The Real O’Neals takes a lesson in what brotherhood really means to the wrestling match in last night’s episode “The Real Match.” Older brother and undefeated wrestling champion Jimmy recruits his reluctant, 125 lbs. brother Kenny to join the wrestling team after another athlete in that weight class drops out. Clearly taking Kenny out of his comfort zone, we anxiously await how this Broadway enthusiast (we didn’t make that assumption, Kenny declared it with his West Side Story reference) handles high school sports.
When Eileen decides to join VP Murray at his Vice Principal conference at the Courtyard Marriott, Pat helps her pack and, as a result, throws out his back. Eileen sets her bedridden ex-hubby up for a weekend of healing with comfy pillows and a bucket just in case. Remember the bucket. But VP Murray objects and will not have his dear friend abandoned in his time of need. So, the romantic getaway becomes a bromantic-healing giveaway. The setups in the show continue to be well crafted where we look forward to what traps the O’Neals may fall into next.
The three-way (not like that) relationship between exes Eileen and Pat, newly dating Eileen and VP Murray, and best buds VP Murray and Pat is, dear we say, developing into a somewhat healthy bond. We know it’s untraditional, but the care they each show for one another through selfless acts of kindness are living and everyday examples of traditional human compassion. Eileen’s Catholic deity may frown upon their arrangement, but would, most likely, see their behavior as penance.
Back at school, we’re reminded that Kenny’s head isn’t in wrestling but rather West Side Story when he refers to the locker room as backstage and Jimmy tells Coach he uses intermission for halftime. Kudos to openly gay athletes, LA Galaxy soccer star Robbie Rogers and Olympic silver medalist in skiing Gus Kentworthy for appearing in Kenny’s fantasy to crush his doubt that gays can be competitive athletes. Hopefully, the gay viewers knew who they were. Hopefully, the straight viewers did too!
Channeling his inner stage choreography, Kenny wins his first match. His victory leads to an increase in confidence and we see all the perks that come with being a champion−two pudding packs for lunch, a seat at the jock lunch table, a feature in the school paper, a new letterman’s jacket, a marching band and confetti canons. It’s refreshing that we get to see Kenny navigate high school life through trite adolescent milestones because he’s just a teen after all who happens to be gay. The show’s been making that shift throughout season two and that’s been making it more relatable and enjoyable.
All the attention, however, frustrates Jimmy, but we get to see truly how funny he is through his defeat like settling for two wintergreen mints from the lunch lady’s pocket after she hands the last puddings to Kenny. Jimmy continues to shine as one of the show’s funniest characters where his dumb demeanor is simply a contrast of humor to Kenny’s sass and wit.
With a few less laughs than previous episodes up to this point, the show gets sitcom serious when a wrestler from another team refuses to wrestle Kenny because he’s gay. Unable to let his brother be treated with such disrespect, Jimmy forfeits his match and title while the team agrees to do the same. It’s a touching moment to watch an older brother take on his protective family nature and publicly denounce the bad behavior in others. Humorously done, of course, but the lesson in bravery and doing what’s right is out and proud.
As always, we get to discover reoccurring jokes throughout the episode like the bucket you were told to remember and West Side Story references. In addition to Jimmy, VP Murray also hits humor homeruns with his oddly specific personality, which helps round out the show’s cast of characters. The O’Neals may have been forced to walk to the beat of a new drum after Kenny came out, but they are now, as is the show, finding the one that works.
(PHOTO: ABC/Tony Rivetti)
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