"Ugly Betty" is back, and we've got the Justin and Marc highlights

The fourth season of ABC's Ugly Betty aired last Friday night, and while we don't have a regular recap this week, we did want to mention the terrific storyline with Justin and Marc.

The mentoring relationship between the two started last season, as Marc saw glimpses of himself in Justin, and wanted to help the lad navigate the minefield of gay teendom.

It continued on last week's season premiere, as Justin entered high school, and immediately went afoul of some bullies:

After seeking out Marc's advice, Justin lies to his mother Hilda, and tells her he spilled salad dressing on his new Gucci shirt, and wanted Marc's help tp get it out. Later, Hilda visits Marc to thank him:

Later, after his mother says "I understand what you're going through", Justin delivers the classic gay teen lament "you don't understand me at all!":

Hilda turns to Marc, and convinces him to continue to be Justin's confidante:

Finally, Justin and Hilda have a heart-to-heart. Hilda may come off as brash and loud, but she's a wonderful mother:

This is good stuff, and while the word "gay" is never uttered, it's at the core of these scenes. I hope they continue Justin's journey in high school, and that Marc will be there to help guide him through the tough parts.

We'll be back next week with a full regular recap of this week's episode. What did you think of the season premiere? Anything stand out, good or bad? What do you hope to see this season?