A Million Little Things Review: Listen (Season 3 Episode 13)

A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 13, “listen,” is a decent effort, so it’s a shame it does not make choices that would maximize its impact. 

It’s centered around going to a protest, but we don’t see much protesting happening on-screen. This is particularly confusing because Regina gets hurt, but we never see her marching.

It’s understandable that A Million Little Things may not have wanted to show Black trauma on-screen, but there are ways to convey tension without going too far. 

This is the biggest missed opportunity of the hour. 

But maybe A Million Little Things‘ point is not to show us protests, but rather to show us the different perspectives Black people living in today’s society have about protesting. 

Everyone in the Howard family has a valid reason for attending the protest or not. But even though Walter’s reason is the most bitter, his words resonate with me the most.

Walter: I’m not wasting my time toting around some sign, thinking throwing a bunch of paint on some posterboard is going to change the world… If you can find a jackhammer big enough to break up the foundation of this country, then I’ll go because that’s the only thing that’s going to make a difference.

It could be argued that protests crack the foundation to eventually make the jackhammer’s job easier.

But Walter is allowed to be tired and frustrated. His opinion is reflective of many people in the Black community. It’s why people who don’t face constant oppression because of the color of their skin need to step up. 

Walter is also a Vietnam vet with a grudge about those protests, and it’s hard to understand why A Million Little Things decides to make an episode about the Black Lives Matter movement also about the Vietnam War. 

It does tell us more about Walter and adds an interesting conflict between him and Flo, so we won’t harp on that too much. 

Rome skipping out on the protest to protect his mental health is important representation to see on TV. Some Black people are tired; others are on the verge of snapping and do not want to risk being triggered by police. 

History tells us they could die for being upset, or jogging, or sleeping in their homes, or playing with toys. 

So Rome makes the right choice. But it is also touching and true to character that he would care about parenting Tyrell and teaching him what it means to be Black in America that he would want to go to protect Tyrell and Gina. 

The moment Walter decides to go to the protest to be the father Rome needs is one of the most touching ways we’ve seen the Howard men bond on A Million Little Things. 

Storylines that are further removed from the protests don’t need to be there at all. But at least Maggie’s dilemma with her boss centers around getting a Black woman the mental health care she deserves. 

Gary’s whole “name shame” situation because he is half Mexican would be ridiculous if James Roday Rodriguez had not just recently made the decision to add Rodriguez back into his name. 

People who pass as white have unique dilemmas to work through in regards to race and responsibility, and it’s good to see Gary beginning to make the realizations he needs to. 

I’m just not sure this episode needs to focus so much on why Javier Mendez Jr. changed his name to Gary as a kid when Regina gets injured at a protest. But discussing passing privilege is easier to understand than why Alan and the Savilles’ marriage has to make the day so awkward. 

A Million Little Things makes the right choice to focus the end of the episode on Rome and Regina’s love.

The characters don’t get enough credit for holding A Million Little Things together. But it also makes sense that Rome feeling helpless waiting outside the hospital would help him understand how she felt when she found his pills. 

It’s something they may have to bring up and work through in their marriage for a long time. But it is beautiful that Rome is able to empathize with her and their marriage strengthens at that moment. 

What did you think of this episode of A Million Little Things? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

A Million Little Things airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

20 Women Changing TV’s Narrative