‘My Life with the Walter Boys’ 1×06 Review: “Baggage”

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x06 (L to R) Nikki Rodriguez as Jackie and Ashby Gentry as Alex in episode 106 of My Life with the Walter Boys. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix/© 2023 Netflix, Inc.

(Warning: Spoilers for My Life with the Walter Boys 1×06 ahead.)

My Life with the Walter Boys 1×06 leans really heavily on the rivalry between Alex and Cole, in a way that makes them both look terrible. Different kinds of terrible, sure. But terrible. While neither sibling rivalry nor love triangles are new, though, this one still works. The fight at the bonfire neither begins nor ends in the most predictable of ways, and whatever’s in the middle…it both fits the “type” each character is supposed to be and decidedly doesn’t. And it’s those tiny shifts, and the acting choices made around them, that keep us coming back. When characters are introduced to us in very one-dimensional, archetypal ways but then have that extra something that breaks the mold, that makes for good TV. And “Baggage” is some good TV.

(But, just saying, that doesn’t mean we don’t still wind up very, very irritated with these boys more often than we’d like.)

The bonfire fight scene

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x06 fight scene — (Screenshot: Courtesy of Netflix)

Obviously, the big story of My Life with the Walter Boys 1×06 is this tension — or feud, maybe, is a better word — that’s been simmering just beneath the surface bubbling over. Ashby Gentry and Noah LaLonde both do an excellent job here, with Gentry making it very clear that Alex has had enough and LaLonde just smirking his way through it all as if Cole’s enjoying this just as much as we are. (Until, you know, he can’t anymore.)

Because this is the way: When your self-esteem isn’t enough, lay on the arrogance and fake it ’til you make it. At least, that seems to be Cole’s play here…and he fails. Big time. Because Alex makes it a point to be as loud as possible about going in for the kill — another moment that Gentry does incredibly well, as we can see when he makes that decision and we can feel his anger and near-hatred as he chooses to go for it. He…kind of has his brother’s same ego/faking it method, just approaches it differently.

So, here’s where the big issue comes in for Alex. He’s supposed to be the sweet one, but he’s going so far out of his way to get Cole, he doesn’t care who else he hurts in the process. Kiley? No time for friends when you’re in a relationship and shoving it in your brother’s face. Erin? Collateral damage — who cares if he says her name in a way that makes her sound pathetic AF? Olivia? Well. More collateral damage, and if it completely nukes the closest friendship she has while hurting Erin even more, so be it.

Granted, we could talk forever about each of them having their own choices and their own agency here — Olivia clearly knows about her best friend’s “not a thing” thing with Cole, so hooking up wit him…not cool. And we’ve already talked about Erin’s not-relationship…or Jackie did. Whichever. (Girl, you can do better.) Even so, even with both knowing what they were getting themselves into, Alex still shouldn’t be selfishly throwing them under the bus to show how much he’s “won” Jackie. Which, yes, he’s kind of throwing Jackie under the bus here, too. Just saying!

The other time love triangle

My Life with the Walter Boys 1x06 — My Life with the Walter Boys. Madison Brydges as Paige in episode 106 of My Life with the Walter Boys. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix/© 2023 Netflix, Inc.

But here’s the thing that makes Alex go low. There’s another name in there when he airs his brother’s dirty laundry: Paige. And that’s where things get…even more problematic for Alex and, somehow, both worse and more interesting for Cole. Gossiping Gracie (or whatever) lets it slide that “Cole stole Paige” from Alex. Which, ok. First of all…ew? A girlfriend is a person, not a thing you steal from someone else. And second, it’s very clear, with all the PDA and the suddenly being on top of the world — acting like he’s won a prize — that, no matter how much Alex may say otherwise, at least some of his behavior is about Cole. He might not even recognize it. But it is. If he hadn’t dropped Paige’s name like that when he did, we might have believed him when he said otherwise. But we can’t now.

Now, let’s talk about Cole’s part in the Paige drama. First up, stealing your little brother’s girlfriend is gross. (Again, though, we’ll go ahead and point out that it’s not like Paige wouldn’t have made her own choices there.) Second, is that part of a greater pattern? Yuck if so, but…yeah. Cole’s super jealous AF throughout My Life with the Walter Boys 1×06. And he spends the whole episode acting like he’s in some kind of competition, too.

Like, let’s be real. Cole’s not fooling anyone with all his comments about Alex and Jackie basically being old and boring, then inviting himself to play their “dorky game.” And the way he battles with Jackie during the game…why? Which brings us to our next question: How much of a nerve did it hit when Alex accused him of jealousy? And answer: Huge. Also, if Cole really is this person who everyone just comes to, why even bother to make such a big show of “hey. Hi. Pick me” now that Alex is with Jackie? And what about the whole teapot thing (which he has yet to show to Jackie)?

Something just doesn’t sit right there. More importantly (and to bring this actually back to Paige) there’s his reaction to Jackie when she calls him out. When she finally confronts him directly, after all that passive-aggressive ~~flirting~~ banter during the Catan game, that is. Blink and you’ll miss it, but LaLonde plays Cole as very hurt when he first realizes Jackie accused him of stealing Paige. Then, he takes a second before plastering the cocky asshole mask back on. Later, there’s that look of shared understanding between Cole and Danny when Danny helped him up. It all adds up to something being at least slightly off about the school’s gossip on the Walter boys.

And that’s why letting the next episode play is so painfully easy, even when we kinda want to slap both brothers. Just saying. The action would be entertaining enough, but the extra details are what make that punch really land.

More on My Life with the Walter Boys 1×06

“Am I going to have to see Alex and Jackie all over each other at the bonfire this weekend?” “God. I hope not. They’ve been sickening since Thanksgiving.” They are both so real for this.

Nathan, kiddo, he’s just not that into you. And you’re practically stalking him at this point. Chill.
Get you someone who looks at you like Alex looks at Jackie when all she’s doing is fixing her hair?
But I also felt that “K. I’m out.”

“How’s that for spontaneous?” When you kiss your girl just to prove a point…not great, actually!
“It just feels a little Extra, right?” Weirdly not talking about Grace here.
On a more serious note: Girls, if you’re super uncomfortable like Jackie very obviously is…set boundaries. And if the boys don’t respect those boundaries, run.

I find it way too convenient that Paige is just…there when they’re loudly talking about her past Walter boy drama.
“How good is the sex?” Me, opening up the AO3. (I literally could not care less about this lady’s sex life, though.)
No but that…taunting back and forth between Nikki Rodriguez and Noah LaLonde during the game…so good.

“I didn’t take you for such a prude, New York.” “I didn’t take you for such a coward, Colorado. And I’m not a prude.” The “enemies to lovers” trope has entered the chat.
Shoutout to Will for being just as “???” with the unwelcome mention of Tara’s sex life as I was.
“But aren’t you the one that was with me by the fire one day? And then, making out with Alex the next? Wait. I forgot. You’re totally happy with him, right? I may flirt around a bit, but at least I’m honest about it. The only one pretending to be something they’re not. Is you.” Brutal…and yet, kid has a point. (Especially considering the Moment™ in the bathroom that comes later.)

Marc Blucas is great as the struggling dad who thinks he needs to be the big, stereotypically manly provider-slash-Superman and is afraid to ask his friend for help.
“…this is not your fault. It’s just…life.” This part!! I am so here for Mato being a shoulder to lean on instead of someone offering terrible, out-of-touch Boomer advice like “less avocado toast” or “less cold brew.” (Although, “having a zillion kids was probably a bad idea” wouldn’t be the worst take…)
“No pressure. It’s been like a day so….” So, then…pressure?

“Who told you?” “Why didn’t you?!” Get him.
”Because I was embarrassed. Because I go to bonfires to play beer pong, and you’re from the Upper West Side. And I’m into fantasy novels, and you’re so far out of my league, it’s not even funny.” This was good.
Just saying the “hoops” Dean had to jump through sound like “being an adult and running a business.”

“Cole didn’t bother me. You did.” Kiley FTW. Always.
“Dude. Come on! We’re not even dating. You have to know that’s too intense.” Apparently, neither Nathan nor Kiley knows. (Ok, so maybe that “always” above was premature.)
I’m thinking of the original Scream with the “bam! Bitch went down!” moment here. I’m sure people who’ve read my stuff and/or followed me out in the social media hellscape for more than five minutes are shocked.

It’s that “absolutely not” when Olivia tries to talk for me.
“You ok?” “Are you really asking me that?” “Yes.” “Ok. Well, then no, I am not ok. I am mad. I am very, very mad.” But she sounds so exhausted. (Which she should be by now, actually.)
Will, bestie, maybe if you paid attention at all, you could’ve salvaged this.

“Hang on — hang on! What happened to your brother?! Hello???” Sarah Rafferty switching from eager, “Mommy wants to know about your day” to “oh, hell no. WTF,” with those glaring daggers and those hands held out…yes. Please and thank you, Mother.
And the way Katherine just…takes George’s pain on as her own? Oof.
The way Rodriguez says “Cole” so quietly…this is a Moment. See also: Cole calling Jackie out (and us agreeing above).

“Actually, I think I can take it from here.” Right on time like Donna Paulsen.
“Cole, honey. This area around the eye is really delicate. So, you gotta treat it just right. Otherwise, it’s not gonna heal properly. And it could scar, and those kinds of scars…those ones, they’re not so easy to hide. Or easy to fix. Do you know what I’m saying?” Also Donna coded. You have no idea how Donna she is.
Erin. 🙁

Mother mothering Nathan…and then…
“…wow. you’re the other guy.” She’s ~~Donna~~ Mom. She knows things!
“Ok. We’re gonna talk about this in the morning.” Was literally waiting for her to say “bullshit” at some point.