Carrie has been working hard since the events of Episode 16. How hard has she been working? Well, if you haven’t seen E17 yet – stop and watch the episode down below. Then, as always, join us for the spoilers

SPOILER WARNING – YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

We start Episode 17 with Carrie having received straight A’s and A+ grades in junior high, and as Tony promised, he took the family to Chestnut Ridge where she could ride horses and learn all about them.

The trip is life changing for Carrie who comes home more determined than ever and really puts the pedal to the metal and continues to skyrocket with her grades in school. In fact, the principal becomes concerned when she sees how much of a hard worker she is and thinks it’s time to have a discussion with her parents.

When Amanda, Nina & Tony arrive at the school they are told Carrie’s performance is exceptional which doesn’t at all add up to her records from Henford. Nina explains that Carrie had a rough time at Henford due to gaining celebrity status because of Carrie’s Cow Saves Christmas. She tells her because the other kids were jealous and envious, they made fun of her. The principal who is sympathetic understands why Carrie did what she did in order to escape the torment. The principal also states that her high school placement exam was extremely high with a very high yield on math and science. She recommends placing Carrie in the Fast-Track program for Foxbury University and grant her early graduation from high school.

When Amanda, Nina & Tony sit her down to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Fast-Track, Carrie simply says, “I want to do it.” And enrolls at Foxbury in, what would be, her freshman year of high school majoring in Biology of Veterinary Medicine with a minor in Marketing. While going to school at Foxbury, she also does part time work at her mother’s veterinary clinic helping out as a tech. This also grants her hours towards her veterinary certification.

Because she is happy and working hard, Carrie finds that she is losing weight and embarking on a healthier lifestyle. This is turn makes her happy about her self-image and her confidence level boosts considerably.

Carrie also heals her relationship with her mother, changing from having a mean outlook to one of ambition. Nina is thrilled that Carrie and her once again have a close mother-daughter relationship. Carrie is also happy to learn that Nina had rescued her book from the garbage bin (pail) and kept it safe for her. Carrie proudly displays it in her room at the penthouse underneath a poster of Carrie’s Cow Saves Christmas.

So as Carrie nears the end of her first year at Foxbury, Nina rewards her by buying tickets to a new show on Broadway Avenue in San Myshuno. Carrie loves the theater and is thrilled. They sit having a pizza dinner together at Nina’s penthouse before heading out, when Nina says, that she has a buyer for the cottage.

Carrie at first is worried! What would happen to Daisy, Blueberry, Mrs. Rodriguez and One Eye? What about the chickens, foxes and rabbits? Would they be, okay? When Carrie freaks out, I thought about how she would react given the way Nina reacts when she freaks out or is angry.

As we know, Nina has been known to drop her Henford accent and bring out the Windenburg/Brindleton Bay accent that she had also acquired. For me, when I think of Windenburg it very much reminds me of New York – particularly Long Island – where I am from. Brindleton Bay is undoubtedly New England. But primarily when I think of Windenburg, I think of Long Island.

There are many places on Long Island that could resemble Windenburg’s central business district like Huntington for example. And the private island where she grew up reminds me of islands like Block Island (not Plum Island.)

I began to think that it could be one of the reasons why Nina drops into a very non-Henford dialect. Then, moving back home to Henford and staying there for the amount of time she has, her primary accent got stronger. In my spare time, I studied a little bit of linguistics. I’m fascinated with language and speech pattern.

Of course, as we know from when she has phone calls with her agent Rachel, the Windenburg accent comes out full force. Particularly when she says, “Rachel!!” Spoiler alert for upcoming E18 – we get to witness an argument between Nina and Rachel that I’m sure you’re going to love.

So how does this play into Carrie? I thought about Carrie’s accent who seems to resemble more Amanda’s speech pattern then Nina’s. But then I thought, what if the Henford dialect emerged when she was nervous, sad or angry. So, I decided to play it up a little bit to reflect like when her mother gets the Windenburg/Brindleton Bay mix when she’s angry, sad or nervous; Carrie gets the opposite when she gets angry, sad or nervous and drops into Henford.

When Nina assures Carrie that the new buyer will let all of the animals stay and allow for Carrie to visit them any time she wishes – Carrie is relieved. Nina understands how important Carrie’s animals are to her and tells her that she offered to pay for the care and feeding of the animals as well as Anna Kendrick’s fee for being caretaker.

When Carrie asks about the buyer, Nina informs her that his name is Sam Drake and he’s been a widower for most of his adult life. He does have a son about Carrie’s age, and it’s here that Carrie asks, “his son?”

Nina tells her that the boy is an animal lover, like her, and that Daisy seems to like him very much. When Carrie asks what his name is, Nina says: “Drake.” Carrie gets annoyed and says, “Ma, I meant his first name not his last name!”

“That is his first name,” Nina replies.

“His name is Drake….Drake?” Carrie asks.

“Yes.” Nina says. “I found it odd myself, but I didn’t question it.”

When I was in elementary school, I knew of boy named Sammy Sam. His real first name was something different. When I thought of an idea for Drake I thought, “why not call him Drake Drake.” Drake’s real name is also different and will be revealed later in season two.

When Carrie asks if Nina got a picture of them, Nina shows her a picture that she took of Drake with Daisy, and its then Carrie smiles upon seeing the handsome boy and says, “She does like him.”

“Hmm, I think you like him too.” Nina says.

Carrie smirks and then says, “Maybe I’ll call Mr. Drake and make plans to visit next week.”

Nina tells her that’s a good idea but to hurry up and finish her dinner. She doesn’t want to be late for that show.

“Yeah, okay, Ma.” Carrie says with a smirk.

After this episode, we are three away from the season finale and the events leading up to it. Will Carrie meet young Drake and what’s coming up for Amanda and Tony? Also, is there any news for Nina on the horizon?

Keep watching!

Thanks for all of your support. It means a lot to me.

See you on the next episode,

Jen