‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ 1×03 Review: “The Cole Effect”

(Warning: Spoilers for My Life with the Walter Boys 1×03 ahead.)

My Life with the Walter Boys 1×03 is, as the title suggests, a chance for us to see the so-called “Cole effect” in action. But the episode also gives viewers a little bit more of a chance to see Cole Walter outside of the big, popular “boy with it all” archetype that, otherwise, mostly fits him. When it sticks to Cole’s story, Jackie and her friends’ reactions to it, or even showing some of Alex’s less-than-attractive pouting about it, the hour works. Some of the subplots, however…the question of why comes up a lot. On the plus side, we can mostly ignore them.

Or, at least, that’s what we’re going to do here.

“The Cole Effect”

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x03 Noah LaLonde as Cole Walter — (Screenshot Courtesy of Netflix)

As much fun as it is to watch Cole Walter work the Homecoming Huddle stage and be just…the center of the universe in My Life with the Walter Boys 1×03, that big moment only plays well because of everything else we learn in this episode. Initially, Cole doesn’t even want to attend the event — doesn’t even want to get out of bed on the day of (relatable). But once he’s there, he pitches in at the cider cart and takes over the stage. And, it’s worth pointing out, he doesn’t do either of those things because he’s desperate for the attention and wants constant reminders about the sport he can no longer play. He does it to help. We could argue it’s all about impressing a girl, but that would ignore the wake-up call from Will and how much the new theatre would mean to Danny.

(It’s still at least partially about impressing a girl — Jackie, specifically — though).

To be fair, there’s probably a wee bit of Cole simply wanting that attention in there. Maybe, too, he just wants to remember what it’s like to have a crowd cheering for him. But it’s more a matter of not knowing who he is without it than about being the type of egomaniac some of his other behavior might imply. Now that he doesn’t have his planned future as a football star, he doesn’t seem to want anyone to notice him much at all, as a general rule. Certainly doesn’t want the guidance counselor or any of his teachers noticing that he’s struggling now or his parents seeing that he’s basically…given up on college altogether.

And he most definitely doesn’t want anyone to see his softer side, how he’s so completely gentle with his little sister and even gets down on the ground on her level, looking up at her, to give her some encouragement ahead of her game. Which, hi. If your heart didn’t melt watching that moment…how?

Cole seems to make real progress, both as a character we can root for and in terms of maybe getting Jackie to like him here. At least, he does until he decides to blow off Jackie and her friends and go use Erin for a meaningless hookup just to soothe his ego. To some extent, we can empathize. It makes sense that seeing the rest of the team having a good time would make him want to get away to literally anywhere else…but no. There’s no “Cole effect” strong enough to make using someone — even a mean girl like Erin — ok. Especially when, in the process, he also lets people down. He doesn’t help Jackie with breaking down the cart like he promised. Even more damningly, he lets his messy coping mechanism get in the way of supporting his sister. Not cool. At all.

The one thing that saves “The Cole Effect,” at least as far as getting us to see Cole as more complicated and not just the jerkish behavior he falls back on goes, is Noah LaLonde’s portrayal. We get a very clear picture, especially in the quieter moments when none of the other characters are really watching, of just how much everything affects Cole. The hurt reaction to the decorated locker, the obvious regret in that end scene after Parker leaves him alone with her jersey…even just the effortless dynamic between Cole and Danny…These all come across as much more genuine than the popular guy schtick, and that’s for an obvious reason. Namely, it’s like putting giant, flashing lights above the character’s head that scream, “this is who he really is.”

So, while we definitely still have our problems with this character, “The Cole Effect” is successful in making us not want to completely give up on him just yet.

“You just gotta be Alex.”

While My Life with the Walter Boys 1×03 builds up some goodwill for Cole, we can’t really say the same for Alex. He’s adorably terrible at selling cider. And, not being into the whole “school sports as end-all, be-all” phenomenon, his whole attitude when he introduces Jackie to the town’s homecoming tradition is actually a welcome sight. But the way he acts about Cole having the audacity to pitch in comes across as super irritating, though. One minute, Alex is cracking jokes with Jackie about how she probably never wanted to be a cheerleader and seems full of confidence. The next, he’s just…sour. Sour and weak.

“No problem. I wanted to. Besides, what were you gonna do? Wait for Cole? He’s not exactly the poster child of dependability.”

It’s good that Will tells him to just be himself instead of trying to compete, but we’re not even sure that he fully takes the advice. Sure, he shows up to help Jackie break down the cart when he knows Cole’s not going to bother. That’s good, and up until this point, we would’ve believed that he was purely being the nice guy and “saving” Jackie again. But he also just…can’t resist getting a dig in — getting a comparison in. Like, is it impossible for him to make the case for himself without tearing someone else down? We get it: Being in someone else’s shadow sucks. The way to get out of it, though, is to prove yourself. Not drag the other person down to make yourself look better. Just saying.

More on My Life with the Walter Boys 1×03

“And that includes…football games?” She gets me.
“My old school didn’t have a football team.” Neither did my undergrad. Highly recommend an overpriced educational institution that focuses on education instead of not.
The opening bit with Nikki Rodriguez and Ashby Gentry playing those conspiratorial, mocking looks off each other as Jackie and Alex listen to Will’s overdone sportsball hype was so much fun.
Rodriguez’s little smile when Jackie sees Cole with Parker…she is down bad.
Sarah Rafferty makes every moment count. Stealing that coffee, catching those keys, even the way Katherine rushes down the stairs — it all counts. Also, the “is that for me? Thank you!” is so very, very Donna Paulsen coded. She knows that’s not hers, but she’s not actually asking for permission. A queen.
Gorgeous shot of Cole’s reflection in the picture frame. Can confirm having reminders like that around is both a comfort and a killer.
…so, the guidance counselor approaches kids when they’re out of school and on the way to work. She also takes calls on her personal phone about students from relatives who are not their legal guardians…but not because she cares or else she wouldn’t be reacting to the questions that way. Uh, ok then.
Rodriguez’s reactions in this Olivia/Jackie scene are everything. Like, “WTF is this girl doing approaching me.” Then, “WTF is this girl doing thinking I care about this,” with a little bit of a “the audacity” when she loops arms with her. Love it! Bonus: Some more “WTF” over the faux feminism line. (Thank you for that, Jackie Howard.)
“Preppy Longstocking.”
“We still ♥️ you Cole.” Do we? Can’t decide yet. (Mostly yes, with a side of “want to slap you,” for now?)
Do I care about the counselor’s crush or her dating woes? I do not. Edit all this out, and you have something 10 times better.
Grace is hella annoying. Still.
“Still useless.” Me when people ask how I am.
“Grace! Why are you the way you are?” Skylar for the win. Why do they even hang out with this girl? She is incredibly unserious and obnoxious.
“What is love if not friendship on fire?” ?????
Overlook Corey Fogelmanis in this at your own peril. Absolutely love the shy, awkward way Nathan approaches Skylar and just how quickly he turns away after he initially sees something he likes.
Same goes for the very natural dynamic between LaLonde and Connor Stanhope’s Danny. In all the chaos and love triangle drama, it’s these little, quiet moments that give the story heart. We have zero difficulty believing these two are brothers and, despite being completely different, just get each other. Zero.
Mother is mothering again.
Lines I thought I’d never be like, “wow this was great delivery” about for $5000: “You’re never too young to witness the miracle of a piglet birth!”
“No. Go away. Tell me what I gotta do to make you leave me alone.” He gets me.
“I guess no part of you has ever wanted to be a cheerleader?” Her face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Like, just be this guy! The one who jokes with her and shares that same sardonic approach to this over-hyped nonsense around you!
“I thought you weren’t coming.” “I had a change of heart.” “That’d require you to have one.” The “nice” brother’s inner asshole jumped out.
Great moment when Dylan’s all excited and proud to have his hand raised, then notices Cole…~~Shad from The Next Step‘s~~ Kolton Stewart’s entire expression just…morphs, and he never quite recovers. Brilliant.
“Is dating a co-worker unprofessional?” [Screams in Suits]
LaLonde and Gentry are so much fun in this “failed cider sales” bit. LaLonde’s smirk, Gentry’s just…laying that epic fail on thick… Love it.
Cole is super genuine in the “means a lot” part.
Great advice to Jackie about other committees, major epic fail to take his own advice and find a new “thing” now that his ONE™ shot is dead. (It’s like looking in a mirror, actually.)
Cole really thrives on that stage — the way LaLonde has him play to the audience is fantastic.
“Support the auditorium renovation project just like you did athletics.” !!!
“You really think the grass is greener? Under his feet?” So much this! He can’t do his thing anymore, and he has not one real relationship outside the family. Not one.
Yeah, kiddo. Maybe you’d get back to having your own “irresistible appeal” if you weren’t out here, being bitter and throwing a tantrum. I said what I said.
“Well. One of us should hold onto our dream.” There it is.
Will and Haley not being able to actually talk about their problems…endgame coded.
I want to color with Katherine and Benny. Mostly, I just want to color with someone who understands that healthcare — even for animals! — shouldn’t be something you only get if you have money.
Just kidding. I mostly just want to gush about Sarah Rafferty making even a little bit of nothing of a coloring scene into everything. Just a mommy coloring with her youngest…and then that look she gives George as he walks away. Or, really, Katherine’s entire defensive, glaring-daggers demeanor. If looks could kill!
Gentry’s “kicked puppy” look when Jackie tells Alex that Cole is coming to Monty’s.
“Eh. I was grouchy. What I should’ve said was that you’re the best vet in town. And you deserve to be compensated fairly. Preferably in money.” Suddenly a George fan.
“You promised that you were going to be there, and you weren’t! You’re a liar.” Get him, kiddo.
…and here we have pain.