'A Million Little Things' Episode 11: Theo and Maggie's discussion highlights the need for child therapy
This story contains major spoilers for season 2 episode 11 of 'A Million Little Things' titled 'We're The Howards'
Theo Saville (Tristan Byon) hadn't always enjoyed the same affection from fans of the show as say, Danny Dixon (Chance Hurstfield). Some think of him as a goody-two-shoes while others think of him as an unintelligent character. Some think Theo's character is not a good fit for the actor Tristan and many have gone as far as to say that he is isn't exactly the best.
Many pointed out how the faulty writing on the show had forced audiences to put Theo in a box. There has been a lot of hate for his character in the first half of Season 2 when Eddie and Katherine's (David Giuntoli and Grace Park) marriage was in shambles after he told her about being Charlie's real father. The main reason being that Theo did not act like a ten-year-old at all - he was surprisingly aware of the situation, asking his father questions about his mother's whereabout almost as if he knew he was being lied to.
Theo has displayed extreme maturity over the course of the show. At the same time, he is a very innocent and sweet character. He doesn't just have haters as some viewers find his cluelessness about certain things endearing, "He’s just sweet and genuine and extremely gifted and has a very close relationship with his loving parents and hasn’t been ruined by the ugly real outside world. He’s a little immature but he still has his innocence. He’s well mannered thoughtful sincere curious trusting ...I think he’s an awesome kid."
But perhaps writers have taken note of how the audience reacts to Theo and chose to give his character new challenges.
In Episode 11, 'We're The Howards', Eddie and Katherine suddenly receive a call from Theo's school that he had been involved in a fight. When they reach school, they find out that it was actually Theo who started the fight pushing one of his friends. Back home, Eddie and Katherine find themselves clueless - they can't track where Theo's anger is stemming from especially since it is so unlike him to behave in a reckless manner. Since Eddie and Katherine cannot get anything out from him, they call in the in-house therapist Maggie (Bloom, played by Allison Miller) for help.
Theo is upset, angry even that things are changing at a fast pace - from his parents almost getting divorced to coming back together, then finding out that he has a sister from his father's affair with Delilah. The final trigger was changing seats at school. With things around him constantly changing, Theo was desperate to cling on to something constant - he was opposing change.
Maggie later refers to a child therapist for Theo hoping he will be able to address his emotions better. But he later tells Eddie and Katherine how even though they do not think he is listening, he knows what is going on in the house and what is ailing his parents. Theo has been through a lot over the course of Season 2, but this episode is the first to bring out his inner conflict and the state of helplessness he feels with respect to things around him.
'A Million Little Things' airs on ABC on Thursdays at 10/ 9c.