A Million Little Things Review: The Perfect Storm (Season 2 Episode 4)
Most of this review of A Million Little Things Season 2 Episode 4, “the perfect storm,” is going to be dedicated to pondering whether Maggie is a brat or not.
She’s been one of the least annoying offenders so far throughout the series. It’s completely understandable to be mad that your mother lied about how your brother died. She’s not unjustified.
Chad died six years ago. Organ donation is an absolutely wonderful gift to give someone in a loved one’s memory. She’s mad at Patricia. Yet, at least in the beginning of the episode, she seems angry that Eric is alive.
Maybe that’s just part of her processing. But later, she’s the one that screams at her mother that Chad is dead. So why be mad someone else exists because of your brother?
She has to process — but she also seems like a brat.
So does her father, honestly. Patricia made a mistake, and there are going to be even more issues to work through in her family now than if she’d told the truth in the first place.
Deciding that your son’s heart should give someone else life? That doesn’t warrant a divorce or separation. She lied — so it warrants therapy and support from her family.
I’ve never lost a sibling. I don’t know the pain Maggie is feeling. But she throws so much anger at her mom before even trying to understand where she is coming from.
So, Maggie’s feelings are valid… but she’s also a brat.
MELORA HARDIN
There should be an asterisk after that last sentence because Patricia needs so much help.
The reason she lied to Maggie is clear. (Perhaps not her husband though…she probably should’ve told Eugine).
Eric having Chad’s heart is amazing, but it’s just an organ. A heart doesn’t give its recipient the donor’s personality traits. But Patricia might think Eric is a new son — that’s how the episode is angling it — and that is deeply troubling.
Speaking of creating truths in your head, Maggie just makes up what her mom’s actions mean. So, as a viewer, it’s really hard to get a clear read on Patricia.
For example, when they’re talking at the airport, Maggie freaks out when she learns that when Patricia came to Boston when Maggie was sick, she also met Eric for the first time.
OK, it’s messed up that she went to Eric first. But as an outsider, I want to believe that she visited for both reasons equally. Maybe meeting Eric gave Patricia the strength to face the fact that she might be going to say goodbye to her last living child.
The order that Patricia does things is strange, but everyone around her is catastrophizing her actions and it’s not right. She’s not a villain.
Maggie thinks her mother has always made everything about Chad. On this episode, she twists all of her mother’s actions to make them about her, and it’s so annoying.
Let’s move on to a particular scene within this storyline, because A Million Little Things sets an example other shows should follow more often.
When Patricia is telling everyone the story of the night Chad died, they use flashbacks.
They could’ve just given Melora Hadrin a monologue, as so many shows would have. Hardin would’ve delivered the speech wonderfully.
Instead, the show chooses to throw a wig on her and probably give her some makeup to help get the character’s age right and they shoot a few scenes in a hospital.
I’ve never been involved in a TV show’s production, so I don’t know what a choice like that costs or entails. All it does for sure is improve the quality of the episode and show that this team truly knows how to tell a story.
A Million Little Thoughts:
- Whoever decided to finally have the group acknowledge that Katherine is an outsider is a genius and may have saved the show in the long run.
- Carter is my new favorite character. He can make the snarky remarks about Katherine’s situation that Katherine can’t, and let’s face it: Someone needs to make snarky comments about Delilah.
- I love a rainy night on TV and in real life, so something about the whole story told at Someday on the episode is cozy.
- Plus, yay to saving the restaurant! If they wanted to, the show could use family-style dining as a truly unique way to introduce new characters.
- Eddie needs to visit Charlotte. He and Rome have a really fun story this episode. It’s nice to see a man figure out how to take care of his daughter rather than calling a woman and flailing around helplessly for too long.
- I support Katherine’s decision. But if she’s staying, the show needs to let her stay and stop trying to trick viewers into thinking she might leave.
- Eric being the recipient of Chad’s heart is a lovely reveal. He wasn’t a lover because Maggie guessed that too quickly. I thought he might be a sibling. I never made the correct guess on my own, but when I found out, it felt natural, not contrived. This show is getting good at natural reveals.
- I hope Eric doesn’t become part of a love triangle.
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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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.