A Million Little Things Review: The Price Of Admission (Season 3 Episode 8)

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 8, “the price of admission,” takes on a lot of complex, important issues. It is surprisingly tolerable compared to previous episodes despite everything it’s trying to pack in. 

That is not to say that it’s a flawless episode. It’s completely baffling that A Million Little Things would tackle Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate but not have a scene with Katherine, Eddie, and Theo, or at least Katherine and Theo. 

It’s actually a huge oversight because no one talks to Theo about the hate he experiences. Rome, his dad’s friend, talks to him about why Eddie attacked the neighbor’s car.

He tells a story that’s important, but the fact that Black Americans have a harder time getting out of the prison system has nothing to do with a little boy getting bullied over Zoom. 

Theo is a very sheltered child — Katherine admits that. We know she is a very busy lawyer, but the fact that she doesn’t come home early to have a necessary talk with Theo is a plot device to keep her from learning about Eddie’s pill addiction until the very last minute. 

Hopefully, the topic of AAPI hate is not closed. If it is, A Million Little Things has stopped talking mid-conversation, at least there are resources for people to help and get help at the end of the episode. 

Alan and Katherine’s conversation is essential because at least it sheds light on the immigrant experience for us. But it is strange that Katherine only has her former law rival to talk about those experiences with.

My favorite aspect of the episode is that Eddie finally admits he has a problem and needs help. His confession works so well because A Million Little Things draws on the characters’ history to inspire it. 

Rome and Gary have had to have an intervention with Eddie before. Even though it’s a little bit random, the flashback to Theo’s birth also enriches the story. 

A Million Little Things sometimes forgets that the bond between friends is meant to be the core of the show. It’s natural to veer in different directions, but we need to come back to the center very often to continue connecting with everyone. 

Speaking of new directions, Tyrell has obviously been lying to Rome and Regina. But it’s a lot to learn that his mother has been taken into custody by ICE and he’s evading the system, especially on the episode dealing with AAPI hate. 

I like Tyrell and want him to stay in Rome and Regina’s lives. But adoption is the obvious way to go here, so they’d better tell authorities the truth soon. 

A Million Little Thoughts

•  Maybe I ship Gary and Darcy now? I really don’t know. 
• The disability jokes are so awkward. Not because disability jokes are taboo, A Million Little Things just hasn’t earned the right to use them with good representation. 

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 now airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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