'Grand Army' Episode 6: Dom's hustle takes its toll, Jayson's success is at Owen's expense, while Sid is outed
In this episode, Jayson gets confronted with what could be the worst choice in his whole young life - taking advantage of his best friend's misfortune that he had a part in scripting. His music teacher tells him that while Owen got selected to compete in the All-State jazz competition, he is an alternate. But because Owen can't play because of his suspension, he can take his spot, if he chooses to. It is a huge opportunity but at the same time Jayson feels he is building his career as a musician on the ashes of his (more talented) friend. It is an interesting situation because it shows that with limited arenas to excel in, members of the same minority often have to compete for the same spot. Black excellence then becomes a subjective word because success often means you are taking somone else's spot.
The teacher is very clear. If Jayson doesn't take the spot, someone else will. Owen won't be playing no matter what. So Jayson swallows his guilt and takes the spot. He tries to make amends by going to meet Owen to tell him he made it but Owen angrily tells him that he is just telling him about "one more thing he can't have". Owen's new school in a rough neighborhood for the month he is suspended from Grand Army is violent and he has a bruised eye. His demenour is agrressive and he is depressed which means he could spiral down even further showing how punitive punishment isn't helping him "reform". Rather, it is setting Owen on the road to hell.
Similarly, in Dom's case we see how her family's health crisis is taking a toll on her. As she works extra hours, juggles studies, basket ball games and client appointments, she is dead on her feet. Her struggle is contrasted with the life of the rich private school girls, who are in a position to give her advice about her internship because they are relaxed and not so stressed all the time. Dom gets an interview for the internship because of their advice and it is a way of "moving forward". But at the same time, she has to give up the one thing that she does for pleasure -- basketball -- because she has no free time. Her coach is great about it, supportive but realistic about Dom's future and asks her to prioritize.
Sid Pakam's session with Victor has some unexpected results because Sid get aroused while Victor is doing the stimulus tests for their project together. Victor, who intuits that Sid likes guys, comes out as bisexual to him. Sid however doesn't open up. He also steps up his efforts with Flora. When the Harvard scouts come, he does his best but his relay partner Orlov lets him down in the crucial seconds by being lazy. Sid, feeling pressured about his chances at Harvard, has a physical altercation with Orlov.
However Sid's time impresses the scouts. But as he is going to meet them, he leaves his laptop open in a hurry. Orlov, smarting from Sid's beat down, sees the open laptop as an opportunity for payback. Later in the day, Sid's Harvard essay where he confesses being gay is posted online by an anonymous account. Meera is the one to break the news to him and his first worry is his parents, but Meera tells him, they don't know. But things will get hairy at school. Will Sid want to "disappear" just like Joey, who says she is "drowning" when she catches a glimpse of George coming out of a police station. Joey is far from ok and Sid might not be ok for long.
'Grand Army' premiered on Netflix on October 16.
