S01.E21: P-R-- PROM

[Drogo]

The arrival of prom night means Maya and Jimmy get a rare evening to themselves, but Kenneth is surprised to learn what they have planned.

At school, Ray thinks he's about to have his first make-out session with a girl; and JJ bonds with someone who shares his disdain for being the center of attention at school functions.

[GRChereck]

Splitting the main 6 characters on this show into 2 groups of 3 (Kenneth/JJ/Ray and Dylan/parents in "Hero," and Ray/parents and Kenneth/JJ/Dylan in "The Club") has been done before -- most episodes have tended to split them out into 3 pairs -- but splitting the 3 kids from the 3 adults was certainly a different thing to try. 

The Maya/Jimmy plot was ... not what I was expecting. Their reluctance to fight in front of the kids has been hinted at before (in both "Sled Hockey" and "Sick Day," Jimmy shooed them out of the room as he and Maya were getting into it), and I could understand the pair wanting to use their rare evenings alone to just blow off steam at each other without having to worry about the kids overhearing or walking in on them (similar to how Jimmy leaves his job frustration at work by screaming at planes, rather than taking it out on his family at home); but I had assumed there would be more to it than that, and I was surprised that their plot ended up being not so much about their marriage, as about Kenneth (as JJ's aide) wondering where he stands with JJ's parents. Considering the cold-open -- not only his getting to eat out with the family (as he did in "Valentine's Day"), but also his familiarity with the "sensitivity talk" ritual they do whenever they overhear someone use "the R word" -- perhaps there shouldn't have been any doubt in his mind that he's part of them by now. :)

Speaking of "the R word," I found it kinda neat how the show was able to side-step Very Special Episode territory by making the Ray/Riley subplot more of a personal dilemma for him than a teachable moment for the girl. It's certainly understandable that Ray's family, as part of the disability community, would have real concerns about ableist language in general (in some earlier episodes, the parents still had to remind each other not to use "normal"; and they also seem to have backed off a bit on "idiot"); but while some folks who don't necessarily relate to their circumstances can still be taught that words can carry hurtful connotations, others (like Riley) simply can't or won't be reached, and I'm sort of glad the show touched on that reality. (Also, how fitting that Riley happens to be on the Debate team, when the Kenneth/Maya/Jimmy plot was all about having and settling arguments...)

As for JJ's subplot, I'd say how it addressed issues of unwanted attention was pretty much in keeping with the show's different, nuanced takes on perks and special treatment (as exaggerated as such situations may be for comic effect, JJ's ambivalence usually seems to ring true); plus, I thought how Jimmy tricked-out his motor-chair was very cute, and JJ's scenes with Caroline were the sweetest.

 

P.S.: Re: the callback to Maya having wanted a dog (alluded to in the pilot), I guess Jimmy was in agreement with Ray on that. :D 

Edited May 4, 2017 by GRChereck
additional thought

[Nordly Beaumont]

17 minutes ago, GRChereck said:

JJ's scenes with Caroline were the sweetest.

I wish they would have held the last scene of them dancing just a few seconds longer. But I loved all the prom stuff.

[bros402]

That episode was good.

 

JJ & Caroline was good together. Though I want to know what Disco Mode would look like - I imagine it would be a disco ball instead of that multi-color LED ball thing. It seems in addition to Architecture, Jimmy has some engineering skills.

The thing with Ray and the people in the Reagan masks was a bit odd, but it made me laugh a lot when it appeared in the tag. It was just the right amount of odd.

[topanga]

5 hours ago, bros402 said:

That episode was good.

 

JJ & Caroline was good together. Though I want to know what Disco Mode would look like - I imagine it would be a disco ball instead of that multi-color LED ball thing. It seems in addition to Architecture, Jimmy has some engineering skills.

The thing with Ray and the people in the Reagan masks was a bit odd, but it made me laugh a lot when it appeared in the tag. It was just the right amount of odd.

Yes, I enjoyed it, too. The actress who plays Dylan continues to impress me. Not just her deadpan line delivery, but her overall comedic timing and her ability to mesh with older actors are incredible. She never stands out as a child actor among talented adolescent and adult actors. I never feel like I have to give her a break break because she's a kid. 

The funniest thing to me about the Reagan mask scene is why Ray stood there talking instead of running away from the flying tomatoes. 

And I liked the blond vampire/Goth kid who said his weird name and than said, 'No one's gonna question that? This group is awesome!' Where did he go after the anti-prom?

[Lovecat]

I have to admit to a big ol' guffaw when Kenneth came back to the table and sheepishly informed the DiMaos that the other party was having their roof "re-tarred."  Somehow I didn't pick up on why they were getting a lecture (I thought they had been caught whispering and staring or something), so that was a big payoff for me.  I really love this show.  So clever, so much heart, and Micah Fowler is a gem.  That kid can speak volumes with one look.

[topanga]

18 minutes ago, Lovecat said:

I have to admit to a big ol' guffaw when Kenneth came back to the table and sheepishly informed the DiMaos that the other party was having their roof "re-tarred."  Somehow I didn't pick up on why they were getting a lecture (I thought they had been caught whispering and staring or something), so that was a big payoff for me.  I really love this show.  So clever, so much heart, and Micah Fowler is a gem.  That kid can speak volumes with one look.

He sure can. I forgot to add that I loved how all of the DiMeos wanted to be the one to walk over to the other table to give them what-for. (Except JJ, of course). But Kenneth won by guzzling down his drink in like, two seconds. 

Edited May 4, 2017 by topanga

[71dude]

"Kiss or get lost, nerd"

"You love him because he's your brother, you love him because he's your brother..."

"There's no such thing as a free telescope"

I'll say this should be Mason Cook's Emmy submission - he's a pro (and a good sport).

The adults' plot was slightly over-the-top, though.

I love Dylan but I'm glad they didn't try to jam her into another subplot.

Edited May 4, 2017 by 71dude

[GRChereck]

5 hours ago, 71dude said:

I'll say this should be Mason Cook's Emmy submission - he's a pro (and a good sport).

Before this I was leaning towards "Road Trip" (especially for the sequence where he reveals how he manipulated where the family went), but yeah -- for all the other stuff that happened here with JJ and the parents/Kenneth, this really was Ray's episode. Even just the scene where he debates with himself was remarkable (when he hears Maya's voice in his head, he calls her "random British lady who could be anyone!" :D ).

Edited May 4, 2017 by GRChereck
typo

[Hero]

Ray's fear of kids in Reagan masks throwing  tomatoes at him was hilarious. 

[tennisgurl]

The kids in Reagan masks throwing tomatoes was just so damn random, that I couldn't stop laughing over it. Its practically absurdist comedy.

I liked how they dealt with the whole abelist language issue, and I would like to see it explored further from different angels. There are some people who say things like that, like Riley, who don't exactly mean anything offensive, but still don't want to apologize for it because it doesn't affect them, people who say that because they don't know anything better, and will feel embarrassed and apologize when they realize what they said, and there are people who say that, know its offensive, and just don't care. There are probably stories to be told with all three types.

"What do you mean random British lady who could be anybody?"

[Skyfall]

"I've heard about this. I think it's called annnnn aneurism?"

[alexvillage]

I liked the way they dealt with the slur, not the "educational" part of it. I am more radical on my approach. I liked that they didn't go to the "his mind is fine" territory. Yes, Ray did say JJ didn't have cognitive disabilities (although it seems they lumped intellectual and cognitive disabilities together - or maybe it was on purpose) but also making sure to say that people who are cognitively disabled deserve the same respect. 

And I also loved that they didn't use "normal", choosing to use "typical".

A moment of inspo porn brushed aside. Subtle and well done.

One little thing I wish had been addressed (which I realize would be too much for the episode): the strobe lights on JJ's chair (and all the lights at the prom) are inaccessible to many autistics, and to many epileptic people.

[bros402]

12 hours ago, alexvillage said:

I liked the way they dealt with the slur, not the "educational" part of it. I am more radical on my approach. I liked that they didn't go to the "his mind is fine" territory. Yes, Ray did say JJ didn't have cognitive disabilities (although it seems they lumped intellectual and cognitive disabilities together - or maybe it was on purpose) but also making sure to say that people who are cognitively disabled deserve the same respect. 

And I also loved that they didn't use "normal", choosing to use "typical".

A moment of inspo porn brushed aside. Subtle and well done.

One little thing I wish had been addressed (which I realize would be too much for the episode): the strobe lights on JJ's chair (and all the lights at the prom) are inaccessible to many autistics, and to many epileptic people.

With epilepsy - PSE is less common than some people think - it only occurs in around 1 in 4000 people with epilepsy.

[alexvillage]

4 hours ago, bros402 said:

With epilepsy - PSE is less common than some people think - it only occurs in around 1 in 4000 people with epilepsy.

It can still kill that 1 person. It is an issue with accessibility that people don't think about and it needs to be brought up to the consciousness.

I became more vocal about this after I met someone, a few years back, that went into status epileptics because of strobe lights.

[bros402]

20 hours ago, alexvillage said:

It can still kill that 1 person. It is an issue with accessibility that people don't think about and it needs to be brought up to the consciousness.

I became more vocal about this after I met someone, a few years back, that went into status epileptics because of strobe lights.

Oh yeah - status epilepticus is super sucky (had a series of three of them when I was 6) - but with how inclusive JJ's school is... I imagine that they would know if any student had epilepsy. They'd probably act towards that student like they did towards JJ.

Potential plot next season? A new student with some kind of disability arrives, jealousy arises?

[neuromom]

On 5/22/2017 at 3:38 AM, alexvillage said:

It can still kill that 1 person. It is an issue with accessibility that people don't think about and it needs to be brought up to the consciousness.

I became more vocal about this after I met someone, a few years back, that went into status epileptics because of strobe lights.

Status epilepticus is scary. And so many people I've talked to don't even know what it is. I remember being at Disneyland about 12 years ago when my son was 6 months old (went with family as there isn't much for a severely disabled 6 month old spaced out on phenobarbital to do there...) I tried to escape the park before the fireworks show, but they literally shut down everything five minutes before it started and we were trapped there....with the flashing lights of fireworks right above us, and all the explosions. Not one person understood why I was panicked! (My son slept through it all) 

Any awareness that this show brings to ANY disability is great. There are disabilities that exist..like epilepsy..that are "invisible" . I think what Bros402 suggested is good,,,bring on another kid, perhaps with a different type (and invisible type ) of disability. 

[balmz]

one thing i wonder is if jimmy somehow made the strobe lights safe for use or non seizure causing, not sure if that is even possible to do though

[bros402]

7 hours ago, hovegeta said:

one thing i wonder is if jimmy somehow made the strobe lights safe for use or non seizure causing, not sure if that is even possible to do though

Can't - there is no one frequency (that isn't the word, but that is what came to mind) of strobing/pulsing light that causes a seizure. It can be something as slow as flicking a light on and off really quick to a strobe so fast that you can't even tell it is strobing. They've flashed stuff like that at me during EEGs.

[Big Mother]

Funny, as a parent of a severely autistic child the word retarded does not bother me. Disabled kids are no longer referred to as retarded in this day and age. It has become a word to mean 'crazy' and it does not mean disabled people anymore.

[neuromom]

57 minutes ago, Big Mother said:

Funny, as a parent of a severely autistic child the word retarded does not bother me. Disabled kids are no longer referred to as retarded in this day and age. It has become a word to mean 'crazy' and it does not mean disabled people anymore.

Actually, maybe it depends where you live? My son has a "diagnosis" of "mental retardation". However, that WAS 9 years ago when he turned three and was evaluated. And they keep that label in his records, because his physical disabilities prevent him from taking any of the rests required to "prove" he is no longer "retarded". 

[bros402]

7 hours ago, neuromom said:

Actually, maybe it depends where you live? My son has a "diagnosis" of "mental retardation". However, that WAS 9 years ago when he turned three and was evaluated. And they keep that label in his records, because his physical disabilities prevent him from taking any of the rests required to "prove" he is no longer "retarded". 

If he were re-evaluated, they would change his diagnosis, I believe MR was removed from the ICD & DSM in 2013 or 2014. It was also removed from federal laws - including IDEA.

 

8 hours ago, Big Mother said:

Funny, as a parent of a severely autistic child the word retarded does not bother me. Disabled kids are no longer referred to as retarded in this day and age. It has become a word to mean 'crazy' and it does not mean disabled people anymore.

 

I have *never* heard that word used to mean crazy. I have only heard it used in a context where it was meant to be synonymous with moron/idiot/dumb/pick a word.

[GRChereck]

I thought this was so sweet -- according to his Instagram, Micah brought the disco ball from this episode to his own real-life prom:

:D