Bikini Wars – As the episode opens, Mr. Ryder (Huw Higginson) and Mr. Mackenzie (Todd McKenney) discuss the copyrighting of Goodes’ designer gowns. Virginia Ambrose (Miranda Otto) warns of what will happen if Goodes’ designs appear at society events before they are officially released. She suggests auditing the employees’ lockers. Mr. Ryder says it would be inappropriate for him to do it. Mr. Mackenzie says to delegate the audit to Ambrose. Mr. Ryder hands the locker master key to Ambrose. In Shoes, Christiana Wells (Samantha Allsop) refuses to go larger than a six. Magda Szombathelyi (Debi Mazar) tells Lisa Miles (Clare Hughes) to get a 6-1/2 and switch out the box with a 6.

Goodes hosts a bikini photo shoot. The photographer, Don “The Wolf” Holloway (Peter O’Brien) is enamored with Lisa. He asks Magda’s opinion on a model’s swimsuit. She gives the model a large hat. The Wolf is thrilled with the outcome but Mackenzie has a different opinion. He claims Lilian Australia hired him to do a Weimar-themed swimwear photo shoot. Mackenzie says he decides the fashion at Goodes, not Cheri St Claire. The Wolf mutters pity and insists Lisa be his assistant. After Mackenzie’s departure, The Wolf returns the large hat to the model.

Lisa accidentally sees Angela Mansour’s (Azizi Donnelly) design sketches. Impressed, she suggests Angela consider submitting her sketches to a magazine. Danuta (Angelika Bailey) is surprised to see Magda working in Shoes. Mackenzie makes a sexual advance toward Elias Khalil (Julian Maroun) and invites him to look at some samples in his office. Elias urges him to include Magda in his decision but he refuses. A short time later, Mackenzie tells Ambrose that Magda is a “fly in the ointment.” Ambrose recommends an Adele frock to Mrs. Drummond (Susie Collins). Looking at herself in the mirror, Mrs. Drummond complains about how it makes her look like an older woman.

Mackenzie orders Elias to lock the door before giving him a Capri brief to try on. He assists in removing Elias’ jacket when Lisa barges in with the hat from The Wolf’s photo shoot. Once alone, Elias calls Gucci to request an order of 12 boxes of Capri briefs of all colors. On the sales floor, Magda takes one look at Mrs. Drummond’s Adele frock and suggests a gown that will show off her figure. Ambrose confronts Magda and accuses her of walking out on her customers. Magda claims to have built Model Gowns. Ambrose searches the women’s lockers. Goodes’ look book is concealed behind a radiator. Magda catches Ambrose in her locker. Ambrose assures her that she has been authorized to search all the employees’ lockers.

George Szombathelyi (Carlos Sanson Jr.) answers Ken Marlow’s (Hamish Michael) call and hands the phone to Fay Janosi (Jessica De Gouw). She says it is not a good idea for him and Rudi Janosi to be doing business together. George informs her that Rudi is working late but not in his office. Elsewhere, Richard White (Tom Wilson) tells the Honi Soit team that women are being fined for wearing bikinis deemed indecent by the council. Lisa and Petra (Gemma Chua-Tran) suggest a photo of them in handcuffs. Clive Buchanan (Jack Scott) says it has already been utilized before. Richard tells him that Lisa’s research will be helpful for his article. Lisa agrees to bring him some bikinis from Goodes while Richard supplies the models.

Removing her wedding ring, Magda calls Mr. Randall (Jeremy Waters) to validate that his property is still available. He says the lease must be signed by Stefan Szombathelyi (Russell Dykstra), not her. Elsewhere, Ambrose recommends George to play the piano for Model Gown clients. Mr. Ryder claims Mackenzie has concerns about Magda. She says it would be a shame to let her go. Adam Conroy (Ngali Shaw) informs Elias that he has been asked to model bikinis for Mackenzie. Elias warns him against it. Adam expresses his desire to get a job in Menswear. A short time later, Elias lies to Mr. Ryder about finding Goodes’ look book on the train to Epping where Mackenzie left it. They barge into the office to find Mackenzie unfastening Adam’s pants. Mr. Ryder orders Adam to return to work and confronts Mackenzie about the look book. Mackenzie initially denies the claim but eventually confesses and apologizes. Elias sneers at Mackenzie before following Mr. Ryder out the door.

Lisa invites Angela to accompany her to the Honi Soit photo shoot at the beach. Fay asks if they have permission to take the bikinis. Angela assures her that they will return them by Monday. Fay promises to keep it a secret if they take George. Angela is thrilled with the prospect.  Fay emerges from Goodes to find Ken waiting for her. She rejects his advances and leaves him in the alleyway. Elsewhere, Magda has her gems and wedding ring appraised.

At the beach, Angela demonstrates how to get into a bikini in public. George follows her lead. Petra and Lisa show Richard their bikinis. Clive arrives with a model on each arm. Elsewhere, Stefan tells Magda that the new lease doesn’t include utilities and the deposit has been doubled. He realizes she isn’t wearing her wedding ring. She admits to selling them to cover the lease and accuses him of finding excuses to not have children until it is too late. At the beach, Lisa complains about Richard just wanting Goodes’ bikinis. Later at The Beat, Angela accuses Richard of stealing Lisa’s Bikini Wars idea. George plays the piano. Angela tells Lisa that she lied to get hired at Goodes. Lisa says good. When Lisa arrives home after midnight, Dorothy Miles (Sacha Horler) scolds her.

At Goodes, Fay finds a distraught Christina in the dressing room. She claims to attract men who want to have fun, not a serious relationship. Fay assures her that there is nothing wrong with having fun. Christina questions if Hungarian men are all charming liars. Elias tells Magda that Mackenzie was caught in St James’ toilets with the delivery boys. He has been charged with indecency and cottaging. Magda relocates the photo shoot to Studio 2 and soups up the models’ outfits. Mr. Ryder interrupts the photo shoot. Magda says Mackenzie’s idea is old-fashioned. He claims Ambrose and Mackenzie agree on Goodes’ fashion designs. He offers her Mackenzie’s former position, Chief Buyer.

Fay sees Christina on the public phone. Christina tells says her “trucker boyfriend” has changed his mind about leaving her. Fay finds a Janosi Transport business card in the phone booth. She stifles her cries with her hand. Petra shows Lisa Richard’s Bikini Wars which does not name her the writer or researcher. Clive’s photo shoot images are bad. Lisa poses nude, concealing her body behind a chair while Petra snaps her photos. The episode ends.

 

Ladies In Black Review

Fay discovers Rudi is having an affair with Christina. Desperate to make her boutique a reality, Magda sells her wedding rings and gems to cover the lease. Mr. Randall unfortunately doubled the deposit and included utilities in the rent. Stefan pushed back having children until Magda’s biological clock ran out.

Richard convinces Lisa to borrow bikinis from Goods for her Bikini Wars article. She is disappointed when he excludes her from the photo shoot. He takes credit for her article as well. She and Petra have their own photo shoot.

Mr. Mackenzie makes sexual advances toward Elias. When Elias rejects him, he turns to Adam who is desperate for a promotion. Mackenzie is later caught in St James’ toilets with two delivery men. Mr. Ryder fires him and offers the position to Magda. She accepts the offer on a trial basis.

The episode deserves a 5.8 out of 10. Get more Ladies in Black recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV shows and movies.