Slo Pitch Episode 9 “Sore Winners” and Episode 10 “Loser Take All” close out the first season in a very satisfactory way, and yet set up the promise of so much more for this show. It’s actually the perfect combination of payoff and setup, because it feels like a lot of the storylines get a clear ending, and the growth arcs reach their natural conclusion, only for the show to remind us that growth is never linear and stories are never over.
Will we get the chance to see these storylines play out? I don’t know, and I admit I’m worried about the possibility that the answer is no, because I’ve enjoyed this silly show so much more than even I expected, and trust me, as both a sports fan and a lover of queer stories, I came into it with high expectations. I’ve resisted most mockumentaries before, but when you’ve got good characters and smart, sharp writing, you can make any genre work. And hey, maybe I’ve just been too hard on the format before. Slo Pitch has made me a convert.
Some Stories End (Begin) Happily
If there was one storyline that needed to end somewhat happily, it was the one involving Joanne and Sasha. Despite not having as much time to set this up, the show is actually very effective at making us believe that what they both feel is real, and even gives us a bit of a slow burn, or as much as it can, considering the circumstances and who these characters are. When they threw the miscommunication moment at us at the end of Episode 9, I even thought for a second we would have to wait until a possible Season 2, but thankfully, the show gets Joanne and Sasha together before the finale ends.
And it does so with a level of growth that feels very earned. Joanne has been fighting for her team to win all season, and part of that has to do with her desire to win, of course. But another part of it is just tied to her identity as the leader of this team, and what she thinks they all want and expect from her. By the end of the season, though, the team has proven they care about Joanne more than they care about winning, and Joanne knows that. Which is why, even though they lost, the finale feels like a win.
The setup for conflict going forward is delightful, though. Leanne is a good antagonist, and as team sponsor she’s going to be even more annoying. And sure, Sasha and Joanne are solid now, but Sasha still has some issues to work through, and Leanne will 100% poke at every insecurity both she and Joanne have. Not to mention this poor man Leanne is dating (gonna marry, whatever) still thinks Joanne is the homewrecker. Juicy.
I’ll take a moment to be proud of Sasha and Joanne, though. Putting yourself out there after you’ve been hurt is hard. And their relationship is just beginning, but with a solid foundation of friendship, I think they’ve got what it takes to keep growing together. Please let me see that.
For Others, It’s Pain
Not everything can end well, and when Boris and Barb started trending up, I knew this was where the show was going to hurt me. And the thing is, I understand both of them; I really do. That’s what makes it hard. Boris put her heart on the line for Barb, and Boris never does that. So it’s perfectly normal to be disappointed that after Barb promised she was going to come out and be with Boris, she couldn’t do that.
But Boris was really asking for all or nothing here, and that’s very hard for someone in Barb’s position. Coming out of the closet for someone else is always a bad idea. Barb has to get to a point where she wants to take that step for herself, and then date Boris. Not come out for Boris. And Boris can absolutely be disappointed and sad and, hey, even angry that Barb didn’t come through after promising. But a little understanding of how hard the moment was for her wouldn’t go amiss.
Clearly Barb didn’t want to break up with Boris, and she perhaps would have still come out and resigned, just later, if Boris didn’t ignore her. But Barb has a journey to go through outside of Boris, and Boris has a journey to go through outside of Barb, one where she figures out if she really wants and is ready for the type of commitment she’s asking for. And hey, I cannot wait for Season 2 to see this.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Slo Pitch Season 1? Share with us in the comments below!
Slo Pitch is available to stream Fridays on Crave.
