Ep 18. Sydney, Bothered and Bewildered
- TVPG
- January 15, 1996
- 44 min
-
8.2 (74)
Sydney, Bothered and Bewildered is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of Melrose Place. The show, set in Los Angeles, is a drama that follows the lives of various residents of the Melrose Place apartment complex.
In this episode, Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) is struggling to deal with the aftermath of her relationship with Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro). She is haunted by memories of their affair and unable to move on. Complicating matters is the fact that Michael is now engaged to his on-again, off-again girlfriend Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett).
Sydney's obsession with Michael leads her to seek solace in alcohol and she begins drinking heavily. Her behavior becomes increasingly erratic and desperate as she tries to win Michael back. Her obsession with Michael damages her relationships with other characters on the show, including Jane and her own brother, Peter (Jack Wagner).
Meanwhile, Kimberly Shaw (Marcia Cross) is determined to uncover the truth about Michael's affair with Sydney. She begins to investigate their relationship, hoping to use the information to gain an advantage in her own relationship with Michael. Her investigation leads to some surprising discoveries and sets the stage for future conflicts on the show.
The episode also features subplots involving other characters on the show. Billy (Andrew Shue) is struggling with his own feelings for Alison (Courtney Thorne-Smith) while she continues to date her new boyfriend, Jake (Grant Show). Matt (Doug Savant) deals with the stress of being a husband and new father. Amanda (Heather Locklear) continues to manipulate her way through her job at D&D Advertising.
Overall, Sydney, Bothered and Bewildered is a gripping episode of Melrose Place that highlights the show's strengths in crafting intricate character relationships and nuanced drama. The episode sets the stage for future conflicts on the show while still providing satisfying resolutions to some of its ongoing plotlines. Fans of the series will find much to enjoy in this episode.
