State of the Shea Pt. 55: Why Try To Change Them Now? (“My Way”)

As close as we are to the end of TGD season 5 (sigh)...

And with a repeat of the “Dry Spell” episode airing this week, just before the home stretch begins (double sigh)...

It seems a good time to both lay some season-end ground rules, and clarify a couple things about S5 and S6 that made the rounds this week.

**

In fact, let’s start there. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet in a blog post, but The Good Doctor wraps up season 5 on May 16 with what will be its 18th episode. If that has you scratching your head and saying I thought they said we’d get 20 episodes this season like we did for S4 and S3, take heart– that was the plan, and in fact they ARE shooting 20 episodes (or “DID shoot,” depending on when you read this). But with multiple ABC series closing out the season that same week of 5/16, it appears that the network is kicking into its summer programming the following week. (Yes, last year we got new episodes all the way through early June, but we also had more stops and starts on the season than a kid trying to drive a bumper car for the first time.)

As for episodes 5x19 and 5x20, they are now poised to lead off TGD Season 6 according to this article. But they weren’t intended as such; therefore, 22 episodes are currently planned for Season 6.

What do we know about the remainder of THIS season? Here’s where those “ground rules” come in…

(AND IF YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY AVOIDING ALL PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL, INCLUDING CURRENT PROMOS FOR THE 5 X 16 EPISODE, PLEASE SCROLL ON DOWN TO WHERE IT SAYS “And Now, Let’s Talk About My Way”. )

• What I try to do on the blog itself is discuss a) episodes that have already aired, and b) any “official” material that has been released promoting future episodes… photos, press releases, video clips, articles, stuff like that. 

• I also like to share thoughts, wish lists, and speculations from readers about future episodes… when time and my own meager organizational skills allow, that is. (Hopefully you’ll get a better sense of that in my pre-”Shaun Show” post.)

• What I don’t do is share pictures, rumors, etc. that either feel too spoiler-y, very unofficial, or both.

• And if anyone taking the time to leave a comment– either here, or on social media– could be sure to follow the same guidelines, that would be AWESOME.

Once an episode has aired, anything about it is fair game as far as I’m concerned. I may take the extra step for a while and try out one of these handy-dandy banners announcing the presence of spoilers for those who haven’t watched the finale yet, for instance… let’s see if this works–

Careful, SPOILERS AHEAD

〰️

Careful, SPOILERS AHEAD 〰️

Because that’s what all the grown-up TV blogs do, right?

That was just a test

〰️

THERE ARE NO SPOILERS HERE,

That was just a test 〰️ THERE ARE NO SPOILERS HERE,

OK, I think that takes care of housekeeping for now.

And Now, Let’s Talk About My Way

For the first time in a while, Shaun and Lea’s relationship (and pending nuptials) were front and center in “My Way.” In fact— thanks to Lea and Jordan’s business venture subplot— Paige Spara was perhaps the busiest actor on TGD’s set during the filming of 5x15! (More on that later.)

Between #Shea/Shaun’s POTW (which truly went hand-in-hand this time) and the efforts of #DilAllen, there was only one other story to follow. Let’s start there.

Dr. Marcus “Carlton” Andrews and POTW Kevin

Aside from the obvious question that came to mind for me… How did the super-swamped president of the hospital suddenly find time to drop everything and become this kid’s doctor?… This was an excellent subplot.

And so many people sang Hill Harper’s praises on Twitter for his Carlton Dance— everything from being greatly entertained to providing relief for their all-consuming depression— I felt bad for joking about how lame it was. (The lamness was the point, Kelli. Jeez.)

With their bonding over dyslexia and art, coupled with Kevin’s opening up about the source of his injuries, many viewers took note of Andrews’ profound compassion for Kevin and his group-home situation… leading many to wonder if Andrews would step in and take Kevin on as a foster child.

I mean, Andrews took a field trip to discuss the matter and everything.

But it would’ve felt like a big stretch if Andrews was filling out paperwork within one episode’s time (to say nothing of POTW Kevin’s willingness to go, which would be far from instantaneous). The “whoops, guess you’ll have to stay here all the way until you get a new foster home” thing was much more believable, assuming the state is paying Kevin’s hospital tab. TO BE CLEAR— I’ve no idea as to whether or not there’s a longer-term story in the works for these two. But Andrews, now divorced, childless, and perhaps on a break from women in general (THANKS SALEN), is certainly ripe for the kind of enrichment that a young man like Kevin could bring into his life. Fingers crossed…

The DilAllen Device (Jordan, Lea, Glassman)

Initial thoughts of mine…

• It’s encouraging to see this next part of the arc so soon after 5x13… though, with the shortened season, I wonder if it’ll be the fall before we hear of it again.

• The addition of Lea’s “sorta kinda almost father in law” is inspired! And I’m curious if we’ll see this threesome evolve, or if they’ll go around in circles with the age/sexism issues on every iteration of Jordan’s device? (Hopefully a little of both.)

Speaking of the sorta-kinda-almost-father-in-law…

Let’s start with that early coffeeshop scene. It seemed almost delete-worthy on the surface (note I didn’t even get a screen grab of it), but I think it was there to remind us that Glassy’s on a journey this season. It was a literal journey for a while, but now he’s firmly planted both at home and at St. Bon’s… while still figuring out where he is in life. He’s single (again), aging (was compared to a grandfather in this scene), and perhaps in this episode, for the “aging” reason alone, he’s feeling an extra need to stay relevant/connect with the younger generation.

No wonder he became eager to collaborate on (not just “endorse”) Jordan and Lea’s project, huh?

But… he’s got a lot to learn about this process. (As do they.)

I put the latter in parentheses because, to me, that’s a given. Jordan has an inventive, business-oriented mind and a little experience marketing her own product (which is an art form in itself no matter how long you’ve been at it), while Lea is an innovative tech goddess who admitted to Jordan the next step was “out of her wheelhouse.”  They know they need help from someone with clout– that’s why they went to Glassman. What they weren’t ready for upfront was the need to accept a tradeoff, for how often does someone like Glassman simply says Sounds great, my endorsement is yours, best of luck to you? 

Some of it is that natural desire to improve on something, and to believe that you truly can. But some of it is that feeling you are needed to guide the inexperienced ones, even if said inexperienced ones don’t realize it. Factor in Glassman’s curmudgeonly nature, and his head-butting history with Lea in particular (a certain elevator scene in S4’s “Decrypt” episode snaps to mind), and you get a guy who often tries to say and do the more progressive thing but, more often than not, just seems to make matters worse. 

So the minute Glassman started on how Jordan’s product “needed to be re-tooled”... strike one. (Because Jordan never asked for a product analysis, no matter how valuable the input.)

Then he minimized her efforts (“And the drawing board is, what, two months old?”) …strike two.

Then he felt the need to call them ladies… why call out their gender at all unless you’re using it (consciously or otherwise) to further minimize them? (Personally I’m just grateful he didn’t call Lea and Jordan gals… UGHHHH. Nothing rubs me the wrong way more than gals.) Strike three… 

BUT, then he went on to use the word “but”... aka ignore what I just said because here comes the way I truly feel. (“You ladies have a multimillion-dollar idea here, and it’s great, but I’m suggesting you’ll have a billion-dollar idea if you listen to me!”)

Strike four?! There is no strike four. He’s already out. Except then Lea steps up to bat… 
And points out strikes one, two, and three. To which Glassy yelps “Sorry??” and then tells Lea that Jordan is being too sensitive.

(We’re into extra innings with the strikes at this point, and I know I’m mixing my baseball metaphors now but to quote both S2 Lea and Dua Lipa, IDGAF.)

Add in one more healthy dose of “mansplaining” (“Maybe if you just listen to the idea rather than the way the ideas are being presented to you…!”), and Lea was done. BTW, did you notice how she kept her cool while it was Glassy who was “being emotional”? She hasn’t always been able to do that in his presence (Truth!!) but it’s worth noting that, in this instance, he’d become just one of So. Many. other men she’s had to deal with in the male-dominant STEM field. 

So how the hell did the three of them to where they got by episode’s end? Enter Morgan, who didn’t even have to be in the room to summarize the situation perfectly: “While some of your symptoms overlap with toxic masculinity, your real underlying issue is Boss Syndrome. Which is very treatable: SHUT UP. You’re used to leading. Now you have to learn how to be quiet, listen, follow…”

It was the perfect Big Picture energy for a man who, bless him, really is trying.

And by the way, if it seems like I was over-analyzing that pivotal “sensitive” scene with Glassy, Lea, and Jordan… not only have I “been there” in one way or another (who else? Show of hands???), but the comments that were left on YouTube about this scene initially skewed toward I think Jordan and Lea blew this out of proportion…or I just don’t know what he said that was sexist… 

To which I’ll just point to this comment, left a few days ago: “Many people don't understand where ‘the sexism’ is in this scene. This is exactly what the writers want to show. Sexism is everywhere, every second, because we live in a society where it is the norm.”

And with that, let me transition to the next part by noting this: So busy was Lea in “My Way” that there wasn’t even a scene to buffer her last one w/Glassman, and her last one with Shaun, Joan and Sophie… She was in one place/storyline, then instantly in another. 

(Now THAT’s a problem they never had with her in S2 and S3!)

So let’s get to that other storyline already.

The Alarm Clock/snooze button… isn’t this a perfect storm for ASD/NT couples like these two?

• Lea kept hitting snooze (selfishly); he eventually turned it all the way off (also selfishly).

• When she was upset about getting up late (because of the turned-off alarm), Shaun didn’t apologize for turning it off, but quickly pointed out why he was right for turning it off (research to prove the detrimental nature of snooze buttons).

• And although he made her decaf coffee (grrrrr), this is the second time in recent memory he’s made her coffee. Significant because he “doesn’t like the way coffee makes him feel” (as per S3’s “45-Degree Angle”), so I’m assuming he doesn’t make any for himself… just her.

• Anyway, I’m thinking of all this as the “perfect storm” because we’ve got self-described “selfish” Lea and “Likes things a certain way” Shaun clashing in a way that many couples do… with the resolution not nearly as simple as “I’m sorry,” or even as “simple” as an argument. Which is why Lea contemplates sleeping in the guest room on early mornings… but then contemplates sticking to her guns and NOT sleeping elsewhere… and then is clearly relieved when Shaun presents her with the perfect (storm) compromise.  

• If only ALL conflicts could be resolved so easily, right? In that sense, it was a very made-for-TV issue… and I’ll admit, one that made me shake my head a little and say I’m hard-pressed to believe they’ve never dealt with this before in their 18 months of sharing a bed. But it was a fantastic way to present #Shea dealing with matters in very #Shea ways. Both are flawed— sometimes in ways that can be helped, sometimes not so much— but both continue to cultivate patience and problem-solving as their love for each other grows ever deeper. Who wouldn’t want to see that showcased on TV?

Let me re-phrase that… who wouldn’t want to see that showcased on a reality series on Hulu about atypical couples?

A few other minor things I want to mention as Sophie comes into the picture...

1) Who else shook their head when Shaun told Lim that wearing earplugs couldn’t resolve the snooze alarm issue because “I don’t like putting things in my ears”? Either his feeling about this has changed from just a year ago (“Forgive or Forget”)— in which case I’d like to hear that explained— or it was sloppy writing. If they didn’t want that to be a viable solution in this case (because they wanted the clearer compromise of the vibrating alarm watch), there were better ways to write that than to disregard Shaun’s own history.

2) On the other hand… Lea’s brother Donnie got a mention in “My Way” which made me so happy!! And the “it failed” from Shaun (about the shop she and Donnie “ran into the ground”), ill-timed as it was, was another reminder that Lea’s backstory with her brother Donnie is still OUT THERE… Season 6? Are you listening?

3) It was interesting that Lea introduced herself as a “software engineer” on her way to discussing her auto background with Sophie. While I think it IS safe to say that software engineering falls under her IT director umbrella… does that aspect tie closer to what she was doing with the iron lung? Just curious.

Anyway, about Sophie, the documentarian who also happens to be a little person… I like her. She’s persistent, inquisitive, and boundary-free… which perhaps is the expected personality these days of TV producers? I say that as someone who WAS a TV producer, writer/producer, producer/director, corporate video producer, field producer, associate producer, etc. etc. for over 25 years. I can think of a couple relevant stories from those days to share over the course of these “reality show” episodes of TGD… but for now I’ll just say that if Sophie’s style is the key to her success, I understand all the better why I’m sticking with the writing side of things nowadays!

And Sophie’s “How’s the sex?” question may have seemed outrageous for her to ask Lea within hours of meeting her, but it told Sophie two important things as she sifted through this idea of telling Shaun and Lea’s story…

1) Lea is forthcoming enough (to be a good interview subject); had she taken offense or shut the conversation down completely, Sophie may have shuttered her whole plan too.

2) When Shaun was semi-prompted to comment after Sophie told her aunt that “Dr. Murphy’s surgical skills were matched by his skills in the bedroom”... with him not missing a beat in replying “It is important to me that Lea is sexually satisfied… and she is also very skilled”... surely Sophie could only think MY GOD, WHAT AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW HE’LL GIVE.

And one big thing to remember about Sophie… for all her brashness, she was introduced as someone who is kind and compassionate towards her aunt… and is making a career of giving unseen people and situations a voice. I presume her own unique place in the world as a little person influences her perspective even further… I think it’ll be indicative of the kind of “show” we’ll get from her.

But first… MAYHEM. At least a little of it.

We’ll talk more about that next week, in a post I plan to share ahead of “The Shaun Show” (5x16).

(Have your shared your thoughts yet about “My Way” and/or the reality show idea? The comments are a great place for discussion!)