'A Million Little Things' season 2 episode 3: Maggie's crisis with Patricia reminds Gary of his own estranged mother
Spoilers ahead for season 2 episode 3 'Mixed Signals' of 'A Million Little Things'
As much as we love James Roday's Gary with his amicable nature, witty remarks and perfect comedic timing, there is very little we do know about Gary Mendez. But in 'Mixed Signals', Gary opens up about his childhood and his mother for the first time ever.
At the beginning of the episode, Maggie (Allison Miller) wakes up mad at Gary because he had her believe that her mother Patricia (Melora Hardin) was in town solely for her. But Maggie later discovers that she is not the only reason behind Patricia showing up in Boston for an extended weekend holiday. She sees her mother with a young man named Eric - played by Jason Ritter - and jumps to the conclusion that her mother is romantically involved with Eric and he is the reason behind her parents' divorce.
Gary later shows up at her office and they have a conversation about his mother instead. Gary, who had come with the intention of reconciling after their argument in the morning, adds that all he did was wanted to help and that mistakes will happen since this is the first time that he's living with a woman. Maggie asks him why this happens to be his first time. When he says he has no clue, she points out that his issues with women stem from his mother, who left him at the age of 9.
He leaves her office because Gary doesn't discuss this anymore. It looks like there is so much unresolved issues between his mother and him that he doesn't wish to get into it now.
But after he gets back home much later, he dives, almost immediately, into how his mother left. He recounts a birthday party where his parents got "into a huge fight, it was a real blowout in their bedroom, and all those kids could hear them." While his mother left sometime later, he says he remembers being aware of the fact that it was over for his parents on that day itself. "When I blew out the candles, I didn't wish for them to stay together. I just wished for us to be happy."
He also tells her that he regrets not opening the door when his mother had knocked to say goodbye. "I thought if I didn't answer it, she couldn't leave. One of the greatest regrets of my life, not opening that door," he tells Maggie. Later, Gary even gives his mother a call but is unable to speak to her.
Looks like both Maggie and Gary have complicated relationships with their mothers. Going forward into season 2, we now must know why Patricia really is in Boston. Will the makers explore Gary's relationship with his mother?
'A Million Little Things' airs on Thursdays at 9|8 c on ABC.