Awkward Season 2, Episode 2: “Sex, Lies and Videotape” Recap: Matty Loves Jenna!

The first time we ever saw Awkward, we could never have predicted that the first two episodes of Season 2 would end with Jenna kissing her boyfriend Jake , a boyfriend who, she says in the beginning of Awkward Season 2, Episode 2: “Sex, Lies and Videotape,” “wasn’t afraid to be seen with me. In direct sunlight.”

As we know, Jenna is referring to Matty, who may have professed his love for her this episode, but was never willing to be with her in any public way. Could that be changing? And if Matty is changing, will Jenna still want him by then? Or will she be firmly head-over-heels for the more humble, if more vanilla, Jake?

But first, let’s discuss the episode. There were three basic mini-plots going on, appropriately categorized into the titular arrangement: Sex, Lies, and that Sanctuary videotape.

Jenna, Matty, Jake and the secret sex. As we’ve known for a while now, Jenna and Matty lost their virginities to each other in the Sanctuary at school. At the time, Jenna was completely in love with the hot, popular Matty, but he still wouldn’t risk his popularity for the girl with “the suicide stigma.”

But telling Jake that she wasn’t a virgin in last week’s Season 2 premiere (Season 2, Episode 1: “Resolutions”) has proven problematic. Jake feels threatened, not only by her experience, but by the fact that Jenna loved the guy. Ironically, he seeks out Matty for advice on how to maintain “being a dude” while still wanting details.

Matty’s pretty good at keeping his poker face on when they chat about it in the locker room, but his ears perk up when Jake says that Jenna “loved this other guy.” He asks Jake, “Is she still in love with him?” Jake obviously hopes not, but Matty hopes that she does.

We were pretty impressed when Matty went straight up to Jenna in the parking lot and asked, “Have you slept with anyone besides me?” She said “No,” bashfully, and Matty declared, “I love you.” All he had to do was smile, and our heart beat a little faster. And it looked like Jenna’s did, too.

When Matty texted Jenna to meet him at the Sanctuary, we could tell that her feelings were still just as strong for Matty as ever. But we totally admired her new courage! She told Matty to basically leave her alone because she’s happy. “[Jake]’s not embarrassed of me and he never makes me feel bad about myself.” Finally! We’re so happy for Jenna, but we can’t help thinking (knowing?) that she’s still in love with Matty. Sigh.

By the end of the episode, Jenna stood her ground. And Jake continued to exhibit Perfect Boyfriend qualities, by telling her, “What I want is for you to be comfortable telling me everything.” You could tell that he still really wanted to know about the other guy, but he wasn’t putting any pressure on her. She replied, “I’m not in love with that other guy anymore. I’m completely invested in you.” They kiss (She only tastes “a little” like damage.) and all of us on Team Matty sort of wince, but at the end of the day, we’re all on Team Jenna. And she seems happy.

Mommie dearest bakes pies and lies. Now that Jenna knows it was her manipulative mom who wrote the devastating letter, she’s stuck. On one hand, Jenna is getting sicker and sicker of keeping secrets. The sex-with-Matty secret is bad enough, but now Jenna and her mother are both keeping a major secret from her dad.

At first, her mom tries to force feed all of Jenna’s favorite foods down her throat in an attempt to distract her and make her feel better. Not that any amount of chocolate cheesecake could erase the pain she feels, knowing how her own mom feels about her.

What Jenna wants is for her mom to tell her dad. To ‘fess up already. While feeling awful about it in her room, Jenna typically takes to her blog to unleash her anguish. And that’s when this commenter pops up again! Is it just us, or could this anonymous commenter on Jenna’s blog be the new mystery of Season 2? Who is secretly communicating with Jenna about her innermost insecurities and feelings, without revealing themselves?

Ultimately, Jenna realizes that it isn’t her “secret to tell,” as the commenter advised. But her mom does the unexpected anyway: tells Kevin that it was her who wrote the letter. We’ll have to wait until next week to see how that pans out, but we predict more domestic drama at the Hamilton house.

Stereotypes and the Sanctuary. All the fuss surrounding the newly discovered security camera perched above the entrance to the Sanctuary was tightly wrapped up in Ming’s new involvement in what Tamara called “the Asian mafia” of Palace Hills.

Okay, so we’re a little conflicted about this storyline. Most of the funny lines in the episode occurred between Ming and new “frasian” (friend who’s Asian) Becca, the sort of queen bee of the Asian constituent at Palace Hill. But just because a show inserts the line, “That’s kinda racist” into a pretty racist scene doesn’t really give them a free pass, right?

We won’t spend a lot of time on this, but Bonnie seemed to represent all of the very American-invented stereotypes about Asians in high school. They “know everything about everyone,” they’re ridiculously smart, they’re sorta uptight, they eat sushi, and they’re very exclusive about who they let in to their circle. Namely, you’re either a “school Asian” (way high PSAT scores) or a “cool Asian” (been to Cabo, hooked up with the lead singer of an indie band). Ming, who is deemed neither, is simply “white.”

While some of the lines were hilarious, others weren’t so much, including when Ming says to Jenna and Tamara, “I feel dirty and alive. I feel Asian!” Tell us in the comments if you think these scenes crossed the line.

Anyway, Ming persuades the Asians to get a hold of the security footage, since Jenna and Matty’s walks of shame might be on there. But it turns out there was nothing to worry about in the first place. It was just the Vice Principal kissing a guy, and when Valerie discovers that, she gets him to step down. More parking spots for the Asians, better gig for our favorite slightly psychotic guidance counselor.

So how much longer do you see Jenna and Jake lasting? Forever? Or will her heart always belong to Matty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Catch a new episode of Awkward on Thursday, July 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Molly Friedman is an editor at Wetpaint Entertainment. Follow her on Twitter @MollyFriedman.

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