A Million Little Things Review: Goodnight (Season 2 Episode 8)
There are some beautiful moments on A Million Little Things Season 2 Episode 8, “goodnight,” but it’s one of the weaker episodes of the series so far.
Rome’s mom dying is one of the more unemotional deaths I’ve ever seen on TV.
That’s not necessarily a negative criticism. Renee’s death is sudden, but Rome is at peace with it as much as he can be because as he says, there is nothing else that needs to be said between him and his mother.
Losing someone is horrible. But when someone has lived a full life and loved people fully, there are lessons that can be learned from death when you pass through the worst part of the pain.
Rome can see the other side, and that’s wonderful. It’s also a rare depiction of death for a TV drama, and a realistic depiction of some experiences.
It’s sad that Renee won’t get to go on the cruise, but Walter is doing that in her honor. Tributes like that are priceless. When someone dies, it’s a reminder to keep living life to the fullest.
It’s just unfortunate that this happens at a time when most of Rome’s story is about PJ.
Renee’s death is meant to be a shock and has been hyped all season. So having Renee and Walter on more than one episode prior to this would be too much foreshadowing.
This episode does a mediocre job of making me feel connected to the Howards — or at least Rome — during this difficult time. That could’ve been remedied by a simple plot with Rome battling writer’s block with his screenplay. Something simple that lets us spend more time with him.
Instead, Rome has been hanging out with his friends’ secret kids (both of them) and spending the day looking for their dogs.
The death had to be a secret, but there is still a poor buildup to it.
The scene with all of the men picking up shovels and helping Rome physically bury Renee is beautiful. But the impact of it is weakened a little bit when Delilah says something about it to Eddie immediately afterward.
Delilah, Eddie, and Katherine’s fight is already getting tired. Eddie deserves paternal rights. He also deserves the grace to change his mind about wanting to be Charlie’s father. Before a baby is born, they are just an idea. You can’t hold and love an idea.
I don’t think Delilah’s trip to Paris is an excuse to keep Charlotte from Eddie, but the Savilles have a right to feel uneasy about it. They’re the vulnerable ones.
That said, both women take cheap shots at each other at the bereavement dinner.
Custody isn’t at stake here, and the secret is eventually going to come out. That’s ultimate drama, and there is no show without it. There’s no telling how that will settle when it’s over. But the fact that we can guess it’s going to come out makes it a little bit less exciting to watch.
Nothing is worse than this PJ story, though. PJ’s situation isn’t exactly dramatic. He’s just a fly I want to shoo away.
That’s probably because we know nothing about Jon and Barbara Morgan’s relationship. How are we supposed to care about their love child if we haven’t seen the events that led up to his conception on screen?
A Million Little Things is ABC’s answer to This Is Us, they just don’t switch time periods as often. They haven’t done many flashbacks this season, but the quick ones they have done aren’t about Jon.
This show is going to have to do something big to get me to care about PJ. I don’t get good vibes from him or his parents, to be honest. I never have.
The show really wants fans to idolize Jon, and that’s very difficult. But in this case, seeing Barbara from Jon’s eyes would really help me understand her and maybe even PJ.
There is a lot looming over the group going into the fall finale. But on the other side of the screen, I’m mostly feeling indifference.
A Million Little Thoughts:
- Gary and Maggie’s relationship is turning out to be the best this season — it’s great to watch them grow.
- I can’t be as happy as I want to be about the ring Maggie finds on the next episode until it’s on her finger.
- Let’s bring Eric back and banish PJ.
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.