S03.E10: R-O-- ROLL M-O-- MODEL

[GRChereck]

Quote

JJ challenges Maya's mentoring tactics when she takes a father and his young son with special needs under her wing. Dylan and Ray attend a teen support group for all the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, Jimmy's gorgeous new TV sets him on a journey for self-betterment.

[GRChereck]

No mention of Maya's new business this week -- but then I'm guessing this was the 14th episode filmed this season, according to the number on the official press release (#314). #310 and #311 are set to air Jan. 18 and 25, while the Feb. 1 episode (partially set at an Abilities Expo) is #313 and was apparently filmed the week before this one; I think tonight's ep worked as a cute stand-alone "filler" story (not necessarily a bad thing, if network scheduling calls for an episode they can just plug in somewhere without screwing up any on-going story-lines), though even if it was indeed originally intended to air a few episodes later, I didn't really pick up on any hints that the business could've already gone bust and Maya could be pushing the mentoring stuff on JJ just to give herself something else to do or whatever...

On to some of the highlights:

-- The first time we've seen Jimmy at work all season! (Though a couple times, he referred to the vacation / travel vouchers he receives among his perks...) Also, loving the fake TV-show titles -- first When Clowns Fall Down, and now World's Best Garbage Fights. xD (I'd count Britain's Most Embarrassing Weddings as well, but that sounds too much like a real thing...)

-- Ray was kind of an ass in this episode, and how weird that Dylan would end up being the conscience / voice of reason (but then back in s.1 she also once called him out on his whining about lack of privacy...); still, I loved him quickly realizing he messed up with her, helping his dad (who was losing control of his life, by first letting his new TV make him feel inferior and then trying to make himself feel superior to it) by quoting Dr. Phil, and taking her back to the support group. While I wasn't a fan of this plot, it was worth it just to have the scene where, as they're being encouraged to seek help elsewhere (in light of their earlier dishonesty with the group), the siblings end up having a series of breakthroughs regarding their particular family dynamic. 

-- Maya's antics aside, this was a nice plot for JJ to reflect on how things got better for him as he grew up, made friends, and found his passion; and his scenes with Owen were sweet. :)

Edited January 12, 2019 by GRChereck
clarity

[bros402]

Ray was an ass this episode - he was pretty horrible.

I liked how Dylan revealed she needed the group - because in families of kids with disabilities, the nondisabled children often feel ignored.

I liked the purely silly plot with Jimmy and the TV - it lasted *just* long enough to not go on too long.

I liked the plot with Owen. I hope we see him again sometime. Maybe we can have Zach Anner's character meet up with Owen, that'll help show Owen how the same disability can vary greatly. But, then again, the writer's might just use that as an excuse to shove all of the disabled characters into a plot by themselves and/or ignore them

[tennisgurl]

I hope we see Owen again, he was a fun character and I liked his interactions with JJ. That plot was sweet, even with Maya antics. 

I hope that Dylan can find another support group, she seemed to get a lot out of it. Ray was being an ass this week. I mean, dude, when Dylan is telling you that your being insensitive to people, you need to reevaluate your life choices. 

The Jimmy plot was just the right kind of silly. Was the pounding of the TV a Jumanji reference? I hope it was. 

[Skyfall]

4 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

I hope we see Owen again, he was a fun character and I liked his interactions with JJ. That plot was sweet, even with Maya antics. 

I hope that Dylan can find another support group, she seemed to get a lot out of it. Ray was being an ass this week. I mean, dude, when Dylan is telling you that your being insensitive to people, you need to reevaluate your life choices. 

The Jimmy plot was just the right kind of silly. Was the pounding of the TV a Jumanji reference? I hope it was. 

Ray has been horrible all year. Also he’s still in high school and used to be the good student, why is he worried about girls right now? He should know the odds of finding a soulmate in high school are slim to none.

[Chit Chat]

7 minutes ago, Skyfall said:

Ray has been horrible all year. Also he’s still in high school and used to be the good student, why is he worried about girls right now?

That plotline was kind of weak to me.  All they had to do was be honest about having a brother with special needs, and they would've fit right in with the group.  I guess neither he or Dylan was ready to open up about their feelings in the beginning.  I don't like this Ray.  I get it that his hormones are probably getting the best of him, but he's been unusually horrible.  I'm also disappointed that Maya has continually lied to JJ his whole life.   I know she meant well, but still, it would make one wonder what else she's lied about.

Edited January 12, 2019 by ChitChat

[kathyk24]

I loved this episode. My favorite scene was JJ confronted Maya. Maya reminded me of Barney's mother from How I Met Your Mother with her stories in order to comfort JJ. I felt so bad for Dylan you couldn't pay me to be a teenager. Ray was awful he'll never have a girlfriend with that attitude. I thought Jimmy's plotline was dumb. I think this show would be better with two plots per episode rather than three.

[GRChereck]

On 1/12/2019 at 4:23 PM, Skyfall said:

Ray has been horrible all year. Also he’s still in high school and used to be the good student, why is he worried about girls right now? He should know the odds of finding a soulmate in high school are slim to none.

He's midway through his Junior year; his Sophomore year, he was mostly preoccupied with Taylor. :) Still, this was yet another in a long series of Ray-pretends-to-be-something-he-isn't-to-impress-girls plots -- they had one not too long ago in the s.3 premiere, but I thought at least watching him struggle to maintain the "California dude" image was funny (especially considering how he said he was looking forward to getting away from that culture during the London trip), whereas this was just creepy (getting to listen to these girls share deeply personal and private feelings while not exactly being forthright about himself). :p

 

On 1/12/2019 at 4:30 PM, ChitChat said:

I get it that his hormones are probably getting the best of him, but he's been unusually horrible.

His antics this week were especially disappointing in light of his beautiful gift for his dad last week -- though I did find it kinda sweet that he got another opportunity to help Jimmy a bit (albeit played purely for laughs rather than emotional impact). 

 

On 1/12/2019 at 4:30 PM, ChitChat said:

I'm also disappointed that Maya has continually lied to JJ his whole life.   I know she meant well, but still, it would make one wonder what else she's lied about.

Yeah, as much as she seems to dislike other people being patronizing or overprotective to JJ (such as when his Junior-year teachers let him slack off, or Jimmy wouldn't let him play hockey because he was afraid of him getting hurt), the reveal that she's been outright lying to him -- even if simply to inspire him and help him believe in himself -- over the years kinda bugged me. :\ (Saying or implying "you can't" may be bad, but feeling like you have to base your "you can"s on completely made-up stuff isn't much better -- even if you think it's OK as long as the person you're trying to encourage doesn't know the truth.)

Edited January 14, 2019 by GRChereck
additional thoughts

[possibilities]

What was JJ talking about when he said he had friends now? Have we seen him have friends?

[kathyk24]

17 minutes ago, possibilities said:

What was JJ talking about when he said he had friends now? Have we seen him have friends?

JJ has been friends with a boy named Troy. He's involved with the film club as school and the sled hockey team. I think that's one of the problems with JJ having so many plots with Kenneth. We don't get to see him with his peers. I'd like to see JJ have a girlfriend.

[bros402]

2 hours ago, kathyk24 said:

JJ has been friends with a boy named Troy. He's involved with the film club as school and the sled hockey team. I think that's one of the problems with JJ having so many plots with Kenneth. We don't get to see him with his peers. I'd like to see JJ have a girlfriend.

I think they will save JJ having a girlfriend for next season - since it will probably get renewed - and college would be an easier place for him to find someone. I would like to see him dating this season, though. At least putting himself out there

[GRChereck]

10 hours ago, kathyk24 said:

JJ has been friends with a boy named Troy. He's involved with the film club as school and the sled hockey team. I think that's one of the problems with JJ having so many plots with Kenneth. We don't get to see him with his peers. I'd like to see JJ have a girlfriend.

Aaron (whom we should see next in this Friday's episode). :)

 

7 hours ago, bros402 said:

I think they will save JJ having a girlfriend for next season - since it will probably get renewed - and college would be an easier place for him to find someone. I would like to see him dating this season, though. At least putting himself out there

I'm guessing he must have felt pretty burned after the Claire arc in s.1 -- we haven't really seen him in any sort of similar plots since then (though in s.2, he got kissed a couple times, took a girl out to see The Last Jedi, and tried online dating) -- but yeah, it would be nice to see JJ try to have a little fun outside of preparing for HS graduation and college.