My Life With The Walter Boys Season 2, Episode 6… WOW. Just wow. I had to watch this episode twice because I really just didn’t understand how it was that the writers managed to put everything on its side and make the viewer wonder what it was that just happened.
I’ve never made any secret about the fact that Alex Walters drives me insane. He drives me insane because he treats everything like he’s a victim, and he’s not. If anything, he’s the creator of his own chaos. But I have grown to see that he also loves deeply, and he’s loyal and committed. I have seen that Alex Walters and all of the Walter boys are very complex.
My Life With The Walter Boys isn’t just about Jackie Howard moving to Silver Falls, and I think that sometimes we – as the viewer – forget about that. When we take a step back and look at all of the characters, you will see that this season is about letting go for a second and really seeing that they are all trying to figure out how to come together as a family. This season is about the changes at the ranch, but even more than that, it’s about finding stability and footing as a family.
THE FIRE
I cried watching the barn burn down, and maybe I shouldn’t have, but everything on that land and in this show feels so rooted in history that I am really confused about how to feel. I know that in this show, as in most, everything happens for a reason. What those reasons are, we have to sit back and watch it unfold. As an avid watcher of television, a lot of it has become predictable.
For every action there is a reaction, and all that.
While I do find it very ironic that lightning hit the barn at the exact moment that Jackie came clean, I probably should loosen up a bit on Alex Walters. The boy has been through a lot, and you just can’t overlook his heart and soul as he ran into that barn and got the horses out.
Can’t even imagine what it was like for Katherine and George to come home to something so important to them on fire, and all of their kids watching it go down. They looked petrified and broken, as if someone had snatched out a piece of their souls.
And everyone was fine.
Cole made his apologies to Jackie, but she didn’t want to hear it. And let me tell you – I know that Alex had every right not to go to the dance, but part of what happened is because he didn’t go to the dance. Him not going to the dance – he could have stopped things and been there for Jackie.
I know, I know – I need to get over it and move past it.
MURPHY IS MISSING
It’s been two days since everything, and just looking at the Walter kids, they are really stuck. They are trying to move forward from the fire, but we all have to remember that it was only two days ago.
And everyone has to get to school.
Alex returns from hours of looking for Murphy and feels discouraged. Murphy is his horse, and he loves him with all his heart. Murphy missing means that a part of Alex is missing.
Jackie wants to help and makes a map, as well as a schedule of when everyone can help. She tries to talk to Alex, but he looks at her and, as coldly as I have ever heard anyone say anything, he tells her that she doesn’t need to tell them about their land.
I was really happy that Katherine heard that. She is overwhelmed by her boy’s attitude towards things – that is very true. She’s truly overwhelmed by herself, also. There is so much happening, and sometimes that makes it hard to breathe.
No one can find Murphy, but one day, Jackie decides to walk home, and who does she come across? Well, that would be Murphy. He’s just standing there, and she manages to walk the rest of the way home – guiding him.
The excitement that Alex shows when he sees Murphy with Jackie – I couldn’t help but smile. The way he hugs her – I started to cry a bit.
Seeing it made me look at Alex and think – for him – for this moment – Jackie felt like home for him. Seeing her bring Murphy back and the smile on her face… he was home.
THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT
We knew that it was a matter of time before Katherine and George were called into the school for the dance. Cole and Dylan have to face what they did, and well, that’s really not something that either of them wants to be dealing with.
Dylan – I will admit I do not like. But part of me softened seeing him and his father walk out of the principal’s office. His Dad is not really hearing him, and it just feels like Dylan doesn’t know how to be kind. He doesn’t because his Dad has made him insecure about himself and his feelings. He is striving to be accepted by his father.
Cole doesn’t have to strive to be accepted by his parents. They love him regardless of anything. They believe in him and know that yes – he may mess up, but it’s their job as parents to see him through.
Dylan and Cole are both in trouble and have to do stuff around the school. Dylan is still going to be allowed to play football.
The two manage to make up, which is big of them both, because I would not be that forgiving.
Also at school, the election is happening. Jackie forgot to write her speech and ended up writing it before the assembly, but it’s not something that she feels comfortable with. At least that’s what I think.
It’s also hard for her, as Paige starts talking about how Jackie is an outsider and doesn’t belong. She said that everyone should vote for someone from there. And well, seeing the way that Jackie felt so alone in a stadium full of people – that really just felt so wrong. As much as I hated that, I was like Wow, the writers really captured being a kid, and Nikki Rodriguez brought it to life with such innocence that you have to respect this moment.
While Jackie did lose the election, I am thankful that she did. I am thankful because they are showing that everything may not work out, but it is how you handle it and learn from it.
FRIENDSHIP
Well, the first part of this isn’t friendship – it WTF. The barn just burned, and George already has plans drawn up for an idea to build a lodge. It’s not that it’s a bad idea, because let’s be real. Not everyone wants to glamp.
George doesn’t want to wake up, and his backyard has changed, but he knows that something needs to happen.
While George isn’t good with change, his acceptance that things need to change is a big move for him. I actually also appreciated that he wanted to hear about the idea of the lodge from Will, and just only Will. I want them to find a common ground.
Same with Katherine and Jo.
It’s been hard to watch the town turn on the Walters. The worst is Jo and Katherine, because there was no reason for her to be so mad at Katherine. Seeing her show up and leaving casseroles on the porch to help the family – what a good olive branch she is giving.
But apologies need to happen, and so I am thankful that Jo gives that. Katherine needs friends. She needs her community, and for people to forget that she is part of the community is gross.
I am really thankful that there is an acknowledgment that the town did the wrong thing.
And they forgot that the Walters matter too.
YOU’RE NOT LIKE…
Jackie is in the barn and picking up things. Katherine tells her that she doesn’t have to do that, but Jackie doesn’t mind. She wants to help.
While I can respect that Jackie is frustrated, there is a different way – a better way – to handle things. What things? Well, that would be the moment to tell Katherine you want to be treated like everyone else – that you don’t need to be protected. You don’t do it when she’s found a box of things and is crying because things survived.
I can appreciate that Katherine apologized to Jackie, but I also feel like Jackie was a little out of line. Yes, Katherine recognizes that Jackie is grieving. But so is Katherine. Protecting Jackie’s heart isn’t a bad thing. Is Katherine going to try to change things? Yes. But I think that they both need to have patience and give grace.
Leaning on each other is important. Being open with each other is important. But what is also important is grace.
LET ME TALK
Alex has been so angry for so long, and it really does make sense. It makes sense, but I am also ready for him to be over it. How does he move forward if he can’t hold past the past?
There had been so many things that had come out in the past few days, and it made Alex feel less crazy. He knew that something was going on with Jackie and Cole, and it coming out made him feel less crazy.
I can’t stop thinking that as these two talk their way through it – Alex has never been this happy. He’s thrilled that Murphy is back and that Jackie got him home. He’s also thrilled to be this close to Jackie and to not be so angry. Alex missed her.
And he loves her.
Alex wants to move past what happened, and for the first time this season, I am so excited that I don’t want to fast forward through his scenes. Instead, he’s remembering who he was – a guy who has big dreams and just wants to be with the girl he loves.
When Jackie and Alex kiss, for some reason, I forget that I was Team Cole. I remember that Jackie really does care about Alex. Do I think that it is forever? No. But what do I know? I am just here for the ride.
Season 2 of My Life With The Walter Boys is streaming now on Netflix.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Still don’t like Jo for what she did to Katherine
- Richard is a little overbearing
- Really think we could use more Will, and I am thinking he’s underutilized this season
- Jackie has the best wardrobe
- Nathan and Zach – like I truly believe that Zach is shady. What is he up to? He is up to something.
- Nathan and Zach need to get a room
- I really do feel bad for Skylar.
- Love that Grace is always there for Jackie
- Can we appreciate Katherine and George’s relationship more?
- Danny putting Cole in his place was perfect.
- Cole’s apology tour is whatever
My Life With the Walter Boys Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
