While rewatching today, I realized that Claire working for Gil Thorpe was a missed opportunity - it could've really developed Claire's character.

Whatever Gil Thorpe's intentions behind hiring Claire were, he wasn't her dad. By working for her dad, Claire basically never got a chance to truly find herself; she always stayed under someone else's shadow.

On the other hand, if Claire reentered the workforce on her own, struggled, made a fool of herself, got fired, then applied again, struggled again, and eventually made it, that would've truly rounded her character. It would've also influenced Haley, seeing her mother try and fail and try again, and maybe that inspires her to reapply to college.

Idk if it's just me - I was really disappointed with Claire's CEO storyline. It's not just that it reeks of nepotism; it's also that it doesn't make sense. Being a CEO isn't something that you just learn on-the-job, right? You need decades of corporate experience to develop that acumen.