Pitch Review: The Interim (Season 1 Episode 2)

The beginning of Pitch Season 1 Episode 2, “The Interim,” isn’t as striking as the beginning of the pilot episode, but things start to get interesting when Ginny goes out with some of her teammates for beers.

And by interesting, I mean infuriating. Ginny’s teammates are being teased by a woman sports commentator about being jealous of all the attention she’s getting, and one of her teammates can’t take the heat and walks out.

Really? People make sexist comments on television every single day. Do women get up and leave the room every time? No.

We either speak up or move on with our lives because, unfortunately, encountering sexist comments is part of being a woman. These guys are teased for one day, and they can’t hack it?!

Frank: …you look like Spanish Superman.
Oscar: I’m Mexican.

……………………

Frank: This is why you have never been to my house for dinner.
Oscar: And here I thought it was cuz I was Mexican.

This is such an important exchange. People often use the term “Spanish” to refer to anyone who is Latinx when it is meant to specifically describe someone descended from Spain. I love that Oscar corrects this misnomer.

I am so impressed with Pitch, especially given that it’s on Fox. The show has much more feminism and social consciousness than I expected.

I also love that Oscar basically tells Frank he thought he was a racist up until this point, and Frank just moves on as if he understands how Oscar could think that. There’s no haughty indignation, no “I don’t even see color” bullshit. The conversation just moves on.

The brilliance of Pitch continues with Al’s comment about Ginny while she was still in the Minor Leagues. The comment is perfect because of its insidiousness. Many men watching the show are probably thinking, “What’s wrong with what he says?! He’s giving her a compliment. All he says is that she’s pretty!”

Therein lies the problem. Al’s discussing Ginny’s looks instead of her abilities. He’d never comment on the looks of one of his male players.

Furthermore, he says a lot of the guys would love to have her in the locker room, which is a great throwback to Ginny’s comment in the pilot about how 25% of the team just wants to see her shower.

I adore the ease with which Amelia calls Al a misogynist. I can’t recall ever hearing this word on network television before.

This show isn’t timid with its feminism, it dives right in and starts doing the backstroke.

Additionally, Amelia is just as strong a woman character as Ginny is, which I appreciate. Ginny gets to interact with other women who are on her level. The show doesn’t give the audience one strong woman and expect that to be enough. #BechdelTestSmashed

Given this embracing of feminism, I’m surprised Al’s “apology” to Ginny is such a cop-out. Firstly, he’s sorry if she’s offended? It’s obvious she’s offended by the way she looks at him after she hears his comments.

Secondly, he plays the “I’m old so I don’t know what’s appropriate to say and what’s not” card, and I’m not buying it. Was decency invented in 2016? I think not.

The story Al tells about his daughter being a doctor shows how sexist he’s being when he makes his comments about Ginny. When he mentions his daughter, he says she’s smart then mentions she’s beautiful. When he talks about Ginny to the press, he says nothing about her abilities as a ballplayer or her intelligence.

I have conflicting feelings about Ginny’s conversation with Rachel Patrick. On the one hand, Ginny has a platform, and it would be great if she spoke up for another woman. But on the other hand, she doesn’t owe it to anyone to speak up about this case or anything else.

In addition, it’s low to attempt to chastise Ginny for going on Jimmy Kimmel. Who doesn’t want to be on Jimmy Kimmel?! The man’s hilarious.

Kylie Bunbury kills her performance as his guest. She does an incredible job portraying someone who’s not only not used to this type of attention but who never expected to receive it.

Ginny: We don’t need to make sure that every girl goes in the right room, we need to make sure every boy knows it’s wrong to rape.

Wow. Given the massive presence of rape culture in American society and American sports, the immense power of this comment on network television cannot be overstated. This is a strong statement, and Pitch‘s writers didn’t have to make it, but I’m so grateful they did.

What’s not strong is the way Ginny spends so much of this episode blaming herself for the team’s problems.

I love you, Ginny, but I have to disagree with you. The team’s not falling apart because of you, they’re falling apart because they can’t stand how much attention you’re getting. I bet the team never had any problems when all eyes were on Mike Lawson though. Funny how that works.

Speaking of Mike, Rachel’s his ex-wife. Wow, that’s a surprise. It makes me feel like the Mike Lawson we see in the locker room and on the field is just an act, because I can’t picture that guy married to Rachel.

I love that we get to see him begging his ex-wife to come back to him; that we get to see a man who’s unable to move on instead a woman, which we see far too often. It makes it even better that Rachel refuses to take him back because she’s already about to walk down the aisle again. In many television shows, it’s the man who marries the person he had an affair with.

Other Random Thoughts:

• I literally laugh out loud when Ginny walks back into the gym, and Mike pretends he’s not completely exhausted from trying to keep up with her.
• Really? Ginny’s teammates won’t sit next to her on the bus? What are they, twelve?
• I love Evelyn and Blip’s relationship and playful banter. I want a man like that.
• I’m so glad Ginny refuses to do the clubhouse decorating joke on Jimmy Kimmel. I actually find it sexist and therefore, not in line with the show.
• Mark-Paul Gosselaar really shows off some acting skills in his speech at the end of “The Interim.” Zack Morris can’t hold a candle to Mike Lawson.
• What is going to happen between Mike and Amelia?! I hope something steamy, because they’d make a hot couple!

My biggest issue with this episode is Ginny’s desire to lose herself in order to bond with her team. If Ginny says she’s just “one of the guys” one more time, I’m gonna scream. You will never be one of the guys because you’re not a guy, Ginny, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

I hope she comes to realize this sooner rather than later.

What did you think of this episode of Pitch? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Pitch airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Fox.

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