Oh, yeah, the Candice thing was spelled out, but it still smarts. Out of all of the routes they could have gone with her real form, they went with the easiest.

And Mrs. Bennet didn't have much of a part before, yes, but like I said, the gender politics didn't start out good to begin with. Heidi, Janice, Mrs. Bennet ... all sitting at home, waiting for their men. It was like this last year, too, and the trend's not looking to get any better.

The Molly mention was more for my benefit, really, just to get every female cast member out of my head. :)

And I think it might be less that Niki thinks Jessica is a requirement to having the strength than it is that Jessica is something saddled onto the gift. Like, she doesn't need her to keep it but to keep it means she's stuck with her, if that even makes sense.