S03.E05: How Come

[jewel21]

Quote

After Spencer gets some sage advice, he and the team rally around Chris to help him with his trauma, leaving Spencer to realize it's time to be honest with Coop to get over his. Laura grows concerned about Olivia's sobriety when she notices a change in her behavior, resulting in Laura doing something that could jeopardize their relationship. Jordan gets sidelined during a game, but his eagerness to get back on the field might have a long-term consequence. Meanwhile, Layla hits a dead end with her lawsuit, so Patience takes matters into her own hands knowing Coop won't be happy when she finds out.

Airdate: 02/15/2021

[mojoween]

I can’t wait for Coop to be right about Mo.  She better not get hurt in the process tho.

[KWalkerInc]

When Spencer was talking to the therapist, he did seem concerned about disrupting Coop's life and happiness, so I hoped that when he did finally talk to her about it, they would have him explain that he really didn't want to blame her for the shooting, it was his subconscious and all.  But instead he has to lecture her about what a bad (or at least stupid) person she supposedly is.  I don't get where the whole "you're always looking to pick a fight" thing he and Patience said comes from, since she's had about ten minutes in the history of the show where she isn't in danger, and it seemed she was bullied at school, not picking fights (except for hitting on that one girl who was close with Shawn).  And I think I remember a time when she did try to just go on with her life happily and Spencer kept telling her she was in trouble or something (of course she probably was).  Maybe that was different writers.  I hope that getting this off his chest will bring an end to Spencer's shoulder problems.  Otherwise if it continues, he'll probably blame it on the guilt he feels and that will be Coop's fault too!  I think Mo is smart and knows how to manipulate people, so her goal is to gaslight Coop and turn everyone close to her against her.  If she wins over Layla too, it will be really obvious.  I think Patience might end up getting hurt, but hopefully her conversation with Mo wasn't meant as foreshadowing.

I was skeptical about Jordan coming back and playing in the next game because I had a cousin in California who got a concussion in a game back in the '90s when it wasn't taken as seriously yet, and policy automatically kept him out of the next game.  That may have been district though, as I googled the current California policy, and it says the minimum time is seven days if the player clears protocol and has doctor's approval.  I am worried that Jordan will get really messed up, and I hope that Grandpa Willie (now that he is back, but not in this one) won't put in his two cents about needing to be tough or some other crap.  Asher was right in his advice, but I liked that Jordan pointed out that he didn't have a great track record with doing the right thing.

Olivia's storyline is frustrating because she was relieved about potentially being caught, but the test wasn't for alcohol.  Then she wants to confess but the phone rings.  Then she tries to dump her booze but Jordan needs the toilet to puke.  This was all a bit much, and now they'll probably have her fall into a total downward spiral even though they already did this both with Layla's mental illness and the flashbacks of when Olivia used pills.

I like that there is more football because of the characters being on separate teams.  I wonder what the opponent thought of South Crenshaw throwing another touchdown as the clock ran out.  That was weird, as they could have shown that score and then flashed forward to the announcer saying it was over.  It was kind of funny when J.J. was yelling at the ref from the sidelines and Coach had to remind him he was the quarterback now.

[marshmallows]

Ughhh I am so beyond over Jordan's whiny entitled self. He is so ridiculous to me. He is just one of those characters I have no sympathy for even when the writing clearly wants me to. I hope JJ is the new QB1 and not because Jordan has a severe concussion but because JJ deserves it. JJ doesn't make everything about himself- it's about the team for him which will make him the better QB in the end even if Jordan is technically the better athlete.

I'm glad Asher is back on the team. He deserves it. He has worked really hard. I know he has messed up but he is paying his dues.

I wish Spencer had presented that better to Coop about his arm. He presented that so poorly. It's not her fault. Tyrone is the bad guy, but Spencer does blame her because she got involved and he wanted to protect her. So I get where his feelings are coming from, but let's not forget who the real bad guy is. But the point about Coop looking for a fight is true- she is constantly getting herself into something she could have stayed out of. I do feel like this is why the conversation went differently than Spencer probably originally planned and it was the last scene of the episode so you know drama for next week. 

Unfortunately, Coop probably is right about Mo. But, she is going about it wrong. She could just say her peace to her friends and steer clear of Mo. So far all Mo has done is help. I don't trust her either, but she hasn't done anything bad yet.

I don't mind if we have an Olivia spiraling storyline. She is an addict so it is realistic and we only saw her other one in flashbacks. It's super realistic that she would relapse. I am curious to see how this goes with alcohol. I feel like maybe I don't understand addiction well, because some people say "I'm a cocaine addict but I can still drink alcohol" and they manage it pretty well, while others say "I'm a cocaine addict and therefore I stay away from all drugs because I'm addict." I don't know which one is right or wrong and maybe it's just person dependent. Obviously Olivia has an addictive personality and her alcohol drinking is addict like with the sneaking, lying, and drinking it throughout the day in a water bottle. If she was drinking with friends at a party I would be less concerned. So she clearly isn't the type of addict who can say I will not do pills but I can occasionally drink alcohol in a social setting. She just needs to stay away from all substances.

[KWalkerInc]

Coop should steer clear of Mo, but that probably still wouldn't work since even when they aren't approaching her she is all, "Excuse me.  Did I overhear that you're having problems with a lawsuit?  Maybe I can help!"  It's great to come in and do things to help the community, but she is just so over the top and super-public with her efforts that it's probably a ploy (not in real life, as some people do that just to draw attention to causes and encourage others, but for the show).  She can say she's just sorry and wants to make amends, but she could do that without always making sure everyone sees her and knows that everything good happening is because of her.  She is neither humble nor subtle.  The other characters will likely keep arguing that no one would do so many good deeds just as part of a plot, but maybe Mo is psychotic.  That's why they play scary, dramatic music when she appears.

ETA:  I was confused because I thought Coach Montes had already reinstated Asher in the previous episode.  At least then he could have gotten in some practice time before just being thrown into a game.  I know he's in shape, but he'd probably be extra-sore after not having any contact for many months.

Edited February 18, 2021 by KWalkerInc
Note about Asher.

[topanga]

13 hours ago, marshmallows said:

Ughhh I am so beyond over Jordan's whiny entitled self. He is so ridiculous to me. He is just one of those characters I have no sympathy for even when the writing clearly wants me to. I hope JJ is the new QB1 and not because Jordan has a severe concussion but because JJ deserves it. JJ doesn't make everything about himself- it's about the team for him which will make him the better QB in the end even if Jordan is technically the better athlete.

I'm glad Asher is back on the team. He deserves it. He has worked really hard. I know he has messed up but he is paying his dues.

I wish Spencer had presented that better to Coop about his arm. He presented that so poorly. It's not her fault. Tyrone is the bad guy, but Spencer does blame her because she got involved and he wanted to protect her. So I get where his feelings are coming from, but let's not forget who the real bad guy is. But the point about Coop looking for a fight is true- she is constantly getting herself into something she could have stayed out of. I do feel like this is why the conversation went differently than Spencer probably originally planned and it was the last scene of the episode so you know drama for next week. 

Unfortunately, Coop probably is right about Mo. But, she is going about it wrong. She could just say her peace to her friends and steer clear of Mo. So far all Mo has done is help. I don't trust her either, but she hasn't done anything bad yet.

I don't mind if we have an Olivia spiraling storyline. She is an addict so it is realistic and we only saw her other one in flashbacks. It's super realistic that she would relapse. I am curious to see how this goes with alcohol. I feel like maybe I don't understand addiction well, because some people say "I'm a cocaine addict but I can still drink alcohol" and they manage it pretty well, while others say "I'm a cocaine addict and therefore I stay away from all drugs because I'm addict." I don't know which one is right or wrong and maybe it's just person dependent. Obviously Olivia has an addictive personality and her alcohol drinking is addict like with the sneaking, lying, and drinking it throughout the day in a water bottle. If she was drinking with friends at a party I would be less concerned. So she clearly isn't the type of addict who can say I will not do pills but I can occasionally drink alcohol in a social setting. She just needs to stay away from all substances.

RE Jordan: The one opinion I share with Billy's dad is that Jordan has been pampered his entire life and isn't prepared for the world. I still like him, but he can be a bit petulant when things don't go his way. I blame his parents. Yes, he's biracial, but in most cases, the world will consider him a black man. For example, going back to last season (or was it Season 1?), there's no reason Jordan should've have made it to 16-17 without Billy and his mom having The Talk with him about how people of color have to act around the police. 

RE Coop: Sometimes Coop is street-smart (e.g. being wary of Mo), and other times, she acts like a naïve 17-year old--getting herself in situations where she or others around her might get hurt or killed. I wish the writers would just let her be happy sometimes. It seems like she had a blast on the summer tour, but we only saw her be joyful about it for like 5 minutes.

RE Olivia: Olivia's storyline interests me the most of anyone's -- besides Spencer, maybe. From the beginning of the show, she's been treated as "other:" by kids at school, and even by her parents at times. And Jordan. They all seem so wrapped up in Jordan that they rarely notice what's going on with her. Olivia is not the only kid at Beverly High who has a problem with alcohol, and she probably isn't the only student to have gone to rehab. But remember in the first season when she was treated like a Untouchable at school? That was sad. And I didn't understand the entire story, but it seems like over the summer she tried reaching out to her AA sponsor, but the sponsor blew her off. Assuming she was telling the truth when she said that. 

And when Olivia does try to talk to someone about her life--Spencer, her mother, etc.--they often get interrupted, and then there's a change of subject. I like Olivia because she has a kind heart and cares about those around her. But the seems the care isn't always reciprocated.*

 

*Editing myself: Spencer took a bullet for her, so he clearly cares about her.