‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ 1×05 Review: “Thanksgiving”

(Warning: Spoilers for My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05 ahead.)

My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05 solidifies the key message on found family that drew us to this series in the first place. Namely, “if there’s one thing that I’ve learned it’s that…family isn’t always defined by blood.” It’s a very important takeaway and one that “Thanksgiving” delivers in a way that’s as complicated as it is clear. This, too, is fitting. Because figuring out who your family is, is also very, very complicated; yet, in a lot of ways, the answer also turns out to be crystal clear.

Just in time for the season’s halfway point, Jackie makes a decision. And that’s not just about her living situation — it’s about the season’s ongoing love triangle drama, which simultaneously takes a backseat and gets a nudge forward here. The question is, of course, whether or not that “for now” also applies to both situations.

“Holidays suck now.”

Admittedly, one of the strongest parts of My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05 doesn’t feel entirely earned. While Erin and Jackie did have somewhat of a…softening around the edges, we’ll call it…when Jackie took her first shot in the previous episode, the Cole of it all kind of squashed that. Especially at Truth or Dare. Then again, it’s possible we were supposed to get something out of Erin’s “you wouldn’t” line that might have put the blame for Cole’s behavior where it belongs — on Cole. But if that’s the case, we probably could’ve used more…something there.

At any rate, if we can get past Jackie and Erin suddenly working fairly well together during the food drive at the Lark, the rest makes sense. The two clear the air as best as any pair of teen girls with the same problematic boy in common probably can, and then they go about their shared business of pretending the holiday doesn’t exist. If we look at the type of avoidance Jackie engaged in on her sister’s birthday and compare it to the choices she makes in “Thanksgiving,” this is clearly the much healthier of two unhealthy options. This time, at least, she’s doing something meaningful to help others.

We can’t completely avoid our grief — temporarily let it become background noise so we can keep on going instead of letting it consume us, yes — but cutting ourselves off completely just doesn’t work. On the plus side, that’s not what happens here at all. Having been through all of this before and knowing that holidays are particularly difficult, Erin haltingly extends some kindness to Jackie. Then, as the day wears on and Erin gets to see Jackie as someone other than her rival, she opens up. She lets Jackie know she’s not alone — that she just gets it — because Jackie’s pain is, in some ways, her own.

“The first year is full of ‘they’ll nevers.’ They’ll never hear their favorite song again, or watch a track meet. Or get to go on that trip they always talked about. They’ll never…”

“…celebrate another Thanksgiving.”

“Yeah. I know what it’s like. And I know that it’s three times worse for you.”

Alisha Newton delivers such a quiet and understated, yet extremely raw and real performance in this beautiful, bittersweet moment for both her character and Nikki Rodriguez’s Jackie. And their shared scenes are as crushing as they are uplifting. Because, yes, Jackie finally finds someone who really, truly sees her in My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05. For her part, Rodriguez paints a vivid picture here, in terms of what her character is feeling as Erin tells her story. There’s something almost hopeful, even relieved, in her sad smile that says, “yes. Finally. Someone understands.” But, of course, the cost here is that the other girl understands only because she, too, has experienced such a profound loss. One that even Jackie doesn’t completely know how to respond to. Because she can’t. All there is, is bearing witness.

And even as they share this thing, they still do have a certain Cole problem. That, too, is heartbreaking. It keeps these two people who could otherwise find real solace in one another from ever quite getting there. No boy is worth ripping each other apart, and Jackie tries very hard to hype Erin up and get her to just…see herself beyond this not-relationship of hers. But, well. Feelings are what they are. And sometimes, they suck.

“…the only family you’ve got left”

And now…speaking of things that suck: this guy. If My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05 falters on the whole family discussion at all, it’s in making Uncle Richard…this. Katherine and George invite him to Thanksgiving dinner as a surprise for Jackie — one that Jackie very much appreciates. When Katherine delivers the news over the phone to get Jackie to come back to the house, Rodriguez completely changes her demeanor faster than viewers can blink. Now, all the solemn discussions with Erin are done. Same goes for Jackie staying out and trying to pretend it’s just another day. Gotta rush home and take a running leap into her uncle’s arms.

But, as we see throughout the episode, Richard is clueless. Not only that, he’s just…irritating. He judges the crap out of the Walter family chaos — which, ok. There’s a lot going on there — and, essentially, criticizes Katherine and George’s parenting. Jackie skipping school for the first time in her life must, of course, be because they’re doing something wrong instead of a grieving teenager acting out. And Colorado has none of the things he knows Jackie loves, so that’s everything. Missing New York means not having a meaningful life in Colorado. Clearly, her parents’ decision to make Katherine Jackie’s guardian was a mistake. Or, at the very least, it made sense then and doesn’t now…Forget the fact that they had plenty of agency to make changes as Katherine’s family grew — yet didn’t.

Of course, none of Richard’s assumptions are true. Jackie is surrounded by people who care about her, and the Walters actually have experience with raising kids that he doesn’t. Granted, maybe they have a little too much experience at the moment…but they make it work. That’s what family does — they love you, and they make even the most difficult situations work. Or, at least, they always, always try. Richard fails to get that. He doesn’t even understand that being a guest at dinner so Jackie can have a happier Thanksgiving isn’t an invitation to ruin everyone else’s holiday by casually mentioning her moving back to New York like it’s a done deal.

Quite frankly, the man is awful and unfair, so it makes the choice too obvious for viewers. To be fair, Richard may even mean well — something Katherine and George are…not entirely sold on but at least entertain as an idea. But the way he goes about things is all wrong. Even if we extend some grace to him since he’s obviously grieving too, that doesn’t make Richard putting Jackie in this position something we can condone. She actually seems to feel like she has to defend her decision to stay in Colorado and apologize for it. But…that’s also a no from us. As mature as Jackie is, she’s still technically a child and shouldn’t be doing the negotiating and emotional labor here. Full stop.

“We are a family.”

On the flip side, we have Katherine and George — most notably Katherine. Throughout this entire series, they’ve just quietly been there. No pressure, no expectations other than hoping Jackie will realize she has a home and a family with them. In fact, in her worst moments, Jackie maybe even takes advantage of that a little. Katherine is very easy on her compared with the other kids. See also: In My Life with the Walter Boys 1×05, when Katherine tells the kids they need to be home for a certain time for dinner, Jackie is basically like “meh. No” and gets away with it.

But even when that hurts, the Walters let it go. Sure, Katherine and George share worried looks — Sarah Rafferty and Marc Blucas are so good at this part — but they know not to push too hard. Even after things don’t at all go their way at dinner, all the Walters want to do is help. So, Katherine brings Jackie peppermint tea and is nothing but an outpouring of love, and compassion, and making Jackie feel wanted. Supported. Loved.

As it turns out, part of the reason why Katherine is so good at this — and has eleventy billion kids — is because she knows what it’s like to need a family. To need to know who you are, where you fit. In fact, one of the highlights of the episode — no, the series — is when she shares her story of going in search of blood, only to find something completely unexpected. And, of course, we can’t help but highlight how incredible Rafferty is in the dinner scene. She’s so emotional — those little places where her voice catches are truly everything. But there’s also the fun, flirty shift as Katherine talks about meeting George. And don’t get us started on the total “mama bear about to quietly murder a man” vibe when she initially realizes that Richard’s intentions in coming to her home were to come take Jackie away.

We could go on forever about how much we love her as a performer (and have done so, on many occasions. And will again. Sorry, not sorry). But we won’t. For now. Not much, at least. Because we also need to talk about the 12* zillion kids. Jackie is part of their family, too, and Richard didn’t consider their feelings at all. Every single one of their pained, shocked — even angry — reactions in the moment is spot on. Because she’s part of their family now, too. In a relatively short time, they’ve all made space for Jackie in their lives. She belongs here, and they all care, even if this situation not at all what anyone expected. Now, that’s family.

…and, then, there’s the whole extra layer of messiness with Alex and Cole…yeah.

My Life with the Walter Boys is now streaming on Netflix.

List of episode reviews are below –

‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ 1×05 Review: “Thanksgiving”

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