By Lori Acken
If the Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce Season 3 premiere (Wednesday, Jan. 11 on Bravo) is any indication, this season is a hearteningly world-wise departure from its predecessors, in which any wound could be salved with a bender, a fling and a limo with a sunroof. Great news for fans who worship our ladies but worried GGTD had begun wasting compelling characters played by pitch-perfect actors with delicious chemistry.
Last season’s finale hinted at major change, and that plays out well in the Season 3 debut, which blends heartrending moments and genuine laughs into intriguing new chapters for all. Shunned by SheShe and facing menopause, Abby (Lisa Edelstein) has much to let go. But hold on to your “envies” hats, ladies, because Jake (Paul Adelstein) — his career booming — offers to foot the bill while his ex clears her schedule and figures out what she really wants life to look like. “Season 3, then, becomes about Abby finally moving on,” says Edelstein. “She meets someone [Charlie’s baseball coach, played by Blue Bloods‘ James Lesure] that is a real, legitimate prospect for her for the first time. But he’s in an awkward time of his own life, so it becomes complicated for that reason.”
Not to mention that little M-word situation.
“Abby is definitely deep in that,” says Edelstein. “She’s feeling her transition [keep tissues handy on premiere night]. The thing that I find about menopause is that, unlike men, women go through adolescence twice. This is the second time in your life that you are going to change and you don’t know what you are changing into.” So thank goodness for girlfriends.
“Stepping into some of the scenes in Season 3 had such a beautiful ease about it,” Edelstein purrs. “Everybody is so grounded in their characters. Last year, Barbara [Parks and Recreation‘s Retta] was a recurring character and there was some ‘finding of our footing’ there. This season, she just lands [with a new gig and a new beau played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner, to boot] — and Abby and Barbara’s relationship is really nuanced and beautiful. Alanna [Ubach, who plays romantically calloused Jo] has just blossomed. They’ve really given her an incredible amount to do, and she’s hilarious. The same goes for Beau [Garrett, as newlywed Phoebe] and Necar [Zadegan, as revenge-seeking Delia]. It’s just been really wonderful to see.”
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