In My Life With The Walter Boys, Season 2, Episode 2, I feel as though we’re going to go on a wild ride. You see, when Jackie left, everything changed for the people whose lives she had been a part of in Silver Falls. Some changes were positive and some were not.
But the kids in the Walter household are angry. Quite a few of them need more information on why Jackie left and why she’s back. They are hurt, and not having an explanation feels as though their hurt doesn’t matter.
When it does.
But in the chaos of it all, a lot is going on at the ranch. A lot of lies, decisions, and drama. Typical family stuff. Katherine and George realize that they need to loosen the reins. This is getting interesting.
DON’T LEAVE
There are so many things to unpack when it comes to Jackie, Cole, and Alex. She’s desperate to make Silver Falls her home, Alex is desperate to make her feel the pain he did when she left, and Cole just wants to be close to her. Life is complicated for them all, but that is always the way it is when you are young.
I can appreciate that episode two picked up right where we left off in episode one. Cole asks Jackie to stay, telling her that they need to talk. Cole wants to know why she’s back, and yet, I am wondering – why hasn’t he asked why she left?
There is something that you can see in Cole’s eyes – the love and affection that he feels for Jackie. He missed her, and even though he eventually says that he did, you can see it in his eyes every time he looks at her.
She doesn’t realize it, but Cole is trying to tell her that it will be okay. When she becomes vulnerable for a second and says that this is her only home and she almost lost it – I started to tear up. But the bigger gesture is that he reminds her that she could never lose it.
Jackie asks Cole for space, and while we get why she thinks that she needs that, it’s kind of sad to us, because it’s not what she needs. She needs to let people in. She needs to heal. Whereas she hasn’t told Alex what happened between her and Cole, she believes that it is what started the entire disaster.
Cole has spent so much time trying to figure out who he is for himself, but I do believe that Jackie has forced him to confront the things he’s tried to suppress and his desire to be a better person. He’s changed so much and is continuing to change.
I think we have to give him credit for that.
Cole will honor her request for space, but it doesn’t mean that he’s not going to look out for her. Cole Walters is going to be there for her – even if it’s quietly and on her terms.
FALL FORMAL
In high school, having dances is a rite of passage, so when the fall formal gets canceled, everyone in Silver Falls is bummed.
With budget cuts, the school, of course, cut arts first, and the school dance. They did, however, find the money to buy the football team a new bus. Where I do get that small towns live and die by their football teams, and it is the most important thing to them, it’s definitely still a hard pill to swallow. The school is basically saying that those who can play football on a level to make the team deserve more than ones who can’t.
For Jackie, the last dance she had planned was the one the night that her family died. So, as everyone says that it may not be important to her, it is to them. It’s as if they look down on Jackie because she left and because she was in New York. For Jackie, as soon as she hears how important it is, she makes a choice. The choice? To figure out how to get the dance back on.
I think that this is another moment where Jackie thinks that she needs to solve everything and contribute to fit in. But I do think that she’s trying to make everyone forget what she did that left a sour taste in their mouth. It could be, but it could be something else.
She asks the school counselor: if they raised the money, could they have the dance in the gym?
Grace and Jackie have to present their ideas and brainstorm with the student council about raising money. They decide on a pop-up shop with a vintage theme. It doesn’t sound too exciting to the school, but they are going to have to figure out how to pull it off. The dance needs to happen because, like we said, rite of passage.
They all decide to give it a try. Skylar even agrees to ask his Dad if they can have it at Montes. Skylar agrees to ask, and everything seems really optimistic until Skylar tells Jackie later that his Dad said no.
You have to admire Jackie, though; she’s a negotiator and goes to Skylar’s to talk with his Dad. She’s really quite good at negotiating, and that definitely makes me proud of her. But it also feels odd, because you can see in her eyes that she’s hiding something.
Whatever it is, I am sure that we’ll find out.
Everything in this town weaves into each other. Cole sees Jackie trying to sell tickets at the pep rally to her thing – he sees her failing. He doesn’t want that for her. His emotions run deep for Jackie, and he tells the football team to go buy tickets – so that everyone else will too.
Cole Walters – you’re a good man.
THAT IS COACH WALTERS TO YOU
Cole Walters has been through a lot. He’s now at this point in his life where he wants to be better and do better. From study groups, setting a good example, and being there for his family – these things come first.
But the school wants something more from him, and by the school, I mean his classmates. His brother, Isaac, is telling everyone that Cole has accepted the assistant coach position. Cole wants to leave football behind, and I am guessing it is because he misses it, and it would be too hard to be around it.
What surprises me is that Danny is the one to talk him into coaching. Danny knows his brother, and yet I do think that Danny is looking to not feel so bad over dating Erin behind Cole’s back. Isn’t it like bro code?
Danny wants the best for his brother. Of course. I do think that if anyone can get through to Cole, it is his brothers. They can also be the person that he won’t listen to.
While I would love for Cole to continue football as a player, he knows he can’t. It’s a good thing that he’s trying to be a part of the group, anyway he can. It’s crappy that all of his friends want things from him and think that they are going to be able to get them. Cole may not know what he’s got himself into, but I think he’s going to find himself.
And that is something I can’t wait to watch.
ALEX GOES HIS OWN WAY
After the first episode of the season, I have made no secret that Alex is on my last nerve. Yes, his feelings were hurt, and he didn’t like that he had been that vulnerable and been rejected, but he needs to pull himself together.
Alex decides that he wants to learn how to ride broncos, and well, his parents are against it. It is very dangerous, and he’s already living on the edge being involved with rodeos. I just don’t understand how Alex is like this is my dream to everything. Sure, you can have a lot of dreams, and I think that is great. It just feels sometimes with him, he doesn’t know how to sell something to his family, so he gets weird, and it is his dream.
Alex may not agree with his parents on their saying no to bronc riding. It seemed like George was going to say yes, because he liked to watch bronc riding, but he eventually followed Katherine’s lead.
The thing about this new Alex is that he seems not to respect his parents’ boundaries. They said no, but when he’s out on Skylar’s family ranch, he rides a bronco and gets bucked off, hurting his hand.
And Jackie is there to see it.
As usual, Alex gives her an attitude and tells her not to tell Katherine. It’s just another mean gesture that allows him to be mean to Jackie. She doesn’t tell, though. As a matter of fact, she lies for him and says his hand is her fault – he tripped trying to help her get the chickens back in the coop.
While she didn’t have to do it, she honored the Walter kids’ creed of never telling on each other. Though it is a small town, and nothing stays a secret. Katherine and George do find out, and it’s not because of Jackie. Moto told Katherin,e thinking that she knew, but she definitely didn’t.
George and Katherine are great parents, but they are holding their kids really tight. They tell themselves that they have to loosen the reins, but that will be hard. It also means that they are going to have to let Alex ride.
Except they are going to have him do that the right way – get him a trainer and make sure he’s safe.
The thing is that it is Alex who makes me think that he is redeemable. He tells Jackie thank you and that they will be okay in time. I am hoping that he does better and acts better to those around him – right now – I don’t like him.
But I saw a glimpse of the Alex we knew before. Need that back, please.
FRIENDS?
We’re only two episodes in, and I do believe that the person who has made the biggest changes internally – Cole Walters. He’s not sure what he wants to do with his life, but he does know that he doesn’t want it to be all about football.
Yet he’s taken on the assistant coaching job, and he’s realizing that it will be a struggle because his friends all think that means that he’s going to get them what they want. It will be a road where everyone is learning.
And it doesn’t help him that at home, there is Jackie. He wants to comfort her, talk to her, be friends, and well, more. But Jackie wants space. Only he can’t give her that space when he hears her scream. Heading around the corner, she’s standing there, trash everywhere.
Jackie admits to him she’s trying to atone. Katherine is disappointed with her – which, honestly, IMO, that’s a good thing. Someone has to care about you a lot to be disappointed with you. Cole assures her that she is Katherine’s favorite person.
Jackie may not see it, but I don’t disagree with Cole. Katherine is trying to balance her kids and being the best friend she can be to Jackie’s Mom (even though she passed away). How to be right by everyone – it’s just really not something anyone can do.
Yes, Jackie is going to get pushback from everyone. There has been a lot that has happened to all of them, and the kids are allowed to feel the way that they do. It’s going to take time and a commitment to staying.
Jackie knows that they are going to be ok – you can see it in her eyes. When she thanks Cole for helping with the tickets, he says it wasn’t him. We all know it was. But now it’s time for her to come clean.
Why does all of this matter so much to her? This dance is her do-over. The last time she planned one was the dance that she was at the night her family died. Cole instantly wants to comfort, but he restrains.
But it’s this interaction that makes her realize that she wants to be friends with Cole. This is a nice feeling that she’s feeling. This is comfortable. This friendship thing could work.
Selfishly, I hope it does, and then these two get together. This is my ship. I live for them watching this show.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Loving this show means that I think I have a love for stories with brothers both loving the same person. I need to change that trope
- I have to feel bad for Jackie, because she’s trying so hard to fit in, but I think she needs therapy. She’s still grieving
- Is anyone shocked that budgets were cut and the dance and arts have to go, but the football team gets a new bus? Eff that.
- If we’re going to talk about the school counselor’s relationship, can we see more of it than a line here or there
- Jordan, sir, your attitude is giving Alex, and that’s not a good thing
- Danny and Erin are adorable, but they are going to tell Cole soon. If he finds out from someone else, it won’t end well. But I think he will because that’s drama.
- Every time it is that Jackie tries with Alex and he decides to be a jerk – I wanna hop in there and tell him what is up
- Alex needs to have his ego brought down a notch
- Cole and Jackie’s stolen glances – they are so adorable – I can’t stop smiling. I love them
- I like that Nathan met a guy who has the same interests as him, but also, don’t you dare hurt Skylar
- When the guy Nathan met turns out to be in the newspaper, I almost choked, because I know it’s about to drama drama-filled. But again – don’t hurt Skylar
- We get it, Ruby, you’re helping Cole. We still don’t like you and your insecurity. Go away
- The town being against the expansion of the ranch – I didn’t see it
- George being dismissive of Will – equal parts shocked and also WTF
- Wait, Erin admitted to her friend that she likes Danny, and they’ve been seeing each other – that was cute, but also they need to tell Cole
- The town meeting – how is it that George keeps promising people things he can’t deliver on
- I get that Will is working hard on the ranch expansion – I would like George to tell him something nice ffs
- George doesn’t seem to like his kids growing up, and him having less control
- Alex meeting his Bronc coach… pick up your jaw, sir
My Life With The Walter Boys is streaming now on Netflix.
