emerald’s family subplot adds humanity and warmth.
The hour ends with more questions than answers. Can Allura recover from this double betrayal? How will Milan’s pregnancy reshape the firm’s dynamics? And can the women keep their personal pain from bleeding into their professional mission?
All’s Fair continues to prove that in Ryan Murphy’s Los Angeles, power always comes with a price, and the women holding it are the ones who will pay it first.