A Million Little Things Review: Someday (Season 1 Episode 14)

A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 14, “Someday” has one star — Christina Moses as Regina Howard.

Sexual assault is a complex issue to tackle on a TV show (as in life,) which is why so many shows don’t bother to at all. Moses handles that complexity beautifully, and it begins with the relationship between Regina and her mother Shelley (Romy Rosemont.)

Since we met Shelley in Season 1 Episode 6, “Unexpected,” there have been hints that the tension that exists between her and her daughter is more than your typical mother/daughter baggage. Not that any mother/daughter baggage is typical or easy.

I absolutely cannot believe the nerve of Shelley in the scene when Regina finds out that her Uncle Neil is the one who lent the money for Someday’s opening.

Her brother molested her daughter. It is NEVER OK to ignore a child who tells you they’ve been molested. I understand that there is an implication that Neil molested Shelley as well. I’m not here to judge Shelley’s own recovery process. But even if you are recovering from the same trauma your 12-year-old daughter experiences at the hands of the same preditor, ignoring her is NOT OK.

But this woman goes and says,

…You have to admit what he has done is very nice. Neil’s the one who has made all of your dreams come true, Regina.

It’s absolutely disgusting. Neil is responsible for damaging her life. She’s opening the restaurant in spite of him and his actions. But perhaps he is the reason she doesn’t want children. He is most certainly the cause of Shelly’s difficult relationship with her daughter.

Also, I know something about dreams. Achieving them isn’t easy. Most people need help along the way. Even Beyonce had to get discovered. So, people help. And Regina is allowed to dictate who does. But the glory for opening Someday? That’s all Regina’s.

So, I will acknowledge Shelley’s abuse even though it’s hard for her to acknowledge her daughter’s. But, her words are absolutely appalling. And, as the pain builds up in Regina leading up to those lines, you see it in her face. After Rosemont says the lines, Moses retreats and turns her head as if she’s been physically slapped, not just metaphorically. It’s brilliant.

The other scene from this plot that stands out on the episode is Regina retelling her trauma to Rome and Maggie. Moses is matter-of-fact as she tells them what happened to her. Her emotions begin to come as she talks about her mother, and then when Maggie says the words “You were molested” out loud.

It’s also important to note her shame. As Rome starts moving toward her when she says she took her shirt off, you can hear the embarrassment in her voice as she says “Yeah I know, I know I shouldn’t have.”

She continues to frame the events so she bears some of the blame, as her mother has all of these years. She completely loses it when she says she was “too flirty” during the attack.

Nothing similar to this has happened to me. So, I can’t come from a place of healing. But just in case someone reading this needs to see these words — you were not too flirty.

Moses does wonderful work, but I want to discuss a big flaw in the story. Regina doesn’t get to confront her attacker. I wish all writers of TV could read these words. Conveniently leaving the attacker out of the story, killing him so he doesn’t face consequences? That is no longer acceptable.

I can imagine Moses’ work in a scene where Regina gets to confront her attacker, and in my head it’s brilliant. Similar stories have been all over TV lately, and while some are empowering, I can’t think of one where the attacker has to pay.

I wish A Million Little Things had gone there. The show is good enough to do it. Regina being a Black woman makes it all the more important. The story is wonderfully executed. But I noticed this hole because I would’ve been so proud of the show if they had gone where so few shows are brave enough to go. Moses and the whole cast has certainly proven themselves capable.

A Million Little Thoughts

• First, about last week: a reader told me Ashley switched the suicide notes. I think I knew this and forgot, plus I watched and it wasn’t done in Season 1 Episode 13 when I started reviewing the show regularly. So forgive that oversight. Just know that the suicide note I talk about was switched by Ashley, and of course, we don’t know why.
• Back to this episode. I wish they would do a little bit of a better job of making Maggie just the group’s new friend and not “the group’s new friend who is also a therapist. I’m not sure I believe that Gina would want to confess to Maggie. I could be wrong and I get that it’s tricky. It’s just something I’ve been feeling lately.
• It’s very odd seeing Delilah and Eddie with other people, even in a semi-flirty way. It’s not as weird seeing Eddie and Katherine with other people. Just saying.
• I was very happy for a bit of a Barbara Morgan reprieve this episode. It wasn’t a total break, but it was enough. Whoever Drea de Matteo plays is not Barbara Morgan. But she knows her and sends Jon’s apology to her. I’ve seen a theory she’s a sister. Maybe?
• I really hope Gary is wrong about Andrew and he really does have Delilah’s best interest at heart, in whatever capacity she wants the relationship to be. I understand that we watch TV for drama. But it’s exhausting wondering what every new character wants, especially on this show.
• I absolutely love that the restaurant name is Someday as a nod to Jon. I don’t have the exact quote in front of me. But he’s right that if you keep waiting for someday you’ll never live a full life. I love that Gina will always have a reminder of that. Even as I’m writing about it I feel motivated to keep moving toward my dreams.

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 Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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