A Million Little Things Review: The Sleepover (Season 2 Episode 14)

One of the best words to describe A Million Little Things Season 2 Episode 14, “the sleepover,” is lovely.

There is a complexity and anxiety involved in some of that loveliness, but many of the endings are just as sweet for now. It’s a pleasure to step into these characters’ shoes for this hour, even though the paths they walk are a little bit winding. 

The most delightful plot is Danny and Elliot’s sleepover, of course. 

It’s not Danny’s sexuality that brings the extra layer into it, but the fact that the boys have kissed. However, the focus of the episode isn’t about their attraction to each other. It’s about saying goodbye.

While it’s sad from a representation standpoint that Danny’s love interest is leaving the show, goodbyes are a part of life for everyone.

It is a sad reality when you are younger, especially because moving is often a choice that’s made for you. Social media will make it easier for the boys to stay in touch, but neither of them wants that. 

Danny’s lesson is about staying in the moment, even when the future scares him. As a gay young man who is out, he’s nervous about being accepted by his peers. As sweet as Elliot is now, he hasn’t made things easy on Danny. Now that they are both comfortable with their feelings, Elliot is leaving. 

It’s natural for Danny to worry he’ll never find what he has now again. His journey has been hard.

The show does a great job of making the story mostly about the boys being in the moment and having fun. It’s still very weird that Danny invites Gary to sit on the couch and watch a movie with them.

The past is the past Danny. No matter if Gary was on your first date with you or not, why would you want him there on this date when you know Elliot has feelings for you? Get alone time with your man, friend. Gary is just there to peek in once in a while to make sure you don’t go too far.

He’s also there because he’s trying to distract himself from Maggie’s six-month checkup. But that’s not nearly as important to discuss as the fact that Allison Miller does a wonderful job portraying the anxiety that comes with facing that type of news alone.

It’s so effective because it’s a slow build-up. She’s single now and she thinks she can face it alone because she has to. When fear hits, she knows she has to call Delilah. Even after she learns she’s cancer-free, A Million Little Things is right to portray that the fear doesn’t end there.

Living six-months at a time is hard to adjust to, especially if you have a hard time living in the moment. The fact that Gary has been through that already is a nice way to bring them back around to each other so he can be there for her as the friend she needs, even if not in person.  

The rest of the stories end in a similarly peaceful place. It’s just a shame that there is an unnecessarily dramatic cliffhanger when Gary tells Delilah about Sophie’s pot. 

She’s an older teenager, it’s legal in some states, and this episode deserves better than to end with cheap after school special vibes. 

A Million Little Thoughts:

• It’s the right move that viewers haven’t met Derek yet. But when we do, he better not be a black man. TV doesn’t need more unnecessary portrayals of abusive black men. 
• Theo is a confusing kid. A Million Little Things is trying to create a balance of “smart but immature” and it’s not working. Dad cheating on mom is hard to deal with, but some of his questions seem off. 
• Eve having a job at “someday” is amazing but could get complicated.  

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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 10/9c on ABC.

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