Music From Episodes

2x15 Alanis Morissette

The time has come to discuss this glorious moment from from the season two finale.

In this scene Mel and Trinity are at karaoke
—absolutely jamming out to You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette—
after they both had not so great days working in the ED.

This season gives both Mel and Trinity storylines shaped by their relationships.
For Trinity, her dynamic with Garcia tends to drag her down.
For Mel, her connection with Frank feels like a rare point of warmth.
I think this song aligns more directly with Trinity’s situationship with Garcia
but it becomes very interesting when you look at the lyrics through Mel’s perspective
knowing she feels something for Frank, despite the fact that he's still married.
(for now)
It adds a layer that’s a lot harder to ignore once you take the time to read into it.

One last thing I want to add before I dive into the backstory of this song!
When I told my dad this scene was coming
—and what song they’d be singing—
he said, and I quote:

"Oh god, the wife is gonna show up."

And I think that perfectly sums up the vibe that this song brings to this moment.

You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette came out in 1995 and completely shifted how people saw her. It was messy, angry, and brutally honest in a way that felt almost shocking at the time. Instead of a polished breakup song, it dives straight into the bitterness and hurt that can come after a relationship ends.
Over the years, there’s been a lot of speculation that it was written about Dave Coulier, who Morissette dated in the early ’90s. She’s never fully confirmed that, though, and has mostly brushed it off, as it’s more about capturing that specific, intense feeling of being hurt and not over it. 

You Oughta Know- Alanis Morissette 1995

I want you to know
That I'm happy for you
I wish nothing, but
The best for you both
Mel's wishes for Frank's marriage despite her feelings for him.
Or
Abby's wishes for Mel and Frank despite everything else that would come with... that situation.
An older version of me
For this one I'd like to specifically reference this post by user @1411411989 on Tumblr.
Despite what most people head-canon, what if Abby isn't the antithesis of Mel? Dark/red hair, diva personality, has had everything she's ever wanted handed to her. What happens if we finally meet Abby and it turns out she's just like her? The idea that Frank's "work wife" could be the carbon copy of his real wife, whom he has a rocky relationship to begin with. It's so insane when you think about the possibility that he's going to work everyday to make heart eyes at a woman who shares so many similarities to his wife at home.
But alas, we have no idea who Abby really is.
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theatre?
The implications of these lines alone. Need I say more?
Does she speak eloquently?
We can infer that Mel is a very well-read and literate person. We know that the same goes for Frank.
He makes multiple references to literature throughout the show and is shown to have a decent vocabulary.
Do we think the same goes for Abby?
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
Absolutely INSANE line if you read it with Mel/Frank and Frank/Abby in mind.
Lines like this make my life so much easier. It's so on the nose I don't even really need to expand on it.
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide
Abby and Frank have been together for an indeterminate amount of time.
Long enough to have a child who is five years old.
Abby feeling like all of that time—and everything they've endured—still wasn't enough.
Or
Frank choosing his wife over the possibility of a relationship with Mel.
Mel feeling like the personal connection they've fostered still wasn't enough for him to choose her.
No, and every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told
Me you'd hold me until you died?
'Til you died, but you're still alive
I could absolutely see Abby saying something similar to Frank if any sort of infidelity takes place.
(which for the record I don't see happening)
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
Frank leaving PTMC for ten months. Leaving Mel behind. Mel losing the one person who made an effort with her and being left in the dark, wondering what happened.
Or
The absolute fucking mess that Frank's pursuit of Mel might cause in his home life, depending on how he pursues.
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
Mel dealing with feelings he helped create but can’t fully return or acknowledge.
Or
The fallout of a failing marriage. One or both of them left holding hurt the other set in motion.
You, you, you oughta know
Frank seriously oughta know that this situation could hurt people that he really cares about, depending on how it plays out.
You seem very well
Things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well
I thought you should know
Again, this situation—unless there's an amicable divorce—is going to hurt people. And even if it is completely amicable, there could still be some negative feelings.
Did you forget about me
Mr. Duplicity? I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
THIS LINE! THIS LINE! THIS LINE!
“Mr. Duplicity” calls out the double life. Saying one thing, living another.
For Mel, it’s that awful feeling of being the version of his life he can just switch off, the one he forgets the second he’s back home. It doesn’t even sound like a real question—more like she already knows.
For Abby, the “middle of dinner” makes it hit harder. It’s so normal, which just emphasizes the fracture. Frank sitting there with her and the kids while something else lingers unspoken.
It captures that tension perfectly. Secrecy, guilt, and the sense that everything could collide at any moment.
Absolutely sickening.
But it was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
Once again, an on the nose line that I don't feel the need to expand on!
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her
SO INSANE
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed that was me
And I'm not gonna fade as soon as you close your eyes
And you know it
Mel and Frank finally taking that step—infidelity or not—and Mel possibly feeling that Frank thinks of it as a quick one time thing, but she won't leave his mind even if he tries.
And every time I scratch my nails
Down someone else's back, I hope you feel it
Now can you feel it?
The idea that Mel would want Frank to feel like she's under his skin is so buzzy.