by Tim Gordon
“When We Were Young” Explores Betrayal, Love, and the Cost of Choice
Episode two of All’s Fair, titled “When We Were Young,” deepens the emotional and moral complexity of the series, peeling back layers of betrayal, longing, and ambition as the firm’s founding women confront the consequences of past and present decisions.
The Fallout of Allura’s Betrayal
The episode opens in the immediate aftermath of Allura Grant’s heartbreak. Liberty Ronson (Naomi Watts) and Emerald Greene (Niecy Nash-Betts) continue tailing Chase Munroe (Matthew Noszka), determined to confirm what they already suspect about his affair.
Before they can report back, Allura (Kim Kardashian) shocks them with news that Dina Standish (Glenn Close) has officially joined the firm. Dina immediately asserts control, advising the team to block Chase from retaining any top-tier divorce attorneys in Los Angeles. One critical name, however, slips through the cracks: Carrington Lane (Sarah Paulson).
When Allura reaches out to Carrington for representation, her longtime rival savors the moment. Carrington reveals Chase contacted her first, twisting the knife further and issuing a thinly veiled warning that their feud is far from over.
The Tragic Case of Deandra and Arthur
The firm’s newest client, Deandra Barber (Elizabeth Berkley), brings them a devastating case involving her former business and romantic partner, Arthur McPherson (Eddie Cibrian). Together, they built successful companies, but after their breakup, Deandra discovers Arthur forged her signature on financial documents and buried the businesses in debt, leaving her personally liable.
Deandra begs the firm to take on the IRS, but the women decline, sensing the battle would be unwinnable. Soon after, Deandra takes her own life, overwhelmed by betrayal and financial ruin. Dina and Liberty investigate further, uncovering the depth of Arthur’s manipulation. Their work leads to a quiet but powerful exchange in which Dina challenges Liberty’s fear of emotional intimacy, connecting her struggles to the patterns they see in their clients.
Temptation, Guilt, and Rekindled Love
At a charity auction, the women encounter Carrington once again, lingering like a shadow over their success. When a coveted flower brooch goes up for bid, Carrington dramatically pledges half a million dollars and refuses to back down. A later confrontation in the restroom between Carrington and Dina ends with a cutting insult that visibly rattles Dina.
At the same event, Dina meets a charming stranger who propositions her with bold confidence. The moment stirs something long dormant, particularly as her husband Doug Standish (Ed O’Neill) remains distant at home due to illness. Dina later admits to her partners that she nearly slept with the man but stopped herself. When she confesses the near-infidelity to Doug, he responds with forgiveness, and the two finally reconnect, rekindling an intimacy that had been slipping away.
Liberty Takes a Leap of Faith
Liberty’s personal life takes a hopeful turn when her partner, Dr. Reggie Ramirez (O-T Fagbenle), proposes. Overwhelmed, Liberty initially panics and retreats. Later, she confides in Dina that representing women at the end of love has made her fearful of marriage.
Encouraged by Dina’s perspective, Liberty tracks Reggie down on the beach, admits her fears, and proposes to him instead. After a brief, teasing pause, he accepts, delivering one of the episode’s rare moments of unfiltered joy.
Emerald’s Home Front and a Shattering Revelation
Amid the turmoil, Emerald’s home life offers warmth and grounding. Her son Ezra reveals he has been accepted to MIT with a full scholarship, easing her fears about his future. In a touching family moment, Emerald’s children reflect on how she has always overcompensated for the absence of a father figure, revealing a softer, deeply human side of her character.
The episode’s biggest bombshell arrives when Liberty and Emerald finally tell Allura the truth: Milan (Teyana Taylor) is the woman having an affair with Chase. Allura remains eerily composed as her friends brace for retaliation. In a fantasy sequence, she imagines going “full Lemonade” on Milan’s car before confronting her directly.
Milan admits the affair, describing it as a moment of weakness rather than love, drawn by Allura’s aura of control and allure. Then comes the devastating revelation: Milan is pregnant with Chase’s child. The news lands like a hammer, leaving Allura stunned and signaling deeper chaos ahead.
Justice for Deandra
In the closing moments, Dina confronts Arthur McPherson. She demands accountability for Deandra’s death, insisting he reinstate the employees he fired, make financial amends, and transfer Deandra’s shares to her sister. It is a quiet, resolute act of justice that reinforces the series’ core ethos: women helping women, even after irreparable loss.
Final Thoughts
“When We Were Young” is an emotional whirlwind that deepens every character’s arc. It explores betrayal, grief, guilt, and forgiveness while continuing to blur the line between personal lives and professional battles.
Allura’s heartbreak intensifies with Milan’s betrayal and pregnancy reveal. Dina’s relationship with Doug provides the episode’s emotional backbone, a reminder that love can survive distance and disappointment. Liberty’s engagement offers a hopeful counterpoint, while Emerald’s family moments ground the episode in warmth and humanity.
As the hour ends, questions loom large. Can Allura recover from this double betrayal? How will Milan’s pregnancy reshape the firm’s dynamics? And can these women keep their personal wounds from bleeding into their professional mission?
All’s Fair continues to argue that in Ryan Murphy’s Los Angeles, power always comes with a price—and the women who wield it are the ones who pay first.
