'A Million Little Things' fans are getting increasingly impatient with the drab plotline and underdeveloped female characters
Possible spoilers ahead for season 2 of 'A Million Little Things'
Last season, 'A Million Little Things' was good to its fandom delivering an emotional tale of a group of friends coping with the suicide of a close friend they never imagined losing. It was one of the main reasons that the drama struck a chord with its audience.
But season 2 so far has only pushed the show's loyal audience away. What started as a story about a group of friends recuperating after the suicide of their close friends has now turned in a cesspool of the characters' own mistakes or ill decisions. And it is making fans increasingly impatient with the plotline. For instance, last week's episode saw Allison Miller's Maggie have some extreme reactions to her mother's revelations about Eric. Patricia (Melora Hardin) told her that Eric (Jason Ritter) has her dead brother Chad's heart. She expressed her desperate desire to keep Chad around in some way or the other leading her to sign the organ donation forms. But Maggie wouldn't have it and she storms off without giving her mother an opportunity to fully validate her thoughts.
And fans didn't appreciate her reaction either. At first, fans couldn't understand what the big deal about Chad's organs being donated was. Next, for someone who is a therapist, Maggie simply refuses to extend her clinically sanctioned understanding of the human psyche to her own mother. "She should be VERY well versed in grief and how people grieve differently. I’m not sure of her age, but she acts like a child. And the kids on the show act like babies, hmmm, kind of all fits together," pointed out a fan.
In fact, many fans blame the creators for lazy writing when the show holds genuine potential if delved deeper. "Her mother lost a son. Apparently, the show writers haven’t experienced it. I would say they should put more focus on the effects on the mom because I’ve seen it first hand. It’s far harder on them. They could really explore some deep emotions in the character," another fan said.
In fact, Katherine's (Grace Park) character arc isn't sitting well with fans either. Season 2 started with the question if she would leave Eddie (David Giuntoli) for good. But she decides to stay back and give it a chance, but fans note this is poor writing for female characters in comparison to male characters - something that mirrors the superficial treatment of Patricia's loss of Chad.
"The male characters are much better written and developed characters - Gary, Rome, even teen Danny. And to some extent even Eddie - he serves as someone to root against while not being actually hateable since he shows guilt and true remorse for his wrongs," points out a fan. "Katherine has been reduced to a victim and she is not even her own character anymore but just a pawn in Eddies story. She goes where he takes her- through sadness, running away or attempted reconciliation, it’s Eddie story and she’s along for the ride," they continue. And if this continues, season 2 might be the last that 'A Million Little Things' will see. "I think if the female characters aren’t developed and given more strength, depth, positivity and able to problem solve without a man or a team of friends for every darn issue in their lives - this show won’t have a season 3."
'A Million Little Things' airs on Thursdays at 9|8c on ABC.