A Million Little Things Review: Unexpected (Season 1 Episode 6)

To start talking about A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 6, “Unexpected,” I need to tell you two things about myself to help you understand my perspective: I lost a friend in an accident this June, and I have anxiety.

This show has touched me on some very deep levels from the start.

Plenty of shows have tried to tackle the subject of depression and anxiety over the years. I’ve seen a popular show I won’t name call depression a “crisis of faith” and then have the character who was suffering apologize for her own rape (in my opinion.) That was the worst depiction, as the show didn’t even name the disorder.

But this season, the show that A Million Little Things is most often compared to, This Is Us, is attempting to tell a story about depression, too. Not to be glib, but in the battle of the storylines, A Million Little Things is winning, hands down.

Rome is functioning. It takes his friend’s death for him to confess what he is feeling to anyone.

In the most intense scene of this episode, when Regina is confronting him after finding his suicide note, he says to her,

That’s what I’m trying to tell you Gina…I don’t understand it either…I don’t. I have a great life. But sometimes, for some reason, I feel so sad, and I can’t help but think, ‘What if this is the happiest I’m ever gonna be?’

That is the best explanation for anxiety/depression that I’ve ever seen on TV. It helps Gina understand Rome, and her anger morphs into the desperation that comes with true love–and watching that hug, viewers just know. It might get tough. But they’ve got each other. Things are going to be OK.

Rome’s journey is very relatable. We don’t really know what led to his near suicide attempt in the pilot, but I’d venture to say that…given that Jon’s death is a suicide, Rome’s attempt is unnecessary.

You can be depressed and not ever attempt suicide. You can be depressed and not know why. Because of the stigma of medication, you can be depressed and not ready to take it. All of these circumstances are valid. Asking for help is the first step.

No show is ever going to get depression and anxiety right every time. But this show deserves so much credit for diving in at all — and handling it all with a care that feels true to life.

Shifting gears a bit, I also want to give them credit for the pace of their storyline. I just assumed Rome’s confession to Gina would come a few more episodes down the line, and slip out in a more grandiose fashion.

But having Gina find the note (ok, that was a bit unbelievable…I really think anyone who changes their mind would make sure that note is shredded and burned…), and giving them an intimate scene between husband and wife was the perfect way to have this play out.

I’m also happy we didn’t have to sit through a whole episode of everybody talking around each other to keep the secret. Sure, there are tons of secrets in this episode, but I almost screamed with joy and spit out my candy because everyone knows Delilah is pregnant before the title.

Cheers to your inability to keep secrets, Rome. But now we must move on to Delilah’s almost abortion.

As TV shows go, the fact that she doesn’t go through with it isn’t surprising. But she certainly exercises her right to choose every step of the way, as she should. Plus, the music over that scene is perfect.

I know the friend group is fragile right now because of Eddie and Delilah’s affair, but I’m leaning toward not loving that they’re going to pretend it’s Jon’s baby.

Is that best for everyone? Maybe. But…it’s just another secret we know is going to come out at some point. Why not get it out among friends now and start the healing process? From the previews of next week, Eddie and Delilah are already really bad at pretending. If that child is really going to grow up as Jon’s, Eddie should not be at ultrasounds.

Then again, I do support keeping it from the kids….these kids are dealing with A LOT right now.

I’m most worried about Theo. Not because of his night terrors, but because of all of the rules he’s afraid to break. His scene with Maggie in the park is a bit frightening. I’m really glad she at least makes him chase her, forgoing his hat for a few seconds.

They’ve done a really good job not putting the blame of Eddie and Delilah’s affair on Katherine, but I still want to know more about her. Both Eddie and Katherine seem like good parents, but where does Theo’s fear of breaking rules come from?

I’m not trying to blame her for that, but Katherine does seem very straight-laced. How did she come to fall in love with an alcoholic rockstar like Eddie? I need to know.

Even though some would argue they’re getting too gimmicky on TV, this is why I like shows that keep flashbacks in their back pocket as a storytelling tool they use regularly. It’s a cool way to add more layers. And I need to see more of Katherine’s layers.

Something else I need, and I think every,  A Million Little Things viewer wants, is to invite Gary over for a beer. My God, he needs one.

I’m not ready to decide what I have to say about Maggie and her decision not to treat her cancer, but between dating someone who is choosing to die, taking Delilah for her “almost” abortion, and supporting Jon’s kid and Eddie and even Katherine…Gary is under a lot of stress.

The question really isn’t if he’s going to break from the stress, it’s when. And is there anyone that’s really ready and able to be there for him when he does?

Stray Thoughts:

• It’s a sticky situation, but Eddie has some nerve being mad at Delilah for sleeping with Jon…whether she actually did or not.
• So Jon left a suicide note…and might his death have been because of money troubles? My gosh, what is Ashley hiding?
• The scene where Theo is having a night terror and Eddie is freaking out is edited really well.
• I feel like Rome/Gina/Kids is a topic that doesn’t even need to be on the table right now. Only Rome and a lot of work will help Rome’s depression.
• Who is Barbara? She’s mentioned so quickly that if she came up in another episode I missed it.

What did you think of this episode of A Million Little Things ? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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A Million Little Things airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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