Sonny Sets a Trap for Ellen, But Is He Getting Closer to the Truth?

The mystery surrounding Ellen Cooke (Connie Britton) continues to deepen in Phony Season 1 Episode 3, “Reverse Cuckoo Situation,” as Sonny (Sam Nivola) attempts to prove that the woman living in his house isn’t really his mother. But while Sonny is busy setting traps to expose Ellen, she has a few secrets of her own, including mysterious phone calls, an unexpected trip to a bar, and a growing interest in what her son has been up to. Meanwhile, a rumor about a dead body in the woods has the entire school buzzing, because apparently one mystery just isn’t enough. Warning: Spoilers ahead for Phony Season 1 Episode 3, “Reverse Cuckoo Situation.”

A reverse cuckoo situation

The school rumor mill is working overtime after word gets around that Shovel (Nation Sage Henrikson) supposedly discovered a dead body in the woods near the pond.

But a possible corpse isn’t the only thing students are talking about. Sonny’s recent behavior has also become a hot topic, with classmates commenting on his “sad stepdad eyes” and wondering if there is a dark reason why he’s so peppy all the time. Apparently, everyone loves that he is freaking out right now. Shattering his perfect image brings him down a notch, and people seem to like that.

While Sonny’s classmates might find his increasingly erratic behavior entertaining, there’s something more complicated happening beneath the surface. After all, being a teenager is difficult enough without having to figure out whether your mother has been replaced by an impostor.

As Maliq Johnson, who plays Vogel, explained to TV Insider, the series offers adults a glimpse into the complicated world of teenagers. “I think it gives adults insight a little bit into how some teenagers can really operate, or like, what actually goes on, and the complexities of one’s mind, finding yourself, and trying to figure yourself out, but also trying to figure life out. And then you got this weird thing going on, so you’re trying to figure that out, too, and it just adds all of these components to figuring out life,” said Johnson. “I think sometimes adults forget that just because someone is younger than you, it doesn’t mean that they’re not having similar experiences.”

Disney/David Astorga

Back at home, Ellen has decided to take the day off work to spend some quality mother-son time together and help Sonny prepare for the upcoming dance. Unfortunately, Sonny is more interested in proving that she’s an impostor, and is terrified at the idea of spending time in this version of Ellen.

He turns to his investigator Sharla (Meera Syal), who describes his predicament as a “reverse cuckoo situation,” recalling a case involving a woman who got rid of a child’s parents and raised the kid as her own.

So what should Sonny do? “Give her a son,” Sharla advises. It is the safest for him. Sonny needs to play along with Ellen’s motherly routine, even if he believes she’s a complete stranger. “I can’t,” Sonny replies. Well, he’s got to try while they investigate.

What’s Ellen hiding?

Meanwhile, Mallory (Grace Brennan) and Chloe (Mahaela Park) compare tests at school. Chloe hasn’t done particularly well and asks Mallory for tutoring. Mallory, who was homeschooled most of her life by her pastor father, is an ace at math and has no issue sharing the wealth. She wants to belong and wants friends. A win-win situation.

Later, while hanging out in the library, the girls discuss the Shovel rumors. Did he really see a dead body? Vogel stops by to say hello to Mallory and reveals that Sonny has been suspended for pushing him at the dance.

At home, Sonny catches Ellen whispering angrily into her phone. “You are insane. I did not agree to that … you need to stop calling me,” she tells the person on the other end. Naturally, this doesn’t exactly help convince Sonny that everything is normal.

Ellen has also bought him a new phone and got him his very own Costco card. This means that Sonny has to relinquish his mom’s card, his only piece of evidence that has an image of “real” Ellen.

Well, how about some Chicken Nummers? Sonny asks Ellen to prepare his childhood favorite, insisting that she make it “exactly how you used to make it,” complete with the “secret ingredient.”

But this isn’t just a craving for comfort food. Sonny tells Sharla that he’s setting a trap for Ellen, hoping the recipe will reveal whether she really remembers his childhood favorite food that she made for him when he was sick. Like the arm squeeze that she forgot, it will test if she knows their relationship and if she is who she says she is.

The trap is set

Ellen gets to work making Chicken Nummers, but Sonny quickly notices something is missing: the secret ingredient. After some hesitation, Ellen retrieves the nutmeg and explains the origins of the dish, recalling how she first made it when Sonny was hospitalized with meningitis.

Sounds convincing, right? All is good? Not so fast.

Throughout the day, Ellen continues receiving mysterious phone calls. She claims they’re from Mark, the vice principal, but the interruptions clearly irritate her.

While preparing the food, Ellen accidentally cuts her finger. When Sonny goes looking for a first aid kit, he discovers something suspicious: a recently written Chicken Nummers recipe, complete with a reminder about the secret ingredient, alongside a note related to his meningitis history, as if she recently needed to learn these facts.

Ellen insists the notes are from a journal she kept during his first hospitalization, but Sonny isn’t buying it. Before he can press the issue further, the doorbell rings, sending Ellen into a panic. Fortunately, it’s only Chloe. With her finger needing medical attention, Ellen heads out to urgent care, leaving Sonny and Chloe alone. But Sonny can’t shake the feeling that his mother is acting strangely.

Ellen takes a detour

Ellen’s trip to urgent care turns out to be anything but straightforward. Tailing her like any good investigator, Sharla follows her, only to discover that Ellen isn’t going to a medical facility, but instead heads to a bar, where she hands something to a mysterious man, smokes a cigarette, and watches as he drives away in a truck.

Disney/David Astorga

Whatever Ellen is doing, it certainly doesn’t look like she’s getting that finger checked.

She also runs into guidance counselor Justin (Kelvin Yu), who later asks whether she’s contacted Susan Randall, the therapist, and if she is coming inside, or if she is just there to hang out in back with a cig, which seems sus.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Sonny and Chloe have sex for the first time. Afterward, Chloe asks Sonny to promise that if he ever wants to be with someone else, he’ll tell her. Sonny, still struggling with everything happening in his life, doesn’t want his weirdness to hurt their relationship. Unfortunately, keeping things normal isn’t exactly his strong suit these days.

A dead body party

Back at school, the supposed discovery in the woods continues to dominate conversations, including among the teachers.

Mallory and Weldon (Colter Lee) also speak with Shovel, who invites Mallory to a party in the woods with Dylan and Germ. Things get a little more complicated when Chloe borrows Mallory’s phone to enter her number so they can keep in touch, and a message from Sonny intended for Weldon arrives, which looks bad for Mallory, who is just looking to make a friend.

Soon, Sonny receives a message from Weldon about a “Dead Body Party” in the woods, inspired by Shovel’s alleged discovery. Sonny and Chloe decide to attend. Sonny wants to see the corpse. He has an idea on who it might be. Before leaving, Sonny turns off his location sharing.

The two arrive at Buckets Pond, where a plaque commemorates the deaths that have occurred there. Not exactly the most welcoming party destination.

Meanwhile, Ellen finally returns home to find the house empty. While looking around, she discovers Sonny’s burner phone. When it rings, she is met with Sharla.

It looks like Sonny isn’t the only one who’s about to discover that someone in the house has been keeping secrets.

Phony, Tuesdays, Hulu