Party – The episode begins with a diary entry. Leni (Michelle Monaghan) pleads with her sister, Gina (Michelle Monaghan) to come home. She warns running with Dylan James (Jonathan Tucker) won’t end well. Graphic photos of a charred body appear on her computer screen.

In a flashback, teen Leni (Madison Abbott) confronts teen Gina (Victoria Abbott) about documenting how she sometimes wished her twin was dead. Gina assures her it’s nothing but meaningless thousands. Back to the present, Leni reaches out to Dylan in hopes of working together to help Gina. She has a flashback of a girl struggling in a bathtub.

Leni watches a video of Mathilda “Mattie” Beck (Gable Swanlund) swinging. In a flashback, Leni tells Gina that they can’t hide things from each other. Gina reminds her of Jack Beck (Matt Bomer). Leni assures her that nothing happened between them. They agree to document their secrets in a shared diary.

Leni tells Mattie that she and Gina spent time together since their birthday trip was canceled. Mattie asks if Gina is coming there. She says they’ll have to wait and see. When Leni sits a plate of pancakes on the table, Mattie reminds her the smiley face is usually chocolate chips. When Jack refuses breakfast, Mattie becomes concerned. Leni promises to never leave again. Victor McCleary (Michael O’Neill) wishes Leni a happy birthday before announcing the twin’s birthday party. Jack suggests it may not be a good time for a celebration. Victor tells them that every citizen of Mount Echo is invited. Leni warns him that Gina may be too tired to show up. He demands tonight be for family, tomorrow for her to fly home.

Leni is surprised to see Natasha (Maddie Nichols) in their home. Natasha sarcastically asks if they’re altering their routine to bond with Mattie. Leni and Natasha discuss what Mattie says about her disappearances. Natasha promises to find her at the Echo Echo Café if anything out of the ordinary happens.

Leni meets Deputy Paula Martinez (Rosanny Zayas) at Echo Echo Café. She asks how Sheriff Louise Floss (Karen Robinson) thinks there is a connection with the church fire. Paul informs her of Floss’s meeting with Meg (Alise Willis) to discuss it.

Leni changes her hairstyle to transform into Gina. She meets with Meg to discuss what happened between her and Leni. Meg claims Leni threatened her without giving any details. Leni asks if she spoke with Dylan about her threats. She tells her that Dylan was only interested in the church fire and how Claudia (Ali Stroker) was injured.

Leni meets Georgina Tyler (Celia Weston) to discuss Dylan. Georgina denies having knowledge of the church fire. Leni asks if Dylan ever talked to her about it. She tells her that he is trying to work through his anger issues. Before leaving, Leni peeks into a room to see a brown backpack on a sofa. In a flashback, teen Gina and teen Leni drive by as teen Dylan (Clayton Royal Johnson) grabs his brown backpack out of his truck. He stops to stare at them. Teen Jack (Patrick Nicks) asks Leni if she would leave Mount Echo. She sarcastically says only if a better offer comes her way.

Leni leaves Charlie Davenport (Daniel Sunjata) a voicemail when she receives a call from the United Federal Bank. Kyle (Jason Harris) requests confirmation for $60k is to be picked up at United National Bank of Mount Echo. After confirming the transaction, she requests it take place at 2:30pm. Claudia calls to request her to pick up a cake at the bakery by 2:30pm.

Leni enters the bakery to come face-to-face with Floss. As she goes for the cake, Floss informs her that the description of her foal matched that of a missing foal in a nearby state. She admits to knowing about their loans. Leni asks if their attorney should be present for the meeting. Floss assures her that isn’t necessary before celebrating the opportunity to see the twins together at their birthday party. Leni informs Claudia that Gina is missing from the cake photo. Claudia claims to not have a photo of Gina.

As Leni arrives for the pick-up, Dylan and Gina emerge from the United National Bank. When they make eye contact, Gina purposefully rubs her finger down the side of her face before Dylan pulls her away. They flee the scene.

Leni changes her hair and clothes before entering the United National Bank. The teller (Denise Arribas) says her last driver’s license had expired a year ago. Leni slides her copy across the counter. The teller appears to be surprised before asking how she wants the money.

Leni stares at the $60k cashier’s check. In a flashback, teen Jack asks teen Leni what they will do about teen Gina. Leni promises to deal with her before they kiss. Gina confronts them about Jack’s pocketknife in Leni’s bed. Leni claims to have borrowed it for a craft project but Gina doesn’t buy it. Promising to never look like Leni again, Gina slices the right side of her cheek with the knife blade. Leni applies pressure to Leni’s wound while apologizing for her and Jack’s affair. Promising to give Gina anything she wants, Leni slices the right side of her cheek with a straight razor.

Leni returns home to find Dylan in her driveway. He demands she return their passports and cash. She warns that Gina will turn her back on him. He threatens to tell Jack about their constantly switching lives. She asks how it will impact Gina when Floss discovers their horse-stealing scheme. As he walks toward the house, she promises to forget it if Gina returns home. Jack looks out the window to see them talking. He assures her that Gina won’t be returning.

In a flashback, Victor alerts teen Gina that teen Dylan is there. Dylan asks Gina to take a motorcycle ride. They pull out as teen Leni emerges from the house. Leni promises Gina everything she owns belongs to her too. Wearing Leni’s jacket, Gina walks up to Jack and kisses him. They go into one of the horse stalls.

Leni is searching through documents when Jack approaches. He asks what she’s searching for. She tells him whatever Floss is going to find out. He assures her it isn’t going to be there. She suggests they give Floss something to protect themselves. He asks if she is trying to save herself and Dylan. She receives a call from Gina who claims to have grown through her belongings at Riverside Inn. Leni keeps a calm demeanor to keep Jack from becoming suspicious.

Leni discovers their diary inside a gift box at Riverside Inn. The pages are covered in blood splatters. Claudia sends a text about their birthday party. A photo of Gina and Victor along with the message, “Catching up with Dad!. Maybe I should tell him everything” pops up on her phone.

Leni arrives at the birthday party to find Gina with Jack. Floss asks if she is friends with two male guests. Leni denies knowing the men. Leni is surprised to see Charlie in attendance. A photographer (Walker Babington) appears to take their pictures but Gina insists on getting Claudia to join them. Charlie asks Leni about her accident when Jack approaches. When he asks them if $60k is sufficient, Jack claims to know nothing of the loan. As he goes for a drink, Jack confronts her about the money. She only gets as far as the house when he confronts her again. He accuses her of getting the money for herself and Dylan. She assures him that there is nothing going on between them when Meg admits to being in love with Leni.

Gina demands Leni hand over the passports and cash. Leni asks what’s happening. Gina tells her that she is leaving her “fu**ed up life.” Leni pleads with her to not hurt their family. Holding up a thumb drive, Gina threatens to give their electronic diary to Charlie, Victor, or Floss. Leni warns it would destroy a lot of people before asking if she wants to spend Victor’s last six months together. Gina asks if she would be Leni or Gina. When Leni says she is killing her, Gina says she is saving herself before walking away.

Victor tells Leni that her marriage is everything. He orders her to make Dylan go away or he will do it for her. As the guests sing happy birthday, Gina gives Leni an ultimatum, the money or everyone will know everything. As Gina walks away with Mattie, Meg approaches Leni to inform her that she is no longer angry. Claudia introduces Leni to her boyfriend, Beau McMillan (Onye Eme-Akwari). After greeting him, she rushes outside to find Gina and Mattie gone as the episode comes to an end.

 

Echoes Review

Three episodes in, there are still more questions than answers. What we do know is Meg’s in love with Leni (actually Gina), Gina is complacent in her disappearance, and the twins made a pact to share everything, including Jack.

The egotistical twins haven’t earned my empathy. It’s unclear which of the twins is Mattie’s mother. Either way, they don’t even acknowledge her, other than Gina holding her for ransom.

Leni and Gina run around like headless chickens, hurting everyone in their path. The lack of emphasis on the camera work, pacing, performance, and delivery is all-around bad directing . Scenes are too repetitive to not lose interest.

The plot is interesting enough but the delivery butchered. The episode deserves a 5. Get more Echoes recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link.