Tonight on ABC their new drama The Astronaut Wives Club airs with an all new episode and the season 1 episode 2 called, “Protocol,” and we’ve got your weekly recap below. On tonight’s show, the Shepards bask in the success of Alan’s [Desmond Harrington] mission; Betty Grissom [JoAnna Garcia Swisher] turns to Louise for advice as her husband’s launch draws near; and Annie Glenn attempts to manage her stutter in anticipation of having to address the press.
On the last episode, seven women were transformed, seemingly overnight, from military spouses to American royalty as they prepare for the mission of a lifetime when NASA chose their husbands – talented test pilots from around the country – to be the first Americans in space! These women who once were strangers rally around their husbands and their country. With death defying missions underway, these women form a bond only they could understand. As Alan Shepherd was tapped to be the first to go up, his wife Louise was the picture of strength as she handlesdthe pressures of space exploration and her responsibilities as wife and mother. With the other women by her side. Did you watch last week’s episode? If you missed it we have a full and detailed recap, right here for you.
On tonight’s show per the ABC synopsis “as Louise and Alan Shepard bask in the success of his mission, Betty Grissom preps for Gus’ launch and turns to Louise for advice. And Annie Glenn grapples with her stutter, anticipating that the press will want to hear from her after John’s orbit is completed.”
Tonight’s episode is going to be an exciting one filled with drama that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to tune in for our live coverage of ABC’s The Astronaut Wives Club tonight at 10 PM EST!
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RECAP:
Betty is going to be the Second Lady of Space and unfortunately she hasn’t figured out how to control her nerves in the lead up to that.
Louise made an example of herself as the First Lady of Space. She was calm when her husband first took flight and she had a graceful poise about her when it later came time to shine in front of the cameras. So when it came time for Betty to follow such an act – Betty was afraid she wouldn’t know how.
Betty doesn’t want to upset her husband or ruin his image but she’s a wife that’s concerned. Her husband is going up on the second mission into space and there is plenty of room for error.
So Betty asked Louise for advice and sadly all she got in return were platitudes. Louise told her to keep her composure and that if she focused it wouldn’t be all that scary. And Betty ended up believing her because why wouldn’t she.
As far as Betty knows, Louise is perfect.
However, here’s the thing about Louise, it is all an act for her. She’s not the perfect wife and her husband couldn’t be perfect even if tried. And seeing as that would require him giving up other women, it’s safe to say he’ll never try.
And Louise could have been there to support Betty rather than let the other woman find fault in herself. But she didn’t. So the reporter, who is only supposed to be an observer, felt like he had to step in and reassure Betty.
Usually, he stays out of the women’ conversation to each other but, with Betty, he felt like he had to step in. And hopefully NASA’s PR people will continue helping because Marge seems to have run into some problems of her own.
Marge might have tried to bury her first marriage but a gossip rag found out about it and tried to use the information against her and her husband. So Marge didn’t know what to do. All that she did know was that she had to stop that story.
Hence, she then attempted to bribe the journalist and, when that didn’t work, she almost sold information on the other wives in order to keep her story out of the papers.
But, luckily, she eventually told Jo about what she was dealing with and Jo came up with a reasonable solution. One that didn’t hurt the other girls.
Marge went to Dunk and Dunk promised to handle it. Yet the one thing Dunk is unable to handle was the fallout following Gus’s flight. See Gus made it into space but coming back down proved to be more of a problem.
Gus landed safely but, because of the hoopla afterwards, he didn’t receive the same recognition as Alan. Or even get an invite to the White House. So his wife Betty was upset and his children got into fights trying to defend him at school.
And then forgetting everything that Gus did for them, NASA did their best to put his flight behind them.
They selected John as the next man to go up and his wife Annie had to prepare herself. Annie’s stutter didn’t go away overnight; however, she was able to control it by practicing her lines beforehand. So, all in all, the Glenns had everything under control.
But then John’s flight had to be cancelled. The weather was acting up and it just wasn’t safe to send John up. So naturally that was a big letdown and the only way to recover from what that was doing to their image (NASA’s image) was to give the papers something else to write.
Vice President Johnson was going to stop by the Glenn household in order to comfort Annie. You know, in front of the cameras for all the world to see. And he was hoping, seeing as NASA’s Space project was his baby, that him showing up would be a great sign of solidarity.
Though his visit proved to be something Annie simply couldn’t handle.
She was a nervous wreck and none of the other wives were helping to calm her down. So she called her husband and she asked him what to do. And though he was pressured he told her to do whatever she felt comfortable with.
Annie refused to allow the Vice President into her home.
Normally, that would have backfired on her husband but the other astronauts stood by them. John was going up next and the others refused to take his place.
Then when the weather did clear up, John was the first man to fly around the earth. And Annie and John felt like the parade that followed should include all the astronauts. Not just them.
But while NASA could be accommodating, they later grounded Marge’s husband because of her.