House of Lies – Liability

• Title: House of Lies – Wonders of the World
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After spending the night with Tamara (Nia Long), Marty (Don Cheadle) returns to the office for an unexpected reunion with Tamra’s husband (Elimu Nelson), with whom he’s far more honest about his relationship than Tamara would like, and to try and close the casino deal with the bat-shit crazy Carlson (Mather Zickel) who unnecessarily prolongs negotiations once again.

Marty, Doug (Josh Lawson), and Clyde (Ben Schwartz) are summoned to testify in a deposition over the wrongful death lawsuit filed against a big telecommunications company represented by Galweather Stearn. Clyde begins to freak-out given it was his “genius idea” that saved the company millions but also put a plan in place that lead to the man’s life being in danger and left a child to grow-up without his father. Despite their recent issues, Doug comforts his friend (by hugging it out in their shared queen-sized hotel bed) and helps him get through his momentary crisis of conscience.

Back in New York, Jeannie (Kristen Bell) spends some time with Tamara discussing her relationship with Marty and discovers Tamara doesn’t see herself leaving a solid job with Galweather to join her lover’s new firm. After Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.) decides to move back in with is father, Monica (Dawn Olivieri) throws in the towel, ending her relationships with both Tessa (Ronete Levenson) and sobriety, and even goes so far as to pay a visit to Marty’s apartment to seduce Malcolm (Larenz Tate).

There’s not much Kristen Bell this week other than elicit a plot point from Long, as the focus is primarily on Marty’s fucked up relationships with women (and their husbands) and the anxiety over the deposition. I wish the episode would have spent more time on Clyde’s self-doubt as that storyline is far too quickly wrapped-up. I also thought it odd how quickly Marty decided to throw his lot completely in with Tamara (an old friend with plenty of baggage who is far less sure of what she wants). Despite the fact that the show opens in the wake of their first night together Marty spends most of the episode acting like the pair have been sleeping together for weeks.