‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ 1×02 Review: “Live a Little”

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x02 My Life with the Walter Boys. (L to R) Sarah Rafferty as Katherine and Nikki Rodriguez as Jackie in episode 102 of My Life with the Walter Boys. Cr. Chris Large/© 2023 Netflix, Inc.

(Warning: Spoilers for My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02 ahead.)

My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02 starts to give Jackie some genuine places to connect with the people around her. But those moments, both the heartwarming ones and the “ok. They’re totally going to kiss…or not” ones, are also mixed in with a ton of reminders of why the concept of living in a house with that many teen boys — and one tiny one — is just…a no. Like, sure. Not needing to ask permission to go hang out with your crush is cool and all, but not having to put up with their weird behaviors in their natural habit is actually much better. Sorry, not sorry, to Grace — who is still just…Extra, by the way — but there is no such thing as “boy heaven.”

It’s one thing to play harmless practical jokes on each other when you’re already close so you know it’s all in good fun. But even then, a joke has to actually be funny and not something that’s just plain mean. Forcing Jackie into that downstairs bathroom and stealing her toiletries, just to make her wash her hair with the bleach…That’s a no from us. On so many levels. First off, high school girls are mean. (See also: look how Erin treats both Jackie and her too-eager sidekick.) So, Jackie having to go to school — much less a new school — with her hair like that could’ve opened her up to some serious bullying. Not to mention, you never know who might have a bad reaction to those types of chemicals or what might have been necessary, for medical reasons, in that bag of hers.

Most importantly, have these boys forgotten why she’s here in the first place? Because, uh…She’s already going through enough. To be fair, we don’t even think Cole and Isaac were looking to make anyone’s life miserable. But that’s kind of the problem. They didn’t think. Because “boys will be boys” or whatever. Exhausting.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02, or even that it wasn’t nice seeing Jackie get to loosen up a little at other times and in other ways. But just…why are boys?

“Live a little”

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x02 Noah LaLonde as Cole — My Life with the Walter Boys. Noah LaLonde as Cole in episode 102 of My Life with the Walter Boys. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix/© 2023 Netflix, Inc.

Ok, kiddos. Let’s have a talk. The whole “if a boy picks on you, that means he likes you” thing is toxic in real life. But. (And this is, admittedly, a very bad “but.”) It’s fun watching Cole follow Jackie around and annoy the crap out of her in My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02. Part of that’s a matter of Nikki Rodriguez really selling just how totally done she is with this boy, and part of it’s Noah LaLonde’s charm. There’s also something to be said for this being fiction — and in fiction, we enjoy our ship tropes. Jackie and Cole’s trope is…

Hm. What should we call it? We’ll go with “unserious dude who follows very serious girl around and does obnoxious things because he doesn’t know how to act. Then, serious girl snaps back at him but also secretly, sort of, likes him.” Or maybe, simply, “he pulls her pigtails.” I mean, it worked for Caskett, didn’t it? Not that they’re Caskett, by any means…but yeah. Anyway.

In order for that particular ship trope to work, though, we still need to have at least some real heart underneath it all. Enter Cole and Jackie’s “live a little” moment. Yeah, it starts off with the same “boy is being an ass because he likes you and has no idea how humans interact” vibe. But then…somehow, Jackie finds a moment to turn things back around on him. Both actors make it clear the two are having genuine fun for a while there — only, of course, after Jackie’s initial “uptight storm cloud” to Cole’s “dumb sunshine” part. Then, when things slow back down and get to be quieter, that’s where the good stuff really happens.

For whatever reason, even with the “dorks like you” comment back at school, and even with the surprise trip to the middle of nowhere (boys, please don’t just drive girls wherever you want when you’re supposed to be heading in a particular direction. That’s some true crime podcast shit), something about the detour makes Jackie feel safe enough to open up. Cole notices she’s somewhere else (because he can’t stop watching her). And, after some…sort of…teasing into it with that “buuuuut” line, Jackie admits she misses home. That, somehow, gets Cole to admit how much he just wants to get away. He even starts to reveal why he can’t go to college out of state now…but cuts himself off and goes back into “too ‘Cole effect’ to care” mode when Jackie presses him on it.

But don’t get your shipper senses tingling just yet. Just when it seems like something might be happening there, they go home to the world’s most tense and silent dinner. And, more to the point, Jackie finds out that the boy who just helped her get away from it all and have fun for a while…is also the reason she had to go to school in George’s hat in the first place. Then, everyone is a bunch of jerks to her for “snitching.” Which, technically, can you really do that without naming names? Meh.

Once again, teen boys are…why.

“You can do it, Jackie”

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x02 Nikki Rodriguez as Jackie and Ashby Gentry as Alex — (Screenshot Courtesy of Netflix)

Cole isn’t the only Walter boy who gets closer to Jackie in My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02. Alex also starts to make a very obvious connection with her, but it’s a completely different dynamic. He’s super friendly, and bright, and encouraging at school — totally, adorably eager to share his love for some Tolkien with her. It’s fascinating to watch how, like Cole, everything he does early in the episode is like, “hi, hi. Pay attention to me! Hi!” But — it bears repeating — his approach is totally different. Basically, these brothers are complete opposites…until they’re not.

Later, when the whole blow-up over the girls (and Benny) getting their own bathroom happens and Jackie storms out, it’s Alex who follows her. Alex who just kind of…checks on her and then, simply, gives her that quiet moment where he’s sitting beside her but not pressing. Granted, you can tell he wants to do more. As in, Ashby Gentry plays the moment like he is practically vibrating with the need to do more, yet not wanting the wrong thing and, therefore, doing nothing. And both characters are just so awkward. It’s very much giving “Jiley on the bus after the costume fiasco.”

…but that’s a very specific reference that most people are probably going to be like “???” about. So, let’s continue.

At some point, Alex actually does decide to do something instead of sitting there, uncomfortably holding himself back. And, very much like his older brother, he finds a way to get Jackie to let go. For him, it’s not teasing and playing “keep away” but getting her to jump out of the loft. Of course, that’s only after he makes sure she’s included as part of the family, which is a pretty big leap of faith in and of itself. Doesn’t matter that it’s just symbolic either.

Both before and after the leap, there are these loaded moments where Alex gets right up in Jackie’s personal space. The first one, when he records her height on the wall, Jackie’s eyes are very much screaming “oh. He’s sweet, and I have a crush.” But after the jump, when Alex leans in to get the hay out of her hair, the intensity is even higher. At this point, Alex seems to have his “oh, FML. I’m into her for real, for real” realization.

But Cole interrupts them, so nothing else happens from there. Which is kind of a good thing because it’s probably still a bit early for Jackie to even know how she feels about either brother. And um. There’s also that whole “man. Again” thing from Isaac, which…does not bode well for any of us.

More on My Life with the Walter Boys 1×02

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x02 Nikki Rodriguez as Jackie Howard — (Screenshot Courtesy of Netflix)

Things I will never understand: Willingly getting up early, willingly running for fun, the apocalyptic combination of the two.
That awkward moment in the hallway, though.

“Does Cole often have friends stay over?” “Friends?” I love the way Corey Fogelmanis delivers that.
This one, too: “I mean, why is he such a…” “A guy?” Just right on top of it — super timing and the perfect tone.
I want that robe.

One thing about the bathroom prank: These boys are tight and in it together. Even when “it” is being little shits.
Rodriguez really sells Jackie’s panic in that shower. And that annoyed growl of a scream…yes.
But is the coffee black, two sugars, splash of vanilla? Shameless Suits reference because I’ll die of TV-rotted brain if I don’t. But ok. I’ll see myself out.

…actually, no. One more because this is too easy: “I mean, would it really be that hard to wait?” (Some of us don’t wait 12* years just to admit our feelings..)
Nods to Sarah Rafferty’s past work aside, the scene with Katherine and Will gives us a sliver of hope that the other boys will become grownups one day. And it’s also nice seeing some admission here that, no, having 10 kids isn’t easy.
“The books are so much better.” Been there, had that conversation — and often.

Very telling that Cole immediately jumps to making fun of how good Jackie is at school after receiving yet another bad grade himself.
It’s the way Rodriguez slams that notebook and locker shut for me…and while we’re on the subject: Maybe if Cole took even half as many notes, he’d be doing better in school. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Super immature reaction to his own problems by making fun of the brain in the family instead of just…asking for help.
“What is she wearing?” “Baseball cap.” This Olivia girl is equal parts Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith, huh.

Skylar is much, much more interesting in this episode than the last one. Loved when he shared about wanting to hold power to account (the press pool still does that?) here. Great way to find commonality with Jackie instead of just befriending her for “interesting new girl” reasons. And the pivot from that more emotional tone to the joking, as friends do, and Jackie slapping him — as she should — feels very natural from both actors.
“People from my background, we don’t have that kind of political influence. I want to change that.”
“I want something of my own. And if I can’t leave this town, then maybe I can — maybe I can at least leave home.” This hits so hard. So, so hard.

LaLonde is great in this scene between Cole and his boss, too. Excellent job humanizing the dude who otherwise spends his time putting on a “popular former jock” mask. And it’s quite interesting that the boss is the person he gets most vulnerable with instead of one of his parents. No need to make them worry or feel bad about their situation, kind of situation.
Another utterly fantastic interaction between Rodriguez and Rafferty. They play off each other very well with those silent reactions. Hilarious when Rafferty cuts off her “what did you” and then…has Katherine sort of pathetically cover when she’s realized she put her foot in her mouth.
You can tell, in this car scene, that Cole very much does not get that Jackie does not, in any way, find this hair situation to be funny. Not in any way, shape, or form.

…and the hair makes it difficult to focus. Literally so bad it’s distracting.
Jackie: Sits awkwardly on rocks. Cole: Paint me like one of your French girls.
“Anywhere that isn’t here.” Relatable.

The parents, just sitting there throwing each other looks that are increasingly “gonna kill these kids.”
The way Danny just lights up talking about theatre. So good.
I felt that eye-roll as Jackie was drinking her juice. “The nuclear snitch button.” WTF.

“Lee’s right. This isn’t my home, and you’re not my family.” Ouch.
“Come on, Jackie…remember what I said about living a little?” “Yeah. Remember what you did to my hair?” GET HIM.
Anyone have a favorite Walter boy at this point? We’re into Tolkien and also Tolkien nerds, and the shampoo thing was not cool, so…