‘UnREAL’ Recap: Ticking Time Bomb

Warning: This recap for the “Casualty” episode of UnREAL contains spoilers.

UnREAL may air on Mondays, but this week was a tear-stained, drama-filled, bonkers version of Freaky Friday.

Quinn is Rachel, all glowy and in love with her new fella. Rachel is Quinn, barking harsh quips and producing a barn-burner of a scene on Beth Ann’s hometown date.

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In the aftermath of Jeremy’s attack on her, Rachel becomes completely unhinged. There’s something missing in her eyes — and it’s scary as hell. She refuses to call the police. She pushes Coleman away. She brushes Quinn aside. All she can do is maniacally focus on her job, and yeah, she’s good at it, but at what cost? Her behavior causes Quinn to go nuclear, calling in the one thing that might save Rachel — or completely ruin her.

Here’s a rundown of this week’s episode, including our live tweets:

Alabama shakes

The episode picks up with Rachel still in her ballgown, mascara running down her cheeks, in the wardrobe truck. Chet comes in to check on her and helps unzip the gown. Rachel declares she’s going to call the police, but Chet reminds her that Jeremy “knows where the bodies are buried.”

Rachel foregoes the call, instead taking careful pictures of her bruises. Then, she covers them up with makeup to face the day.

Meanwhile, Quinn and Booth are leaving her father’s funeral. She confesses that she only attended the Image Awards to meet him and pitch herself as a network president. Only, now… she actually likes him! And he likes her. They make out in the cemetery.

On Everlasting, it’s time for the hometown date. Rachel, of course, wants Darius to pick Beth Ann, hoping to provoke some kind of racial conflict with her family. He wants to choose Chantal, but Rachel argues that it’ll be a boring episode with lackluster ratings. Then, Rachel starts to lose it. She yells that Darius will never become a sports personality if he winds up as the lowest-rated suitor in Everlasting history. Alarmed at her meltdown, Darius agrees to go to Alabama.

Though Rachel tries to prevent Coleman from going to Alabama with them, he joins the expedition. But when Darius arrives at Beth Ann’s family home, he’s welcomed with open arms. In fact, her parents and brother positively gush over him. Rachel is perturbed — this is not the scene she was imagining.

Chet has called in Quinn to talk about the Rachel situation and informs her about Jeremy’s attack. Quinn arrives with Booth, but sends him off to look around. Then, she goes to the camera truck and grabs Jeremy by the balls — literally. She threatens to deep fry them and cut them off, and then fires him again.

But when Quinn calls Rachel to assess her mental state, Rachel brushes her off. “Now you care?” Rachel snipes before hanging up.

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Family feud

The footage at Casa de Beth Ann is a snooze, which worries Rachel. And then, Beth Ann delivers a gift: She confesses to Rachel that she’s pregnant by her ex-boyfriend. Rachel can barely contain her glee. Rachel advises Beth Ann to come clean to her parents and to Darius that night at dinner. “It’ll be OK,” Rachel promises, looking very much like a shark in steak-infested waters.

Back at the mansion, the remaining girls are forced to sit in a circle with Dr. Wagerstein holding up a “mirror of truth” (all while PAs fill their cups with vodka). She encourages them to talk about Darius and each other, and of course, the conversation turns catty. Especially since Madison and Jay are trying to out-produce each other. Of course, neither can hold a candle to Chet, who sets off fireworks when he whispers a secret to Chantal — that Tiffany hooked up with Romeo!

Back in Alabama, Quinn calls Coleman and clues him into the Jeremy attack and the signs of Rachel going off the rails. Yup, they are all there and accounted for. Coleman is instantly concerned and approaches Rachel. Why didn’t she tell him about Jeremy? Why didn’t she go to the cops? They argue, and Rachel insists she’s fine. Yeah, whenever Rachel says she’s “FINE,” she is NOT FINE.

Beth Ann’s family dinner begins, and she gets up to make her announcement. Just as she says she’s pregnant (to her father’s horror), her ex shows up… and gets on one knee to propose. Beth Ann begins to cry and refuses him, and then shouts that he might not be the father! And that Darius could be the father!

That is so not even close to true, and Darius tries to correct her as the ex charges at him. Then, Beth Ann stuns him by declaring her love for him. “Pump your brakes,” he says. “Pump your brakes.” Then, Beth Ann’s father levels a shotgun at the ex, who immediately flees the scene.

All the while, Rachel watches with a huge grin on her face. And when it’s over, she jumps Coleman and practically tears his clothes off.

Everybody returns to the mansion. Darius finds Tiffany in his room. Apparently, Chet coached her, and she’s decided to come clean about hooking up with Romeo.

But nobody is watching the footage, because Quinn confronts Rachel about her mental state. Coleman insists she go to the police, but Quinn and Chet adamantly declare she cannot do so. Despite Coleman’s pleas, Rachel agrees with them.

After Rachel and Coleman depart, Chet wonders what’s happened to “our family.” He also muses that he’s never seen Rachel in love like this. But Quinn has. She gets up to make a phone call.

Truth bomb

The elimination ceremony gets underway, and Darius chooses Chantal, Yael, and Jameson to move on. It comes down to Tiffany and Beth Ann. The latter steps forward and apologizes for lying that Darius could be the father of her baby.

Darius commends her for the honesty and offers to put money toward her child’s college education. But that’s all. He sends her away, and gives Tiffany the last necklace. Beth Ann runs off crying. Darius is pissed about the whole situation and blames Rachel.

At the end of the evening, Quinn drinks and unwinds, until Dr. Wagerstein shows up. She’s wondering why Quinn sent off Booth earlier. And then, she ponders why Quinn cares so much about Rachel. Could it be because Quinn is desperately lonely and Rachel is her last lifeline?

Wagerstein advises Quinn not to ruin this relationship with Booth. It’s food for thought, and Quinn bites: She calls Booth and asks him to dinner that night.

Coleman finds Rachel and asks again if she wants to call the cops on Jeremy, but she’s sure about her decision. He declares that he meant what he said about taking her away from the show and moving on to better things. And then, he starts to make her feel good. Like, really good.

But this is UnREAL, and nobody ever feels good for too long. Just as Rachel reaches her moment of zen, a car pulls up outside the mansion. Ah, there’s that familiar handsome face, that million dollar smile, those blonde locks.

It’s Adam. He’s back.

UnREAL airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on Lifetime.