S01.E13: S-I--SICK D-A--DAY

[Drogo]

Sick bay claims Maya and Kenneth, forcing Jimmy to take the reins of the DiMeo household as Dylan looks after JJ, who returns the favor by running interference between her and a boy she likes, but not even illness can keep the family from helping Ray with a school project.

[Lyinfait]

I love this show. I can't even remember all the lines that made me smile. It has hit its stride, every episode is this wonderful mixture of humor and heart. 

Poor memory: The sky is blue because it reflects the color of the sea? 

[Mystery]

That's what he said! This episode made me realize I'd watch even if it was just the main characters without outsiders. I love this family. I missed the beginning because of storm warnings; did they explain KK's cast?

[Lyinfait]

Not that I noticed, but again poor memory. Dylan raised her cast claiming she hadn't done her report because she couldn't write and Maya corrected her saying that she didn't use that arm to write.

The family interaction is just wonderful. Every combination of characters has worked for me. 

[possibilities]

Even after Kenneth was no longer sick, he stayed home and took care of Maya instead of going to school with JJ!

[bros402]

This episode was very enjoyable.

I can sympathize with the hiding from germs/sick - I have to do it now that I have a weakened immune system and I had to do it as a child - every winter from 1999 (9 years old) to 2014 I would get a respiratory ailment of some kind, usually asthmatic bronchitis - I would take anywhere from 1-3 months to have it fully go away.

I liked how they mixed up the character pairings in this episode. Always good for a series to stretch itself and explore the possible pairings early on. I would like to meet JJs doctors - I would be shocked if he didn't have a neurologist - and I bet his pediatrician can't wait for the DiMeo kids to get to 18, since I imagine Maya hounds them about everything.

[LisaM]

I liked how we saw JJ being Dylan's big brother in his own unique way.

Excellent episode.

[Chit Chat]

Quote

I missed the beginning because of storm warnings; did they explain KK's cast?

They never did explain it.  The only thing said about it was when Maya & the kids were in the van.  The previous post by Lyinfait explained the scene.  JJ's expressions are priceless!  Maya knew he was lying about his Dad doing a terrible job by the way he shook his head.  Then Jimmy calling him a blabbermouth!  There are so many good lines every week from this show. 

[tennisgurl]

Awww Jimmy doing traffic duty was adorable.

I really adore this show and all its characters. Its hilarious, but its also heartwarming, without ever crossing into twee or cheap.

[Mystery]

Thanks for the replies about the cast.

I forgot about the multiple uses of "blabbermouth." I love the unsentimental way they show sentiment! 

Edited January 19, 2017 by Mystery

[kat165]

Wasn't the cast just a fake out so Dylan could get out of something? Maybe a test? Hinted at in the scene mentioned above when Maya pointed out it wasn't her writing arm.

[Bobbin]

I'm glad they showed Maya helping J.J. with his physical therapy. There is sooo much more involved with such disabilities that outsiders don't think about. "Inspiration porn" leaves out the details of what the individual and the support team/family really goes through every day. The show conveys so much in just a half hour. The writers are amazing.

[Gulftastic]

JJ's useless lying skills made me laugh. 

[Indy]

Another great episode. It was fun to see JJ and Dylan together, with him being the protective big brother in his own way - and her realization that Ray is going to have to be the big brother that beats people up for her. 

Jimmy as the zen pick up line attendant was great. He really is the best balance for Maya. Also "I crushed a big boy day!"

I would like to thank this show for teaching me the word chelidon. Except my husband has decided it sounds like an extinct animal so he just told me to sneeze into my mastadon...

[Big Mother]

I was feeling so bad for how Jimmy was being crapped on by everyone. I knew there had to be *something* that he does. Turns out, he's the glue that holds the family together. He's the calming force in the face of Maya's mania. Come to think of it, Dylan and Ray are both high strung like Maya. Only JJ takes after his calm father.

Can you believe this is the same guy that plays Kripke on BBT???

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 1/19/2017 at 2:24 AM, possibilities said:

Even after Kenneth was no longer sick, he stayed home and took care of Maya instead of going to school with JJ!

It was sweet, but who took care of JJ's  bathroom routine at school either day? And why is it ok for Dylan to miss 2 days of her own schooling?

On 1/19/2017 at 10:39 PM, kat165 said:

Wasn't the cast just a fake out so Dylan could get out of something? Maybe a test? Hinted at in the scene mentioned above when Maya pointed out it wasn't her writing arm.

She kept it on the entire episode, didn't she?  I assume that in real life the actress had a cast, and this was their way of acknowledging it without writing the occurrence of the injury into the show.

Edited January 24, 2017 by ItCouldBeWorse

[neuromom]

10 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

It was sweet, but who took care of JJ's  bathroom routine at school either day? And why is it ok for Dylan to miss 2 days of her own schooling?

She kept it on the entire episode, didn't she?  I assume that in real life the actress had a cast, and this was their way of acknowledging it without writing the occurrence of the injury into the show.

I honestly didn't think too much about it, since she is the athlete in the family. I just assumed it was some sports injury that wasn't worth mentioning. 

[topanga]

On 1/20/2017 at 3:25 AM, Bobbin said:

I'm glad they showed Maya helping J.J. with his physical therapy. There is sooo much more involved with such disabilities that outsiders don't think about. "Inspiration porn" leaves out the details of what the individual and the support team/family really goes through every day. The show conveys so much in just a half hour. The writers are amazing.

I agree with the physical therapy--I appreciated watching it. And I liked the reminders that there's nothing wrong with JJ's mind. The way he "fired" Dylan instead of telling her that Chase was a jerk--which she never would've believed if JJ said it. The way he tried to lie but was terrible at it. 

And the show's throwaway lines are hilarious. Kenneth's subtle comments that the plastic really wasn't doing much to keep germs enclosed. As someone mentioned above, Dylan's comment about her cast and her mom reminding her that it isn't the hand she writes with. Ray's comment that the pre-menstrual (or was it pre-menopausal) nutrition bar helped his mood. Jimmy telling the parents and kids in the carpool line to get off the phone.  And Maya's post-it note with "Remind Daddy to pay bills." Well done, show. 

And I'm glad everyone including Jimmy learned what a calming influence he has on the family. Although everyone seemed to downplay the fact that working at a job he hates to pay the bills and keep their medical benefits is something. 

[GRChereck]

On 1/28/2017 at 6:29 PM, topanga said:

And I'm glad everyone including Jimmy learned what a calming influence he has on the family. Although everyone seemed to downplay the fact that working at a job he hates to pay the bills and keep their medical benefits is something. 

That was such a sweet moment. That whole part with Jimmy in the sickroom -- how, at his weakest and most vulnerable, his best self emerged to help Kenneth calm the rest of the family down and to rally everyone together for Ray's moon project -- was excellent. 

Also, after that, I would love to see him and Kenneth have a whole plot or subplot together before this first season is over. A while back, JRB had this to say in an interview with StarryMag.com: 

Quote

Q) Is there someone from the cast that you haven’t worked with much or at all that you would like more scenes with or to work with at all? 

A) My answer is Cedric [Yarbrough]. Cedric and I have a couple quick little interactions here and there throughout the series this far. There has been some talk about his character and my character having some sort of guy’s night and I’m really looking forward to that. I got to work with Cedric when I would come to do guest spots on “Reno 911.” He is really one of the funniest people in the world. I love that guy so much. He was the first person cast in the pilot of “Speechless” and when he got the job it made me really, really want to get the job just so I could work with him and see him a bunch of times during the week. He’s so funny, charming and self-effacing. He is really a delight to work with.

And I was just like, "Make it happen, 'Speechless' writers!" :) 

[71dude]

This one repeats on Tuesday (4/25) at 9 ET.