I Wanna Cross The Finish Line

And boy I was not disappointed at all!!! I didn’t know how much I was going to relate to it until the fourth episode. I have grown up with indian celebrations and pujas happening in local public high schools. And in that moment, while watching that episode, I was beyond amazed and excited.

nini is learning how to be herself, fully, and who that person even is. that is the character development we’re all here for; that is the direction the show writers seem to be pointing us in. this is what she has been struggling with since the beginning. and now she’s ‘relapsing’—almost kissing Ricky, deciding against the art school, and I’m willing to bet she might have some sort of interaction with EJ in the next episode. if she ends up with Ricky, her character arc becomes a flat line. she hasn’t yet discovered herself.

Episode 7 got me thinking a lot about the difference between knowing and understanding. When Ricky opens up to Gina about his mom’s new boyfriend, Gina says, “Look, I get it.” Ricky pushes back, not rudely or defensively, but still. He says he isn’t sure she does. “Let me guess, you’re mad at everyone and everything because just when you were getting used to things changing, they change again.” Foreshadowing for Gina’s news of her impending move, sure, but more than anything, it’s Gina proving she really does get how Ricky is feeling. She understands the longing for familiarity and stability.

In contrast, when Ricky is leaving the party at the end of the episode, Nini says “I know you’ve been going through a lot.” He pushes back, this time rude and defensive, but still. He asks her not to do that. She comes back with “I’m just trying to help you.” And she is, but (as evident by her independent attitude and the possibility of her applying to the Actor’s Conservatory preforming arts school) she is also longing for the very change that Ricky and Gina are pushing against. Nini reminds Ricky that he should talk to his mom, the very opposite advice Gina gave him earlier. As much as Nini tries, she doesn’t truly get how hard this is for him. 

yes.

do i ship rina anyway knowing i’m gonna get clowned and heartbroken?

I love you Buffy Driscoll, and I will miss you

Not every character deserves a redemption arc (there are mean people in this world): Kira just walking out of the party and not being redeemed is both nicely paced and shows audience that not all characters can change and be made to be nice.

Sometimes relationships aren’t the best route for your health and self-improvement and sometimes, you need to grow up to really pursue that aspect of your life: Andi: “I wonder what would have happened if we met when we were older.” Jonah: “Someday we will be.”

Internalized homophobia makes it hard to show intimacy and overcoming it can be a nerve-racking experience even when you’ve accepted yourself: TJ and Cyrus not kissing but instead holding hands, TJ’s breath of relief.

If you love someone, let them go. If they come back, they’re your’s:  Marty tells Buffy that his feelings never changed even when they were not part of each other’s life (”I’ve never changed my mind.”)