A Million Little Things Roundtable: Surprise

Here is the official synopsis for this week’s episode (season 4, episode 10) of A Million Little Things entitled “surprise”:

Cam plans an elaborate surprise party for Maggie’s 30th birthday, but she isn’t the only one to make a shocking discovery. Meanwhile, Tyrell returns home and quickly realizes that things are not the same as when he left.

Nice Girls Cay and Rueben share their thoughts on this episode [spoiler alert]:

Cay:

Nothing like a party to get the entire cast in one room so the awkwardness can really manifest itself! Even better if it’s a surprise party, because *everyone* loves a surprise party. Maybe I’m cynical, but so many of the interactions in this episode felt so forced or exaggerated, from the “photoshoot” with Maggie to Anna recognizing Gary.

For example, since when is Jane so buddy-buddy with Maggie that she’d go to her birthday party? Her assistant, maybe, but Jane doesn’t seem like someone who would be going, much less involved in the planning/subterfuge. Did Maggie’s short-term stalker completely unthaw their relationship? Also Nick, clearly Maggie isn’t a fan of him, weird to invite him!

I also found myself wondering – is Maggie that much younger than the rest of the group, or are they all that young? I never got the impression that the rest of the characters were supposed to be in their 20s, I always assumed mid 30s.

OMG, Theo saying Katherine is “on the prowl” so matter of factly and then helping Eddie pick a tie. Cute scene, although I still think Eddie’s relationship with Anna is telenovela-level ridiculousness. And then she dumps him after meeting Gary and realizing that he kept that from her. As if that is something that could have easily come up in conversation and it was Eddie’s secret to reveal. I so hope that is the end of her. No need to ever bring her back!

It was weird but oddly comforting to have Katherine and Eddie calmly discussing her dating life. I guess I just love to see them being civil to each other and seeming to actually have moved on with their lives. My immediate reaction to Greta last episode was that she was waaay too edgy for buttoned up Katherine. Then I remembered that she fell for Eddie when he was a drinking/drugging touring musician, so clearly she has a “bad boy/girl” type!

It will be interesting to see how Eddie handles witnessing Greta and Katherine making out – will he see her choice as a rationale for why their marriage failed and feel less guilt about things, or more guilt for not knowing? He surely doesn’t seem the homophobic type, but that would still be a shocking revelation about someone who you were with for many years! Hopefully they will both handle it maturely.

During the last episode, I found myself wondering “are they ever going to bring Tyrell back?” and poof!, his plane arrived from Haiti in this episode. And he was lookin’ really good in that suit! Loved how maturely he handled learning about Rome’s mental health issues. I like him being back and their little family being back together! I also like Gina looking to potentially start a catering company with Valerie.

The most awkward scenes of the episode definitely involved Gary! He was definitely not having a great night, although Anna promising to keep his secret and then Maggie kissing him should have given him some comfort. I’m done with him and Maggie as any sort of romantic relationship and I’m definitely Team Caggie (or Mam?). But clearly we’re being set up for Gary and Maggie to potentially get together, but definitely for Gary to come between Maggie and Cam, even as Cam has been such a good guy and understanding of having Gary in Maggie’s life. Sigh…

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Rueben:

I can so fully relate to Maggie not wanting a party, just wanting to stay home for her milestone birthday. I give her credit for holding it together (until those video wishes, of course) from beginning to end at the party. I definitely was NOT expecting Maggie to kiss Gary in the elevator, though. We’ve both said how we keep expecting the other shoe to drop between Cam and Maggie, but for her and Gary to have that moment – that was unexpected! I would like for Maggie and Gary to eventually get back together, as I thought they were a great couple, but this isn’t the right time for that. Gary isn’t in the right head space for that, and of course Maggie has the whole “I love you” relationship with Cam. And, don’t even get me started on the fact that Sophie is still pissed at Gary, and they are still in a very difficult phase of their niece and uncle-like relationship. I’m kinda getting tired of Sophie still acting like a little brat.

It seems that Gary had a saving grace moment with Anna. I wasn’t sure how she was going to react to figuring out that he was the one who attacked her ex-husband Peter (albeit not alone, as we know). Her saying that she would keep Gary’s secret is all fine and well, but it still doesn’t resolve the fact that that police detective had his suspicions, and those suspicions just seem to have been swept under the rug storywise. Eddie even made a comment to Gary that no one saw him – well we know that’s not true given what Anna said to Gary.

As much as I want Eddie and Katherine to both be happy in their new relationships after their divorce, it’s gonna be interesting to see how things play out. How will Eddie react to what he saw in the coat room? Will he be able to mend things with Anna? And, for that matter should he even be with Anna? And why did Katherine not come clean with Eddie that “he” is actually a she. Katherine is not being honest with Eddie or Theo while enjoying her bliss with Greta, but she has to be honest with those closest to her at some point.

I loved that we got to see Danny and little Charlie in that video message, but I was hoping they would show Maggie’s dad in the video rather than us just hearing him talk.

It was nice to see Tyrell back in Boston, but his arrival was at a difficult time for Rome, but I was glad to see they were both honest and forthcoming especially with Tyrell telling Rome that he could lean on him and vice versa. Hopefully between Regina’s love and support and Tyrell’s sturdy shoulders (and the continued help from his dad and the doctor) that Rome can start to get better.

[Photo Credit: ABC/Darko Sikman]

What did you think of this week’s episode? Please share your thoughts below.

The next new episode of A Million Little Things will air on ABC on March 9 at 10/9c.