On this Week’s Episode of Speechless: JJ wants to go to Summer Camp, while Dylan and Ray fight with each other and Jimmy goes out to dinner.
The episode opens with JJ coming to breakfast and saying that he wants to dress himself because he wants to be more independent. It takes him all day to try and unbutton his shirt and when he doesn’t get it by night time, Mya tells him he is ahead of the game because he is all ready for bed. (I really appreciate this scene so much because it shows how long the smallest things can take for us but we can’t give up.)
Meanwhile, Ray takes up Modern Dance as his Physical Education requirement. When Dylan sees how bad he is at it she agrees to teach him how to run so he can stay in gym and not embarrass her. Also Jimmy reluctantly agrees to go out to Dinner with another dad.
Mya finds out from Principal Miller that the school will not pay for Kenneth to be JJ’s Aide over the summer. Mya is happy about this because she gets JJ back for the whole summer. Mya tells Kenneth and he tells her that he already knew and she is taking it surprisingly well.
She tells Kenneth that in two weeks it’s the return of the May-Jay, which is Mya and JJ’s summer nickname. Mya gets excited and starts talking about all the things they can do together over the summer.
When Mya leaves the room Kenneth ask JJ when is he going to tell her he wants to go to camp. JJ tells him that there is never a good time to tell her. Kenneth tells JJ that he is running out of time and asks him if he knows what he is going to say to her. JJ says he doesn’t know and asks Kenneth what he thinks she’ll buy.
At first Kenneth says there are a lot of things Aides are supposed to do but manipulating Mom’s isn’t one of them. Then he tells JJ that he should use Mya’s vanity against her and make it seem like going to camp shows how good of a mom she is.
Meanwhile, Jimmy goes out to dinner with Dane who has “Juice” at the restaurant because he is a regular. Dane knows the right people and gets Jimmy whatever he wants. When Jimmy comes home from his dinner with Dane he tells Mya how great it was and that he told Dane the next time they go out he will return the favor. Mya ask him how he is going to do that when he doesn’t have “juice” anywhere. Jimmy tells her that he does have “juice” and she could take a note from Dane on how to make a man feel good.
Next, things don’t go as planned for Dylan, while teaching Ray how to run, she runs as hard as she can but Ray beats her. The next day Dylan wakes up and wants a rematch with Ray because him beating her in their race was a fluke. Ray says no, Dylan tells him that running is her thing and if he takes it from her he will regret it.
Next, JJ gives Mya a book filled with memories of things they have done over past summers that is blank at the end and he tells her that he wants to go to camp. She says that summer has always been their time together and asks JJ what has changed and he says he has. Mya tells him that ten weeks is too long away from home and she doesn’t think he is ready, when Kenneth tells Mya he thinks she is wrong Mya kicks him out.
At school Dylan tells Ray about seven new planets discovered. When Ray ask how she knows about that, she tells him she is smart now and taking his identity. Says she would be willing to give it back if Ray gives her a rematch, but he says no.
JJ tries again to unbutton his shirt on his own to show Mya he is ready to go to camp and ends up falling out of his chair. When Jimmy brings JJ into the hospital he realizes he has “Juice” there like Dane had at the restaurant.
When Kenneth shows up at the hospital he gets really emotional and Jimmy tells him that JJ is going to be just fine and that he just dislocated his kneecap and they are waiting to see if he needs surgery. When the doctor tells JJ he needs surgery he tells Mya to forget about camp and she was right, he can’t do it. He said he can’t undo a button without putting himself in the hospital.
(I’m so glad the show showed this moment because that moment of self doubt and feeling like you can’t do anything right is a very real moment, not just for people who are in wheelchairs but for everyone.)
When Mya goes out into the hallway Kenneth apologize to her and says he didn’t get it and not to send JJ to camp. Mya tells Kenneth to talk to JJ and tell him he is going to camp. At first Kenneth is surprised and not sure but agrees to do it.
Meanwhile, outside Dylan and Ray go on a walk. Dylan says even though they are fighting it’s so important for them to be there for each other in times like this. Ray agrees and says it’s more important than the stuff about who is faster. Ray says that he likes how nice JJ is to him after surgery and he is always sure to be the very first person JJ sees after surgery.
Dylan tells Ray she turned his ringer off and JJ went into surgery and is getting out now. This makes Ray start running and gives Dylan her rematch through the hospital. When Ray gets caught up in cords, Dylan wins and Ray tells her she won fair and square. Ray goes in to see JJ and hugs him.
Later on that night Kenneth goes in to talk to JJ about camp and he ends up passing out. When he gets up he leaves and Mya talks to JJ instead. She tells him that he will do whatever he wants in his heart and his body doesn’t get a say.
(I thought this was a really powerful moment because as someone in a wheelchair and someone with CP at least for me, sometimes it can feel like my body controls me instead of me controlling my body).
Mya tells him if he doesn’t want to go to camp they can have a fun summer but if he does want to go they will get him ready together.
When Mya comes in the next morning JJ has unbuttoned one of his buttons (this was also a very powerful moment to me because once you can do the smallest everyday things that seemed impossible you feel like you can do anything and you feel “normal.”)
At the very end of the episode Jimmy brings Dane to the hospital and gives him a steak dinner that was supposed to be for new moms and tells him he has “Juice” there.
Overall all I think this episode was fantastic.
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Visitor Rating: 5 Stars