What do you think of Ginny? Is she an interesting character? A good role model? Have you enjoyed her arc so far? Do you think the show is doing a good job with her?
Beata: I adore Ginny. I mean, yes, there are times when she annoys me a bit, but that only makes me appreciate her even more. She’s flawed, and far from perfect, but relatable despite her extraordinary position. I also love that she’s a badass woman of colour who’s allowed to make mistakes and be human. As for being a good role model, I mean, what else can you ask for? She works hard, she doesn’t let anybody tell her what she can and cannot achieve, and she’s one of the most empowering female characters on TV right now.
Lizzie: Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Did I say yes? Because I love Ginny – I think she’s probably my favorite character on a show where I like absolutely everyone. I think the thing Pitch has done best is make her real. Yes, she’s a role model, but role models shouldn’t come with achievable expectations. The show presents her in a way that makes her a role model even if she screws up – and in a way – because she screws up and keeps trying. And that’s what we need in real life, someone to look up to that doesn’t feel so different from who we are, and who we can be.
And we’ve only seen but a glimpse. There’s so much I want to see Ginny achieve, so many milestones I want to be a part of. Can the team make it to the playoffs? Will she ever throw a complete game? Will we see more of her Mom? Her dad? Her time in the minors? Will we ever see her on a romantic relationship? Will she ever appear on that show with the sassy female commentator? SO MUCH I STILL WANT TO KNOW. (Psssst, FOX ….renew this)
Erin: There are not enough ways to say yes to this. As women, we’re always supposed to look like we have our shit together. We’re not supposed to let things get to us. I can tell you that there are many women out there who put on that facade – because it’s what we do. But Ginny reminds you that it’s ok – it’s okay to break sometimes. It’s okay to push yourself, but it’s okay to be broken too. Journeys in life are sometimes screwed up. They are this long windy road of sometimes bullshit and sometimes greatness. Ginny – we haven’t even cracked the surface of her complexity. I can’t wait to see where they take her. She’s a great character.
Charles: I have liked how they have followed Ginny’s journey in the majors so far. A rookie’s journey in any sport is hard and Pitch has done a good job of showing that in Ginny’s journey. We have gotten to see that she has vulnerabilities such as her panic attacks and her nervousness at all the fame that has come her way. Also Ginny is not perfect, she messes up and makes mistakes and I appreciate the writers showing us that instead of making her a perfect angel who never messes up. Ginny Baker looks, acts and feels real. I would love for my nieces and nephews to have Ginny Baker be their role model.
Meredith: She’s a great character. She isn’t perfect, she has flaws, she’s learning and struggling and the show is absolutely doing that justice. Is she a good role model? Yes, but not in the typical way, I think. I mean there’s the sort of stereotypical women can do anything aspect to it which is fantastic and shouldn’t be trivialized, but what I think makes Ginny a really great role model is that she doesn’t apologize for who she is. She isn’t in it to be a role model. She’s in it to do what she loves, and she’s slowly learning that being someone girls look up to is part of that package. Her journey to becoming a voluntary role model is, to me, what makes her so interesting.
Kate: I love the way the show has developed Ginny. It would have been so easy for them to make her a robot, or a saint – someone two dimensional and flawless. Instead, they present someone with gallons of strength and integrity, but who can make mistakes and crack under enormous pressure just like a real person would. Whose heart didn’t break for Ginny when she broke her “no dating ballplayers” rule and paid for it dramatically? Who couldn’t relate to her when she had her breakdown and questioned whether she wanted to keep playing ball? She is a role model, and all the more impactful for the fact that she has to overcome real, human vulnerabilities in order to succeed. Kylie Bunbury was the best possible choice for this role. She can be cool and tough and human and vulnerable with ease, plus she’s totally funny and natural in scenes with her teammates when she gets to banter and joke and be one of the guys. Absolutely perfect casting for a layered, nuanced and important character.
Ann: The casting of Ginny Baker is perfect. Kylie Bunbury shows a profoundly full range of emotions as she grapples with her past, her present and the reality vs what she thought her future would be. She is easy to relate to. Her work ethic, her loyalties, her passion, her fears and her relationships – all are well written and superbly acted and directed. I love that Ginny’s other role as an inspiration to young girls/women and other athletes is being addressed without feeling like an anvil each episode. The weight of all of the roles she is juggling should be and is heavy at times. Showing her struggle, persevere, shine, etc under that weight is one of the crucial parts of the show.
Jen: I love Ginny because she’s allowed to be imperfect. I love that Ginny has her own voice, that her journey is marred with mistakes, that she’s allowed to be real. I love that she’s young and impetuous and naive, but still really capable and strong. I love that she plays with the boys, but isn’t afraid to put on a pretty dress, but also doesn’t feel like she has to. I think she’s an excellent role model for just being real, and not having to conform to being just one thing.
Cor: What I love about Ginny is that she’s flawed. She’s a great character, no doubt my favorite character to come out of this TV season. Ginny does not want to be a feminist icon, she doesn’t want to be a role model. She just wants to be a ballplayer in the Majors, who just happens to be a girl. At the same time, she knows her platform and uses it well. That scene with Ginny on Kimmel still gives me chills. As someone who has also battled with mental health issues it is so refreshing to a see show handle them honestly, and give them the time they need. Kylie’s performance in episode 6 was incredible. I’ve enjoyed watching Ginny grow. I’ve enjoyed watching her accept that she has friends, she has a family. I hope to watch Ginny’s arc for seasons to come.
Souris: Ginny is an interesting character. She’s not perfect and I’m glad of that. It would be easy to make her this saintly, perfect figure. But to be a real character, she needs to have flaws, and the show has done a good job of showing that. Role models aren’t perfect; if we think they are, we risk being disappointed.
One particular thing that I liked was the episode that showed her strained relationship with her mother. We saw why it happened with the flashback to her seeing her mom having an affair. Ginny came to realize how hard things were for her mom and started trying to reconnect by the end of the episode. But she showed extreme maturity in not telling her mother about seeing the affair as a kid, thereby putting the “blame” on her mom. Instead, she got past it and made steps toward reconciliation. I thought that was a lovely and unexpected thing. Most shows would’ve had a confrontation over it.
I’m also glad we’re seeing the toll that her position is taking on Ginny. I don’t think anybody could be in Ginny’s shoes and not be affected by the stress and pressure. She may be glad of where she is, but that doesn’t mean it’s not without serious drawbacks. It’s hard to be the first at anything.