Our 5^th Episode begins with the Toledo Truth Teller team talking about how pride month is starting, and what they could do at the parade, just a random little scene. Next, we see Ned introducing everyone to Toledo PD’s Detective Arnold, who tells the Truth Teller that there is a catfish whose preying on women. Ned brings the Softees whiteboard into the meeting room, where he briefs everyone about the catfish. After describing the MO of the catfish, Esmerelda walks away seemingly in shock.

The other employees (except Barry) quickly pick up on the storm-off. Ned then talks about how big the story could be, including Esmerelda as one of the victims. Ned then goes to talk to Esmerelda about being catfished. He asks her for his name, and she replies with Jarson (Jared mixed with Jason). While he’s trying to ask about their relationship, Esmerelda winds up getting a message from him, where he’s using typical manipulation techniques of a catfish, apologizing for borrowing money, and that he can’t wait to pay her back. Ned does seem like he’s trying to help her, by saying she needs to admit the truth about it, to which she kicks him out so she can “send nudes.”

We then cut to the rest of the employees placing bets on how much Esmerelda spent on Jarson. Ned comes in trying to figure out how to catch him, and Mare suggests creating dating profiles to lure him in. It also seems like Nicole and Detrick are taking it slower after their last little hangout. Ned goes back to Esmerelda and brings her tea, and tries to convince her to do the interview for the catfish story. She tries to prove to everyone that Jarson’s real by showing his picture, which everyone instantly recognizes as Lost actor Josh Halloway. Ned calls Mare into his office to help him make his dating profile, and Ken is trying to bring a cake or donuts or something to Esmerelda to try and cheer her up, which she instantly rejects. Detrick is then talking to Nicole about how he redownloaded the dating app, and shows her a past message with a famous weather lady. Skipping ahead a bit, Esmerelda tries to prove once again that Jarson’s real, by showing everyone a video of Jarson saying he’s real. Obviously, it’s a fake Cameo video, and everyone tries to tell her, and she isn’t having it. Ned is again trying to tell her it’s fake, and she keeps wiring money to Jarson right in front of him. Ned checks with everyone to see if they got hits, and no one did. Ned says it’s alright, because Detective Arnold got him in touch with the other victims of Jarson, and he’s then shown interviewing the victims. Nicole gets a Cameo link from Josh Halloway, where he tells Esmerelda that he is not Jarson, and she walks off, embarrassed and upset. We then see Esmerelda watching Lost angrily, and Ned checks on her. Esmerelda is then seen crying in her office with her face buried in the couch. Nicole and Mare invite a devastated Esmerelda to ladies’ night at a bar, and then she’s seen with the other office girls getting her dance on. Our end credit scene features Detrick.

While it’s still not exciting, the episode did evoke a slight laughter, specifically at the Ned “cutting his grandma’s toenails” story. This seems like one of the better episodes, and this could be a sign that the show is going to start getting better, and more interesting for the future.

Rating 6.9/10