As Julia preps to film her pilot, she gathers her closest supporters to prove Russ wrong, and perhaps the world as well. There is new blood at WGBH with Hunter as the head, but with Russ still being one of the primary producers on the network and his theater background making him bougie, Alice still has her work cut out for her. Julia, who Russ continues to make fun of, is not a high priority for him, and when his intellectual show isn't received well, it seems he wished to take that loss and spread it around. Luckily, Alice warned Julia that Russ would be on a tear, and despite Russ thinking Julia sounds like a man doing a woman's voice, she charms him. She cooks him a nice meal with some sherry, and next thing he knows, he is watching the woman on camera with her niece Avis, editor Judith, husband Paul, and of course, her on a set. It is an interesting thing done here when it comes to Julia. In many ways, you can understand Russ' point of view of looking at Julia and seeing a woman a bit out of her depth, sweet, but also a possibly bored housewife. Yet, even with Julia being a published chef with a taste for foods many may never try in her lifetime, there is something there. At first, it is hard to say since Julia's look and life seem foreign. Yet, as you see, being confident is not who she is, but a daily task to build herself up to try to stand on her own, you get it. Watching how she leans on her partner, niece, and friends reminds you of what greatness a person can accomplish when they feel like they have a community. Heck, even in return, when Julia is getting her niece out of a rut, as Avis mourns her husband, it also shows her passion for others is a two-way street. But as history shows, Julia's charm didn't just work on Russ, but a nation. So with Lancashire at the helm of this show, we have the perfect balance between a well-versed, upper-middle-class lifestyle and persona, with someone who understands it's all about exposure and not always upbringing. For once you know better, you can do better.
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