A Million Little Things Review: Junior (Season 3 Episode 12)

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, “junior,” is a perfect example of A Million Little Things‘ biggest problem: it tries too hard to be true to life, so its struggle is what shows up on the screen. 

The goal of many scripted shows is to connect with us in an authentic way; this is not a problem. The problem is that the struggle is so obvious.

To be blunt, it’s very difficult to understand how a room full of creatives does not see a bad idea and call it out for what it is. I’m talking about Gary’s father popping up out of nowhere to help Danny come out to his friends at school. 

First of all, I assumed Danny was out at school already after the whole situation with his co-star and crush, but I was mistaken. 

Even so, it makes no sense to bring a character we’ve never met before in to teach Danny a lesson. Javier’s literal existence is a strange plot device. Gary’s dad randomly comes to visit, and Gary tells us all episode how unaccepting he is when his actions show he’s just a little old fashioned. 

It’s supposed to be a big shock when he reveals that the picture he carries around with him is a fellow vet’s boyfriend, but it’s just a convoluted story. 

I can’t help but cringe when thinking about how unnecessary it is to fall into the “bury your gays” trope with a character we are probably only going to know about through dialogue. He has a name, but the fact that I forget it proves my point. Do better A Million Little Things. 

Danny actually coming out to his friends over Zoom is fine but forgettable. But the circumstances that make him ponder whether he should are odd.

The girl who jokes about the video game “date” is immature to do so. But when Danny later reveals he is gay, it’s a non-issue. Coming out should not be a big deal, but Danny’s whole struggle doesn’t feel natural — it’s an idea to fill time. 

A Million Little Things has proven time and time again during Season 3 that it is not concerned with authenticity, and Danny and Gary’s plot is not the only one that proves as much on “junior.” 

A random one-month time jump at the beginning of the episode does not explain why Eddie is suddenly home and not in sober living. I suppose we are meant to be more concerned with the state of Eddie and Katherine’s marriage than Eddie’s sobriety journey, but A Million Little Things misses a chance to go on a real journey of sobriety here. 

I’ve been a Katherine supporter since A Million Little Things Season 1 Episode 1, “pilot.” She has as much a right to leave Eddie now as she did when she found out he cheated on her and was the father of Delilah’s baby. But I no longer care about their marriage either way.

It’s just mean to have the couple divorce during the same season they have a vow renewal. Plus, now Katherine is breaking her vows, which does her no favors. It’s a shame A Million Little Things always villainizes her and does not see her full potential. 

But I’m not exactly angry about the demise of the Savilles. Anger would imply that the show is doing its job and evoking emotion out of me. I’m just committed to seeing Season 3 through, for better or worse. 

A Million Little Thoughts 

• The Howards save the episode again, but even that plot is just fine. There isn’t much to say. 
• Thankfully, we are going to hear conversations about race on the next episode. 
• When does Darcy see her child? 
• People come from all over the country and sometimes the world to go to rehab. We’re supposed to just accept that Jackie lives close enough to Eddie to just pop by with groceries and have a casual dinner when his plans go awry? 

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 Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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