Firefly Lane season 2 part 1 recap guide: All 9 episodes explained

Firefly Lane season 2, episode 5 recap: Simple Twist of Fate

The fifth episode of Firefly Lane season 2 is all about Tully’s new documentary special and her search for her biological father in the present. In the past, Kate and Tully go on a double date, while in the 1980s, Johnny and Kate accidentally take ecstasy.

1970s

In the 1970s, teen Kate and Tully go on a double date with Eugene and another AV Club member named Brad (Aiden Howard). It starts off great, and the two couples split to do their own thing.

Tully starts to hook up with Brad. But when things start getting hot and heavy between Tully and Brad, she has a flashback to her assault and decides she’s not ready. A teary-eyed Tully runs into Sean, who comforts her about the mishap and tells her he’s also struggling. Since things ended with Robbie, Sean has been trying to figure out his sexuality. He says he wants to be like “all the other guys,” or to try, at least.

Attempting to comfort Sean and move past her trauma, Tully suggests they “try” together. They kiss and end up having sex. Lisa-Karen sees them.

1980s

We’re back in the 1980s after a brief jump to the 1990s in the previous episode. Most of the 1980s segment this week is focused on Johnny and Kate accidentally taking ecstasy. Johnny asks Kate to move in together, and she accepts. Elsewhere, Tully and Danny hook up again, and then things get awkward when Johnny reveals that KPOC needs a new weekend anchor, and it’s down to the two of them.

2000s

In the present, Cloud finally comes around and agrees to do the documentary special with Tully. They go to a restaurant called PJ Pelicans, which Tully’s dad previously owned. But while there, Tully meets PJ’s wife, and she reveals that PJ (Mark Humphrey) had died six weeks prior to their arrival.

We find out that PJ was actually a really great guy. Cloud genuinely loved him, and they had a good relationship. But when PJ got pregnant, his brother, Benedict Binswanger, stepped in and interfered. That’s why we saw Cloud with Benedict in the past.

She showed up with the baby looking for PJ, but Benedict stepped in instead. He sent Cloud a letter pretending to be PJ, claiming he didn’t want anything to do with her, and then sent PJ a letter from “Cloud” saying she had an abortion. PJ didn’t know Tully existed for a long time until he later saw an article in the newspaper, and he and his wife put two and two together.

Unfortunately, while PJ was trying to figure out how to reach out to Tully, he died. But they did meet once in the 1980s. During that segment, Tully and Danny go to PJ Pelicans to confront Benedict, and while there, Tully accidentally burns her hand, and PJ helps her by giving her his aloe plant. Of course, at the time, neither knew who the other really was.

Also, in the 2000s, Charlie finally makes a move on Johnny while they’re working late together one night, and Johnny rebuffs her advances. He also realizes that he still loves Kate and rushes to find their house to find her. Through the window, he sees Kate talking to the handsome sound guy, Calvin (Jamall Johnson), and assumes they’re together, so he doesn’t end up saying anything.