Loveday Writing

Season 1 – The pilot introduces the DiMeo family, the school, and Kenneth, the school’s groundskeeper who JJ hires as his aide. The second episode explores Kenneth’s first day as JJ’s aide and Maya is on the verge of firing him due to some missteps, only to change her mind when she sees him taking care of JJ in the bathroom.

The first season goes on to explore the school’s attempt at inclusivity, JJ making friends, the dynamics within the DiMeo family, JJ falling for a girl who is temporarily using a wheelchair due to a gymnastics injury, JJ wanting to play sled hockey, the family going on a road trip only for it to be cut short when Ray needs his appendix removed, JJ and Kenneth’s bond developing to the point of a close friendship, how JJ’s special needs affect each member of the family, and how the DiMeo family interact with other special needs families.

Towards the end of the season JJ runs away to Kenneth’s after overhearing his family’s conversation over who will care for him when they get older. The season ends with JJ experiencing independence by going to a special needs summer camp.

Season 2 – The second season premieres with the DiMeo family motivating themselves to be more organised with their lives when they realise they use JJ’s needs as an excuse not to get anything done. When JJ gets home, he finds a note left by Alexa, a deaf girl at his summer camp who asked him for a kiss. The family travels to find her so they can have their kiss.

The season goes on to explore Ray’s relationship with his first girlfriend, Taylor, Maya and Kenneth training new aides for the school, Maya’s mother and Kenneth’s father visiting, JJ discovering a passion for film directing, a rivalry between the DiMeo’s and Taylor’s family, JJ getting a service dog, JJ struggling during his 18^th birthday as he’s still not treated like an adult by his family, and Ray and Taylor breaking up.

The season ends with JJ’s horror film being nominated for awards at two film festivals, with one festival nominating him out of tokenism and the other, which he wins, was not aware of his disability. The season’s final moments show the family getting evicted from the house due to the service dog being a lease violation.

Season 3 – The third and final season kicks off with the DiMeo family going to London to visit Maya’s father and get a loan from him so they can save their house.

The season goes on to have JJ gain more independence, Maya searching for purpose in her life outside of motherhood, JJ getting a job at the supermarket that Kenneth works at as a weekend manager, JJ needing surgery during Thanksgiving, Maya and fellow special needs mother, Melanie, establishing an accessible clothing business, Kenneth and Melanie getting together, JJ entering into his first relationship with Izzy who he meets through Ray as he had a crush on her, and Jimmy trying to reignite his architecture career that he had to put on hold when Maya fell pregnant with JJ, and Kenneth considering going back to college once JJ graduates from high school.

The season and the series ends with JJ’s high school graduation which happened shortly after Izzy broke up with him, because he was giving up his spot at NYU because she was rejected. The series’ final moments shows JJ practising getting to campus on time with his family supporting him.

Even though the third season finale was written and aired before the announcement of the show’s cancellation, I felt it was a good series finale as it ended on a full circle as the show kicked off with JJ starting high school, and it ended with him graduating and moving on to the next chapter of his life. I was sad to see the show end but at least it ended on a high note.

Behind the Reviews – Edition #24 will be released next week and will focus on Squinters.