‘A Million Little Things’ Season 1, Episode 2 ‘Band of Dads’ Recap: It’s All In Jon’s Plans

After last week’s emotional pilot premiere, A Million Little Things has pulled on the brakes for the gut-wrenching feels. But, that doesn’t mean we’ll be jumping up for joy either. And it all ties back to Jon (Ron Livingston).

In tonight’s “Band of Dads” episode, the gloom is being pulled from Jon’s absence. We’re rolling into the second wave of the aftermath of his death. And apparently, Jon has left out things for everybody. Delilah (Stephanie Szostak) and Regina (Christina Marie Moses) find out that there’s more to the restaurant space Jon bought. While Ashley (Christina Ochoa) continues to pick up the trail Jon left in the blue envelope. Meanwhile, Eddie (David Giuntoli) finds difficulty in facing Jon’s last message to him in light of his guilt. As everyone tries to move forward and as they’re handed Jon’s last wills, they realize the extent of how much Jon had planned all along.

Breakfast Reunions

Rome and Regina greet Delilah with breakfast the day after the funeral. And Gary (James Roday) catches up with a roll of tissue to have something on his hands. Delilah leads the entourage to the kitchen where they find Maggie (Allison Miller) already sipping a cup of coffee. And she and Gary immediately start a little banter to Regina’s amusement. Eddie rings the doorbell and Gary volunteers to get him but, Delilah makes him stay.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Outside, Delilah tells Eddie that she found his necklace in Jon’s nightstand which confirms her suspicion that Jon knew about their affair. Their discussion was interrupted by Ashley who walks up with Jon’s coffee order in her hands. With a distraught face, she admits she didn’t know what to do with it. Taking the cup, Delilah ushers her in for breakfast.

Inside, Gary asks how Rome’s doing. He tells Rome to get help or at least tell Regina but, Rome refuses to. So, Gary threatens to tell Regina by the end of the day if Rome won’t find someone to talk to and help him. Regina breaks the two apart as she suddenly appears to get more food.

Later on, Gary veers from the adults and talks to Jon’s son Danny (Chance Hurstfield). He asks the kid if he has someone he likes. And Delilah joins in on the conversation just in time to hear Danny say that he’s interested in someone named Ella. Afterward, Danny awkwardly excuses himself to get more juice.   

Sophie picks Eddie

Delilah notices that her daughter Sophie (Lizzy Greene) is missing from the breakfast gathering. And she climbs up to Sophie’s room to find her brooding over the father and daughter dance recital. Downstairs, Gary huddles up Rome and Eddie. They plan to distract Sophie and ultimately call themselves the band of dads.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Meanwhile, Delilah tries to convince Sophie that it’s okay not to attend. But, Sophie’s adamant on attending. As they bring the discussion downstairs, Danny sweetly offers to dance with his sister. But, Sophie kindly declines. She picks Eddie instead. Delilah pulls him over to the side later and tells him that it can’t be him. But, both she and Eddie can’t find a way out of the situation as Sophie already made her choice.

Later on, as they’re all cleaning up, Ashley announces that the landlord has already sent in the lease for Regina’s new restaurant. Delilah tells her to just work it out in Jon’s office. Meanwhile, Gary pulls Danny aside and tells him that it’s totally cool if Ella’s a boy. But, Danny insists that Ella’s totally a girl. Maggie comes along and declares that her ride’s going to take a little bit longer than expected so Gary offers to drive her instead.

It’s a million little things like a smile

On the other hand, Rome finds a picture of Jon and Delilah both smiling. Regina comments that Jon looked so happy. And Rome replies that behind every smile is another story. He then goes straight to work to shoot a soda commercial. On the last take, the clients call Rome over to the side and tell him that they need more smiles from the endorser but, not too much. And Rome has no choice but to comply with another take. He goes home, later on, obsessing over finding something other than a smile on Jon’s face. But to no avail, he finds nothing on his lips.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Back at Jon’s house, Eddie, Sophie, and Delilah watch one of Sophie’s practice videos with Jon. Soon, Eddie and Sophie start practicing themselves. But, Eddie’s finding it hard to nail the steps, so Sophie decides to take a break. While he’s alone, Eddie once again glances at the voice message Jon has left on his phone but, still refuses to listen to it.

Meanwhile, Ashley snoops around in Jon’s office. Apparently, inside the blue envelope, Jon also left a letter with instructions. Following those instructions, Ashely finds another envelope containing papers from a life insurance company. Among the beneficiaries are Eddie, Rome, Gary, and an unfamiliar name Barbara.

On the other hand, Gary drops off Maggie. She invites him in. But, she sees a man waiting on her doorstep. Gary backs off and heads out. Maggie sits down to talk with the man who seems to be someone from her past. And she explains that she didn’t leave him but, she left her old self. She also assures that she’s not giving up on fighting her cancer. It’s just that in her new place, she’s not playing by the rules anymore.

Plans unraveling

As Ashley hands over the lease to the restaurant to Regina and Delilah, she reveals Jon intended for both of them to have it much to their surprise. Ashley explains that Jon knew how nervous Regina was in opening a place of their own. And Delilah has stopped working as an interior designer since the kids were born. So, it would be the perfect place for her to continue to have income.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

Sophie overhears the conversation and becomes upset thinking that Jon left something for everybody except her. She recalls the time her dad told her that Dixons don’t quit in one of her baseball games. And as her mother comforts her, she tells Delilah that that’s what Jon did. He quit. As Sophie asks once more why Jon did it, Delilah couldn’t find anything to answer.

Later on, Delilah finds Regina doubting Jon’s decision. So, she brings out a Tupperware filled with the coconut cookies Regina gave Jon. Delilah explains that Jon saved the cookies. He would only treat himself one if he closed a major deal. Delilah reassures her that Jon bought the restaurant not only because they were friends but because he believed in her as well.

Meanwhile, Gary comes back to Jon’s and finds Danny brooding alone in his room. He asks what’s wrong and Danny asks if he thinks that Jon did it because of him. Danny thinks that Jon might’ve known that he like boys instead of girls. But, Gary assures him that if Jon knew, it would make him love Danny more.  

On another side of town, Rome finally goes to Maggie to seek help. They talk a little. But, Maggie refuses to take him in as her patient because of her blossoming relationship with Gary and the others. So, she refers him to one of her colleagues.

Father-daughter recital

At the recital, Danny points out the new boy he’s crushing on for his uncle , ary. And Gary chuckles with approval. Maggie and Rome come in late. And Gary immediately goes for Rome asking why he’s not answering his calls. Gary admits that every time it happens, he worries. But, Rome counters saying that he’s had his first therapy session leaving out the detail that it was with Maggie.

Jack Rowand/ ABC

As soon as they’re seated, Gary then asks about the man that was waiting at Maggie’s doorstep. She only tells him that it’s someone from her past. The recital then starts. As Sophie and Eddie wait for their turn, it suddenly sinks into Eddie that it can’t be him dancing in Jon’s shoes. He calls up Gary and Rome. Then Rome volunteers to replace him.

Rome goes to Sophie to explain. It turns out, Jon went to him to help rehearse the steps so Rome knew each one of them. Rome realizes that Jon really intended for that him to dance in his place. In turn, Sophie realizes that her dad didn’t forget her after all.

Eddie calls Delilah outside and tells her that it really shouldn’t be him dancing in Jon’s place. He admits that he loves her and everybody else but himself at that moment and that he knew what they did to Jon. Delilah thanks him and leaves his necklace in his hands. And as Sophie and Rome are crushing it on the dancefloor, Eddie finally takes the courage to listen to Jon’s voicemail. There, Jon only left him three words: Love each other.

A Million Little Things continues next Wednesday, October 10th, with “Save the Date” at 10/9c on ABC.