'Royal Pains' Season 2, Episode 13 (Winter Season Premiere) Recap

['Royal Pains' - 'Mulligan']

The return of 'Royal Pains' for the completion of Season 2 picked up with the dramatic cliffhanger involving Hank and Evan's dad, Eddie.

When Boris lowered the boom on Edward R. Lawson, what was really going on? Was Eddie running another scam, or was he really having a heart attack?

Well, it was a real heart attack and Hank had to save his father's life. That was all well and good, but even after recovering, there would be no easy solutions to the problems.

Hank must have sensed that Boris was a threat, asking Evan to let him handle the situation. But Boris knows that Evan's the weak link in HankMed, and his manipulation of Evan was expert.

So, while Hank was ready to give his dad a second chance -- a mulligan -- despite his illegal shenanigans involving HankMed, Evan was secretly conspiring with Boris to ship Eddie to somewhere far, far away. It was Evan's way of protecting his father from prison, but that's only if you believe everything that we've been told about Eddie's crimes.

Eddie himself has really not revealed much. Henry Winkler is wonderful as Eddie, completely charming and slippery as an eel. You can never be quite sure he is who he says he is. But you do have to believe that he loves his boys. However, has he changed enough to be worthy of their love and loyalty?

That whole dilemma remains unresolved, and while it sure looks as though Eddie was playing fast and loose with the government and his assets, I can't help wondering if he'll turn out to be the good guy and Boris the baddie. There is something about Boris that just has to make you question why he's so damn nice to Hank and Evan?

Meanwhile, on the medical front, HankMed was working a charity golf tournament, which gave Hank the chance to solve not one, but two, medical mysteries. Jack O'Malley, the golf pro with a joint disease, and Jill, who tumbled out of a golf cart and was bit by a spider. Nothing earth-shattering, and nothing that required any major MacGyver-like moments, but interesting nonetheless. 'Royal Pains' rarely scoots into 'House' territory, but the stories are generally more down to earth.

It was nice to see Tom Cavanagh as Jack, and Amy Sedaris provided a few laughs as the tipsy lady golfer. But for emotional substance, it was the subtext between Hank and Jill that was enticing. Clearly, there's still unfinished business between the two of them.

Jill and Hank may have some happy, romantic times ahead, but Divya seems intent on sabotaging her life by following through on her arranged marriage to Raj. The way she shut down Adam was cold, even though you knew her heart was breaking.

Her words to Hank, that she wasn't fine but she was in control, said it all. The woman's fated to be miserable unless she makes some major changes.

Finally, what would 'Royal Pains' be without a sad-sack story for Evan? He managed to do something amazing, getting a hole in one on the golf course. But the prize, a speedboat, was taken away from him because HankMed staff members weren't allowed to participate in the contest. Wah-wah! At least he got the knickers and the Captain Stubing hat.

'Royal Pains' airs Thursdays, 9PM ET on USA Network.