Tell-Tale TV Panel: Speechless Season 1

ABC’s Speechless is one of our favorite new comedies of the year.

See what our panel of writers thought of Speechless Season 1, and be sure to join the discussion by responding in the comments below!

Our panelists are:

• Kim Rogers from Head Over Feels
• Erin Allen, staff writer for Tell-Tale TV
• Jamie Steinberg from Starry Mag
• Lisa Steinberg from Starry Mag

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the season overall?

Kim: I’m not one to hand out 10s very easily, so let’s say a 9.5 out of 10. Some of the early episodes of the season left me a little worried that characters like Dylan would be caricatures but GUESS WHAT? They ended up filling in all those little spaces and making every single member of the ensemble a three-dimensional character.

Family sitcoms can get a bad rap for being uncool, but Speechless proved week after week this season that family shows can be the coolest.

Erin: 10. I don’t have any negatives, so I’m going to go with a full 10.

Jamie: I give it an 8. Some of the storylines were contrived, but I thought there is great humor and a lot of love to the series.

Lisa:  I am going to give it an 8 because it had this great balance of dysfunctional family fun and showed a lot of heart all while doing so.  It was about family togetherness but also the challenges that they face as a family.

What was this season’s biggest problem?

Kim: I think the biggest problem is that NOT EVERYONE WATCHES IT? Seriously. With Modern Family clearly showing its age, it’s time for ABC to start building up their younger sitcoms as their comic centerpieces.

So much of Speechless’ first season reminds me of the early years of Modern Family, where it perfectly balanced tart comedy with unabashed sentiment. Speechless could easily cross into after-school territory, but it doesn’t. It could easily come across as insensitive, but it doesn’t. It’s not afraid to poke fun at the challenges JJ and his family face but they do it in a way that feels like the DiMeos are making fun of themselves, rather than the outside world taking jabs at them.

I have a friend whose brother has CP, and every week she tells me that it’s like watching her own family on screen. But at the same time, it deals with universal themes like overcoming obstacles and navigating tricky family dynamics. It’s so so so special and I will bang on my drum for it until it’s a massive hit. Sorry, I didn’t really answer the question.

Erin: I agree 100% with Kim. It deserves a big audience and recognition for the work they’re doing. It’s not easy to churn out witty yet poignant stories with an ensemble cast of well-developed characters week after week, but they manage it quite handily.

Jamie: Kenneth seems to be under used in some places and over used in others. He would not have gone to camp with JJ if he’s just a school board employee. I did like that he did all those fun things with JJ though outside of school like teaching him to drive, going to the baseball game, etc. even if it was just to be a part of the perks.

Lisa:  I definitely would love to see them integrate Kenneth more into the core.  He’s great with JJ but when it comes to adding him amongst the family he doesn’t get as much credit and chemistry as he should.

What worked really well this season?

Kim: I think the biggest strength of Speechless is that any pairing of the characters works. They never stuck with just JJ/Kenneth/Maya stories, you know? They liked switching it up and exploring all the different relationships and chemistries. (Who would have thought the pairing of Kenneth and Dylan would be so damn delightful?)

I also love how the show portrays Maya and Jimmy’s marriage. I’ve said this over and over on twitter and on Head Over Feels, but the Alpha Wife and the Beta Husband who is so freaking in awe of her at all times is a dynamic we just don’t see on television and they are doing it SO WELL.

Erin: Every character is a strong character. I have a hard time picking a favorite because they are all so great. It makes every story and scene that much better because, like Kim said, putting any combination of characters together works.

I know I said it’s hard to pick a favorite, but Dylan was a standout for me. Kyla Kenedy’s delivery is so wry and sardonic, but also innocent. She just gets that type of sense of humor and plays it so well, but doesn’t let us forget that she’s a kid. I find it all very charming.  

Jamie: The cast has such great chemistry! You would totally believe them to be a real family in real life. I thought Micah does a fabulous job of emoting and making himself a part of scenes where he has no dialogue or someone is reading his “words” for him.

Lisa:  I love that the show is not afraid of pushing boundaries and calling out stereotypes as well as showing what it’s like for those with CP.  And I think that the family takes care of one another and is such a loyal core.  

I love all of the speeches that Maya (Minnie Driver) makes, she is fierce and devoted and gives her unconditional support to every one of her kids.  She is a protective mama lion who wants what’s best for her family.  I love the sibling rivalry but yet at the heart of it all they take care of each other.

What was the biggest surprise of the season?

Kim: What surprises me the MOST about Speechless is the fact that almost every single episode made me cry? THIS IS A SITCOM.

Erin: Totally with Kim on this. HOW DARE they make me feel things!

In the beginning, I was ready to write off Jimmy as the passive husband who would be overshadowed by his boisterous wife. I am all for the strong, matriarchal role, mind you, but I was just ready to be disappointed in his character as a result. I was more than pleasantly surprised at the depth of his character and the humor he brought to the show. I love his personality, and I really relate to him in a parental sense.

Jamie: I thought it was interesting that Ray found out he was athletic at the end. He did what every sibling does when they FINALLY win a battle with one of their brothers/sisters — STOP! [laughs]  He quit while he was ahead of Dylan was having none of it. I thought it was an interesting arc for the character.

Lisa:  I found something of myself in every one of the characters, especially Dylan.  I love her cleverness and that she may have a hardened exterior with her walls up but underneath she has a vulnerability and softness.

What are your hopes for next season?

Kim: I just want them to build on what they have already. Let’s see more of JJ becoming independent, more of Maya learning how to let go, more of Dylan becoming a benevolent Regina George. They already have a winning formula…my greatest hope is that they continue to just trust in that.

Erin: Yes, more of the same. What they have going on is definitely working.

Jamie: I hope that Maya lets JJ out on his own more. He got to go to the carnival alone. He went to the beach with Ray for a bit. I really want JJ to find more of his independence – like with going off to camp alone. He’s going to have one (or two) more years at home [should the series continue] so it would be nice to see him out and about learning how to fit in with the world.

Lisa:  I hope that JJ continues his independence and that they can build on how sharp and smart the writing is.  Maya needs to let go more and hopefully Ray becomes less stressed and enjoys the ride of being a teenager.

What did you think of Speechless Season 1? Share your thoughts in a comment below! You can also check out all of our other season review panels right here. There are more to come!

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