A Million Little Things Review: The Rock (Season 1 Episode 15)

A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 15, “The Rock” is heavy. No pun intended. There is simply no better word to describe it.

Death is a prominent theme throughout the hour. You might be rolling your eyes right now because Jon’s death is the whole basis of the series so far.

But for the most part on this episode, characters are not grappling with Jon’s death, they’re thinking about their own.

To be brutally honest, it’s another welcome break, as was A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 14, “Someday.” Suicide is a serious issue that should be explored on TV in depth. But the allure of who Barbara Morgan is dulls as the season goes on.

It’s close to the show’s “big question” so I understand why it’s dragging. But it’s worth noting that it’s possible to drag a major plotline on the first season of a show.

We see Eddie and Katherine struggle with who Theo’s legal guardian will be in the event of their deaths. The conversation is well-timed, as it comes in the middle of their divorce proceedings and after Katherine’s accident.

The timing of the conversation is clever, not contrived. But, Katherine’s accident itself is a cheap plot device.

She doesn’t have to be on her death bed with Eddie crying over her for the story to be believable. But, promotion for the episode hypes the accident, so there is a sense of deflation when she’s sitting up on a stretcher conversing after one commercial break.

A slightly more serious accident would’ve forced Eddie to define his feelings once and for all.

I have said I don’t support Eddie and Katherine together, especially with Delilah’s baby’s paternity a secret. That’s still true. But something is off about him and Delilah, too.

The show needs to dive into this deeper. Katherine hints at bigger issues when she and Eddie are eating dinner and discussing their choice to make Gary Theo’s legal guardian. Katherine says:

Eddie, I stopped giving you the benefit of the doubt a long time ago and that’s on me. I need to take some of the responsibility for where we ended up.

That’s fair enough. But, it’s one of the first times we as viewers are hearing this cited as a cause for their disconnect pre-divorce. Eddie’s alcoholic past is perhaps a hint as to why Katherine acted as she did. But so far, Eddie’s infidelity and Katherine overworking are the only reasons for the divorce viewers have seen.

The flashback of them painting is fun, or at the very least informative. The point is, we need to learn even more about Katherine and Eddie’s past.

Gary’s future is pretty well set up on this episode.

He deserves the happiness everyone is hoping he gets, and as a viewer, it’s easier to breathe knowing that Maggie now has a true desire to live. Because forcing someone to live when they really don’t want to is a heavy load to carry.

Gary being “the rock” for everyone, his and Maggie’s attempted trip to Plymouth Rock, and all of the problems they fix for their friends before they even start their journey makes for a somewhat predictable episode structure and a cheesy theme.

It definitely works, but dig deeper and the real theme throughout all of the plots is sensitivity.

The Howard men are learning to be sensitive to each other, and so are Katherine and Eddie.

Delilah even gets a lesson in being more careful and sensitive about Danny’s sexuality.

I’m not sure she actually literally “outed” Elliot as the show suggests —  no one on that sidewalk is in the dark about Elliot’s sexuality. Elliot may not be very secure with his sexuality, but it’s impossible to out someone to themselves.

Even if someone discovers their sexual preferences later than you guess what they are, it’s important to note that a person’s sexual identity is what they tell you it is at any given moment.

Still, Delilah should be more sensitive.

I’m not sure if viewers knew Elliot’s sexuality before this episode. One of the fears I had before watching it was that Danny would try to kiss Elliot and face rejection and bullying. That would’ve been intensely heartbreaking.

This direction is more nuanced and hardly seen on TV; it’s unique, and Chance Hurstfield should definitely be celebrated for how his work may be helping people — young or old — who are newly out or struggling to define their sexuality.

Of course, Gary is sensitive to everyone’s problems…but at the end of this episode, he has a much-needed breakthrough about Maggie’s cancer.

Gary is a cancer survivor. As mentioned above, he has helped to transform Maggie’s life into one she wants to fight and live for.

That’s great, right? That’s how someone is supposed to fight cancer…isn’t it? Maggie is out of her mind on previous episodes saying she doesn’t want treatment…who would say differently?

Positivity is always better than negativity, especially where sickness is concerned.

But watching the end of the episode a second time, I notice Gary realize something after he learns of Linda’s death: The negative outcome could be the reality for any cancer patient.

So, while it’s wonderful he has convinced Maggie to live and fight right now, it’s important to honor her wishes and help her check experiences off of her list.

Absolutely no one can guarantee anyone’s future, we can only support their fight for it.

This is —  I’m realizing as I type — another lesson all of the friends learn on this episode, and that’s what makes this show so great. No matter how deep you think you analyze it, there are always a million more lessons to learn if you dig deeper into another spot.

A Million Little Thoughts

• I only vaguely recalled Linda from previous episodes, even though I would normally recognize Marissa Jaret Winokur a lot sooner than I did. This made her death less impactful to me. I think the show missed the chance to use Linda more.
• Serious issues are hard to consistently tackle. But “Someday,” is the first time Regina opens up to her husband about her sexual assault experience. It would’ve been a nice thread to keep if she had a moment to herself before the dinner service with the mystery blogger, to remind herself this is her dream. It doesn’t have to be big and dramatic. But trauma lingers in everyday life. It shouldn’t just reappear when convenient for a TV show.
• Even through serious struggles, Regina and Rome’s dynamic with and support of each other is marriage goals.
• Barbara Morgan could really disappear like Ashley and there would still be a show here…it’s pretty much just a fact at this point.

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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