Speechless – P-I-Pilot

By starrymag | September 24, 2016

By: Taylor Gates

 

The series kicks off with the DiMeo family dodging construction, traffic jams and even the cops in order to use their almost-expired 50% off breakfast coupon. As soon as they make it to the restaurant—with time to spare—matriarch Maya (Minnie Driver) effortlessly tells off both an incensed old woman and a group of snickering teens who make fun of her son JJ (Micah Fowler), who has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. JJ joins in her efforts, giving the boys his version of the middle finger.

 

Later that day, JJ and his younger brother Ray (Mason Cook) bond over the fact that their new home sucks, but Maya tells them to be more optimistic—they’re moving so JJ can attend the school in the district. This new school has an excellent program for him including a full-time aid to “be his voice.” While Ray sulks over losing his friends from home, daughter Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) is ecstatic, as their track program is supposedly fantastic. Ray wants to know how they’re affording this crazy expensive school and father Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) tells him that they’ve picked the worst house in the best neighborhood…and it shows.

 

Jimmy and Ray go for a late night chat in the car, Ray admitting that he doesn’t want to move or watch his mother get disappointed again. Jimmy refuses crush Maya’s spirits by telling her what he and Ray both already know: this place won’t be perfect. He does promise Ray; however, that if in a couple of weeks things aren’t working out they’ll move back home. So, Ray says goodbye to his creepy, exceptionally-horny-even-for-a-prepubescent-boy friend before the family heads off to their first day at the new school.

 

Maya and JJ go to the school office to meet his new aid (Dina Spybey-Waters)—an overly-perky, middle-aged woman who is super excited to put all her Urban Dictionary research to use and be the voice of such a “hip, young dude.” The feeling isn’t mutual. Next, the family meets school principal Dr. Miller (Marin Hinkle), who preaches about the school’s love of inclusivity. In fact, they just changed their mascot from a Viking to a sea slug since the latter includes both male and female genitalia.

 

However, the Dimeos learn that the school doesn’t always practice what they preach. The only form of alternative access they have for JJ is also a garbage ramp and Maya is not having it. She demands they build a ramp in the front of the school and rips into janitor Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough) after he refers to her son as “crippled.” Kenneth fires back, noting the irony of him, the only black man in the area getting called intolerant by a prissy white woman.

 

JJ and his aid enter his classroom to enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation. The teacher (Jonathan Slavin) tells JJ that the class has “never had a student taller sitting down than all of them are standing up.” They then ask him to run for student body president because they already know he is inspiring despite the fact nobody knows him yet.

 

At track practice, the coach compliments Dylan on having a great time. Dylan is flattered until she hears him giving slow kids the same compliment. He explains that the school values students doing their own personal best, and that’s all that matters.

 

Maya stands outside the school, asking people to sign a petition to build a wheelchair ramp. Kenneth tells Maya that she’s crazy and that she’s never going to win—the school already had a meeting about how to handle her demanding antics.

 

Ray happens upon a door to a lavish planetarium with a callout poster for astronomy club. He goes inside to find its sole member: a cute girl named Jillian (Lukita Maxwell) who he quickly takes an interest in.

 

At the dinner table that night, Maya struggles on whether she thinks the family should move back or not. Ray, having a change of heart since the previous night, begs to stay. He notes that an aid for JJ is a big perk, especially if they can find someone cooler. JJ says that he hates the school and their weird, blind worship of him. Ray relents, admitting he wants to stay for selfish reasons. Maya says they can’t stay just because the school has a planetarium and a girl who likes him to which Ray shoots back that they only ever make decisions based off JJ’s needs. He starts storming off to the school fair, but Maya forbids him to go because they made her and JJ feel unwelcome. The two argue before Maya sends Ray to his room and their aid sees herself out.

 

Maya unabashedly walks in on Jimmy in the shower, craving reassurance that she’s doing the right thing by moving them around all the time. Jimmy tells her that although she has good intentions, she sometimes focuses so hard on giving JJ a normal life that she neglects the other children. Maya kisses him, but then promptly steals his towel. She heads into Ray’s room and sits down on his bed, saying she sympathizes with him. When the covers come down; however, it turns out not to be Ray in the bed but the aid. She says Ray went to the fair on her suggestion—she’s literally begging to get fired and be free from this crazy family.

 

Jimmy, Dylan and JJ are already in the school parking lot, anticipating Maya’s arrival. Dylan and Jimmy try to stop Maya from publicly humiliating Ray while JJ stays with the van. Ray and Jill sit at the bottom of a big drop ride. Ray admits he’s scared of heights, but Jill promises to keep him safe. He leans in for a kiss and misses before Jill’s boyfriend Zane (Daniel Nelson) and his jock friends come over to confront them. Jill gets off the ride to assuage Zane, telling him to play nice with Ray. Ray asks the operator to start the ride and put as much distance between him and Zane as possible.

 

Kenneth spies the DiMeo’s van illegally parked outside the school. JJ had heard Kenneth singing and spells out that he thinks his voice is cool. JJ asks Kenneth if he wants a job and Kenneth does some practice reading for him. They both enjoy Kenneth acting as his aid and the two decide to try it at the fair.

 

Maya sits on the Ferris wheel adjacent to Ray’s drop ride. She lectures him a bit before admitting that she gave up on the place too fast and apologizes for ever making him feel like he wasn’t as loved or appreciated as JJ. She agrees to give the place another shot. JJ sees Zane and his posse, suggesting to Kenneth they should go beat them up to protect Ray. He then comes up with another idea, telling Kenneth to gather everyone by the stage and make an announcement: he is running for class president.

 

The crowd starts chanting JJ’s name and Ray spontaneously gives Jill a kiss before running away. Dr. Miller finds Maya, telling her she’s thrilled they’ve decided to stay. Maya nods before noting none of the rides at the fair have ramps.

 

So far, Speechless has delivered extremely solid writing and performances. The pilot managed to do an excellent job setting up tone, plot, and characters while still being heartwarming and evoking laughs.

 

All in all, Speechless is already shaping up to be a hilarious, fresh new comedy driven by smart writing and a cast that meshes well together. I’m so excited to let the DiMeos into my living room every week.