Astronaut Wives Club Recap: Girl Power

We open at the party celebrating Gordo’s impending launch with Trudy in an amazing off-the-shoulder green frock. After the photo op, Trudy bails to go meet her friend Dot.

Dot has been training to become an astronaut and recruits Trudy to join her in DC for the NASA hearing on whether the agency should accept women (despite the ban on their military service, which prevents women candidates from having test pilot experience). The green dress continues to be spectacular.

Dot has been training to become an astronaut and recruits Trudy to join her in DC for the NASA hearing on whether the agency should accept women (despite the ban on their military service, which prevents women candidates from having test pilot experience). The green dress continues to be spectacular.

The hearing doesn’t go well, as John Glenn and Scott Carpenter testify against waiving the test pilot training requirement.

The hearing doesn’t go well, as John Glenn and Scott Carpenter testify against waiving the test pilot training requirement.

When its finally Gordo’s turn in space, the marathon watch party session ends when a mechanical failure on the shuttle means Gordo will have to bring the capsule in manually, which has never been done before. Trudy jumps on the first flight to Hawaii to be on the scene when Gordo (hopefully) makes it back to earth.

When its finally Gordo’s turn in space, the marathon watch party session ends when a mechanical failure on the shuttle means Gordo will have to bring the capsule in manually, which has never been done before. Trudy jumps on the first flight to Hawaii to be on the scene when Gordo (hopefully) makes it back to earth.

At his arrival press conference, Gordo credits his safe return to the piloting skills Trudy taught him, and between that, Gordo buzzing the NASA tower in support of women astronauts and his near-death flight, I don’t think those flowers are the only way Gordo’s getting lei’d in this episode. This dress though. Did she go shopping on her way to the press conference? Tiki has never been this fabulous.

At his arrival press conference, Gordo credits his safe return to the piloting skills Trudy taught him, and between that, Gordo buzzing the NASA tower in support of women astronauts and his near-death flight, I don’t think those flowers are the only way Gordo’s getting lei’d in this episode. This dress though. Did she go shopping on her way to the press conference? Tiki has never been this fabulous.

A footnote to Trudy’s feminist astronaut dream arrives in the form of a newspaper announcing that a Russian woman has broken all Gordo’s spaceflight records. Trudy’s celebration is borderline disloyal, but her pajama game is on point.

A footnote to Trudy’s feminist astronaut dream arrives in the form of a newspaper announcing that a Russian woman has broken all Gordo’s spaceflight records. Trudy’s celebration is borderline disloyal, but her pajama game is on point.

Remember when Rene just showed up late with gelatin desserts that matched her outfits? Not anymore. Rene uses Gordo’s party to pitch a column to the local newspaper editor while wearing a low-cut dress that manages to suit her without overpowering Trudy’s moment.

Remember when Rene just showed up late with gelatin desserts that matched her outfits? Not anymore. Rene uses Gordo’s party to pitch a column to the local newspaper editor while wearing a low-cut dress that manages to suit her without overpowering Trudy’s moment.

Rene ups her style game for a follow-up conversation with the editor, breaking out a pink sheath with a keyhole neckline and a matching patchwork purse, but the editor still insists on calling her “little lady” and offers her a recipe column. Rene is not impressed, and he tells her he wants 20 articles if she wants to be taken seriously.

Rene ups her style game for a follow-up conversation with the editor, breaking out a pink sheath with a keyhole neckline and a matching patchwork purse, but the editor still insists on calling her “little lady” and offers her a recipe column. Rene is not impressed, and he tells her he wants 20 articles if she wants to be taken seriously.

Rene and Scott (who is feeling guilty about his testimony) stumble upon a protest outside a movie theater, and Rene turns it into her first news article. Finally, a history of the civil rights movement that celebrates how it helped white ladies! This moment, though meant to offer a more inclusive view of life in Texas in the 60s, comes off pretty tone deaf. Rene’s outfit, however, is perfection. This episode really marks a change in the costume design, with Rene and Trudy increasingly outfitted in pants to mirror their increasingly liberated, feminist outlooks.

Rene and Scott (who is feeling guilty about his testimony) stumble upon a protest outside a movie theater, and Rene turns it into her first news article. Finally, a history of the civil rights movement that celebrates how it helped white ladies! This moment, though meant to offer a more inclusive view of life in Texas in the 60s, comes off pretty tone deaf. Rene’s outfit, however, is perfection. This episode really marks a change in the costume design, with Rene and Trudy increasingly outfitted in pants to mirror their increasingly liberated, feminist outlooks.

Rene delivers her articles with a mic-dropping speech to newspaper guy, like, “Thanks for helping me find my voice but I know you’ll never hire me even though I had dinner with President Kennedy last night, so screw you. I also look great in yellow. Deal with it.”

Rene delivers her articles with a mic-dropping speech to newspaper guy, like, “Thanks for helping me find my voice but I know you’ll never hire me even though I had dinner with President Kennedy last night, so screw you. I also look great in yellow. Deal with it.”

Annie is embarrassed at the party when she can’t speak to some of the women at the party. The cut of her dress is a bit conservative, but you’ve got to love some chiffon sleeves, and her makeup is perfection, befitting a women who communicates so much through her facial expressions.

Annie is embarrassed at the party when she can’t speak to some of the women at the party. The cut of her dress is a bit conservative, but you’ve got to love some chiffon sleeves, and her makeup is perfection, befitting a women who communicates so much through her facial expressions.

Though she’s initially reluctant when John tells her he’s thinking of running for office in Ohio, after Kennedy’s assassination she tells him that he has to do it while wearing wearing another ice blue plaid beauty.

Betty and Jo didn’t get air conditioning (seriously what are you even thinking) so to get some relief they start hanging out at one of the Mercury wives’ houses. Sweaty comedy ensues. In other news, Betty’s kitchen matches her dress, and her dress is flawless.

Louise changed her hair and Alan didn’t notice, but the reporter did. There’s a lot of somehow, almost, maybe in their final coffee date (staid Louise even gets a touch of red mixed in her usual blah grey palette), but he’s leaving for a job in California that does not involve puff pieces or mooning over astronaut wives.

Though she’s initially reluctant when John tells her he’s thinking of running for office in Ohio, after Kennedy’s assassination she tells him that he has to do it while wearing wearing another ice blue plaid beauty.

The reporter says goodbye, and after Alan’s horndogging is the butt of jokes on the radio, Louise finally breaks down and tells him that she wants him to be faithful. Can he? We’ll see.

The reporter says goodbye, and after Alan’s horndogging is the butt of jokes on the radio, Louise finally breaks down and tells him that she wants him to be faithful. Can he? We’ll see.

Betty and Jo didn’t get air conditioning (seriously what are you even thinking) so to get some relief they start hanging out at one of the Mercury wives’ houses. Sweaty comedy ensues. In other news, Betty’s kitchen matches her dress, and her dress is flawless.

Louise changed her hair and Alan didn’t notice, but the reporter did. There’s a lot of somehow, almost, maybe in their final coffee date (staid Louise even gets a touch of red mixed in her usual blah grey palette), but he’s leaving for a job in California that does not involve puff pieces or mooning over astronaut wives.