Is it just me, or is Paradise starting to look more like the Twilight Zone every week? The June 25 episode of Bunheads found Michelle (Sutton Foster) handcuffed in the back of a squad car after attempting to drive down a “private” road, though she’d never know it was private because it was unmarked — a point she beat into the policemen’s heads until she was blue in the face.

Michelle decided to hit the road by foot, where she eventually met Grant, the “mystery man” who owns the “private” land she was accused of trespassing on. He helped her feel like less of a loser, and I know I’m not the only one who felt major chemistry between the two of them — a lot more than she had with Hubbell (Alan Ruck), anyway.

The weirdness continued as Fanny (Kelly Bishop) tried to make Michelle feel guilty for being the new owner of the house, the land and the dance studio — because, you know, she totally asked Hubbell to put her in his will at the last minute.

And the girls didn’t make this episode any less weird, as Michelle first encountered them taking pictures of their bunions, blisters and other various foot deformities. It was for a competition between rival dance studios, which apparently won, though I’m not sure are any real “winners” in those kinds of competitions.

There was also kind of a nice bonding moment between Michelle and Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles). There’s something going on with that girl, and I think Michelle is just the person to help her out.

What did you think of this week’s Bunheads? It was slow, but at least it set the stage for a potential new romance for Michelle. Do you think it’s too soon for her to be moving on? Hit up the comments section with your thoughts!

— Andy Swift

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For the second week in a row, Bunheads proved it owns all of our emotions; but while last week’s pilot made us think through laughter, the June 18 episode worked our tear ducts. While this definitely wasn’t the same Bunheads we were presented with last Monday, it was an important episode — for the viewers and for Michelle (Sutton Foster).

Within the first few minutes, we learned that Hubbell’s (Alan Ruck) car accident was indeed fatal, which changed the course — pun intended so hard — of Michelle’s life, yet again. It also sent Fanny (Kelly Bishop) into a frenzy as she attempted to throw together a Buddhist memorial service. (Loved that scene with Fanny and her friends, by the way!)

The four girls, meanwhile, “mourned” in their own special way — by skipping school and seeing a Mark Wahlberg movie. As creator Amy Sherman-Palladino promised, this second episode kept the focus on Michelle, but also gave us a taste of what each of the girls is all about. Specifically, we learned that Boo (Kaitlyn Jenkins) suffers from good-hearted paranoia, while Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles) is really good at whining until she gets her way.

They eventually came to their emotional senses and broke down over Hubbell’s death, which was Michelle’s cue to take charge. (“There’s no crying in baseball … or ballet!”) She helped Fanny’s students put together a really beautiful dance, which turned out to be exactly the kind of simple goodbye she needed.

So what’s going to keep Michelle in Paradise now that Hubbell is dead? Well, that’s the twist, my friends: It turns out he changed his will and left everything to her!

Are you still in love with Bunheads after this week’s episode? Did you enjoy watching the characters work through their grief, or did you think it was too depressing? Drop me a comment with your thoughts!

— Andy Swift

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Here’s a question for all you single ladies: Have you ever been so desperate that you’d actually consider dating a stalker? That’s the situation Las Vegas showgirl Michelle (Sutton Foster) found herself in on the June 11 series premiere of Bunheads, except she didn’t just date her stalker, Hubbell (Alan Ruck) — she married him!

Once the alcohol wore off, Michelle realized she may have made a mistake by packing up her feathers and moving to Alan’s sleepy coastal town — especially when she discovered he still lives with his high-strung mother Fanny (Kelly Bishop). And just as creator Amy Sherman-Palladino promised, the two women immediately butted heads, even in front of the whole town at Michelle and Alan’s wedding party.

Michelle also didn’t see eye-to-eye with Hubbell’s wackjob ex-girlfriend Truly (Friday Night Lights‘ Stacey Oristano), though the relationship between those two women is more awkward than anything else.

It wasn’t until Michelle found herself — a little tipsy, I might add — in Fanny’s dance studio that she really began to find her true calling in town. She quickly developed a friendly rapport with Fanny’s ballet students, putting them through an impromptu “audition” to give them a taste of what life as a dancer is really like. And in true TV fashion, Fanny happened to witness the whole thing.

Emily and Fanny eventually bonded over a dance — and a drink — but their momentary truce was quickly interrupted with some shocking news from Truly: Hubbell was in a car accident, and it’s unclear whether or not he made it out alive!

In case you didn’t see my original review of Bunheads, allow me to reiterate just how much I loved this pilot. The chemistry between Sutton and Kelly is electric, the scene with Sutton and the girls was totally engaging, and I’m dying — pun intended — to find out what happened to Hubbell.

What did you think of the series premiere? Has Bunheads secured a spot on your DVR, or are you choosing to pass? Drop me a comment with your review!

— Andy Swift

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2012 is shaping up to be a heck of a year for Broadway vets-turned-TV stars. Megan Hilty wowed us on Smash, Andrew Rannells is garnering buzz for The New Normal, and this summer, Sutton Foster will make her leading-lady debut as the star of ABC Family’s Bunheads. I check out the first episode of the dance-themed drama, premiering June 11 at 9 p.m., and trust me — you’ll want to check it out.

Bunheads tells the story of Michelle, a down-on-her-luck showgirl who elopes with a travelling creeper and moves into the coastal home he shares with his dance-instructor mom. If the plot of Bunheads sounds ridiculous to you, congratulations, you’re officially a sane human being. But somehow, in the midst of all the madness, some very real — and more importantly likable — characters emerge.

Sutton’s Michelle is everything you’d expect from a character crafted by Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. She’s funny, she’s flawed and she’s whip-smart. In fact, the chemistry is so golden between Michelle and her judgmental mother-in-law Fanny (Kelly Bishop) that it’s hard not to imagine them as Lorelai and Emily 2.0.

Michelle’s relationships with the young girls in Fanny’s dance class — each of whom develops a very different rapport with the unconventional new instructor — are also a huge draw. In fact, my only real complaint with the pilot is that I wish Michelle could have met the girls sooner. The minute they all come together is when everything really clicks, as she bonds with the girls, challenges them and draws out each of their unique personalities.

But just when you think you’ve gotten a feel for what this show is all about, the pilot’s twist ending sends a loud-and-clear message to viewers: Bunheads will keep you on your toes.

Watch a preview of Bunheads below, then hit up the comments section with your first impression. Will you be making room on your DVR for this quirky new drama, or do these dancers fail to make your cut?